Application process

1. Choose your course

The first step to postgraduate study is to decide which course you're interested in. Research and compare – look at what the course covers and what entry qualifications and experience the course requires.

2. Choose how to study and check entry requirements

Will you need to work during your degree? Is it important that the course offers flexible study options? The University of Brighton offers a range of full and part-time courses for postgraduates, so you can balance your work-life commitments.

You should also check the entry requirements of your chosen course. If you need help to meet the English language entry requirements, you can take a preparation programme at our Language Institute.

3. Come to an open evening

There’s no better way to explore your future opportunities for postgraduate study than at an open evening.

Attending an open evening will give you the chance to meet the staff who will be teaching your course, take a tour of the course facilities and get a feel for the university.

4. Make your application

For most of our postgraduate courses you should apply directly to the university, with the exception of Social Work MSc, where application is through UCAS, and teacher training courses where application is through UCAS Teacher Training (UTT).

Application for courses opens in mid-September. It is advisable to apply early as offers are made as good applications come in. Moreover, the sooner you have a place, the more sources of funding you'll be able to investigate and apply for.

However, don't apply until you are ready – you need to put the research in and, for some courses, relevant experience might be necessary.

5. Processing your application

6. Attend an interview

We will contact you if you need to attend an interview. Courses that usually require an interview are:

• architecture
• art and design
• medicine
• nursing
• occupational therapy
• PGCE and teaching
• physiotherapy
• podiatry
• social work.

7. Receive your offer

Your formal offer of a place at Brighton will be sent to you via the applicant area of studentcentral, so it's important to activate your university user account and check your applicant area regularly.

You will receive an email letting you know when the status of your application changes, and will be able to see your offer and any conditions attached to it in the information on your offer tab in the applicant area.

We can also send you your offer letter through the post, upon request.

8. Respond to your offer

You can accept your offer to study with us through the applicant area at any time. You'll need to accept your offer with us before the start of term (28 September 2020).

If you have decided not to study with us this year, you can also decline your offer through the applicant area.

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, get in touch with us as soon as possible by sending us a message through the 'Your messages' page of the applicant area.

9. Important tasks for international students

Tuition fee deposit

If you are a self-funded international student from a country outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), after you have applied and been offered a place on a course, you will need to pay a tuition fee deposit of £3,000 before we can issue you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number. You need a CAS number in order to make your visa application.

If you are starting a course with us in September 2020 you must provide us with your tuition fee deposit by 31 August 2020.

You can pay your tuition fee deposit online or by using the bank transfer service partnered with Western Union, which allows you to pay in your local currency.

Immigration

If you are a national of a non-European Economic Area (EEA) country and you do not already have a UK visa or residence permit that allows you to study at the university, you will need to obtain a visa to study with us.

Orientation

If you are an international or EU student you can sign up to our free orientation programme that runs the week before term begins. The orientation programme allows you to meet other students and get to explore your new city.

10. Consider your funding options

UK and EU students

There are a number of funding options for UK and EU postgraduate students; this includes government loans, specialist postgraduate study bank loans, as well as bursaries and generous university scholarships.

International students

We offer lots of scholarships especially for international students studying a postgraduate course with us.

11. Apply for accommodation

The deadline to apply for university accommodation will be published soon.

If you're an international student you are guaranteed a place in university accommodation if you accept your academic offer and apply for accommodation by the deadline. 

Once you've accepted your offer, we'll email you to invite you to apply for accommodation.

12. Finally... read our next steps for new students

Once you've completed all of these steps, you're on your way to becoming a student at Brighton.

There are just a few more things you should do to prepare for your course, you can find out more on our new student webpages.