University of Sussex
Postgraduate welcome booklet
Your
future
with us
14th in the UK
43rd in Europe
111th in the world
*Times Higher Education – World University Rankings 2014–15
Congratulations on receiving an
offer from the University of Sussex.
In choosing to study with us, you will be
joining an international community of
staff and students with a commitment to
the highest standards of academic pursuit.
Since its foundation, Sussex has been
famous for upholding freedom of academic
enquiry and constantly challenging the
status quo in the search for excellence.
Professor Michael Farthing
Vice-Chancellor
University of Sussex
Research excellence
4th in the UK
and 34th
globally for
research
influence
Among top 200 World Universities – Times Higher Education
World University Rankings 2014–15
Our influence
Sussex has
supported worldleading researchers,
including Nobel Prize
winners, to deliver
positive change in
the world. Sussex’s
high ranking for
research influence
demonstrates
our commitment
to innovation and
international impact.
Founded in 1961, the University of Sussex continues to
question the traditions of Higher Education. Sussex pioneers
an innovative and adventurous curriculum, earning the
University an international reputation for its progressive ideals
and practice.
At the forefront of global issues, we are helping to tackle
real-world issues through our characteristic interdisciplinary
approach, whether this is through the groundbreaking work
on consciousness science, reducing energy emissions,
or our latest work on law and the internet.
Left: Professor Melanie Newport
is researching the prevention
and treatment of podoconiosis,
a disease affecting an estimated
four million people globally.
Right: The research of Theodora
Duka, Professor of Experimental
Psychology, aims to unravel the
mysteries of addiction and to
inform prevention and treatment.
Location, location, location
Just minutes
from the
vibrant city
of Brighton
and under one
hour from
central London
Your campus
Surrounded by the
outstanding natural
beauty of the South
Downs National
Park, our campus
is just minutes from
the vibrant city of
Brighton & Hove.
While the University of Sussex has a strong sense of itself as
a campus situated in the outstanding natural beauty of the
South Downs and the urban energy of Brighton our outlook
is distinctively global.
Home to students from over 120 countries, the University’s
campus boasts a supermarket, newsagent, post office, a
market, banks and a bookshop. With 4,600 students living
and working on campus, there are plenty of cafés, bars and
restaurants where you can meet friends for lunch or coffee.
The University is located on the outskirts of the cosmopolitan
city of Brighton & Hove, which was recently voted the ‘UK’s
happiest place to live’*. Home to England’s largest arts
festival, Brighton has a reputation for having a truly diverse
cultural scene. Falmer train station is five minutes’ walk from
central campus and it takes 10 minutes to travel to Brighton
by train.
The University of Sussex is the ideal location from which to
explore the rest of the UK and Europe, with London less than
an hour away by train. Our students appreciate the quality of
life Brighton & Hove offers, while still allowing easy access to
the sights and sounds of the capital, London.
*Study commissioned by O2
Left: Brighton is one of the UK’s
most vibrant seaside cities
Top: Our green campus is just
minutes from the city of Brighton
Bottom: The North Laine is a
thriving shopping district in
Brighton, famous for independent
arts, crafts, boutique fashion
and jewellery outlets
Employability
83% of Sussex
graduates from
postgraduate
courses were
in graduatelevel jobs
within six
months of
leaving the
University.
Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey 2012
Making your future
A Sussex degree
combined with our
dedicated career
support will help
you make the best
possible start in
your chosen career.
Studying at the University of Sussex is about more than your
academic course: it’s about preparing you for your future.
Gaining a qualification at Sussex will give you the skills that
employers are searching for, allowing you to demonstrate
your ability to:
– work in teams with people from different
backgrounds and cultures
– have highly developed communication skills
– show your drive and ambition
– take on board different perspectives and
challenge conventional thinking.
4th in the UK for
employability and
further study
Source: Ranking of
undergraduates studying
at publicly-funded multifaculty universities based on
data from Higher Education
Statistics Agency (HESA) 2014
Our Careers and Employability Centre provides students with
highly-focused employment and careers information, advice
and guidance services to identify specific career aims and
develop the career strategies needed to achieve their goals,
and develop the relevant experience global employers look for.
Over 120,000 Sussex graduates have gone on to succeed in a wide
range of careers in countries worldwide.
Life at Sussex
We look forward
to welcoming
you to Sussex
in person and
our support
starts now.
Getting ready
We provide the
support you need to
help you gain the best
university experience.
English language support
If you need help with your English language skills either before
or during your studies, the Sussex Centre for Language Studies
has the right course for you.
Pre-sessional support can help you gain the English language
skills required for our degrees. Courses run all year round,
with entry points in September, January, April, June and July.
The length of the course will depend on your current level
and on the level you need to achieve. You take an internal
assessment, rather than another IELTS test, at the end of the
course: www.sussex.ac.uk/languages/english
Once you’re here, if you need additional English support, the
Centre can also help. Our language support and study skills
workshops are free for international students.
Accommodation
Whether you prefer to live by the sea in the vibrant city of
Brighton & Hove or in the rolling parkland setting of the
University campus, or you have specific housing needs, such
as space for children, the Sussex residential services team
can help you find the home that’s right for you.
Housing is guaranteed for all new full-time, non-EU Masters
and PhD students who register at the University in September.
Applications must be received by the deadline of 1 August,
along with your £250 pre-payment, which will be deducted
from your rent upon arrival. If you provide proof of sponsorship,
you do not need to make the pre-payment.
Our Housing Services team can guide you through the options
both on and off campus and you can find out more about living
with us at: www.sussex.ac.uk/accommodation
Left: Students gather to celebrate the
colourful Holi festival. A wide range
of religious and other festivals are
celebrated on campus.
Immigration and visas
If you are coming to study in the UK from outside the EU,
you may require a visa. The immigration team offer a
confidential specialist advice service. They can answer your
immigration questions and help you prepare for any UK study
visa applications you may need to make.
Our team will be happy to help you. Please contact:
www.sussex.ac.uk/internationalsupport/immigration
Students’ Union
With so many people living and working together, socialising
is important. The Students’ Union provides a range of
entertainment on and off campus including comedy, quizzes,
live music nights and DJ nights.
The Union supports and helps fund over 140 student societies.
Run entirely by students, these represent interests such as
creative arts, dance, religion, film, music, economics and
photography. There are also more than 25 student clubs and
societies that are based on culture and languages. These
societies organise fantastic cultural events that are celebrated
across Sussex’s diverse community.
The Union also plays an important role supporting students and
campaigns on issues that are important to the student body.
www.sussexstudent.com
‘The University
of Sussex is
a very warm
and welcoming
place. People
are open and
friendly and
always willing
to give a
helping hand.’
Mihir Pandey
MA in Poverty and Development
Finance and scholarships
The University of Sussex is proud to offer a range of funding
awards to support the best in global talent. Visit our funding
database for scholarships provided by Sussex and other
sponsors: www.sussex.ac.uk/funding
With a thriving tourist industry, Brighton is an ideal place
to earn extra money. Non-EU students can usually work up
to 20 hours per week. For more information go to
www.sussex.ac.uk/careers
However you pay for your studies, managing your finances will
always be important. Our budget calculator can help you plan
carefully: sussex.moneydoctors.info/budget
Study skills support
Study Success at Sussex is designed to help you with
your academic skills, such as essay writing, report writing,
referencing, time management. If this is the first time you
have studied in the UK, this programme will show you what to
expect, with video guides and tips from students and staff.
The resources are available for you now, so visit
www.sussex.ac.uk/s3 and get prepared for studying
at Sussex.
To help you with your academic development, the Library and
the Careers and Employability Centre have developed the
Skills Hub. It brings together all the workshops, web resources
and services at Sussex to help you develop a wide range
of skills: www.sussex.ac.uk/skillshub
Social media
Get a feel of what it will be like to be a student here by
following us on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Instagram, Weibo
and Youku. www.sussex.ac.uk/socialmedia
‘Sussex is the
place that
cultivated me,
inspired me
and encouraged
me to follow
my deepest
instincts and
to become
the person that
I am today.’
Zhang Xin
BA in Economics, 1988
Contact us
Meet with Sussex staff in your country at exhibitions, visits
to schools and universities, and at a variety of other events.
Visits are planned all over the worldwide in:
Bahrain
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
China
Colombia
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Iraq
Italy
Japan
Kenya
Kuwait
Malaysia
Mexico
Nigeria
Norway
Pakistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
UAE
USA
Vietnam
Ways to visit Sussex
We run weekly guided campus tours all year round.
Book a place online at www.sussex.ac.uk/visitors
You are also welcome to visit the University independently
without any pre-arrangement.
Join us online
In the International Office, we run a series of online
presentations and webinars showcasing the University’s
academic departments and key services.
You can find further information, such as our virtual campus
tour and study skills workshops online.
For further information about our overseas visits and
online activity, visit www.sussex.ac.uk/international
Postgraduate Admissions
University of Sussex
Sussex House, Falmer
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E [email protected]
www.sussex.ac.uk
Contact
Postgraduate Admissions
University of Sussex
Sussex House, Falmer
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E [email protected]
www.sussex.ac.uk/international
‘Sussex has a great
environment in
which to study.
The diverse
and welcoming
community
makes it a true
home away
from home’
Goke Adeboye
Law LLB