Living in Brighton

If I had to be honest studying in Brighton was not my first choice for studying abroad, but I am so glad it was my final choice!

I originally planned to stay for one term and I loved it so much I stayed a whole year. The University was great, the staff was amazing, and the people everywhere were friendly. I stayed in Paddock Fields Hall of Residence which was, in my opinion, the best location for meeting new people and traveling to and from classes or city center. The city itself is beautiful. By day, when the weather is nice, the pier and beach are breathe taking. The board walk will keep you entertained with everything from little shops to street performers. The famous Laines have tons of shops and places to eat so you will definitely find something you like there. Brighton even offers several parks, many of which have hiking trails and some of the best views of the city that I have seen.The night scene offers something for everyone whether you want a night of dancing or a nice relaxing pint at one of the many local pubs. The city even offers a bus service the runs from the city center to the university that runs all day and all night.

Taking classes at Brighton University was both challenging and rewarding. It was very independent as far as studying goes and exams for my degree were essay based which was new for me. I was also able to do things related to my degree that I never would have been able to at my home university. Brighton University has so many clubs and organizations to join. Maybe you want to try a new sport like Kerfball and rockclimbing or stick with one you know like football. (soccer or american football) If your not into sports you could join a Nature Club, that had many nature hikes through out the term, or the Beard Society if you like beards.

Living in halls was another experience that I would highly recommend. The location is great, being only a short bus ride to and from classes, (depending on which campus your classes are at) and had a really pretty view, making each morning nice to wake up to. There are fitness facilities only a few minutes walk away. In halls I made some of my closest friends, without them I would have had a very different experience. The only down side was the hot water going out a few times and a couple power outages, which was nothing that a quick call to maintenance wouldn't fix.

The study abroad staff and the field trips they put on were another thing that made this trip unforgettable. Mary, Becca, and Zoe are some of the nicest, most professional people I've met here. They took care of anything I needed and made me feel very comfortable coming to them with any questions that I had. I would completely recommend the field trips that they put on. All of them are very stress free as the staff handles everything. (transportation, activities, lodging) They also know tons of information about each location you visit including what to do when you have free time. Every trip felt very different giving you an opportunity to see several different sides of England like small cobble stone towns and moat surrounded castle,(Bodium/Rye) big cities like London, to even exploring all around Paris, France.

The last thing I will say about the Brighton program is try and stay for a whole year, if you don't your going to wish that you did.