University of Brighton
A practical, professions-focused university on the Sussex coast whose art school roots go back to 1858.
- Students
- 17,403
- 14,150 undergraduates
- International
- 12%
- of students
- Tuition
- £17,796
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1858
About Brighton
The University of Brighton traces its roots to 1858, when the Brighton School of Art opened in the Royal Pavilion. It grew through mergers into Brighton Polytechnic in 1970 and became a university in 1992. Today it is a community of about 17,000 students and 2,150 staff on three campuses in Brighton: Moulsecoomb, its biggest campus and student village; City, in the cultural centre a short walk from the beach and pier; and Falmer, on the edge of the South Downs National Park.
Brighton is built around practical and professional degrees. Teaching is organised in schools covering applied sciences; architecture, technology and engineering; art and media; business and law; education, sport and health sciences; and humanities and social science, and the university also runs Brighton and Sussex Medical School with the University of Sussex. A new structure of two Colleges with academic departments is being introduced ahead of January 2027.
Entry is flexible rather than highly selective: typical offers range from about BBB-CCC for Nursing to AAB-BBB for Pharmacy, and art and design courses weigh the portfolio more than grades. It suits students who want a career-oriented course with placements, a creative seaside city, and a university that considers each application individually.
Why students choose Brighton
Many courses offer a salaried placement year, with a reduced tuition fee (£1,958 for UK students in 2026-27) during that year.
Art and design applicants are judged mainly on their portfolio: for Architecture BA the university says the portfolio is the most important part of the application.
Brighton Boost gives eligible new undergraduates support worth up to £1,000 towards university halls rent or first-year travel costs (Brighton Boost 2027, for September 2027 starters).
International students who accept their offer and book by the deadline are guaranteed a room in university halls in their first year.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
Brighton does not publish an overall offer rate. Typical offers are published per course as grade ranges, and the university states that it treats every applicant as an individual and makes contextual offers.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Course-specific ranges for 2027 entry, e.g. BBB-CCC (Nursing Adult), ABB-BCC (Computer Science), AAB-BBB including chemistry and another science (Pharmacy MPharm), AAA-BCC with a portfolio (Architecture BA) |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | 27 points with three Higher Level subjects (Computer Science, Architecture) to 32 points (Pharmacy, with chemistry and biology at HL grade 5; Paramedic Science) |
| BTEC Extended Diploma | e.g. DDM-MMM (Computer Science), DDD-MMM (Architecture) |
| English language | IELTS 6 Set per course: IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each element for Architecture BA; IELTS 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each element for Pharmacy MPharm; higher profiles for nursing. Other English qualifications are accepted; check each course page. |
Deadlines
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Main deadline for 2027 entry for Brighton's courses. Medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School follows the UCAS 15 October 2026 deadline for medicine courses.
- UCAS final deadline before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027
Applications after 13 January are considered if places remain; Nursing (Adult) asks international applicants to apply by 27 June.
13 January 2027 is the UCAS equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry and 30 June 2027 the last date before Clearing. Nursing (Adult) sets its own 27 June deadline for international applicants.
How to apply
Full-time undergraduate degrees are applied for through UCAS using the course's UCAS code; international students can also apply directly to the university in some circumstances. Some courses add a portfolio (art, design, architecture) or an interview (pharmacy, nursing, paramedic science and other health courses).
What admissions looks for
- Grades within the published range for your course, with any required subjects (for example chemistry plus another science for Pharmacy).
- For art, design and architecture courses, a portfolio that shows high-quality work and your thinking; strong portfolios can outweigh grades below the usual range.
- For health and pharmacy courses, motivation and values assessed at interview, plus DBS and health clearance after an offer.
- Creativity, persistence and resourcefulness: the university considers context and says it treats each applicant as an individual.
Tips for applying to Brighton
- 1 Check the 2027 entry requirements on your course page: ranges are wide (e.g. AAA-BCC for Architecture), and the lower end is often achievable with a strong portfolio or context.
- 2 For Pharmacy MPharm, prepare for an online maths test and a values-based interview held online on Wednesdays until the end of April.
- 3 Health courses such as Paramedic Science require UK, EU or Channel Islands residence to meet NHS rules, so international applicants should check eligibility first.
- 4 Accept your offer and book halls by the deadline to secure the first-year accommodation guarantee.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in GBP
Eligible UK students can receive the University of Brighton bursary (£500 a year), or £1,000 a year for care leavers and estranged students, plus Brighton Boost support worth up to £1,000 in the first year (Boost 2027 page, September 2027 starters). International undergraduates can apply for £4,000 Vice-Chancellor scholarships, combinable with £1,500 Deans' Global Talent Awards or USA Scholars' Awards.
- Up to £5,500 across a standard three-year degree
- International scholarships combined
- £500 a year; £1,000 for care leavers and estranged students
- University of Brighton bursary (UK students)
- Up to £1,000 for eligible new undergraduates
- Brighton Boost
- £5,000 (for a CAS; the university's page states this for September 2026 starters and says it is subject to review)
- International tuition deposit
Academics
Architecture BA (Hons)
RIBA-validated three-year course at Moulsecoomb where the portfolio is the most important part of the application.
Pharmacy MPharm
Integrated master's with an interview and maths test; the course page cites 7th in the UK for graduate prospects (Times/Sunday Times University League 2026).
Nursing (Adult) BSc (Hons)
The course page reports 100% of graduates in work or further study 15 months after graduating (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023/24).
Computer Science BSc (Hons)
Optional professional placement year; REF 2021 rated 100% of research impact in computer science and informatics as outstanding or very considerable.
Paramedic Science BSc (Hons)
Interviews run jointly with the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.
Illustration and graphic design
The art school tradition produced illustrators such as Cressida Cowell and Lucy Cousins and coin designer Matthew Dent.
Research
- Research is organised into Centres of Research Excellence and Research Excellence Groups, with a Community University Partnership Programme linking research to local groups.
- The Waste House on Grand Parade, was designed by Brighton architecture graduate Duncan Baker-Brown, whom the university lists as an expert in ecology-friendly housing design.
- The university launched the NatWest Accelerator on its Moulsecoomb campus to support entrepreneurship across Brighton and Sussex.
Schools & faculties
- School of Applied Sciences
- School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering
- School of Art and Media
- School of Business and Law
- School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences
- School of Humanities and Social Science
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School (with the University of Sussex)
- Brighton Doctoral College
88.5% of 2022-23 leavers who responded to the Graduate Outcomes survey were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (88.0% of home undergraduates).
Student life
Brighton's students are spread across three campuses: Moulsecoomb, rebuilt over the last four years into the main campus and student village; City, next to the seafront and pier; and Falmer, beside the South Downs. University halls cost from about £169 a week in 2025-26 on a 39-week contract, and first-years who book by the deadline are guaranteed a room. The university's news release of 18 September 2026 says students named it the UK's most LGBTQ+ friendly university.
- Three campuses: Moulsecoomb, City and Falmer.
- Brighton Boost support worth up to £1,000 for eligible new students, which the university says has been recognised nationally.
- One of six UK universities holding a Race Equality Charter Silver Award (university news, September 2026).
- Sports scholarships for elite and talented athletes, including international students.
Housing. Students who accept their offer and book by the deadline are guaranteed a room in university halls in their first year.
Location
Brighton and Hove is a lively seaside city on the south coast of England, less than an hour from central London by train. It is known for its creative and digital sector, its beach and pier, and the South Downs on its edge. Private rents are high: the university's 2026 sample put a room in a shared house at about £572 a month and a studio at about £1,300.
Nearest airport: London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Notable alumni
- CC Cressida CowellChildren's author of the How to Train Your Dragon series; studied narrative illustration
- NC Norman CookDJ and producer (Fatboy Slim); studied British Studies
- PC Paddy ConsidineActor, screenwriter and director; studied editorial photography
- MD Matthew DentDesigner of the Royal Mint's 2008 redesign of British coins; graphic design graduate
- EB Emily BrookeFounder and CEO of the bike-sharing company Beryl; product design graduate
- MC Mandy ChessellComputer scientist and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering; software engineering graduate
- KC Keren CraigCo-founder and designer of the fashion label Marchesa; fashion textiles design with business studies graduate
- LC Lin CheungDesigner of the London 2012 Paralympic medals; studied wood, metal, ceramics and plastics
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for the University of Brighton?
It depends on the course: for 2027 entry, typical ranges run from BBB-CCC for Nursing (Adult) and ABB-BCC for Computer Science to AAB-BBB for Pharmacy. Art, design and architecture courses also weigh a portfolio heavily.
How much are University of Brighton fees for international students?
For 2026-27, most undergraduate courses cost £17,796-£19,692 a year for international students, and Brighton and Sussex Medical School medicine costs £49,000. A £5,000 deposit is needed before a CAS is issued.
Does Brighton offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. Vice-Chancellor international scholarships are worth £4,000 and can be combined with £1,500 Deans' Global Talent Awards or USA Scholars' Awards, up to £5,500 over a three-year degree.
When is the application deadline for 2027 entry?
Apply through UCAS by 13 January 2027 for equal consideration. Later applications up to 30 June 2027 are considered if places remain.
Is accommodation guaranteed at Brighton?
Yes, for first-years who accept their offer and book halls by the deadline. Hall rooms cost from about £169 a week (2025-26, 39-week contract).
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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