2025 in Review: Celebrating a year of ambition, breakthroughs and real-world impact

From world-leading research to community partnerships, student success and global impact, 2025 showcased the University of Brighton at its boldest and best.

10 December 2025

Here are some of the standout moments that defined our year:

January

The University of Brighton was awarded the highest sports education accreditation by CIMSPA for delivering pioneering sports and physical exercise degrees.
Brighton jumped into the top 30 of the latest People & Planet university league table, climbing 16 places to become the fourth most sustainable university in the south-east.
And renowned virologist and University of Brighton lecturer Dr Sarah Pitt was elected President of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).

University of Brighton - Strength and Conditioning

Students in the Strength and and Conditioning Suite

Professor Donna Whitehad on stage with graduate

February

Our new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Donna Whitehead rounded off her first week in office by presiding over graduation ceremonies for over 2,000 students at the Brighton Centre.
Brighton students ‘saved hearts and lives’ on Valentine’s Day with 24-hour CPR marathon, raising more than £5000 for the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex.
The University of Brighton led a pioneering initiative to make ICUs more environmentally friendly with the launch of groundbreaking sustainability guidance.

March

A major UNESCO Biosphere event united Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco, sustainability experts and other young changemakers at the university to discuss how food choices impact the planet.
Psychotherapist and lecturer Charlotte Wilcox launched the city’s first dedicated queer therapy hub to bridge the gap between traditional psychotherapy and queer-specific support.
And Mechanical Engineering student Herculas Pretorius landed a breakthrough contract to play professional American football in Europe just months after breaking into Great Britain’s senior men’s team.

Herculas Pretorius

Student conducts interview at Brighton Marathon

April

The University partnered with Brighton Marathon for the second year giving Brighton students the opportunity to gain real-world experience to boost their employability.
Meanwhile, our Aerospace Engineering degrees were also accredited by The Royal Aeronautical Society, affirming the high quality and practical focus of the curriculum.
And Brighton researchers led a groundbreaking study which offered new insights into how a simple ice slushy could protect against heat exhaustion for the elderly and vulnerable.

May

University of Brighton degree apprenticeships were commended by Ofsted with a ‘Good’ overall effectiveness rating following an inspection by the education regulator.
Software Engineering student Abdulmalik Alshamari won a global prize for his AI tool that predicts sports injuries and could change how sports teams handle player health.
The Sussex Institute of Medicines Education and Research (SIMER) - a new hub to transform pharmacy education and research across Sussex opened at University of Brighton.

SIMER team with England Pharmacy Chief, David Webb

A woman in a wetsuit and woman in a swimsuit and swimming cap swim in an open water swimming pool.

Sadie Rockcliffe in a pool with visually impaired swimmer

June

The University of Brighton was ranked in the top 4.3% by the Center for World University Rankings, earning a place among the world's leading universities.
Brighton researchers led a €7.3m EU-funded project to develop injectable hydrogel treatment which could enable healing of chronic wounds from the inside out.
The university’s Graduate Show kicked off a summer of creative excellence with final-year students presenting their bold and original work from a wide range of creative disciplines.
University of Brighton researcher Sadie Rockliffe’s new project exploring inclusive open water swimming with the visually impaired, morphed into a national campaign to make blue spaces more accessible for all.

July

We launched our largest ever summer schools programme, giving young people from underrepresented backgrounds a chance to explore university life and future pathways.
A University of Brighton-led study funded by the Sussex Cancer Fund explored how psychological stress may impact the development and treatment of endometrial cancer.
Brighton Nursing students volunteered to offer hands-on care for people with complex health needs in Lourdes, as part of a unique international placement on one of the UK’s largest faith-based pilgrimages.

Nursing students wearing blue smile to have their picture taken with a Cardinal in front of a church

Student nurses at Lourdes

Will Pendray poses with his book

August

The university awarded Ted Brown an honorary doctorate degree, for his trailblazing LGBT activism at our week-long summer graduation ceremonies for the class of 2025.
Ex-prisoner Will Pendray who turned to poetry as a lifeline in jail published his debut anthology, shaped by his postgraduate studies at the University of Brighton.
Brighton researchers developed a new sensor technology to detect counterfeit medicine, making drug verification faster, more reliable and affordable.

September

We were awarded the Race Equality Charter (REC) Silver Award by Advance HE, becoming one of only six universities in the UK to hold this prestigious recognition.
The year’s Knowledge Exchange Framework results also confirmed the University of Brighton ranks in the top tier for delivering economic and social benefits with partners.
And a first-of-its-kind study by Brighton researchers and citizen scientists uncovered alarming levels of microplastics and fibreglass in the River Itchen which is a globally recognised rare chalk stream.

Race Equality Charter Silver badge

Brighton Alumna, Dara Lutes

October

We launched a new scholarship programme with The Jim Jackson Foundation to offer talented students from our partner colleges in the south-east the opportunity to study business.
Researchers at the Brighton Integrated Genomics Unit created the world’s first genetically stable, lab-grown stem cell models of Progeria, paving the way for research in heart ageing and rare diseases.
Creative Writing graduate Dara Lute’s dissertation-turned-novel was nominated for and won popular acclaim at the prestigious Comedy Women in Print awards.

November

Our University was crowned the most LGBTQ+ friendly university in the UK, reflecting our long-standing commitment to inclusion and the voices of students who make Brighton a place where everyone can thrive.
We were awarded £2.5 million from the Office for Students (OfS) to transform teaching spaces and enhance the student experience across our Moulsecoomb and Falmer campuses.
Our researchers worked with the Brighton and Hove City Council to tackle toxic road runoff and protect 90% of the city’s drinking water from pollution.

LGBTQ+ Pride flags in front of Brighton Pier

Professor John Unsworth OBE, QICN Chair x Emily Leon x Steph Lawrence MBE, Chief Executive of the QICN

Emily Kay Leon poses with Queen's Nurse award certificate

December

We joined forces with NatWest for a new accelerator hub to drive student business innovation and local SME growth in the region.
Our researchers started a national project to develop a diagnostic tool to locate human sources of pollution in UK rivers to ensure cleaner, safer water for swimming and drinking.
Two University of Brighton-trained nurses were awarded the prestigious Queen’s Nurse title for their outstanding leadership and commitment as community nurses.