Sussex University - In Depth

Founded: 1961.

Structural features: New medical school joint with Brighton University (Brighton & Sussex Medical School; you can look it up separately).

Site: Single campus, 4 miles from Brighton town centre.

How to get there: To Brighton by road (M/A23 then A27), by coach or by rail (50 mins from Victoria. 30 mins from Gatwick airport). For university, frequent buses and trains from Brighton town centre to Falmer (station directly opposite campus, journey time 8 mins). Also ferries Dieppe-Newhaven, with direct train link to Falmer.

Academic features: Possible to combine science and engineering with a language, management studies or North American studies.

Awarding body: Sussex University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BSc, BEng, LLB, MChem, MPhys, MEng, MMath, BM BS.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years for courses with year abroad, undergraduate Masters'.

Library & information services: 750,000 volumes, 2500 periodicals, 1000 study places, short loan collection, audio-visual section, CD-Rom databases. Annual expenditure on information provision, £138 per (FTE) student. Separate IT service. Ratio workstations to students 1:18; open 24 hours/day; all PCs have access to library and internet. IT support by email, telephone and in person (8 hours/day); induction talks and information packs on library and information services for new students; courses in IT skills, computing and information handling.

Study abroad: 15% of first degree students spend a term/year abroad (possible with most subjects), normally 3rd year of 4-year course. Formal exchange links with universities in all EU and EFTA countries and many in North America. Careers: Information and advice (also for work out of term time).

Student advice & services: Health service, dentist, sick bay on campus, personal counselling and psychotherapy unit. Residential facilities for disabled students; creche and nursery.

Amenities: SU with concert hall, bar, club, restaurant, shops, campus student radio station and newspaper, banks, chemist, opticians, launderette, Gardner Arts Centre with film theatre.

Sporting facilities: Sports complex and gym; playing fields, tennis courts, etc, adjoining campus, sports injury clinic.

Accommodation: University accommodation guaranteed for first years who apply by deadline, 40% of all students housed. 3000 self-catering places available, including some family accommodation, £56-£64 per week (from £40 if sharing, up to £79 ensuite); most on academic-year contracts but some term time only. Some students in university-managed accommodation beyond the first year (self-selecting groups); remainder live in privately owned accommodation: £65+ pw for self-catering. Over 15% of students live at home.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £7000 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term time work: University allows term-time work for full-time first degree students (up to 70% believed to work); advisory limit of 15 hours pw. Some work available on campus in bar, catering, retail, admin, research, translation (but not in medical or academic records); also help in finding work off campus through well-established employment centre.

Financial help: £483,000 government funds, 900 students helped. Also loans from vice-chancellor's fund for students experiencing short-term difficulties.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £8340 pa (classroom), £10,825 (lab/studio).