University in United Kingdom
Brighton, England, United Kingdom
University profile
The University of Brighton is a public university in Brighton & Hove on the south coast of England. It traces its roots to 1859, when the town's School of Art opened in one of the kitchens of the Royal Pavilion, and gained university status in 1992. It has 17,000 students and 2,150 staff and is a member of the University Alliance. Subjects range from medicine, pharmacy and engineering to psychology, illustration, sport science and English literature.
Teaching takes place on three campuses in Brighton: City in the city centre opposite the Royal Pavilion, Moulsecoomb two miles north of the centre and the largest campus and student village, and Falmer on the edge of the South Downs, next to Stanmer Park and the Amex Stadium. The university-run Varley Park halls lie between Moulsecoomb and Falmer.
From August 2026 academic leadership is organised in two Colleges, the College of Health, Education and Public Life and the College of Creativity, Technology and Society, each led by an Executive Dean, with departmental heads taking office from January 2027. Courses are delivered through the School of Applied Sciences; School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering; School of Art and Media; School of Business and Law; School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences; and School of Humanities and Social Science. The Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) is a joint partnership with the University of Sussex, and the Brighton Doctoral College oversees research degrees.
Research is organised through nine Centres of Research and Knowledge Exchange Excellence, including the Advanced Engineering Centre, the Centre for Design History and the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices, alongside 25 Research Excellence Groups. The City campus holds the internationally important Design Archives and one of the country's best-stocked specialist art and design libraries. More than 200 courses are recognised by professional bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the General Pharmaceutical Council, RIBA and BCS, and the business school holds AACSB accreditation.
Halls of residence are on or close to each campus, and every eligible first-year student who makes Brighton their firm choice and books by the deadline is guaranteed a place in halls. Student life includes more than 40 sports clubs under the Brighton Panthers banner, over 70 Students' Union societies and Sport Brighton facilities at each location. Staff and students come from over 150 countries, and the on-campus University of Brighton International College offers preparation courses for international applicants who need them.
The university received a Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023. Ofsted rated its initial teacher education partnership 'outstanding' in early years, primary and secondary.
Full-time UK/Home undergraduates pay £9,790 a year in 2026–27 (£10,050 in 2027–28, subject to parliamentary approval), with a placement year at £1,958 and the School of Business and Law integrated foundation year at £5,760. UK/Home taught postgraduate fees start from £9,720, and PhD/MPhil fees are £5,238. Full-time international undergraduate fees are £17,796–£19,692 (placement year £2,280; BSMS medicine £49,000). International taught postgraduate fees are £17,748–£21,114, PhD £15,500 (classroom-based) or £16,980 (lab-based), and professional doctorates £18,150. International students may pay the balance in two instalments. UK fees | International fees
The University of Brighton bursary pays £500 cash in each year of study to eligible full-time students from England with a household income of up to £25,000 who receive the full Student Finance England package. The Care leaver's bursary and Estranged students bursary each pay £1,000 in each year of study. No separate application is needed; eligibility is assessed through UCAS and Student Finance England information. Bursaries
Brighton Boost gives eligible first-year, full-time Home undergraduates (bursary-eligible or from English IMD Q1–Q3 postcodes) up to £1,000 off University of Brighton halls rent, or £500, £700 or £1,000 towards travel costs for students not in halls depending on distance. Combined with a bursary, support can reach £1,500–£2,000 in the first year. Eligibility is assessed automatically. Brighton Boost
Vice-Chancellor international undergraduate scholarships give a £4,000 fee reduction across a three-year degree (£2,000 in year one and £1,000 in years two and three), applied automatically to eligible self-funded new students (excluding BSMS and MPharm). Vice-Chancellor international postgraduate scholarships give £2,000 off first-year fees and can be combined with a £500 early-bird confirmation discount, Deans' Global Talent Awards (£500–£1,000), Future STEM Scholars' Awards (£2,500 on selected technology and engineering courses) or USA Scholars' Awards (£1,000), for a total discount of £3,500–£5,000. Sports scholarships, alumni postgraduate scholarships and the Ruby Lee Progression scholarship (History of Design and Material Culture MA) are also offered, and Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships can be held at Brighton. An international student hardship fund supports full-fee international students facing unforeseen financial difficulty. International scholarships
UK students can apply for sports scholarships and outreach progression scholarships for business courses; postgraduate options include alumni scholarships, the Change studentship (Curating Collections and Heritage MA), the Freelands Studio Fellowship and a Royal Town Planning Institute scholarship. Research studentships are advertised through the Doctoral College. Nursing, midwifery and allied health students may apply to the NHS Learning Support Fund, and the Student Support Fund helps with short-term hardship. Enquiries: [email protected]. UK scholarships | Research studentships
Vice-Chancellor International Undergraduate Scholarship →
Vice-Chancellor International Postgraduate Scholarship →
Deans' Global Talent Award (Postgraduate) →
Browse the scholarships listed for University of Brighton and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for University of Brighton →Full-time undergraduate degrees are applied for through UCAS (institution code B72 for the University of Brighton and B74 for Brighton and Sussex Medical School). For 2026 entry the main UCAS deadline is 14 January 2026; UCAS Extra runs from 26 February to 1 July, and Clearing opens on 2 July. Part-time degrees, short courses and some top-up degrees are applied for directly to the university. Applicants track their application, book interviews and applicant days through Student View.
Brighton operates a flexible admissions policy: standard entry requirements are a guide, applications are considered individually and the UCAS tariff is used to recognise a wide range of qualifications, including A-levels, BTEC, the International Baccalaureate (including standalone Higher-level subjects for some courses), T-levels and Access to HE Diplomas. Typical BTEC offers include DMM–MMM for Business Management, Computer Science, Geography and Politics, DDM–MMM for Graphic Design, DDM for Primary Education with QTS and DDM in a health or science subject for Midwifery. The minimum for the Access to HE Diploma is a Pass with 60 credits (45 at Level 3). Exact grades for each course appear in the course finder.
Home-fee applicants in the main UCAS cycle who meet contextual criteria (for example care-experienced or estranged students, young carers, free school meals eligibility, low-participation postcodes, refugee status or attendance at an outreach partner school) receive an offer at least 16 UCAS points or two A-level grades below the standard offer. Professionally accredited courses may not be able to reduce grades. Some courses require an interview or information day, and some art and design courses require a portfolio. Health courses require a health check and satisfactory DBS certificate, and initial teacher education courses carry government requirements.
International students apply through UCAS or directly to the university, for example when Brighton is their only choice or when applying for a top-up degree with a foundation degree or HND. Country equivalence guides compare overseas qualifications with UK ones. Applicants without the required qualifications can take a preparation course at the on-campus University of Brighton International College. International applicants to Aerospace Engineering MEng or Mechanical Engineering MEng need an ATAS certificate unless exempt by nationality.
Undergraduate courses use three levels: Standard (IELTS 6.0 overall, 5.5 in each component), High (IELTS 6.5 overall, 5.5 in each component) and Advanced (IELTS 7.0 overall, 6.5 in each component). Equivalents include PTE Academic 59/62/67, LanguageCert Academic 65/70/75, Duolingo 110/125/135, Kaplan Test of English 444/478/500 and TOEFL iBT, Cambridge, Trinity ISE, Oxford ELLT and Oxford Test of English scores. Postgraduate taught courses use the High and Advanced levels. Tests must be taken within two years of the course start. The university also delivers its own English language test through the Brighton Skills Hub. Evidence of English is required before a CAS can be issued.
Most taught postgraduate courses (MA, MSc, MBA, LLM, PGCert, PGDip) are applied for directly through the online application system; Social Work MSc is through UCAS and primary and secondary PGCE courses through DfE Apply, which opens in October. Applications for most courses open in September and generally have no fixed deadline, although applicants needing a visa should apply early. Term starts on 28 September 2026 for most courses. Entry requirements are set for each course.
PhD applicants normally need a recognised masters degree with a significant research component, substantial research or professional experience at postgraduate level, or (unless a school specifies otherwise) a first or upper second class honours degree. Applications include a research proposal and are made through the online portal; only advertised funding streams are available and speculative applications are not accepted. Decisions normally take four to six weeks, and an online interview may follow. Intake is rolling, with start dates on the first working day of the month. PhD English requirements are IELTS 6.5 (no component below 6.0) for Applied Sciences and Technology and Engineering, and IELTS 7.0 (7.0 in writing, no component below 6.5) for other disciplines.
Non-UK nationals without the right to study in the UK need a Student visa. International undergraduate and taught postgraduate applicants pay a £5,000 tuition fee deposit before a CAS is issued (exemptions include full sponsorship, full scholarships such as Chevening, US Federal loans and progressing International College students). Research applicants are advised to apply at least four months before their intended start date.
Each campus has a library with group study rooms and silent study areas, and students have access to over 500 open-access computers plus TV and photography studios. All halls include utility bills, contents insurance, 24/7 security and support and a social programme.
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