Brighton has one of the most vibrant, welcoming and exciting cultures of any city in the UK. There will be many events taking place on campus and in town, which are a fantastic opportunity to make some new friends, explore and get a glimpse of what's to come for your first year.
Explore some of the biggest events we have coming up or visit our What's On page to find the full list.
Need Help?
If you are unsure about anything regarding Freshers or your upcoming academic year you can reach us on our support page. We have a comprehensive list of information in the FAQ section below also. We can’t wait to see you!
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This year we’re going beyond your typical Freshers’ Week. With events, meetups, tours, parties and much more happening from 27th September into October and beyond. We’ve worked tirelessly to put together a calendar of events that will be open to all Sussex students - new and returning!
Our priorities will always be to provide you with a diverse, fun, affordable programme with something for everyone.
Sign up to the mailing list above for the latest updates!
Freshers’ is open to all Sussex students, new and returning. We understand that not all Freshers are the same and so there will be a diverse programme of events suitable for all.
There are often around 130 events scheduled in Freshers’ Week alone, with many of those suitable for those who don’t drink alcohol, who are still under 18, who are postgraduate or mature students, who may have caring or parental responsibilities, who may prefer quiet and calm environments over busy and loud ones and many more.
If you have any questions about accessibility for our events, please email access@sussexstudent.com.
The events programme will be launched on A Level Results Day (17 August 2023) and then lots more events will be added after that!
Check out out What's On page for the whole listings and the official Sussex Freshers’ events. Please note any events you see that reference Sussex University Students’ Union that aren't listed here are not official or sanctioned by us. We want all of our students to be aware of potential scams that tend to crop up around this time. Please observe this page for information on how to avoid this.
The main programme will start on Saturday 23rd September 2023, but there will be events for those who may be moving in sooner.
Don’t forget to check out the University ‘Get Ready’ programme too!
Freshers this year will run well into October - but there are always lots of events at Sussex! Check out our What's On page anytime to see what is happening on campus.
Yes!
Meet all of our clubs, societies, media groups, campaigns, support services and brand partners all under one roof! You can find out more about any you’re interested in, join any clubs you like and check out a whole host of giveaways.
This event will happen on Wednesday 27th September from 12-4pm throughout Union spaces including our famous Mandela Hall, sports centre, ACCA and a Freshers marquee on ACCA Lawns. Find out more about the clubs, societies and campaigns in attendance here.
Yes! The only place to buy your official Freshers’ wristband is on our tickets page. This includes a host of events in one ticket including our official Freshers Festival and much more.
Please do be aware of wristbands that claim to be from the Students’ Union advertised on other websites. Other events are not associated with the Students’ Union or University. Please do not buy tickets to events unless you are sure they are official events to avoid disappointment. We cannot be responsible for refunds or cancellations of these events.
We have three retail outlets on Campus offering you an array of products. Our Co-op store (located in Bramber House) is open 7 days a week from 7am-11pm and you can get anything from your lunchtime meal deal to your evening meal. Our Union Shop (in Falmer House) offers the best range of sandwiches on Campus with many vegetarian and vegan options. From a cup of coffee and croissant to an emergency bar of chocolate, there’s plenty to find here.
We also have a brand new shop called ‘Union’ which is a University of Sussex branded merchandise store. Selling a huge choice of Sussex hoodies, sweatshirts and fisherman beanies, drinkware, stationery and soft toys. Can’t wait until then? Check out our online shop where we offer shipping and collection for all our merchandise. All our retail outlets are staffed by students so you are sure to receive a friendly service. Pop in and say hi!
If you're interested in working in a friendly and busy environment in one of our exciting roles, have a look on our jobs page.
Northfield Bar
Based in the heart of student accommodation, Northfield Bar is the
best place to meet new friends and socialise with your new housemates.
Open 7 days a week, it hosts many regular weekly events including
a pub quiz, karaoke, musical bingo and ‘Skint’ our popular student
cheap night out. With Sky Sports and BT Sports, Northfield also shows
all the big live sport events.
Falmer Bar
Falmer Bar, located within Falmer House (the SU building) at the
south end of campus, offers an extensive food menu (the best burritos
and breakfasts on campus) and a wide selection of beers and drinks
from all around the world. It’s the ideal place to go to after a
lecture with your coursemates or somewhere to escape the hustle and
bustle of campus life. Falmer Bar also has a large covered, heated
patio, but you’ll need to watch out for the flying chip-thieves!
Room 76
If you’re a coffee or cocktail lover, Room 76 will become your second
home. Offering a cute cafe space in the day, with a wide variety
of hot drinks and cake, Room 76 is the perfect place to study with
friends if the library isn’t your vibe. In the evenings on Thursdays
and Friday Room 76 offers a range of delicious cocktails, both alcoholic
and non-alcoholic which are 2 for the price of one from 5pm! Our
regular live music night ‘Unplugged’ is on a Tuesday, showcasing
student and local bands.
The Deli
If you’re looking for a lunch that is more than just your regular
meal deal, The Deli is for you. Open Monday to Friday 11am-4pm, The
Deli has a wide range of sandwiches, all made to order right in front
of you! Whether it’s a toasted Halloumi and Peppers wrap or a Vegan
Dream on a granary bloomer you fancy, The Deli has you covered. They
also have a fantastic salad selection.
Pearls Bubble Tea
With over 28 unique flavours and ENDLESS combinations we have the
perfect Bubble Tea for you. Whether it’s a refreshing passionfruit
green tea or smooth mango milk tea, come and visit Bubble Tea’s home
in Room 76 to try these very popular Taiwanese drinks.
What ID do I need to go to the bars/events?
For over 18s events, valid ID will be required to enter. Only the
following physical forms of ID are acceptable:
- Passports
- Drivers license (UK and EU)
- National Identification cards (EU countries Only - Must have hologram or an ultraviolet feature to be acceptable)
- IDs bearing the Portman Pass Logo
- University of Sussex ID card displaying date of birth
- Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
Note: we are unable to accept photographs or scans of IDs, only the original physical copy.
At the Students’ Union, we work with our campaign group Access Sussex to make our events as accessible as possible. This includes a quiet hour at the beginning of our Freshers’ Fair, step-free access to all of our large scale events and a variety of events that are virtual.
We also offer support for students with disabilities which can be found on our accessibility page.
If you are looking to find out more about the work we do at the Students’ Union to keep Sussex safe, check out our support page.
If you have any access concerns or queries, or have ideas to improve our events, please contact access@sussexstudent.com.
The Students’ Union hosts lots of free events during Freshers’ Week and throughout the year which can be found in Free Events category on our What's On page.
The Students' Union is committed to being ethically minded, to increase the positive impact our organisation has on the environment and to increasingly reduce our negative impact., in line with our Ethical & Environmental Policy and our core values. We aim to embed this in to all our events in some of the following ways:
- No plastic - using reusable* or compostable single-use items rather than plastic as well as correctly disposing of waste
- Minimal or recyclable packaging on food & drink
- Reusable or recyclable decor & promotion for all events
- Minimal energy use when possible
- Using local companies, suppliers and artists to minimise transport. Additionally using locally grown produce for our catering.
If you have any suggestions for how we can make our events more sustainable please share your ideas with the sustainability committee via SustainabilityCommittee@sussexstudent.com
As your students’ union, we really want to make sure you feel settled in and part of our campus community throughout your time at Sussex.
At Sussex we have over 200 student groups for anyone to join! There are sports clubs, student media outlets, societies and campaigns so there’s something for everyone. You can find them at Freshers’ Fair and on our Student Groups page and Campaigns page.
To officially join a student group you can head to their minisite (search their name in the search bar on top of the page or click the group you want when browsing the societies list or the sports list), then click the ‘Join’ button and the small trolley icon to add the membership to your basket, You can then go through checkout (even if the membership is free)! You will need to be logged in to your student account on our website.
Some groups may also want you to be part of messaging groups on other platforms; you can find this out at their Freshers’ Fair stall or get in contact with them via the details on their minisite.
Most of our groups are free to join! Sports teams who compete in BUCS will charge a yearly membership fee and some societies may charge a membership fee to cover costs. Once you have joined a student group you may want to pay for things like trips, social events, merch etc and these prices will vary from group to group. It’s best to ask the group directly what their average costs are for members during the year.
Most of our groups are free to join! Sports teams who compete in BUCS will charge a yearly membership fee and some societies may charge a membership fee to cover costs. Once you have joined a student group you may want to pay for things like trips, social events, merch etc and these prices will vary from group to group. It’s best to ask the group directly what their average costs are for members during the year.
There are a number of current campaigns being run by Sussex students on a whole range of issues. You can find a full list of campaigns on our website, with information about how to get in touch with them and join in their great work!
Yes, you can! If you have a unique idea that isn’t already a society, you need to create a committee of minimum 3 people and then submit a new group application through the student group handbook page on our SU website. Your application is then reviewed by the student-led Societies, Sport or Media Committee; if your application is approved you will be set-up with everything you need. More detailed guidance can be found in our Student Group handbook.
You can also apply to adopt a society; check out the full list of societies up for adoption
Is there something you'd like to see changed at Sussex that students aren’t currently campaigning on? Don't keep it to yourself.
Chances are other students are frustrated by the same thing and would like to see it changed too. We can also help you take your campaign further by helping you become a union-recognised campaign which will enable you to have access to more support including staff support, access to our campaign fund and other resources.
You can apply by completing our Campaign Outline form. Once completed it will be forwarded to the Students' Union's Executive Committee for consideration. If you have any questions or just want to find out more, email us at campaigns@sussexstudent.com.
The Students’ Union is here to make sure that students at Sussex are heard by University management.. The easiest way for you to have your say at Sussex Uni is by getting involved in SU democracy. There are many different elected positions that you can nominate yourself and vote for. Check out our elected positions and find the one that interests you the most!
To nominate yourself or vote in an election, head to our elections page.
To find out more about democracy at the Students’ Union head to our Make Change page, read our handy guide, sign up to the mailing list or get in touch with Student Voice!
The Buddy Scheme is a peer to peer support scheme that helps you settle into life at University and living in Brighton.
The Buddy Scheme will match you with current Sussex students (Buddy Volunteers) according to your preferences, such as interests, course and language or with someone who’s part of the same communities such as another student of colour or another person from the LGBTQIA+ community. The Buddy Volunteer will meet up and chat with you for at least one hour a week. It is a flexible, informal scheme so it is you and your buddy, where you’d meet and what they do together. We just say to be sensible.
Buddy Volunteers have lots of tips and useful information about university and Brighton which you will find really valuable. They will be your ‘go to’ person if you have any worries or questions.
How do I sign up?
It’s quick and easy to sign up, you just need to go to our Buddy Scheme website and complete a quick sign up form, you will then get an email to let you know who your Buddy is so you can start getting to know each other.
What should I do with my Buddy?
The great thing about the Buddy Scheme is that it is very informal and you can go to events with your Buddy, meet up for lunch or just hang out (online or in person). It is up to you, just make sure you and your Buddy have discussed what you feel comfortable with. We have a series of events and activities taking place across the year which are perfect socialising opportunities for you and your Buddy to check out.
Q.I’m an International Student, where can I find more
information about arrivals?
A.You can find out more information about arriving as an
International Student on the University of Sussex website.
Q.I speak English not as my first language, where can I
receive support to improve my academic English?
A.ELAS (English Language and Academic Study) offer a
range of support for students who speak English as a second
language. You can find out more about their services on the University of Sussex website.
Q.Where can I find international foods?
A.Taj, oriental food shops in Brighton
Q.Where can I receive visas and immigration advice?
A.University of Sussex Visas and immigration support page.
Q.Where can I receive advice regarding my campus life,
wellbeing, etc?
A.Student Life Centre & SU Advice Team.
Q.I want to meet with new people and make friends, what
kind of societies/campaign groups can I join?
A.ISS (International Students' Society), ISF (International Students Forum), and other cultural
societies.
Q.Where can I find more information about what to do to
settle in as an international student?
A.Have a look at our International Student Checklist to get a more complete list of information that may be useful at
the initial stages!
If you're interested to work in a friendly and busy environment in one of our exciting roles have a look on our jobs page.
Student Advice service
For support throughout your time at Sussex, you can always reach out to our Advice team.
They offer a safe, friendly, confidential and independent advice service - just for students. Whether you need academic, housing or personal advice - we are here to help you. And if we can’t help, we will signpost you to those who can.
You can find out more about what our advice team offers in this handy advice video.
Find a full list of how you can get in touch with us via our Support page.
Who we are
The Students' Union is a charity, separate to and independent from the University. We are a democratic, student focused organisation and every student at the University of Sussex and Brighton & Sussex Medical School (BSMS) is automatically a member of the union.
A huge part of our work is to lobby the University, taking students’ issues and concerns to University senior management and fighting for a response and reasonable action. This can be in regard to contact time, assessment feedback, resources, access, support, welfare, accommodation, and employability.
Our 6 elected full-time officers play a huge role in that.
We exist to improve the student experience, and we do this by running sports clubs, supporting student societies, putting on student events, providing bars, cafes, shops, student lettings, jobs, and a lot more - all for our students!
Find out more
Watch our animated video series to find out exactly what a students’ union is and does, where SUs began and how Sussex SU revolves around student life and all the issues faced by students today.