Orientation

We have always been passionate about providing the best possible welcome to the UK, and this year will be no different!

Key facts

Designed to help you settle into life in a new country.
An online and in-person programme of events.

Orientation programme

For students starting in September 2023, we offer an orientation in two parts. We recommend you attend both the live online events as well as the in-person activities to get the best possible welcome to the university and to be prepared for life in the UK.

Online orientation
Live events taking place in mid-August and mid-September.

These online events will provide you with the information you need about life in the UK and at the university. More details below.

In-person orientation
From the start of your course onwards

Our orientation support is embedded within the main welcome programme to ensure that the needs of our new international students are considered every step of the way.

Got a question?

We're here to help, you can:

email us at orientation@brighton.ac.uk
call us on 01273 642888
keep up-to-date with news and events on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our blog.

In person orientation events and support

Our orientation support is embedded within the main welcome programme to ensure that the needs of our new international students are considered every step of the way. This includes:

International Welcome Hub

Thursday 21 to Friday 29 September (excluding weekends)

The International Student Advice & Support team will be running an International Welcome Hub from Monday alongside the main document verification sessions in Cockcroft Hall. This is a convenient way to find out more about the range of events happening around the university and to learn about the support available to you throughout your studies. The Hub will be in Cockcroft Hall, the same location as the main document verification, and you will be welcomed by members of the International Student Advice & Support team as well as our team of Student Ambassadors. We would encourage you to head over to the Welcome Hub once you’ve completed document verification for a quick hello and a freebie or two!

Orientation social events

Our orientation social events are intended to give you a taste of some of the culture of the British Isles, while providing the perfect opportunity to meet other new international students.

See the Online event for more details.

In It To Win It! competition

Throughout September and October we will be running In It To Win It! This is a competition to encourage you to take part in the various social events that are taking place from the first weeks of term onwards. Using our online form, tell us which university or Brighton Students Union events you have attended, plus any societies or Panthers sports teams you have joined, and we will enter you for a prize drawer to win from a selection of prizes. The more events you have attended or societies you have joined, the more chances you have of winning.

1st prize: a £50 Amazon voucher
2nd prize: one of two £25 Amazon vouchers
3rd prize: one of three £10 Amazon vouchers

We also have a range of runner-up prizes including Brighton Students Union branded hoodies, University of Brighton branded drinking cups, and hospitality vouchers to use in university food and drink outlets.

How does it work?

Fill in our online form with the details of any University of Brighton or Brighton Students Union events you have taken part in between 24 September and 30 October 2023.
For each event attended and membership made we will assign you a number i.e. if you attend two events and join one society you will be given three numbers. On Monday 6 November we will use a random number generator to select a number for each of the prizes. The first number selected wins first prize, the second and third each win second prize, the next three each win third prize, etc.

We will notify the lucky winners the week of 6 November!

Orientation ambassadors

Our designated orientation ambassadors based at University of Brighton managed halls of residence over the main halls move-in weekends. These student helpers will be on hand to answers your queries, tell you about key sources of information, and welcome you to your new home. They will be wearing blue ‘Home from Home’ t-shirts.

Course induction sessions

Some course teams arrange for us to come and meet the new international students in their cohorts. Details of these sessions will be in your induction timetables on My Studies.

In-person events

Welcome tea party

28 September 2023
Thursday
3–5pm
City campus

Join us for a traditional English tea party in the quad of the Grand Parade building. We’ll be eating scones with jam and cream, drinking tea, and playing some lawn games. There is a £2 charge to book a ticket, which will be refunded after you have attended the event.

Book on the Welcome tea party

Fish and chips social

4 October 2023
Wednesday
6–8pm
Brighton

Fish and chips are a classic British dish with a long history. This is the perfect way to try this traditional British meal – overlooking the sea! Tickets are £5 and include a fish and chip dinner, plus a sweet treat.

Book on the Fish and chips social

Community gardening taster

6 October 2023
Friday
10.30am–12.30pm
Moulsecoomb campus

Volunteering is a key part of UK culture. We are holding a taster session for a Moulsecoomb based community organisation, Nurture Through Nature. This group grows fruit and vegetables for local food banks. The session will involve working with member of the group to help with all various tasks involved with growing vegetables. A free packed lunch is included.

Book onto the Community gardening taster

Ceilidh dance party

12 October 2023
Thursday
7–11.59pm
Moulsecoomb campus

A ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) is a traditional Scottish and Irish dance event featuring live Gaelic music from those countries. The event is suitable for absolute beginners as an experience instructor or ‘caller’ will teach you the basic steps to each dance before the music starts! Tickets are £5 which includes entrance to the event plus a £5 drink voucher to use at the bar.

Book on the Ceilidh dance party

What you can expect

Getting from the airport to the university

We do not run an airport meet and greet service, however we have detailed information on travelling to the university, including details of how to arrange a private taxi transfer.

If you would like more bespoke travel advice please contact us: orientation@brighton.ac.uk.

Online orientation

Online orientation will take place in 2 parts; each of which will be run twice to ensure everyone has the opportunity to take part.

Copies of all the presentations from online orientation are available on our blog.

Online orientation part 1

This will include talks from key members of support staff on:

International Student Support Services
Social activities and ways to get involved in university life
Advice on looking for accommodation in the private sector.

Dates: 14 August / 11 September

Online orientation part 2

This will include key information on:

Everyday life in the UK
Working in the UK
Accessing healthcare in the UK
Staying safe in the UK
Using public transport in Brighton and Eastbourne.

Dates: 15 August / 12 September

Our culture shock toolkit

Culture shock describes the impact of moving from a familiar culture to one that is unfamiliar. All sorts of factors contribute to culture shock, such as a change in climate, different food, rules of behaviour that seem strange and hard to understand, and being away from your familiar support network. Studying in another country can be a stressful experience; even if it is something you have planned and prepared for.

Our culture shock toolkit is an interactive resource which can help you prepare for adjusting to life in the UK and to anticipate some of the differences you might encounter in the UK.

See our video guide to enrolling yourself on the course via My Studies, or email us (orientation@brighton.ac.uk) with your student number and we will enrol you on the course.

Read about culture shock on the UKCISA website.

Late-arrivals

We understand that sometimes students are not able to attend our online orientation events. We have made sure any student arriving late is still able to access the information they need about living in the UK, and take part in our welcome events.

Copies of all the presentations from online orientation are available on our blog.
- Check out our information on Living in the UK.
Our in person orientation events will continue beyond the first weeks of term and up to the end of October so you will still be able to take part event if you are not able to arrive for the main start of term.

Please note: if you will be unable to start your course on the date shown on your CAS, either for personal reasons or because you will not have your Student visa by then, you must contact us to check if it is still possible for you to begin your studies this academic year.