Application process

Find out what to expect when applying to study at the University of Brighton.

1. Making your application

Undergraduate students

Undergraduate students can apply to us through UCAS or direct.

UCAS applications: you should apply to us through UCAS for full-time undergraduate courses.

Direct applications: you can apply direct to us if you know that you want to study at Brighton and do not intend to apply to other institutions, or for English pre-sessional and academic preparation courses.

If you're applying for the following undergraduate engineering degrees you'll also need to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.

  • Aeronautical Engineering MEng
  • Automotive Engineering MEng
  • Mechanical Engineering MEng

Postgraduate students

For most of our postgraduate taught courses you should apply directly to us. Search for the course you want to apply for and when you get to the course details, click on apply online.

If you would like to undertake one of the following taught masters, you'll also need to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate:

  • Automotive Engineering MSc (PGDip, PGCert)
  • Bioscience MRes
  • Chemistry MRes
  • Clinical Research MRes
  • Ecology MRes
  • Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences MRes

2. Processing your application

We will process your application carefully and on an individual basis. If you would like to talk to us before you receive a formal response please message our enquiries team.

The decision to offer a place on a course and any conditions attached to that offer will be communicated to you with a letter from the university and through the applicant area (and a letter from UCAS for undergraduate applications submitted through UCAS).

Read more about what our offer to you means

3. Receiving your offer

If you receive an offer from us, it will be marked conditional or unconditional.

Conditional offer

A conditional offer means that your application is not complete because it is waiting for you to supply additional information. The offer may be made on the condition that you achieve certain grades or qualifications or there may be crucial information missing - the result of a English language test, for example.

When the missing information is supplied, we can make your offer unconditional.

Unconditional offer

An unconditional offer means there are no more conditions for you to meet - the offer is yours if you would like to accept it.

If you have questions about the conditions of your offer, please message our enquiries team.

4. Accepting your offer

You must formally accept our offer to you by following the instructions in your offer letter. If you have questions about accepting your offer please message our enquiries team.

Offer deadline for international postgraduate students

The deadline to respond to your conditional or unconditional offer of a place at Brighton will be detailed on the information about your offer page in the applicant area of studentcentral, this will normally be two months from the date your offer was made.

If you don’t accept your offer by the deadline, your offer will automatically be withdrawn and you'll no longer be able to take up your place on that course.

If you’re unable to accept your offer by the deadline, please get in touch with us as soon as possible by sending us a message through the your messages page of the applicant area.

5. Receiving your CAS number

The university will issue you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number when you have accepted your unconditional offer and paid the tuition fee deposit, if required.

A CAS is a virtual document that the UK Home Office will view through a secure online system when you make your application for a student (Tier 4) visa. You will need your CAS number to make your visa application.

Find out more about your CAS

6. Applying for your visa

The university has two international student advisors who are qualified to provide advice and representation on UK immigration law. 

Find out more about how the university can help you with immigration and visas.

7. Applying for accommodation

Students paying international fees are guaranteed a place in university accommodation for their first year of study if an application is made by the deadline of 30 June on the official application form. There are many other accommodation options available.

The accommodation office can help you with arrangements for living here.

8. Attending orientation and welcome events

Before the academic term begins, events are held to welcome you to the university. You can finalise your enrolment and we can help you to finalise your arrangements that week, if you have not already done so.

Find out more about the orientation programme

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