Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Sussex is a campus university at Falmer, just outside Brighton. Its red-brick 1960s buildings sit in parkland on the edge of the South Downs, and most first years live on campus, so lectures, the library and your flat are all a short walk apart. Brighton's seafront, gigs and nightlife are about 10 minutes away by train or bus.
It's a mid-sized university of about 17,000 students, so it feels friendly without being tiny. The catch is cost: campus rooms run from about £123 to £236 a week for 2026/27, and private renting in Brighton is pricey. There's also a big building project on campus until at least 2027.
Known for
The University of Sussex is 5th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 59.4, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | University of Exeter | 61.2 |
| 4 | University of St Andrews | 59.5 |
| 5 | University of Sussex | 59.4 |
| 6 | University of Bath | 58.7 |
| 7 | Lancaster University | 58.6 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
1st of 123 · Happiness Score 85.5
3rd of 124 · Inclusion Score 78
8th of 124 · Nightlife Score 74.1
15th of 124 · Social Score 69.4
35th of 124 · Societies Score 59.8
41st of 124 · Balance Score 47.2
49th of 124 · Freshers Score 57.8
49th of 124 · Value Score 49.8
49th of 124 · Safety Score 46.5
53rd of 124 · Innovation Score 57.4
56th of 124 · Employability Score 32
57th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 52
62nd of 122 · Careers Score 31.5
69th of 124 · Sustainability Score 48.7
104th of 124 · Affordability Score 40.3
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 Sussex appears in 41 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 15th | of 67 | 159 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 15th | of 66 | 112 |
| Data Science | 12th | of 50 | 111 |
| PPE | 8th | of 31 | 82 |
| Software Engineering | 15th | of 58 | 126 |
| Creative Writing | 9th | of 34 | 80 |
| Primary Education | 17th | of 59 | 131 |
| Teaching | 23rd | of 79 | 149 |
| Journalism | 19th | of 59 | 116 |
| Law | 36th | of 97 | 142 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 24th | of 61 | 113 |
| Sociology | 35th | of 86 | 143 |
| Psychology | 44th | of 108 | 146 |
| Chemistry | 18th | of 44 | 95 |
| Marketing | 36th | of 88 | 138 |
| Criminology | 39th | of 94 | 145 |
| Biomedical Science | 39th | of 93 | 131 |
| Neuroscience | 11th | of 26 | 69 |
| Business and Management | 50th | of 114 | 149 |
| Product Design | 19th | of 43 | 95 |
| Economics | 38th | of 85 | 126 |
| Biology | 23rd | of 51 | 93 |
| Computer Science | 47th | of 102 | 145 |
| Music | 26th | of 56 | 101 |
| Politics | 37th | of 78 | 117 |
| Physics | 22nd | of 45 | 93 |
| English Language and Literature | 27th | of 54 | 92 |
| Media and Communication | 40th | of 79 | 123 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 40th | of 77 | 120 |
| Electrical Engineering | 35th | of 67 | 104 |
| Film Production | 46th | of 87 | 133 |
| History | 42nd | of 76 | 104 |
| Biochemistry | 34th | of 60 | 91 |
| Zoology | 21st | of 37 | 72 |
| Philosophy | 31st | of 54 | 88 |
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 36th | of 60 | 86 |
| Geography | 38th | of 63 | 103 |
| International Relations | 43rd | of 71 | 91 |
| Performing Arts | 23rd | of 37 | 72 |
| Robotics | 21st | of 32 | 68 |
| Anthropology | 17th | of 24 | 54 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Campus life centres on the University of Sussex Students' Union, which runs the clubs, societies, sports teams and student venues on campus. Because most first years live on campus, it's easy to drop into events and meet people. Brighton is the big draw beyond that: the seafront, the Lanes, North Laine, live music and clubs are around 10 minutes away by train from Falmer station or on the frequent buses. The South Downs start at the edge of campus for walks and runs, and the Amex Stadium is right next door.
University halls cost £123–£236 per week (2026/27 undergraduate rooms, 39-week contracts, bills included) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
Accommodation is guaranteed for new undergraduates starting at Sussex in 2026/27 and 2027/28 if you are a new full-time undergraduate applying through UCAS for a September start, choose Sussex as your firm choice, and apply for accommodation by midnight on 31 July in the year you start. The guarantee covers your first year at Sussex (including a foundation year, or Year 2 if you transfer in). Insurance offer-holders aren't guaranteed but can still apply.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich House | Campus | shared bathroom (standard) | £123.20/wk | The cheapest option: single rooms on corridors of 12 with shared bathrooms. £4,804.80 for a 39-week contract. |
| Lewes Court | Campus | shared bathroom, en-suite and studios | £132.58/wk | Flats of 5–6. Standard rooms £132.58, en-suite £205.80 and enhanced studios £225.75 a week. |
| Brighthelm | Campus | shared bathroom | £188.09/wk | Houses of five single bedrooms sharing two bathrooms. 300 rooms. |
| East Slope Residences | Campus | shared bathroom townhouses and en-suite | £189.00/wk | The biggest residence, with 556 standard and 1,561 en-suite rooms in flats of 6–12. En-suite rooms are £221.27 a week. |
| Stanmer Court | Campus | en-suite | £200.06/wk | Undergraduate-only en-suite flats of 4–6. Standard en-suite rooms are £205.80 a week (small en-suite £200.06). |
| Northfield | Campus | en-suite | £221.27/wk | 1,072 en-suite rooms in flats of 6–8. Studios are £235.90 a week. |
| Swanborough | Campus | en-suite | £221.27/wk | 250 en-suite rooms for undergraduates in flats of 4–7. |
| West Slope | Campus | en-suite | £235.69/wk | The newest development: 376 en-suite rooms in flats of 6–8. The wider West Slope project is still being built during 2026/27. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
The closest residential areas to Falmer, along the Lewes Road bus corridor. Popular with Sussex and Brighton students.
Busy terraced streets between campus and the city, with easy buses in both directions.
Close to the seafront, the Lanes and nightlife, but further from campus and usually pricier.
Top tip
From March, the university emails offer-holders a link to its housing application portal. You list at least seven options in order of preference. Apply by midnight on 31 July to keep your guarantee. For second year, the university's Housing Services team can check your private tenancy before you sign, and its off-campus page lists private halls in Brighton.
Brighton is one of the pricier places to study outside London. Campus rooms cost about £123–£236 a week for 2026/27 with bills included, and the university's own budget guide suggests around £40–£70 a week for food. Private rooms off campus are often more expensive than the cheapest halls, so plan your second-year budget early. Buses and trains are handy but add up if you go into town a lot.
Getting around
Falmer station is opposite campus, with trains to Brighton and Lewes in around 10 minutes. Brighton & Hove Buses run frequent services along Lewes Road between campus and the city centre. The university says single fares are capped at £3 until March 2027, a student networkSAVER day ticket is £5, and there's a £1 fare for short hops within campus.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Sussex is 5th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 59.4. Its strongest results are for student happiness (1st), inclusion (3rd), nightlife (8th).
It's just outside. The campus is at Falmer, about 4 miles north-east of central Brighton, next to the South Downs. Falmer station is opposite campus, and trains to Brighton take around 10 minutes. Buses also run along Lewes Road into the city.
Yes, for new full-time undergraduates starting in 2026/27 or 2027/28 who make Sussex their firm choice through UCAS and apply for accommodation by midnight on 31 July. If Sussex is your insurance choice, you're not guaranteed a room, but you can still apply.
For 2026/27, undergraduate rooms on campus cost from £123.20 a week (Norwich House, shared bathroom) to about £236 a week (studios and West Slope en-suites) on 39-week contracts. Most en-suite rooms are £221.27 a week. Bills, broadband and insurance are included.
No. All University of Sussex accommodation is self-catered, so budget for food. The university's guide suggests about £40–£70 a week.
Take the train from Falmer station or a Brighton & Hove bus along Lewes Road. The university says single bus fares are capped at £3 until March 2027, and a student networkSAVER day ticket costs £5.
Most move into private houses or private halls. Popular areas include Moulsecoomb, Coldean and the Lewes Road area between campus and the city, plus central Brighton and Hove. The university's Housing Services team can review a tenancy agreement before you sign.
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.
