University of Sussex

The University was the first of the new wave of universities founded in the 1960s, receiving its Royal Charter in August 1961. The University celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011–12. Over the past 50 years, the University has built a strong reputation for research excellence, internationalism and interdisciplinarity. In 1993, the buildings that make up the core of Sir Basil Spence's original design were given listed building status.

Set in the rolling countryside of the Sussex Downs, the campus is surrounded by the South Downs National Park and is only minutes from Brighton & Hove, one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the UK. Frequent bus services run between campus and Brighton. The train journey to Brighton from nearby Falmer station is eight minutes. Brighton is within easy reach of London and major international airports (Gatwick and Heathrow).  Standard A level offers are between AAA and BBB, depending on degree programme. The University has a tradition of welcoming mature students, and takes a flexible approach when extending offers to such students. 

55% of students are female, 45% male; 70% are home students, 30% are from overseas; there are over 4,000 international students from over 120 countries.

14% of our undergraduate students are mature students (over 21 on entry).

Applications to places ratio was just over 5:1 in 2013.

Sussex degrees are designed flexibly so that students can explore subjects in ways that interest them.

Students on most single honours courses choose several modules from outside their discipline. Joint degrees allow different combinations. Most courses offer study-abroad opportunities, and 20% of first degree students spend a term/year abroad. Staff have received several National Teaching Fellowship Scheme awards. In the 2013 National Student Survey, 89 per cent of Sussex students were satisfied or very satisfied with the teaching on their course. Innovative structure to our academic year – two twelve-week teaching periods – which has improved how students learn and are assessed on their studies. Academic year structure has enabled students to engage with their subjects in more depth and to consolidate what they learn through the mid-year assessment.

In the 2008 RAE, 100% of departments at Sussex have world-leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised research, placing the University among the leading 30 research universities in the UK. As part of our £50m fundraising campaign 'Making the Future' we have announced funding for major research centres at Sussex e.g. Andrew and Virginia Rudd Centre for Adoption Research and Practice; Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science; Sussex Centre for Middle East Studies; and Sussex Centre for the Study of Corruption. 

Our distinguished faculty includes one Queen's Award, 14 Fellows of the Royal Society, 12 Fellows of the British Academy, 9 Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences and 15 Academicians of the Social Sciences. Three Nobel Prizes and one Crafoord Prize have been awarded for research conducted at Sussex.