Events and activities for schools

Assemblies

We have developed a range of online activities and resources at University of Brighton.

Our short assembly presentations are pre-recorded videos tailored to year groups for use in tutor time.

Years 7, 8 and 9

Theme: What could I do at university? Will I fit in?
To provide pupils with examples of university life, increasing their confidence that they could succeed at university. We explore the academic, social, economic and personal benefits of university, so students understand the opportunities available in higher education and at the University of Brighton.

Years 10 and 11

Theme: What do I need to do to go to university? What should I do at college? Why should I go to university?
To provide knowledge of the university application process and financial support, increasing pupils' confidence in their capacity to go to university. We explore learning styles and transferable skills required for university, and provide information on the range of university subjects available. We discuss pathways available in higher education and at the University of Brighton.

To access pre-16 activities please contact outreach@brighton.ac.uk for more information.

Revision workshop resources 

These resources introduce revision skills to years 10 and 11. They will help students with planning, organising and reflecting on their studies in preparation for exams and further learning. 

The PDFs and presentations can be used as a set or individually, and can also be used as a workshop session.

Resources include:

• Get Ready for Revision
• Revision Techniques: an introduction
• How to use Mind Maps
• Creating Flash Cards
• Active Listening

To access pre-16 activities please contact outreach@brighton.ac.uk for more information.

Saturday clubs

Saturday clubs offer secondary school pupils the chance to take part in a subject-based project led by University of Brighton academics and undergraduates. This year, these projects will be online. Pupils work on an exciting project, meet students from other schools and are introduced to university study.

All Saturday clubs are free. Planning for our 2020–21 Saturday clubs is underway, and dates will be announced as soon as they are confirmed.

To apply for a place, pupils should fill in an application form with their parents or carers. Priority is given to students who are part of our Widening Participation programme.

The following are our Saturday clubs that will run. We are also developing further clubs, including arts and product design. 

Architecture and design

Pupils from years 9–11 are invited to take part in exciting architecture and product design workshops. Students will gain hands-on experience and develop skills in visualising, making and drawing.

Design and craft

Pupils in years 9–11 are invited to an exciting experience of designing and making in our wood, metals, ceramics and polymers workshops, centred around the theme From Taste to Waste.

Photography

Pupils in years 9–11 can join our new Photography Club, an artist-led programme to develop technical and creative skills, creating their own portfolio and gaining a Bronze Arts Award.

To access pre-16 activities please contact outreach@brighton.ac.uk for more information.

Parents evenings

This year we are happy to attend virtual parents evenings you are hosting. 

Parent’s option evening: years 8 and 9

Our team can attend virtual school parents evenings to be on hand for parents to discuss their child’s GCSE pathways and university subjects.

Parent’s pathways evening: years 10 and 11

Our team can attend virtual school parents evenings to talk about pathways and post-16 subject areas and courses available, along with any general university questions.

To access pre-16 activities please contact outreach@brighton.ac.uk for more information.

Mentoring

We are working with East Sussex County Council to develop existing activities into online interactive sessions which will meet Gatsby benchmark 7.

Schools in an area with higher number of students not engaging in higher education can access mentoring support.

The University Experience project

We offer an online academic mentoring project for year 9 pupils. Student ambassadors from a number of subject areas prepare research tasks for pupils to work on in groups. Pupils are guided through how to research and write an academic piece of work, supported with carefully prepared resources, essay plans and online mentoring.

Year 10 and 11 online mentoring

This mentoring project consists of five sessions focusing on study skills and learning about university experiences through interactive workshops and presentations with our student ambassadors. The aims of the programme are to:

• present education as a positive step toward future careers and goals 
• help students (re)engage with education ahead of GCSEs 
• use our student mentors as positive role models
• improve self-confidence of students in their own abilities 
• challenge and discuss methods of overcoming obstacles to learning 
• examine career aspirations and identify steps to progress in different career fields.

To access pre-16 activities please contact outreach@brighton.ac.uk for more information.

Subject explorers

We offer tasters in subject areas including:
arts and architecture; business and law; computing and maths; education and teaching; engineering and construction; geography; geology and environment; health; humanities; media; natural sciences; social sciences; and sport and exercise. 

Attending our tasters gives students the opportunity to experience lectures and workshops in a broad subject area.

Focus tasters

Focus tasters gives students a more in-depth experience of what it’s like to study a course in their area of interest. All taster events include a lecture or workshop from an academic, plus chats with  students and a campus tour.

Post-16 talks

Our Outreach team offers a comprehensive programme of talks to provide support throughout college, covering all aspect of applying to university. These talks are delivered online.

Thinking about university

We help students to think about what to consider about going to university including; types of higher education institution, researching course options, and whether higher education is right for them.
Autumn (year 13, Access students), any time (year 12)

Student life talk

Our students deliver this talk about the student experience. It gives an insight into life as a student and covers transition issues such as moving in, living in halls of residence or the private sector, adapting to a different learning environment, spare time, clubs and societies, support available and living on a budget.
Autumn (year 13, Access students), any time (year 12)

Applying to university, including personal statements

We cover the UCAS application process, including the UCAS timeline, what universities are looking for in applicants, and focusing on how to write a strong personal statement. We look at how students can identify and write about their transferable skills and help students to get started on their own personal statement.
Autumn (year 13, Access students), summer (year 12)

Interview preparation

How students can prepare for a university interview, providing tips, advice and information on the process.
Autumn or spring (year 13, Access students)

Student funding and finance

We cover student funding, finance and repayment arrangements as well as tips on how to manage money at university and information on bursaries.
Spring (year 13, Access students)

Getting ready for university talk

What happens next for students after applying, including information on confirmation, results day and Clearing as well as the enrolment process.
Spring or summer (year 13, Access students)

Getting ready for the University of Brighton

This talk is specifically for students who have applied to the University of Brighton. We look at what happens next after applying, how to manage your application, booking onto applicant or interview days, consider our accommodation options and discuss enrolment and settling into life as a student with us.
Spring or summer (year 13, Access students)

EPQ Library Session

An opportunity for students to explore how a university library works and develop their academic and information literacy skills, helping to prepare them for their extended project. Library staff provide tips and advice on research.

Studying healthcare courses at university 

This talk is for students interested in NHS professions including Nursing, Midwifery, Paramedic Science, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry, Physiotherapy, Nutrition and Social Work. We include information about these courses, routes into the professions, placements, admissions, personal statements and funding. 

Studying teaching courses at university  

This talk is for students who are interested in training to become a teacher, either at Primary or Secondary level. The talk will take students through the course options for both undergraduate routes and postgraduate routes including gaining experience, bursaries and personal statements. 

Studying art and design courses at university 

This talk is for students interested in art and design-related courses at university level. We include information about the application process, including producing a portfolio and entry requirements, as well as considering foundation degrees and career options.  

Virtual subject talks 

Subject talks are a valuable opportunity for students to learn about all aspects of studying a subject at university level, from application, course content, the skills you develop, placement opportunities and potential career paths.

Academics from the University of Brighton deliver the talks and currently cover the following subject areas:

• art and design
• architecture and interior architecture
• business
• civil engineering and the built environment
• creative writing

• education
• early childhood education and care
• geography
• history
• humanities
• law
• linguistics
• marketing
• media
• philosophy
• product design
• social sciences.

Parents and carers seminars

We offer a series of seminars, which aim to demystify the process of planning, applying and starting at university. The seminars offer impartial guidance which is relevant to all students.

Our rolling programme includes five seminars.

• Thinking about university
• Applying to university
• Funding and finance
• Making the most of summer
• Getting ready for university

Book onto our Parents and carers seminar series.

Taster sessions 

These sessions give insight into study at university level. These are some examples of the taster sessions we offer. Other sessions are available on request.

Archaeology

• The origins of our species 
• Prehistoric cannibalism – what did it mean? 

Art and design

• What studying dress can tell us about Orientalist taste in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries 

Business

• Consumers 10.0: How do modern marketeers keep up with consumer trends? 

Creative writing

• A hands-on exploration of creative writing
  

Hospitality

• The baker, the waiter and the academic 

Law

• The myth of common law marriage – or how you are really not equal if you don't get married! 

Marketing

• The sustainability and the future of business: the weary art of building reputation with corporate social responsibility 

Media

• Why (media) ethics? 

Philosophy

• What can philosophy offer a world divided by poverty, exclusion and inequality?

University Workbook

Our University Workbook is a detailed resource with information on why go to university, exploring options, applications, entry requirements, help on personal statements and other advice and tips.

Summer schools

Our summer schools offer sixth form and college students an insight into what it’s like to study a subject they love in higher education. Summer schools are free.

Summer schools are a great opportunity to find out more about the university experience from academics, students and university staff. Alongside taster sessions, students take part in a subject-specific project that could be used in their personal statements if they apply to university.

For summer 2021, our summer schools will be delivered online. The programme includes lectures, informal discussions, careers and university information, study skills and fun online social events each evening.

Summer school subjects

We have offered online summer schools in: 

• arts and design
• architecture and product design
• business and law
• computing and mathematics
• education and teaching  
• engineering and construction
• geography and the environment

• health  
• humanities – eg history, English and philosophy
• media 
• photography
• politics
• sciences – chemistry, biology, biomedical science and pharmacy 
• social sciences – sociology, psychology, criminology  
• sport

Who can apply

All sixth form and college students are welcome to attend our summer schools. If we're oversubscribed we will prioritise students in year 12 (first year of sixth form / college) if they:

• have parents/guardian who have not been to university
• are in care or have been in care before
• have lost contact with their family. Often referred to as estranged, but not in the care of the local authority
• have a diagnosed disability (including a learning disability)
• are a young carer
• receive the 16–19 bursary, or received free school meals or pupil premium at secondary school
• are a refugee or asylum seeker
• are studying an Access to Higher Education course or are a mature student.

Registering for the programme will give students priority access to our events.

Fairs, open days and campus tours

Visiting us is a great way to get a feel for whether we're the right university for you. There are usually events throughout the year at each of our campuses. Given current circumstances, we are working to extend our schedule of online events.

Fairs

If students can’t make it to one of our open days, they can chat to a member of our student recruitment team at a higher education fair. We attend these fairs across the UK and internationally. With events on hold at present, we are running online Q&A sessions.

We hold our annual careers fair in Brighton in November each year. It’s a great opportunity for students to speak to employers across the full range of industries.

Find out about our upcoming HE fairs.

Undergraduate open days
We are running online open days regularly. 2021 dates will be available soon.

Undergraduate applicant days
Applicant days are for students who have already applied and would like to learn more about the course and get a real sense of their chosen subject at Brighton.

University virtual tours
We aren’t able to run our campus tours at the moment but you can explore online and visit us for a virtual tour, including 360 tours of all four of our campuses.

Get in touch

Contact the outreach team

• General outreach enquiries, email outreach@brighton.ac.uk
• If you know who you are looking for, visit our Meet the team page

Enquiries team

• Call the university enquiries team on 01273 644644​, or they're available on live chat.

Chat to a student​

• Our students are also available to chat online www.brighton.ac.uk/chat

Follow us online

• Youtube: UniversityBrighton
• Twitter: uoboutreach
• Facebook: universityofbrighton
• Instagram: Uniofbrighton
• The student room

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