University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is a public university founded in 1961, the first of the new universities opened in England during the 1960s. Its single campus is at Falmer near Brighton, beside the South Downs National Park.
2-minute form · free · no sign-up
One record matters more than any ranking when reading a university page: the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits an institution to issue the CAS a student visa requires. University of Sussex is on it. The visa itself is set out at UK visas and immigration.
01
What kind of university is University of Sussex?
University of Sussex is a public university in Brighton, founded in 1961 by royal charter, as the first of the new universities opened in England in the 1960s. Its single campus is at Falmer, next to the South Downs National Park.
Sir Harry Kroto received the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry while working at Sussex. The Institute of Development Studies, an independent centre specialising in development research, sits on the campus.
02
Which subjects stand out at University of Sussex?
The subjects University of Sussex is known for are computer science and artificial intelligence, business and finance, development studies, psychology and neuroscience, media and film and international relations. Development studies is the heading Sussex has been ranked highest in internationally.
computer science and artificial intelligence
undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
business and finance
taught in the University of Sussex Business School
development studies
linked to the Institute of Development Studies on campus
psychology and neuroscience
including cognitive science
media and film
media practice and film studies
international relations
with politics and law
Programmes are searched from the university's own course catalogue, where each page carries the entry requirement, the syllabus and the fee in one place.
03
What are the entry requirements at University of Sussex?
University of Sussex admits undergraduates on A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification; a Turkish high school diploma alone is not accepted for direct entry. Postgraduate admission rests on a bachelor's degree and each programme publishes its own requirement.
On English language ability the admissions pages take IELTS Academic at 6.0 as the baseline for undergraduate programmes; some departments publish a component score requirement or a higher threshold. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Which documents are required?
Degree certificate and transcript
with a certified English translation
Proof of English
IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic
Personal statement
your own account of why you chose the course
Reference letter
one at undergraduate level, usually two at postgraduate level
Passport
so the identity details match the application
04
How much are tuition fees at University of Sussex?
University of Sussex publishes the international tuition fee on each programme's own page; there is no single central tariff. The student visa fee and the annual immigration health surcharge are added on top, and the university offers its own scholarships to international students.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa application (from outside the UK) | £558 |
| Immigration health surcharge (per year) | £776 |
| Maintenance to evidence, outside London (monthly) | £1,171 |
Free starter report
Let us draw up your free starter report
Seven short questions, one tap each. In return you get a costed sheet worked out from how many people are coming, what scale you are looking at and whether it is London — alongside the steps in months, the documents and the published rules.
05
What is campus and student life like in Brighton?
The campus is at Falmer, nine minutes by train from central Brighton and immediately beside the South Downs National Park. The library, the sports centres and the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts are on it.
Brighton is a student city known for its seafront and a festival calendar that runs through the year, with the University of Brighton as the second institution. Falmer station links the campus to the city.
06
How is an application to University of Sussex made?
Undergraduate applications to University of Sussex go through UCAS with up to five programme choices, and the equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Postgraduate and doctoral applications are submitted through the university's own online portal.
- Programme choice: the course catalogue gives the department, the requirement and the fee.
- Documents: transcript, diploma, personal statement, references and English language evidence.
- Submission: UCAS for undergraduate study, the university's portal for postgraduate.
- Offer: conditional or unconditional, with the conditions stated.
- CAS: issued once the offer is accepted and the deposit is paid.
The step after the CAS is the student visa itself, and its published conditions are set out at UK visas and immigration.
How does the application timetable run, month by month?
| Period | Step |
|---|---|
| May–September 2026 | Researching courses, sitting the English test and preparing documents |
| September 2026 | UCAS applications open |
| 15 October 2026 | Deadline for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, Oxford and Cambridge |
| 13 January 2027 | Equal consideration deadline for undergraduate applications |
| February–May 2027 | University decisions and firming up choices |
| June–August 2027 | Meeting conditions, receiving the CAS and applying for the Student visa |
07
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to University of Sussex directly with a Turkish high school diploma?
A Turkish high school diploma is not accepted on its own for direct entry to an undergraduate programme. Applicants complete a foundation year, or hold A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification.
Which English language tests are accepted?
IELTS Academic is accepted and the level required is published on each programme's page, with 6.0 as the undergraduate baseline. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Does University of Sussex issue a CAS for a student visa?
Yes. University of Sussex appears on the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits it to issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies a student visa application requires.
When is the undergraduate application deadline?
The UCAS equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Applications arriving after that date are considered where places remain on the programme.
Sources
- University of Sussex — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
- University of Sussex — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
- UCAS — The equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027 and an undergraduate application carries up to five programme choices.
- GOV.UK — The student visa application fee, the annual immigration health surcharge and the maintenance figure an applicant evidences are published by the Home Office. — 26 August 2026
