Study Abroad at the University of Brighton, England

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.

Where do I even start? As a general statement, the people and the places made the experience incredible. The exchange students were all lovely, and my flatmates, classmates, lecturers, and randoms met along the way are people who impacted my life in so many different ways. Being able to visit so many places in the UK and Europe was a great by-product of studying - its hard to pick a highlight when each place and experience was so unique. Being able to visit some of the world’s design capitals - Scandinavia, London, Switzerland, Barcelona- was amazing to see in the flesh what we can only read about at home. Going on the Brighton surf trip to Morocco, skiing in the Swiss alps, sinking pints of Guinness in Dublin, sailing through the Nordic fjords and all the other trips are definitely lifelong memories i’m grateful to have. My expectations were exceeded: the course was so different to my home university, which served as a much-needed creative rejuvenation half way through my third year. I met so many talented, incredible people (students, great lecturers, people in the community, practicing creatives) and made the most of the collaborative vibe at Brighton. There were fundamentally no limits – new techniques, ideas and approaches were welcome and encouraged. England is also pretty great to live in – the culture is very similar to NZ, there is no language barrier and the access to design opportunities is endless. Also, Brighton’s close proximity to Gatwick Airport meant travel around Europe was so easy, despite protest from my bank account.

The University of Brighton is located just minutes away from the amazing seaside city of the same name. Brighton itself is beautiful, fun, exciting, and full of incredible clubs, coffee shops, theaters, and there is always something new to experience every day from a "Ghost Tour" of the historic Laines to karaoke night at the King and Queen pub! The University itself is spread over several campuses with most study abroad students living on the scenic and lovely Falmer campus which is surrounded by rolling hills and stunning sunsets. The academics, at least in the Humanities school are fairly casual and not too demanding while still being fascinating topics taught by knowledgeable professors . However, this casual atmosphere leaves plenty of time to explore Brighton and travel outside the country. However, I mainly went on trips with the lovely USAC program to lots of amazing places in England including Bath, Stonehenge, and Oxford to name a few, as well as the wonderful and unforgettable trip to Paris! I found these trips very cost effective and well organized, led by the amazing Becca and Mary, our program leaders! They were so kind and warm, and made the transition to a new country very easy and assuring. I would recommend this program to anyone looking for an experience in a homey but edgy city with tons of history and charm, in addition to a flexible schedule with plenty of time for personal adventures!

The staff were excellent in helping everyone to transition to the change of the culture and academics. We were given a list of resources to help us while we were here, as well as open communication for any questions or concerns we may have. The field trips offered with the program were great to see and understand more of the country. Becca and Mary were absolutely fabulous and always provided great insight as well as laughs. The instructors were great and helped clear any confusion I had about the classes and coursework. So sad to leave but I can’t wait to come back.

Wonderful experience with an amazing staff! Would highly reccomend to all students! Location was stunning and the academics were interesting if not entirely challenging. I loved the stunning scenery and the AMAZING opportunities to travel with the program to places all over england. My favorite program would be the trip to Paris as it was stunning and so much fun! Becca and Mary were amazing staff and I am so thankful they had helped us feel comfortable in the country and like it was truly a home away from home. I wish I could come back over and over again.

Brighton is the absolute perfect place to study abroad. The city is amazing and you instantly feel at home and at ease. There is so much to do, and if you're coming from a big city or a small town, you will find your place in Brighton. Mary, Becca, and Zoe of the study abroad team and all of my professors were excellent, friendly, and made an effort to get to know me. This program also really stands out from other study abroad programs because of the field trips. They were affordable (sometimes free!), so much fun, and gave me a chance to see things I never would have seen otherwise. I wouldn't trade my study abroad experience at Brighton for the world and wish I could have had all four years of University in such an amazing place.

I always wanted to study abroad in England so after being told about Brighton, I knew thats where I wanted to study. It is such an amazing town, you have the city with all the shopping, while also having the sea two steps away. The University is great for students coming abroad because the Study Abroad team is AMAZING. They make sure you feel comfortable every step of the way. They are there to help with picking classes and also just to have a chat if your feeling homesick! Couldn't of asked for a better support team for my year abroad. The teachers at Brighton Uni are also so helpful and understanding, they genuinely care about students doing well. Brighton will always have a special place in my heart, I couldn't imagine studying abroad anywhere else.