Living and studying here
- Brighton
- Accommodation
- Shopping and eating
- Entertainment and socialising
- Sport and exercise
- Eastbourne
- Hastings
- Bank holidays
The university has campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. Each location has a distinct character but wherever you're based, you'll be studying by the sea. Our climate tends to be warmer than other parts of the UK and we are very close to London, several international airports and mainland Europe.
Brighton
English language courses are based in Brighton, Britain's liveliest seaside city which offers an exciting mix of shops, restaurants, pubs, clubs and theaters. Brighton Language Institute is on the university's Falmer campus, three miles from the city centre and surrounded by the beautiful countryside.
A trip to London takes less than an hour and Gatwick Airport is only 30 minutes away, linking you to mainland Europe and the rest of the world.
We can help you arrange accommodation for the duration of your course. This may be in one of our halls of residence or with a host family near to the campus where you will be studying.
Staying with a host family can provide you with the opportunity to speak English at home, as well as live in a safe and homely environment. To stay with a host family, you can either choose to cook for yourself or eat with your host. If you choose to eat with your host, they will provide breakfast and a hot meal in the evening seven days a week. Catered host accommodation cost start from £135 per week. Non-catered host accommodation starts from £105 per week.
Our halls of residence are based across four loactions in Brighton, but all are close to travel links and are within easy reach of the Brighton Language Institute. Our halls provide the options of catered (two meals each day) or self-catered accommodation (no meals provided). Catered halls include a hot and cold breakfast service and an evening meal as part of your accommodation costs. Food is served Monday to Fridat during term time, the service does not include meals duing the weekends or the holidays. You will have a single study bedroom with access to shower facilities and a kitchen in a shared apartment. There are also laundry facilities on each campus and all bedrooms are fully furnishedf and have central heating and internet access. Catered halls accommodation costs £128–£147 per week. Self-catered halls cost £123–£150 per week.
If you would like more information on the different types of accommodation available please visit www.brighton.ac.uk/accommodation.
The university has a range of restaurants and cafes on all of its main campuses. For more information please visit our student life pages.
For more choice, there are over 400 cafes and restaurants to choose from in the Brighton area. Whether you like Indian or Greek, Mexican or Thai, burgers, vegetarian or seaside fish and chips, you'll find it here, and competition keeps prices affordable. Relax with the newspapers and a coffee in one of the North Laine cafes.
Brighton is a shopper's paradise. As well as all the familiar high street names around the city centre, there are many stylish, independent shops in The Lanes. The North Laine is home to quirky specialist shops, selling everything from second-hand records and clothes to furniture and wholefoods.
Social entertainment is an integral part of your university experience and the University of Brighton Students' Union provides a year-round programme of events including club nights, karaoke and cinema nights.
The University of Brighton has a number of societies for International and EU students. The International Student Society (ISS) is the largest, and organises events and social activities throughout the year. All International and EU students are automatically members of the ISS and receive regular invitations and updates. Examples of past events are a celebration of Diwali, Hanukah, Chinese New Year, a Thanksgiving meal, Christmas dinner and various day trips to places of interest in the UK, such as London, Bath and Oxford.
Keep up to date with all the upcoming events from the ISS on their Facebook page here.
If you're a music lover, Brighton has it all. The venue for classical, jazz and world music is the Brighton Dome, while the Brighton Centre stages major rock and pop gigs and there's live music in clubs and pubs. In the summer there are concerts and festivals in the city's parks and beachfront.
The highlight of the city's cultural year is the Brighton Festival. England's biggest arts festival showcases arts and performance from around the world. There is a huge number of theatres that offer everything from pre-London productions to the avant garde. Visual art is everywhere, from sculptures on the seafront to major exhibitions. There's a beachfront artists' quarter and many smaller galleries to explore.
Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers facilities on and off campus, with many special rates available. Find out more at www.brighton.ac.uk/sport.
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a major university town and a fantastic place to be a student - on the one hand it has a thriving arts and music scene, many interesting restaurants, clubs, bars and a great mix of shops, and on the other hand it is low stress and hassle-free.
Hastings
The seaside town of Hastings combines significant history with natural beauty. Its diverse music and arts scene means there is live music most nights.
Bank holidays in England and Wales
All University of Brighton lectures, seminars and tutorials will not be running on the UK bank holidays. There are eight public holidays called bank holidays in England and Wales throughout 2013. On bank holidays most offices, banks, schools and universities are closed.
The bank holidays for 2013 are:
- New Year's Day: 1 January
- Good Friday: 29 March
- Easter Monday: 1 April
- Early May bank holiday: 6 May
- Spring bank holiday: 27 May
- Summer bank holiday: 26 August
- Christmas Day: 25 December
- Boxing Day: 26 December.
