Study Abroad at the University of Brighton, England

The 3 months I spent in Brighton were the absolute best 3 months of my life. Hands down. I wish I never had to leave. The people there were amazing and had SO MUCH FUN. All of the study abroad field trips were fascinating and enjoyable. I got to see so much in so little time. Brighton itself is ADORABLE. There are so many cute shops and restaurants it's impossible to stop by every one. The beach is amazing and the pier has food and arcade games and rides. It's a great place to go. The place the study abroad students lived was nice, my only complaint being how far it was from Brighton. It was approximately a half hour bus ride from Brighton, which isn't bad, but when you're waking up early for class or staying out late in town it can be a pain. Luckily the bus comes right by campus. I joined the Drama Society and made most of my friends that way. It was such a great experience and everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Not just the students but staff as well. I'm hoping to go back there over the summer to see the friends I made there. Studying abroad at the University of Brighton was the best decision I ever made.

The decision to student teach in England was the best decision of my life. I started off with reservations of being away from my family for so long, but now I am glad that I changed my mind. I have had such an amazing time and have grown as a teacher. The memories I made here will be with my for a lifetime. Everything was amazing from the host family, the school I was placed at, the trips I went on, and even the food! Mary and Becca were amazing throughout and you will absolutely Love them! The teacher I was placed with is amazing, and I now have a great friend. It is also a really great expereince to learn about a new culture and how it compares to the United States. You may not be student teaching in England, but either way you should do it for your program. Not only was this an awesome experience, but it will help me get a job in the future! I would 10/10 recommend you take this amazing opportunity (you won't regret it!!).

Cheers x

I had an incredible time living and studying in Brighton. The Famler campus (where I lived) was small, quiet, and surrounded by beautiful parks. The campus cafe has lots of yummy food and coffee. My course instructors were all kind and supportive. Mary and Becca (the study abroad administrators) were extremely welcoming and helpful with everyone’s needs during our exchange- they made living in Brighton feel like home. The organized trips we went on as an abroad group were absolutely amazing and was a highlight for me during my experience. Due to Brighton’s close proximity to the LGW airport traveling the rest of Europe was extremely easy and affordable! Brighton is a lovely seaside town that has amazing pubs, gardens, food, shopping, people, and energy. For future students wanting to study abroad I would highly recommend coming to Brighton. I definitely will be back in Brighton soon.

Coming from the United States the environment was always a controversial topic, and my home university did not offer a diversity of classes to take. At the University of Brighton they provided a "no nonsense" type of teaching about the environment providing me with much more information than I ever received in the United States. The classes are very interesting, and offer a wide variety of topics and information. They expect a lot of you, but allow you to learn at your own pace with a reliance on outside reading, due to only having class once a week, and is much more laid back than it is in the United States. Having class once a week, and the three-week long spring break provides a wonderful opportunity to travel from London Gatwick airport. I had the opportunity to experience 14 countries as well as taking day trips around England. The study abroad coordinators are wonderful! Some of my favorite people that I met during my stay, and organize various field trips to see England and France, as well as connecting with the other students that are abroad. All of the study abroad students are housed in the same apartment building, which allowed me to develop close friendships with my flatmates.
This program, with the freedom of learning at your own pace, and independence of traveling alone allowed me to become a better person, and fall in love with the United Kingdom. I believe Brighton is the best town to live in England, because it is a medium-sized city with a large student population. There is fun nightlife, as well as the opportunity to relax on the beach with your friends. Living in Brighton was an opportunity I'll never forget, and I highly recommend it to anyone.

The University is amazing. The study abroad staff is fun and friendly and always willing to help. Would recommend exploring the city of Brighton and England in general. Becca and Mary, the people who run the program, are super super helpful and fun, and make the experience so much better. The field trips are amazing and low cost for what you get, and the friends you make along the way are worth it.

I had the time of my life studying abroad in Brighton! Being able to visit multiple schools and see the difference between teaching in England, vs America, was such a rewarding experience. I learned a lot about incorporating drama techniques in the classroom and it has come in handy with my current class. I loved being able to experience the surrounding cities and learn about their culture. I was always exploring, and trying new things. Living there really helps your jump feet first, and understand their day to day life!

I student taught through the University of Brighton. I was there for 2 months and lived with a host family. The staff at the university were so welcoming and made you feel right at home. We were able to go on various trips organized through the university. My favorite was a weekend trip in Paris. Although it was different than the traditional study abroad program, it was a great experience both personally and professionally.

The biggest piece of advice I could give anyone coming to Brighton is to get involved! It's literally so important to get to know the locals and it really helps to have some friendly faces around. The best decision I have ever made was joining a society, it made my experience here completely worth it. I stayed for a full year and have no regrets, and sometimes even wish I could stay longer. Brighton is super independent, interesting, open, and as much fun as YOU make it. It's a big, little city and there is always something new to find, from vinyl shops to charity shops to restaurants to retail shops (most of which offer student discounts, don't be afraid to ask!), I guarantee you'll find a place you'll fall in love with. Only words of caution I would give is if you decide to live on the falmer campus, you will need a bus pass (good news is there is an app with student deals) to get into town and the Night Bus (starting usually at midnight) can feel like forever–due to extra stops. The grades are very different (I promise 70%+ is an A, don't panic) and schooling in general is more independent work. You will have plenty of free time to hang out with the new friends you make! Last bit of advice is to not let the common language fool you, England is it's own unique place with it's own slang and differences (if you're from the US like me you might be confused at times, though most people will clear up the confusion if you just ask), it's just like studying abroad any other place, you will have to learn the culture and be able to go with the flow in order to really enjoy your time.