Events

Our year-round calendar includes open days, campus tours, Saturday clubs, summer schools and school visits. Our team also deliver advice, activities and talks for schools, colleges and at HE and careers fairs. We work online, on campus and in school and colleges.

Post-16 activities are open to all students, with priority booking for partner sixth forms and colleges, and our students who have taken part on our Widening Participation programme.  

Many of our events are currently running online and we are developing a blended approach with online and a return to face-to-face activities as soon as we can. 

COVID-19

We would be happy to work with you to tailor our programme of online activities and resources to suit your students. Online activities can be delivered by staff and student ambassadors from September 2020. We can also explore options for our team to visit your school. 

Our student ambassadors will be delivering in-person activities in schools from January 2021 at the earliest. 

We will be following the government's advice closely and will keep our plans under constant review. If we feel we can safely bring students on to campus before January 2021 we will keep you updated.

Find out about our online events

Events for secondary schools

Campus visits 

Key stage 3 (years 7, 8 and 9) campus visits 
Our key stage 3 campus visits are about raising awareness and giving pupils an overview of university life. Mainly delivered by our students, pupils go on a tour, take part in an interactive information session and a hands-on taster session in subjects such as architecture, engineering and psychology.

Key stage 4 (year 10) campus visits 
Key stage 4 campus visits are designed to give pupils information to help with decisions about the next stages of their education. As well as a campus tour and interactive subject specific tasters, these visits include a more detailed information session covering finance, student life, pathways and subject choices. Pupils can talk both to our outreach team and current students. 

2014GradShow_BrightonUni_030

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. Pupils work on an exciting project on campus, make new friends and are introduced to studying at university.

All Saturday clubs are free including lunch and travel costs. Support may also be available for pupils travelling from outside Brighton. 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.

Planning for our 2021 Saturday clubs is underway, and dates will be announced as soon as they are confirmed.

Formula 24
Pupils from years 7–10 are invited to join our popular F24 Saturday club, working with students and staff from our engineering courses in small teams to build a Formula 24 racing car which they race at Goodwood Racecourse.

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.

Chemistry
Students in year 10-13 studying relevant subjects are invited to gain experience in cutting edge science in university laboratories, focusing on chemistry and its use in our everyday lives.

Racing cars at Goodwood

Formula 24 Saturday Club

The University Game

Pupils in year 7 learn about different aspects of university life by playing our university board game. Our student ambassadors bring anecdotes and experiences to the game and bring the idea of going to university to life.  

The idea is to discuss not only the academic side of university but also the life skills and experiences you gain as a student that help you become a successful graduate.

University board game

Mentoring 

The University Experience project
We offer an academic mentoring project for year 9 pupils. Student ambassadors from a number of subject areas prepare research tasks for pupils to work on in small 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. Projects take place over a month and where possible include a visit to the university.

Year 10 Mentoring
The year 10 mentoring project consists of five sessions focusing on study skills and learning about university experiences through interactive workshops and presentations with our student ambassadors. Each session is 1–2 hours long and includes small group mentoring. Sessions are held at school and where possible at a University of Brighton campus, including a tour by 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 university 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.
Outreach talks

Revision workshop years 10 and 11

This school-based session can be delivered as a talk or workshop and tailored to meet the needs of the school.

By the end of the session pupils will:

  • have an understanding of the different learning styles and be given the opportunity to reflect on their individual preferred learning style
  • practice three different revision methods applied to their current studies.

The session will also provide a wider context for their current studies with the aim of motivating students to see the purpose of their GCSE exams.

Assemblies 

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.

Parents evenings 

Parent’s option evening: years 8 and 9

Our team and our student ambassadors can attend option 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 and our student ambassadors can attend parents evenings to talk about pathways and post-16 subject areas and courses available, along with any general university questions. This can be as a stand or talk.

Events for colleges and mature students


Campus visits 

We can tailor our campus visits related to student's subject area of interest. The visits typically run for 2.5 hours at one of our campuses and include:

  • an introductory talk to the university and an overview related to a subject area
  • a student life talk and Q&A session delivered by students ambassadors
  • a taster lecture and/or course overview from an academic/ ambassador from a related course
  • a campus tour.

Depending on the size of group, there’s the option to stay and have lunch on site, or some college groups head into Brighton to see the city. 

It is also possible to include a session on personal statements, interviews, or student finance.

Student ambassadors

Academic excellence

We offer visits and 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. 

Big visits
Big visits include lectures, workshops and activities in a particular subject area. They are a great way to get an idea of what it’s like to study a subject at university and include chats with current students plus a campus tour. If booking from a sixth form or college, these events are ideal for whole classes.

Conferences
Attending our conferences gives students the opportunity to experience a range of lectures and workshops in a broad subject area.

Academic tasters
Academic tasters gives students the chance to experience what it’s like to study a course in their area of interest. All taster events are held on campus and include a lecture or workshop from an academic, plus chats with current students and a campus tour.

City campus big visit feminism talk

Post-16 talks

Our Outreach team offers a comprehensive programme of talks to provide support throughout college, covering all aspect of applying to university. Activities can be delivered either on a University of Brighton campus or at your school/college as a talk or workshop for smaller groups.

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
A look at what universities want from applicants, focusing on writing a strong personal statement. We look at how students can identify and write about their transferable skills and get them 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 access our online applicant portal, 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.

Routes into healthcare courses
This talk is for students interested in NHS professions including nursing, midwifery, paramedic practice, occupational therapy, podiatry, physiotherapy, public health, nutrition and social work. It includes information about routes into the professions, placements, admissions, personal statements and funding.

Routes into teaching
This talk is for students interested in training to become a teacher, primary or secondary, taking students through options for undergraduate routes and postgraduate routes including work experience, bursaries and personal statements.

City campus big visit environment

Subject talks in colleges 

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 evening 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 four seminars.

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

Book onto our Parents and carers seminar series.

Mother with daughter starting university

Taster sessions in colleges 

These lecture-style 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 18th and 19th 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?

 

Summer schools

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.

Our summer schools usually take place on campus – this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, we ran them online instead. Students were able to take part in similar activities, but online. The programme included lectures, informal discussions, careers and university information, study skills and fun online social events each evening.

Printmaking

Summer school subjects

We 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, geology and environment
  • health  
  • humanities – eg history, English and philosophy
  • media 
  • 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.

Students can apply using this application form.

General 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
Our next open days will run online in Autumn 2020. Bookings will be open 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 campus 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.

Outreach talks

Get in touch

Contact the outreach team

Enquiries team

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

Chat to a student​

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