Find out more about usCome and see us in your home countryOur International Liaison Team visit schools, universities and education fairs all over the world – from Shanghai to Mexico City. You can find out when we’ll be in your country atwww.sussex.ac.uk/International/admissions/overseas.shtml

Talk to our former studentsOur active network of Sussex graduates spans the world and includes many high-profile people from academia, business, media, politics and public service. You can get in touch with former students (called Alumni Consuls) from over 50 countries. They will be delighted to hear from you. Their email addresses are available at www.sussex.ac.uk/alumnidirectory

Visit your local Sussex representativeOur trained representatives work closely with us to ensure they can provide you with up-to-date information and advice on applying to Sussex. We have representatives in Bangladesh, China, Cyprus, East Africa, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Korea, Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Singapore,Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE and Vietnam. See page 163 for their contact details or visit www.sussex.ac.uk/International/agents

Join our international admission schemesWe co-operate with colleges in China, Greece and Nigeria to help prepare students for study at Sussex. If you satisfactorily complete the relevant course, these schemes will guarantee you a place with us. See page 163 for a list of the schemes and contact details.

International students at SussexDifferent routes to Sussex

Our campus has a truly multicultural feel, with over 2,500 international students and teaching and research staff

from 120 countries.

Why Sussex is the right choiceJoin one of the world’s top 150 universitiesHighly placed in UK, European and world rankings, we are a leading research university. Our international reputation attracts teachers and researchers at the forefront of their fields, and we’ve counted Nobel Prize winners and fellows of the Royal Society and British Academy among our staff.

Fulfil your potential with a Sussex scholarshipOur Chancellor’s International Scholarships support the best in global talent, offering financial support to up to 40 exceptional students each year. See page 36 for details.

Enjoy our green campus, just an hour from central LondonOur beautiful parkland campus has excellent transport links to London and the UK’s two biggest airports – Heathrow and Gatwick. It’s also the perfect base for exploring the historic towns and cities on England’s beautiful south coast.

Discover Brighton, the UK’s most exciting seaside cityWe’re just eight minutes by train from the centre of Brighton – one of the most lively and cosmopolitan cities in the UK. The city has a great beach, an outstanding choice of restaurants, cafés and bars, and every year hosts England’s largest arts festival.

Find out why our students voted us‘Best Place to be’In an i-graduate survey (International Student Barometer autumn 2006) of 40 universities, our international students voted Sussex the ‘Best Place to be’ – a tribute to the quality of our student experience. Students highly rated our location, facilities, quality of academic teaching and all-round friendliness.

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Welcoming and supporting you Feel at home in University accommodationOur University-managed accommodation is guaranteed for international students for the first year of your degree – provided you submit your application by the deadline. So you don’t need to worry about finding somewhere to live before arriving in Brighton. Our campus provides a safe and convenient environment for your first year at University. See pages 18-19 for more information.

Come to us for help and adviceOur International and Study Abroad Office can help you with any problems at University, providing advice on matters such as immigration, finance and life in the UK. We also have dedicated international advisors for students from China, Japan and South Asia.

Take part in our eventsOur International and Study Abroad Office is here to help you make the most of your experience at Sussex. With their support, you can learn about different cultures and experience the British way of life. It starts with an introductory programme in the week before the start of the academic year, followed by day trips, social events, parties and opportunities to meet former Sussex students through our Alumni Host Programme.

Observe your faithYou can find our Muslim Student Centre and mosque on campus, along with our chaplaincy catering for a range of religions. In Brighton, there are two mosques, a Buddhist centre, Islamic centre, Jewish centre and Greek and Russian Orthodox churches.

Helping you with the English languagePre-sessional support before your degree You can enrol on pre-sessional English courses (before the academic year starts) at our Sussex Language Institute to help you gain the English skills required for our degrees. You can join courses in July, August or September – and there’s no need to take another IELTS test at the end of the courses. For more information about our English language requirements, see page 162.

Support during your degreeOur Sussex Language Institute also offers in-sessional English support (after the academic year starts) to help you with your degree studies. Our language support and study skills workshops are free for international students.

Contact our Sussex Language InstituteThe Institute is British Council accredited and a founder member of QuiTE (The Association for Quality in TESOL Education), so you can be sure of the quality of its teaching and support. For information on general, academic, IELTS or professional English, get in touch by emailing efl@sussex.ac.uk or visit www.sussex.ac.uk/languages

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If you come from an education system outside the EU, you can join our International Foundation Year to bridge the gap

between your high-school studies and our degrees. Satisfactory completion of our foundation year will guarantee your progression to our undergraduate degree programmes.

International Foundation YearOur International Foundation Year (IFY):

• is based in our dedicated International Study Centre in the heart of the Sussex campus

• is closely linked to a wide range of undergraduate degrees

• is taught by specialists in university preparation, some of whom also lecture on degree courses at Sussex

• offers flexible start dates in September or January

• has a genuinely diverse international student community – in 2007/08 students joined us from 29 countries

• has an excellent record of students progressing to their chosen degree programmes.

You are guaranteed University-managed accommodation – all within a short walk of the International Study Centre – provided you apply by the appropriate deadline. You will also be welcomed into the University community, with access to a range of facilities including the Library, IT Services and the Students’ Union, which runs over 150 societies and sports clubs.

Subject areasThe IFY academic and language courses are grouped into five broad subject streams (see below). You apply to do a particular stream in line with your intended area of undergraduate study, and select the actual degree during your foundation year. Tutors will provide you with information and advice about your degree choice and the application process. Provided you obtain the required grades at the end of your year, you will progress to your Sussex degree programme in the following October.

English language requirementsYou will need at least IELTS 5.0 (or equivalent) to start on our IFY. If your IELTS result is lower, you can join our English language preparation courses before you start − for one term if you have IELTS 4.0 or two terms if you have IELTS 3.0.

How to applyApplications must specify one of our five subject streams and should be made through the International Study Centre (see contact details below right). For fees information see page 166. Students would normally be at least 17 years old.

For more information or to apply for

the International Foundation Year,

please contact:

Student Enrolment Advisors,

1 Billinton Way, Brighton,

East Sussex BN1 4LF, UK

T +44 (0)1273 339333

F +44 (0)1273 339334

www.sussex.ac.uk/isc

International FoundationYear at SussexDifferent routes to Sussex

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Mohsen’s perspective ‘My foundation year studying engineering and computing at Sussex gave me an idea of what I should expect when studying for an undergraduate degree. Most importantly, it helped me with language, and especially with my skills in writing, reading and giving presentations. ‘Our relationship with our teachers was really close and we could ask them about any problem that we had, and they were always helpful and ready to give advice.‘I’m now studying satellite communication and space systems (MEng), and I can’t wait to apply my new skills by working in my chosen field.’

MohsenFatoorechi

IFY streams Subject areas from which you may choose your degreeBusiness, management Business and management studies or Economics and economicsEngineering and computing Computing, Engineering (electrical, electronic and

computer systems), Engineering (mechanical, automotive and design), Engineering for society, Mathematics, Physics and astronomy or Product design

Law and social studies Anthropology, Development studies, Economics, Geography, History, International relations, Law, Politics or Sociology

Life sciences Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental science, Ecology and conservation, Human sciences, Medical neuroscience, Molecular genetics, Molecular medicine, Neuroscience or Psychology

Media studies Film studies, Media studies or Sociology

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Centre for Continuing Education: flexible studyDifferent routes to Sussex

If you would like to study at university level but feel you lack the necessary qualifications, confidence or time to undertake

a full-time degree, the Centre for Continuing Education offers part-time higher education in a relaxed, supportive and relatively informal environment.

The Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) at Sussex specialises in providing flexible, part-time adult education. Our programmes are designed to offer opportunities for those who, for whatever reason, are unable to study full time.

We offer a range of programmes that carry higher education credit. You can accumulate credit for the award of a degree (360 credits), or make the decision to exit early, using your credit to gain a certificate (120 credits) or a diploma (240 credits).

BA Creativity and the Arts (part-time) Looking at the relationship between theory and practice in the creative arts, this BA degree offers you the opportunity to study from a range of courses including art history, creative writing, literature and music (see page 67 for further information). We also offer a two-year certificate in Creative Writing.

BA Archaeology and Landscape(part-time) Examining the relationship between the landscape, the environment, natural forces and people over time, this BA degree offers you the opportunity to study from a range of courses including archaeology, conservation, ecology, field biology, geology and local history (see page 46 for further information). We also offer a two-year certificate in Practical Archaeology.

BA Cultures and Communities(part-time) At the cutting edge of intellectual debate and professional practice, this BA offers the opportunity to study from a range of courses including life history work, community development, cultural studies, women’s studies, film and arts and cultural management (see page 70 for further information). We also offer a two-year certificate in Arts and Cultural Management.

Study time Contact time with the teaching team is two to three hours a week for most courses, but this can vary. There may also be additional day schools or field trips each term. You should plan to spend at least eight hours a week, in addition to your classes, on preparation and coursework. You will also need to spend about 16 hours producing work for assessment (often in vacations). Your tutor will give you guidance and support in drawing up a study plan.

Our tutors All our tutors are experienced in university adult education and understand the concerns of people who may not have studied for some time, and the pressures of busy lives with competing work and family demands. The tutors are experts in their field and are engaged with current academic arguments and debates.

Open courses We offer a range of short courses that carry credits that you can accumulate towards a certificate, diploma or part-time degree – or can be studied just for the enjoyment of it. A total of 60 credits can be used towards an award as appropriate.

Open courses are offered throughout East and West Sussex, as well as at the University’s Falmer campus. All open courses offered by CCE are open to anyone, irrespective of educational qualifications and experience. Contact CCE for course details.

Continuing Professional Development Many programmes are used by our students to help them change careers, improve their promotion prospects, or to get more out of their job. Arts and cultural management, life history work and conservation are just three examples. In addition CCE also offers a range of courses in Deaf Studies (and British Sign Language) specifically designed for those who work with the Deaf Community.

For more information about our

part-time degrees or certificates, or

for advice on how to register, contact

Centre for Continuing Education,

Essex House,

University of Sussex, Falmer,

Brighton BN1 9QQ, UK

T +44 (0)1273 877888

E si-enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

www.sussex.ac.uk/cce

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Mature studentsat SussexDifferent routes to Sussex

University-level study is not just for school leavers. People return to study at different times of life

and for many different reasons. Some are looking for a lifestyle change, some for a new career path and others find that their changing family commitments mean they now have time for themselves. Whatever your situation, Sussex is a great place to be student.

We have a tradition of welcoming mature applicants to Sussex. At the moment, approximately a quarter of our undergraduate population is classed as mature. We have no upper age limit and have seen the graduation of two 76-year-olds. We are acknowledged as a leading university in the admission of mature students.

Your contribution Our interest in mature students does not stem only from our commitment to social diversity. We encourage mature applicants because we know that, generally, more experienced students are highly motivated, focused and successful. Our tutors regularly comment on the outstanding contribution to seminar discussions that mature students make and we are proud to watch our students increase in confidence as their studies progress. Whatever your background, returning to study can be a life-changing experience.

Because of the value of experience, and the recognition that you may have certain commitments, we take a flexible approach when extending offers to mature students. You are not necessarily expected to fulfil the general entrance requirements, but you must be able to demonstrate the potential to handle degree-level work before we can offer you a place.

Events and societies Once you get here you will soon find that you are part of a lively community of like-minded people. We have an active Mature Students’ Society, which organises social activities and promotes the needs of older students. The Society enables you to meet mature students from other academic years and subject groups. There is also a parents’ group, providing support and discussion, and an elected mature students’ representative.

Support and advice As a mature student your needs and experiences may be very different from your younger colleagues and so we have a range of support and advice services to help you. Our gateway day, especially for mature freshers, is designed to ease you into your new surroundings, with a range of workshops, tours and social events. For those with children, the University runs a crèche and nursery (see page 21).

The Union runs an advice centre, providing help with issues such as benefits and accommodation problems. If you are looking for part-time work, the University’s Career Development and Employment Centre can help (see pages 24-25). And, if you feel your essay-writing skills are rather rusty, we also run a mentor scheme so you can get support and advice.

Sussex has a number of student advisors who are here to help you with any problems you may have, be they personal, financial or academic.

Funding your studies We know that one of the major concerns of anyone thinking of returning to study is funding. There are grants, such as the Adult Dependants’ Grant for those with adult dependants, and the Childcare Grant and Parents’ Learning Allowance for students with dependent children. For further information, visit www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

There are no age restrictions for the tuition fee loan or other Government grants; however, there are age restrictions on the loan for living costs (eg UK students living in England must be under 60 at the start of the degree programme). For more information about fees and funding, see pages 34-36.

Find out more To find out whether you are ready to take the leap into university life, we invite you to attend one of our open days (see page 5).We give talks on mature student life at Sussex, and are happy to answer any questions you might have. We also have a mature student advisor who is happy to advise anyone who is considering applying to Sussex as a mature student.

You may wish to attend one of our regular mature student drop-in sessions, to take a tour of the campus and to ask questions. To book a place on one of the sessions, please visit our website at www.sussex.ac.uk or call +44 (0)1273 678417.

For more information on entry requirements and applying to Sussex as a mature student, please visit www.sussex.ac.uk/advice4students

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Sarah’s perspective ‘ In my late 20s I suddenly realised after neglecting the idea of university for so long that I actually really wanted to find out what I’d been missing. I joined an Access to Higher Education course and it didn’t take long for the enjoyment of studying to return.‘Applying for Sussex was frightening and empowering at the same time. I was unsure of my ability to engage and keep up with the pace after being out of education for several years but, arriving at Sussex, it was soon apparent that what I lack in recent educational experience I make up for in life experience and analysis skills. ‘Being a mature student with commitments like raising my partner’s little boys has meant I need extra support in making my timetable fit my life. I was concerned that this support wouldn’t be available, but the faculty have been more than helpful and done whatever they can to make life easier and help me slot in.’

Sarah Bolland

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