University of Brighton

Summary

History

In 1859 the School of Art opened with the first 110 students, housed in the kitchens of the Royal Pavilion and in 1876 it moved to its own building in Grand Parade. In 1897 the Municipal School of Science and Technology opened in Brighton with 600 enrolled students. The Chelsea School, which originally trained women and girls in physical education in London, moved to Eastbourne in 1949 and was incorporated into the University in 1979 along with the East Sussex College of Higher Education.

Throughout the 1960s Moulsecoomb campus was built and in 1970 the School of Art and Brighton College of Technology merged to form Brighton Polytechnic. In 1976 the Teacher Training College merged with Brighton Polytechnic, giving the University a further campus at Falmer. Along with many other polytechnics Brighton was granted university status in 1992 and became the University of Brighton.

In 2003 the University Centre Hastings was opened, managed by the University of Brighton, as a joint venture between the university, the Hastings and Bexhill Taskforce, Canterbury Christ Church University College, the University of Greenwich, Hastings College of Art and Technology, The Open University and the University of Sussex. In September 2009 University Centre Hastings was incorporated into the University of Brighton. 

University Environment

The University of Brighton has five campuses in three different locations on the south coast. These locations of Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings are all by the sea, within easy reach of London and with great links to mainland Europe and beyond. Each town has lots of opportunities to get involved in its culture and community.

As well as improvements to their existing facilities in Brighton and Eastbourne, the University between 2018 and 2021 is investing to transform the Moulsecoomb campus, which includes the construction of five new halls of residence providing over 800 student bedrooms; a new academic building with modern and flexible teaching spaces that will also house their Business School, etc.

Brighton Campuses

In Brighton there are Falmer, Grand Parade and Moulsecoomb campuses. Falmer campus is located on the edge of the South Downs National Park on the outskirts of Brighton and where nurses, teachers, linguists and social scientists are based. Grand Parade campus is located in Brighton city centre, in the heart of the cultural quarter. Grand Parade is home to the Faculty of Arts, the University of Brighton gallery and Sallis Benney theatre. The Moulsecoomb campus is located to the north of Brighton city centre and offers students an excellent learning environment and a wide range of facilities. It is the largest of the University’s five campuses with over 8,000 students. Subjects available at Moulsecoomb include architecture, business, computing, maths, engineering, product design, life sciences, geography, building, media and pharmacy.

Eastbourne Campus

Eastbourne campus is located at the foot of the South Downs National Park, about ten minutes’ walk from the seafront and 20 minutes from the pier and Eastbourne town centre. Almost 3,000 students are based here. Subjects taught at the Campus include hospitality, physiotherapy, journalism and sport-science; and facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, artificial outdoor pitch, dance studio and newsroom.

Hastings Campus

Hastings campus is in Hastings town centre, just three minutes south of the station and about the same distance from the seafront and the shopping district. It is a small and friendly campus of about 700 students.

Academics

Academic Departments

• School of Applied Social Science
• School of Architecture and Design
• School of Art
• Brighton Business School
• Brighton and Sussex Medical School
• School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics
• School of Education
• School of Environment and Technology
• School of Health Sciences
• School of Humanities
• School of Media
• School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
• School of Sport and Service Management
• Brighton Doctoral College
• Brighton Language Institute

Research

The University has a multidisciplinary approach to research, cutting across all schools and faculties. Its university's research partners are drawn from across the globe, and the UK as well as from the local region, underlying how important the University’s role is in the community. These activities involve public sector collaborations, from the NHS to the European Union, work with international companies, such as Ricardos, start-ups as well as charities..

92% of its research was rated as world leading or internationally excellent in terms of impact in the recent 2014 REF, with a top 5 position in Business and Management and a top 10 position in Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy. Overall, its proportion of world-leading research increased by more than 50% since the last research assessment exercise in 2008. 

International Opportunities

The University of Brighton takes part in the ERASMUS scheme allowing you to study or work in an EU country for 3-12 months. The University has 30 agreements for study exchanges with partners in 11 countries. Many courses at Brighton allow students to spend a period of study abroad but the choice of country may be limited by different departments.  

Fees & Finance

Scholarships

Merit scholarships worth £1,000 are available to students based on their academic performance in an end-of-year assessments.

Sports scholarships - there are two different types of Sport scholarships. The Elite Athletes/Elite Disabled Athletes scholarships are for students who have reached a national level of competition or performance and have the potential and dedication to reach world-class performance level. The Talented Sports Performers scholarships are for students who have represented their sport at national or regional level or who are able to demonstrate that they have the potential to compete at these levels. The award is a maximum of £1,000 and £500 to the Elite Athletes/Elite Disabled Athletes scholarship and Talented Sports Performers respectively, per year of study to fund expenses arising from training or competition.

Bursaries

University of Brighton bursary is for undergraduate students who are normally resident in England or a non-UK EU country. It supports students from a family with residual income of £25,000 p.a. or under. The award is a cash bursary of £500 for each year of study.

Care leaver‘s bursary is for undergraduate students resident in England, under the age of 25, who have been cared for by a local authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14. The award is a cash bursary of £500 for each year of study.

Estranged Student’s bursary is for students who are not care leavers, but who are under 25 and permanently out of contact with their parent(s), who are normally resident in England and have been assessed as eligible to receive full funding from Student Finance England. The award is a cash bursary of £500 for each year of study.

Facilities

Learning Facilities

The university has five libraries, one on each campus, each different in terms of building size and the selection of printed books and journals. Online Library provides access to thousands of ebooks, databases and full text journals which are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. A member of staff at the library Help Desk, or one of the University student helpers are available if you need help. There are computers, and printing facilities in all the libraries.

In the libraries there are over 1700 study space, many with a networked computer, and wireless network is available throughout. Social study areas are where you can discuss your work with friends without worrying about disturbing others.. Group study rooms of various sizes, each equipped with a selection of facilities that may include: whiteboard, flipchart, PC and plasma screens so that you can easily work in groups or practice presentations. Quiet or silent study areas are also available for those who prefer to study on your own in quiet.

Studentcentral is a secure online space for students that provides access to learning materials, assessment and other study related content, wherever and whenever they need it. Studentcentral comprises of range of collaborative tools for sharing information, as well as signposting to other University of Brighton services, such as libraries.

Sports Facilities

Whether you want to improve your level of fitness, compete in competitive sports, have fun with your friends or gain additional coaching qualifications there are many opportunities to get involved in sport in Brighton. At the Falmer Campus the University has invested £9m on developing sports facilities, including a new Sports Centre with a six court sports hall as well as a fitness gym and two activity studios. The Brighton Health and Racquets Club is situated on the Falmer campus. It houses three pools, 10 indoor tennis courts, a large fitness suite, squash courts, an activity studio, a hair and beauty clinic, a physiotherapy clinic, a restaurant and a sports equipment shop. The club offers discounted full membership rates for university students and staff.

On the Moulescoomb Campus there is the Cockcroft Sports Centre which has a sports hall, fitness suite and climbing wall. At the Eastbourne Campus there is a sports centre with 25m swimming pool, fitness suite, sports hall, artificial ¾ length outdoor pitch and climbing wall.

The University of Brighton has a number of clubs which compete on a weekly basis against other universities in BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) competition and students can also take part in sport more recreationally through the Parklife scheme, a project organised by the University of Brighton’s Sports and Recreation Service. This provides leagues, drop in sessions and one off competitions in a wide range of sports meaning that there is always something for you to participate.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

Brighton Student’s Union (BSU) provides a wide range of opportunities for you to make the most out of student life. It runs a number of societies covering all interests, but if none suit, then there is always the opportunity to start your own. You can get involved with the student media at Brighton including the student newspaper - The Verse, Burst Radio and Brighton TV. Brighton Raise and Give allows students to get involved with fundraising for some amazing causes. There are a number of volunteering opportunities, whether it’s a one off project, volunteering as a member of the Festival Crew or committing to a longer term volunteering position. The BSU also has a support service offering academic advice, housing support or dealing with complaints.

The BSU also runs a number of cafes and shops on the different Brighton campuses. including the Basement Central Cafe on Moulsecoomb campus, the Hive on Falmer campus,and four shops in various locations on the campuses.

Student Support

Religion and Spirituality

The University Chaplaincy offers pastoral care and support to all students and staff, whatever their faith. They aim to have representatives from as many faiths as possible and the chaplains can help you find the right network and put you in touch with them. The Chaplaincy provides pastoral care, social groups and community outreach, a time and a place for worship, lectures and discussion group, pilgrimages, retreats and excursions and the university community choir. There is a full-time chaplain on site.

Health and Well-Being

Brighton University has two on-site surgeries, one in Eastbourne and the other in Moulsecoomb, but the University also provides helpful information on registering with a GP surgery near where you live. The University website also has a range of health advice and information for students as well as a list of useful contacts.

The University offers a range of healthcare services to help you keep on top of your studies and your life in general. This is done through the Student Services, which offers professional support such as counselling, careers guidance and financial advice, delivered by trained, experienced staff, to help you make the most of your university experience.

The Student Service runs wellbeing workshops designed to support you through the various demands of the academic year. They can help you beat procrastination, improve your confidence, and deal with the challenges of studying at university. Workshops are free and are run across all campuses throughout the year.

The counselling service provides a safe, confidential environment for you to discuss your concerns. Experienced, qualified counsellors can offer you a space to reflect and discover options and possibilities, and tell you about coping strategies.

There is also a disability and dyslexia team to coordinate support for students who declare a disability or a specific learning difficulty. Support is available in a range of areas including helping you apply for the Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA), one-to-one mentoring or study skills tuition, arranging the loaning of equipment such as recording devices, computer equipment or assistive software, etc.

Career Facilities

There is a Careers Service to support you from your first day at the University of Brighton, helping you to find a career path, develop the skills you will need to follow it, and get a job when you finish your study. The Careers Service website offers helpful information on deciding what to do, preparing for an interview, writing a CV, developing a business idea or finding a full-time job. In addition, you can also meet with specialist staff , who can offer more personal careers advice on a one to one basis. Personal skills can also be developed through Graduate Toolkit, which is designed to help you plan, record and evaluate your personal, academic and professional development throughout your time at the University.

There is also the University of Brighton's Beepurple entrepreneurship support service, for any student or graduate with their business idea, freelance plan or social enterprise project. Other opportunities include the award-winning Momentum mentoring scheme, placements and internships, work experience and the Employability Skills Programme. The Career Service also puts on events throughout the year, including Careers fairs, workshops and presentations in order to give more information about specific careers and industries.

Accommodation

The University has halls of residence at locations across Brighton and in Eastbourne with a rent that includes things like access to fitness facilities, contents insurance and 24-hour residential staff cover.

The halls in Brighton are spread between the three Brighton campuses, with the largest halls complex situated at Varley Park, which is a site between Falmer and Moulsecoomb campus. Students can choose from a range of accommodation options including catered and self-catered halls. At Eastbourne students live in Welkin Halls which is situated close to the university's study sites in Eastbourne as well as being within easy reach of the town centre and seafront. The majority of places is catered, but there are a limited number of places in self-catered accommodation too.

New Brighton students can also choose to live in a homestay, privately rent accommodation or live in unihomes/unilets, which are privately owned houses managed by the University. The unihomes/unilet accommodation allows groups of up to six students to live together in houses and flats. There is a range of accommodation services available to help students through making these choices, including an accommodation team, house hunting service, Studenthomes - an online house hunting system and a Facebook accommodation group.

International

English Language Requirements

International Support 

The Student Advice Service can provide you with information, advice and support covering a range of issues on a financial, personal and practical level. Their service is confidential, non-judgemental and free of charge. There is a Project Coordinator for International Students dedicated to providing support and guidance for all International and EU students as well as International Student Advisors who are specially trained in advice on visas and immigration. There are also buddies which are other University of Brighton students who are trained to support new international (overseas and EU) students in adjusting to living in the UK and getting the most out of university life.

Students whose first language is not English. there is also the iASK (international Academic Study Kit) services, which are free and designed to develop your existing academic language skills to help you succeed in your day-to-day academic tasks. iASK includes lectures, classes, tutorials, online essay feedback and peer proof reading. All elements of the service are co-ordinated and taught by Brighton Language Institute tutors.

The International Students' Society (ISS) is run by international students for international students, and organises social events, cultural activities and outings throughout the year. All overseas students are members of the ISS in either Brighton or Eastbourne, depending where you are based. There is also an Orientation Programme for new International Students. This free programme will give you the chance to meet other international students, introduce you to the town you will be living in, and give you all the information you need to make the most of studying at the university.

Media