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The overall ranking is decided by students from this institution rating them in a 2026 Whatuni review. This forms the basis of the Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs for short).
4.04.04.51855 Student reviews
Sort:Latest reviews18-24 years
The campus is fantastic and generally a lovely place to be, it is architecturally mind-blowing - study spaces are heavily populated throughout and there are tons of social spaces. The student life speaks for itself, being in Brighton, and the SU backs this up heavily. However, some areas feel underdeveloped, some facilities are very dated and feel like they need a bit more care and investment; further the SU have had a rough few years bringing students together for good events.
There seems to be genuine care and consideration taken for the welbeing and education of students here.
The University of Sussex as an institution is very supportive and forward-thinking, which reflects in the high quality of teaching resources and wellbeing support.
18-24 years
It's really diverse and people seem quite passionate and educated about mental health and diversity. I think to some degree they do try their best to support student mental health, though I do think it's more pronounced in the Psychology department than others based on what I've heard. I also need very specific help that they don't seem to cater to, but I like that they pay for external support like coaching and mentoring and career support and advice, all of which is very valuable. The student union sounds good on paper but they're incredibly disorganised and frustrating to work with.
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Sussex teaching is brilliant! The tutors and lectures are always there to help and provide advice towards how students can achieve their potential
nice area, need better acedemic advisors
there’s consistent renovation on campus showing they care about always making improvements such as the student centre which i really like. it has a less stressful atmosphere that i prefer to study in compared to the library. what could be improved is perhaps more access to devices such as ipads.
18-24 years
I really like the university because the staff are easy to talk to and easy to contact, and the support team is really thorough and competent regarding health issues or difficulties. The facilities on campus are also very good, lots of options of places to eat or study or activities to do alongside lectures. There is also a lot of societies and clubs which is so fun! It could be improved in a few ways. Personally, I struggled to adjust from online teaching content to in person, including during assessment periods, and ensuring everyone has enough support during this time is crucial. Even as the years continue, familiarising people with the university style of assessments is crucial and should be crystal clear, as it is different from earlier school life. Beyond that I think the location is wonderful, easy to get to and from campus and the city of Brighton is such a lovely place to live. Lots to do and an overall welcoming atmosphere. I am definitely glad I chose to study at Sussex, not just for the school but also the overall location.
Needs to be cheaper shops / food available on campus, as it is so far away from the city! The current redevelopment of campus is atrocious - destroying the cheapest accommodation to replace it with the most expensive, and in doing so killing trees and disturbing badger setts! Basically, these things combined with cuts to financial support for students from lower financial backgrounds means that this university is only available for those from rich families. And that is pretty awful, especially for a uni which prides itself on being progressive.
Really love the course content and all the extra academic support available. They also provide a great range of extra curricular and career support opportunities.
Living at the University of Sussex for the short time I spent there made me feel very homey and calm. I enjoyed my roommates, the Univesity's clubs were more run by students - without fear, hesitation, or nerves - than professors, which was a breath of fresh air. I truly felt as though it was a school run by students and pro-student professors - barring the administration; but when are the admins ever in touch with students, yeah? Best part: Language cafe session, professors that taught and helped without judging me for being behind, and multiple on-campus restaurants for me to get a quick bite Worst part: I lived in a residential area where the gyms were 1 mile by foot. My apartment was wonderful - but the repair staff took two months to fix an ethernet outlet in my room.
The food on campus is really good and the student support is very good. The building work has ruined the campus as it makes walking around campus annoying. The music room is appalling especially as we have to pay to use it
- The university has most of the foundation to provide care, support - whether it be medical, emotion, mental, practical. However, the lack of knowledge about these resources, both on the students side but also staff is shocking. If you need/want help in any capacity you have to be prepared to go and seek it out forcefully - you are entitled to it, no one will deny you, it just takes a while and you must spearhead it. - Brighton is a lovely place to be and amazing city to be a student in!!! Some things are more expensive than I anticipated they would be however, it can be easy to live on a budget by shopping for groceries at cheaper places, and many different societies/ events will serve food for free/ reduced price, so that is always helpful to have a comped or entirely free meal once a week as a student. - There are a LOT of societies, which can be a little dawnting or overwhelming however if you want to get involved pick 1-3 to start with because I guarantee you, you will meet a lot of people and have a great time. - Brighton is very big but the student community is quite small, you will see people you know on the street all the time!! - The university's server for assessments are kind of old and the staff are not exactly sure how to use it. I would get around this by ensuring you are aware of how to use what is necessary e.g. finding your work and knowing how to submit and when.
Really good location, I have enjoyed my time here. Good transport services (train and bus), cheap nights out and I love my course!
A lovely campus, great library, good lecturers and tutors.
Sussex university has a beautiful green campus filled with trees, plants, and birds which is lovely when walking to and from lectures. Additionally, when talking to the wellbeing team they were all very helpful and nice to talk to. The location of Sussex campus is just outside of Brighton, a diverse and friendly city, but because it is just outside it is quieter and a better place to study. Despite being out of the city it has great public transport links with regular buses running through campus all day & night and a train station very nearby. The only problem ive encountered is when reporting a issue with on campus accomodation they tend to take a while, and bounce you from office to office to report said problem.
The campus is very green which is calming and the new student centre is great! The on site supermarket is very small and expensive though
I love the new facilities on campus such as the student center and the university is currently working on west slope and other innovations. The library is amazing and the campus feels very homely and is fun to be on. The university could do more to engage and accommodate students who live off campus.
4.3
I really appreciate the fact that we're a campus university - it really feels like a community when you're on campus, going to lessons, etc. It's also great to be so close to the city of Brighton, which is a great place to be a student. In terms of improvement I think the majority of issues facing Sussex are issues that most universities will be facing as a result of structural issues and government decisions; issues of staff pay and conditions, prioritising profits over things benefiting students etc. Despite this, though, we do have a strong student's union to try and hold the university accountable to make changes that benefit us.
I really appreciate a lot of the stuff I learn as a philosophy student at Sussex. Compared to a lot of other institutions in the UK we learn a wider variety of typically continental topics which I enjoy. Course hours seem pretty normal compared to other similar courses / unis and I find the teaching to be of a good standard. The course is pretty small and as a result we don't really have any specific student areas like some larger courses do, but there are enough options on campus that this isn't a big deal in my opinion.
There's no two ways about it - the uni's accommodation are expensive, and so is any accommodation in Brighton. Compared to universities in less pricey areas you can expect to pay more coming to Sussex, which is kind of the 'Brighton tax'. With regards to the accommodation itself, the one I stayed in was on the upper end price wise and definitely very modern, spacious enough, had an en-suite, and just generally quite nice. However, if I were to live in halls again I would choose a cheaper option and forego the en-suite bathroom to save some money - which I'd recommend for any student honestly. Being on campus the rooms are very safe and the uni has safeguarding in place for any issues that arise in the halls themselves, but I can't say I have firsthand experience of how effective these are.