Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Brighton is a mid-sized university spread across three campuses in one of the UK's most creative, liberal cities. Moulsecoomb, on the Lewes Road, is the biggest campus and student village. City campus is close to the beach and pier, and Falmer sits on the edge of the South Downs. Your halls are best chosen by where your course is taught.
The city is a big part of the appeal: seafront, the Lanes, live music and a strong LGBTQ+ scene. But Brighton is expensive. Halls cost £173–£290 a week for 2026/27, and private rents are among the highest outside London. Bursaries like Brighton Boost can help.
Known for
The University of Brighton is 50th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 51, above the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | Royal Agricultural University | 51.1 |
| 49 | University of Edinburgh | 51 |
| 50 | University of Brighton | 51 |
| 51 | Bishop Grosseteste University | 50.9 |
| 52 | Robert Gordon University | 50.4 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
3rd of 124 · Nightlife Score 79.8
13th of 124 · Social Score 70.7
29th of 124 · Societies Score 61.7
38th of 122 · Careers Score 36.5
39th of 124 · Inclusion Score 68.2
41st of 124 · Employability Score 35.3
57th of 124 · Safety Score 44.3
65th of 124 · Balance Score 41.8
68th of 124 · Sustainability Score 50.9
83rd of 124 · Innovation Score 50.8
94th of 123 · Happiness Score 39.4
95th of 124 · Value Score 37.6
98th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 40.6
99th of 124 · Freshers Score 44.6
107th of 124 · Affordability Score 35.3
Brighton as a student city
Ranked 14th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 59.7.
The University of Brighton appears in 47 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Science | 6th | of 50 | 124 |
| Software Engineering | 9th | of 58 | 139 |
| Aerospace Engineering 2026 table | 5th | of 30 | 97 |
| Music | 10th | of 56 | 128 |
| Teaching | 17th | of 79 | 159 |
| Social Work | 16th | of 67 | 157 |
| Physiotherapy | 12th | of 49 | 118 |
| Economics | 21st | of 85 | 150 |
| Environmental Science | 13th | of 47 | 109 |
| Quantity Surveying | 10th | of 35 | 90 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Brighton Students' Union runs cafés and shops across the campuses, a student bar called The Venue (drag bingo, quizzes, pool and live music), weekly club nights with local venues, and a range of clubs and societies. Buzz Radio is the student station. Beyond campus, Brighton is the main attraction: the seafront and pier, the Lanes and North Laine, gigs, comedy and a famously big Pride. The South Downs are close to Falmer.
University halls cost £173–£290 per week (2026/27 prices, mostly 39-week tenancies, bills included) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
Brighton guarantees eligible students the option to book a place in halls. To be eligible, you must be starting your first year of full-time study, make Brighton your firm choice and submit your booking request by 31 July (31 July 2026 for 2026/27). Your course must start in the autumn, run for at least 31 weeks and not involve a first-year placement away from university. If your offer isn't unconditional by 30 August, the university can't guarantee you a room. Halls are run by the university and/or partner providers.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varley Park (standard shared bathroom) | Varley Park, near Moulsecoomb and Falmer | shared bathroom (sink in room) | £173/wk | The cheapest option: £6,747 for a 39-week tenancy. 225 rooms in flats of 6–8. Managed with EveryStudent, with building works throughout 2026/27. |
| Paddock Field | Falmer campus | en-suite | £192/wk | 469 rooms on the Falmer campus with sports facilities and bus and rail links: £7,488 for 39 weeks. |
| Varley Park (en-suite) | Varley Park | en-suite | £200/wk | 472 standard en-suites at £200–£208 a week. Premium en-suites are £218. |
| Great Wilkins | Falmer campus | en-suite | £210/wk | 160 rooms in flats of 3–6, but on a 50-week tenancy (£10,500 a year). |
| Phoenix Brewery | City campus | en-suite | £211.50/wk | 298 rooms close to the City campus and city centre: £8,248.50 for 39 weeks. |
| Mithras | Moulsecoomb campus | en-suite | £243/wk | The biggest halls (763 standard rooms) in the Moulsecoomb student village: £9,477 for 39 weeks. Large and premium rooms £265–£270 a week. Contracts of 39–51 weeks. |
| Circus Street | Near City campus (nominated private halls) | not stated | Not published | Nominated private halls recommended for City and Moulsecoomb courses. Prices weren't shown on the university's comparison page. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Close to the main campus, with lots of shared student houses along the Lewes Road corridor.
A steep, colourful neighbourhood of terraced houses and pubs between Lewes Road and the city centre.
A quieter area near Falmer, handy for Falmer-based courses.
Near the seafront and city centre, lively and the heart of Brighton's LGBTQ+ scene, but pricier.
Top tip
Invitations to book are emailed from April onwards. Book by 31 July and list four preferences, choosing halls near the campus where your course is taught. Room offers must be accepted within three days, with an advance payment of 7 days' rent. If you're a UK undergraduate, check whether you qualify for Brighton Boost: up to £1,000 towards accommodation costs.
Brighton is one of the pricier places to study outside London. University halls cost £173–£290 a week for 2026/27, with most rooms on 39-week tenancies and bills included. Eligible full-time UK undergraduates can get up to £1,000 off through Brighton Boost. The university doesn't publish an all-in living cost estimate on the pages checked.
Getting around
Brighton's campuses are linked by the busy Lewes Road bus corridor, and Falmer has its own railway station and bus links. Halls are grouped by campus, so most students walk or take a short bus ride to lectures. The university notes students can get discounted bus tickets, and Unizone and Railcard discounts on trains. Most single bus fares in England are capped at £3.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Brighton is 50th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 51. Its strongest results are for nightlife (3rd), social life (13th), student societies (29th).
Yes, for eligible first years. You need to make Brighton your firm choice, be starting full-time study in the autumn and book by 31 July. Your offer also needs to be unconditional by 30 August.
For 2026/27, rooms cost £173–£290 a week, mostly on 39-week tenancies with bills included. Shared-bathroom rooms at Varley Park start at £173, en-suites at Paddock Field at £192, and Mithras standard rooms are £243.
Pick halls near your campus. For City campus: Phoenix Brewery, Mithras or Circus Street. For Moulsecoomb: Mithras, Varley Park or Circus Street. For Falmer: Paddock Field, Great Wilkins or Varley Park.
Three in Brighton: Moulsecoomb (the biggest campus and student village), City campus near the seafront, and Falmer on the edge of the South Downs. The Eastbourne campus closed in 2024, so check your course page for where you'll be taught.
A package of discounts and bursaries from the university. Eligible full-time UK undergraduates can get up to £1,000 towards their accommodation costs.
It's one of the dearer cities outside London. Halls start at £173 a week, so it's worth budgeting carefully and checking whether you qualify for Brighton Boost.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
,_Lewes_Road,_Moulsecoomb_(February_2020)_(1).JPG){kind=link}
