International orientation programme

Our orientation events are organised by the International Advice and Support team, and are designed to help prepare new international students for life in the UK and at the university.

International orientation is made up of: 

So, whenever you are starting your course, we will be ready to welcome you!

Group of students in the Pavilion gardens

Pre-arrival online events

As part of the Belong at Brighton programme we run a series of events aimed specifically at new international students, which cover information on life in the UK and at the university. These include preparing to arrive in the UK, managing your money as an international student (including how to open a UK bank account), accessing the UK healthcare system and looking after your wellbeing, as well as working in the UK with a Student visa. 

You can sign up to these events below. All events are shown in British Summer Time (BST).

International students: Preparing to travel to the UK

19 August 2025
Tuesday
12–1pm
Online

This online session for international students will provide practical information on arranging your travel from the airport to your UK accommodation. The session will also provide guidance on what to pack to prepare you for your first term in the UK. If you have been issued an eVisa (EEA or Swiss nationals), we will explain what you need to do before you travel. If you have been issued an entry clearance permit (non-EEA or Swiss nationals), we will explain how immigration control works when you arrive at a UK airport.

Sign up for the preparing to travel to the UK event on 19 August

International students: Budgeting and how to manage your money in the UK

21 August 2025
Thursday
12–1pm
Online

This online session will provide guidance on how to budget for life in the UK, and cover essential information such as how to open a UK bank account. Our team will explain how to access student discounts on travel, plus where to shop for the best value groceries and household items. They will also provide some average costs for living in Brighton to help you plan your finances and budget for life in the UK.

Sign up for the budgeting and how to manage your money event on 21 August

International students: How to access healthcare and wellbeing support in the UK

22 August 2025
Friday
12–1pm
Online

This online session for international students will explain how the UK healthcare system works, and what wellbeing support is available to our students. Our team will tell you how to access medical care via the National Health Service (NHS) and register with a doctor. They will also talk about the concept of culture shock, the importance of looking after your wellbeing as you adjust to life in the UK, and how the University of Brighton can support you.

Sign up for the how to access healthcare and wellbeing support in the UK event on 22 August

International students: Working in the UK with a Student visa

4 September 2025
Thursday
12–1pm
Online

This online session will outline the employment restrictions for Student visa holders and explain how these work in practice. Our team will explain how the tax and national insurance system works in the UK, how to apply for a national insurance number, and how the Careers team can help you look for part-time work. Please note this talk is for international students who will be studying at the University of Brighton with a Student route visa. If you hold or will hold a different kind of immigration permission, this talk will not be

Sign up for the working in the UK with a Student visa event on 4 September

International students: Preparing to travel to the UK

9 September 2025
Tuesday
12–1pm
Online

This online session for international students will provide practical information on arranging your travel from the airport to your UK accommodation. The session will also provide guidance on what to pack to prepare you for your first term in the UK. If you have been issued an eVisa (EEA or Swiss nationals), we will explain what you need to do before you travel. If you have been issued an entry clearance permit (non-EEA or Swiss nationals), we will explain how immigration control works when you arrive at a UK airport.

Sign up for the preparing to travel to the UK event on 9 September

In-person orientation programme

For students whose course starts the week beginning 29 September, we offer a three-day orientation programme to help you settle into your new home before the start of Welcome Week.

Our international orientation programme includes a combination of information sessions, social events and activities to help you settle into life at the university and make new friends.

International orientation

Wednesday 24 September: Main arrivals day

This is the main arrivals day for new international students. To allow you to focus on settling into your accommodation we have kept the schedule light, with some optional drop-in activities taking place on the Moulsecoomb campus.

In the evening, we will meet on-campus for a relaxed social event.

Thursday 25 September

This is the busiest day of the international orientation programme. The day will start with an official welcome from Vice-Chancellor Professor Donna Whitehead, followed by:

  • A session on developing the skills you need for study in the UK (separate sessions for undergraduate and postgraduate students);
  • A networking lunch;
  • Your choice from a range of on and off-campus social activities including yoga, an art workshop, a tour of the Royal Pavilion, a guided tour of Brighton city centre, and a seafront walk (weather permitting);
  • An optional evening social activity.

Friday 26 September

This is the last day of the programme and includes:

  • Campus tours
  • An international student Q+A session with representatives from our international student community and key university support services
  • A closing session.

The orientation programme will finish at lunchtime on this day. Be sure to check out the Brighton Students' Union freshers programme for further events beginning that weekend.

Key facts

Dates: Wednesday 24 – Friday 26 September

Location: Moulsecoomb campus

Book your place

How to book your place on orientation

Stage 1: Book your place

Follow the booking link and complete the booking form to reserve your place at orientation.

Stage 2: Arrange accommodation

Arrange your accommodation move-in date to start on or before Wednesday 24 September. You will be able to book your move-in slot for university-managed accommodation from late August/early September.

Complete the booking form

Orientation accommodation

University-managed halls of residence

The Accommodation team will contact all students with a room in university-managed halls of residence in late August or early September inviting you to book your halls move-in date. The earliest date you can book to move into your room will vary depending on which halls of residence you are placed in:

  • Great Wilkins – from Saturday 20 September 
  • Varley Park – from Monday 22 September
  • Mithras Halls – from Wednesday 24 September
  • Phoenix Brewery – the standard move-in dates for Phoenix are from Friday 26 September, however if you have booked a place on the orientation programme the Accommodation team will arrange for you to move in to your room on Wednesday 24 September.*

*Please note the earliest date you will be given to book a move-in date online for Phoenix is Friday 26 September – you should select this date.

Privately-managed halls of residence or rented accommodation

If you are going to be living in a privately managed halls of residence or other private rented housing, you will need to make your own arrangements for accommodation during the in-person orientation programme.

International welcome events

We hold a series of welcome events across all campuses for students starting in early September, as well as during the main Welcome Week (the week commencing 29 September 2025).

We are busy finalising this programme at the moment and will update these pages with more information soon.

Kaplan students outside Elm House

Optional day trips

These trips are an opportunity to meet other international students, make new friends and explore local English landmarks. There are limited spaces available on these day trips and we operate on a first-come, first-serve basis so please do sign-up early to secure your place.

Day trips are free for you to join, with all transport paid by University of Brighton. However you will need to pay for your own food and personal expenses, such as souvenirs etc. The transport for all day trips is either by coach or train. Coaches will typically depart from our Falmer campus at approximately 9am and return to Falmer campus around 5pm. You will be sent more details closer to the date of the trip via email.

East Sussex day trip, Saturday 4 October

You'll travel by coach to local landmark Beachy Head, a chalk headland on the coast where you can also admire the white cliffs of the Seven Sisters, which feature in many films and TV series.

After exploring the coast, you will visit the local town of Alfriston and then head to Chiddingly, where you have lunch in an English country pub. Main meal prices start from approximately £15.

Arundel day trip, Saturday 18 October

You'll be taken by coach to the town of Arundel, steeped in history with a medieval castle and Roman Catholic cathedral. Visit the characteristic town centre with its grandiose cathedral, take a walk around the lake, eat in one of the many local cafes or tea rooms, or visit the medieval castle and gardens.*

You can choose where to buy your own food on this trip.

*Please note that visits to the castle and Arundel museum are optional, and the fees to enter are not included in the day trip.

Rye and Bodiam Castle day trip, Saturday 8 November

Travel by coach to the picturesque English town of Rye that has cobbled streets and historical buildings.

You'll also visit Bodiam Castle, a 14th-century moated castle. You can choose where to buy your own food on this trip.

Complete the online booking form

Get in touch with us

If you have any queries about the orientation programme or our other welcome events, please email the International Advice and Support team on orientation@brighton.ac.uk.

For all other queries, you can:

International support team