Welcome and arrival
International Student Support work with other offices at Sussex to organise a welcome and induction programme, with specific events aimed at international students. We operate a meet and greet service during the welcome weekend and help organise a number of events and trips which will help you settle in to life in the UK.
When will you contact me?
All students will will be contacted by the admissions office to confirm your offer and with initial information on how to enroll at Sussex. We shall be contacting you again in late August by email with further information about your arrival.
The University's student induction pages are now live. These contain important information for all new students before and after they arrive.
You can now book onto our free coach service from London Heathrow, which will be available during the welcome weekend of 14/15 September 2013.
Below you can find general information about arriving in the UK and travelling to the University of Sussex.
- Arriving in the UK
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Immigration control
Students from outside the EEA will be asked to complete a landing card - asking for some personal details - before arrival at the UK port or airport. Once you have landed you will be asked to show your passport and landing card to an immigration officer. In your hand luggage you must carry:
- your offer letter from Sussex
- evidence you have sufficient funds to cover your stay in the UK, even if you have a visa or entry clearance.
There will be two queues at passport control, one for European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and one for non-EEA nationals.
If you travel on the Eurostar train through the Channel Tunnel, you will have your passport and documents checked on the train.
If you bring your car through the Tunnel, you will pass through UK immigration control in France before taking your car on the train. It should be noted that complications can occur if you enter the UK via the Irish Republic and so this is not recommended. You should allow plenty of time to get through immigration and customs as, depending on where you are from, this can take several hours.
Pasport control
Please note, there have been significant changes to immigration control in the last few years.
If you are refused entry, or given a very short period of temporary admission, please contact the International Student Support, Friston Building on T +44 (0)1273 678422 as soon as possible for assistance.
With entry clearance
You will have already obtained your visa prior to entering the UK but you will still need to show the following:
- a letter stating that you have been accepted onto a full-time course at the University;
- evidence that you will be able to support yourself financially during your course (eg recent bank statements, banker's draft, letter of sponsorship, etc). The immigration officer may still ask you questions to establish that you are a genuine student and that you intend to leave the UK upon the completion of your studies.
Without entry clearance
You should have all of your documents in your hand luggage, ready to show the immigration officer. On arrival, you will be interviewed and you will be asked about your reasons for coming to the UK. If they are satisfied that you meet the student requirements then they will put a 'student visitor' stamp in your passport. The stamp will show you how long you are allowed to stay for, which will be a maximum of six months.
You should check your stamp is correct and challenge the immigration officer if there is a problem (eg your stamp is 'visitor' not 'student' or 'student visitor'). If the immigration officer refuses to change your stamp, ask to see the chief immigration officer directly. If your papers are not complete, the immigration officer may allow you Leave to Enter for a short period, so that you can sort things out. If this happens to you, seek advice from the University's International and Study Abroad Office or the Students' Union Advice Centre.
- Even if you have obtained a visa or an entry certificate, the immigration officer still has the right to refuse you entry if they have reason to believe that you have made false statements to obtain this, or if there has been a material change in your circumstances since the visa has been issued. If you hold a visa or entry certificate and are refused entry, you currently have the right of appeal to an independent adjudicator before being removed to your country of origin. However, this is subject to proposed changes in the immigration rules, which had not been confirmed at the time of going to press. If the adjudicator allows your appeal, you will be given entry clearance.
- Students without a student visa or entry clearance are advised not to enter the UK via the Irish Republic (Eire). Students who have entered this way only have permission to stay for three months from their date of entry to the Republic. It is not possible to extend this leave as a Student from within the UK.
When you arrive in Britain you will pass through customs where you may have to declare certain items. A system of red, green and blue symbols operates in all customs halls to help you through the procedure:
Green means "Nothing to declare" 
Red means "Goods to declare". 
Blue is for EEA Nationals only.Even if you go through the green channel, a customs officer may stop you and search your luggage.
Duty and tax-free goods
If you are carrying more than the duty-and tax-free allowance, you must go through the red channel. You should consult the list available on your plane or boat to determine the allowances. If you have more than the allowance, you may have to pay charges on the excess. These charges depend on the quantity and kind of goods, and may be substantially more than the purchase price of the goods. As a student, you are allowed to import goods temporarily into the UK without the need to pay duty or tax. If you are importing goods other than just your personal belongings, you are advised to go through the red channel and explain to the customs officer that you will be re-exporting the goods at the end of your course.
Note: if you travel to the UK via another EU airport, you may have to pay duty on your belongings, particularly personal computers, but you can subsequently claim this back.
Prohibted and restricted goods
If you are carrying prohibited or restricted goods, you must declare them to the customs officer by going through the red channel.
Carrying cash in and out of the UK
Any person entering or leaving the EU, (this includes the UK) carrying 10,000 Euros or more in cash, travellers cheques, money orders, etc, must declare this at the port of entry or exit. Failure to declare this information can lead to a £5,000 fine/ penalty
Food and Plant Imports
There are strict rules governing the import of many meat, dairy or plant products from non-EU countries into EU countries, including the UK. If you intend to bring any of the above mentioned items with you, you should check the DEFRA website, which will give you more information before you travel. Visit www.defra.gov.uk (or T +44 20 7238 6951).
Drugs
The laws concerning drugs are very strict and penalties are heavy. If you have to bring any drugs that have been prescribed by a doctor, you are advised to bring documentary proof of the nature of the drugs; otherwise they may be confiscated.
Drugs such as cannabis, LSD, cocaine and heroin are prohibited and customs officers and police have the right to search for illegal drugs.
- Travelling to the University of Sussex
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The University campus is at Falmer, about four miles (six km) from the centre of Brighton & Hove and four miles from the town of Lewes. The following instructions should help you with your travel arrangements. Also, refer to the Maps and directions page.
Travel to Brighton
The University is easily accessible and is well served by buses, trains and taxis from Brighton Train Station.
The closest train station to the University of Sussex is Falmer Train Station at the southern end of campus. To help with your arrival at Sussex, the University runs a minibus service from Falmer Train Station to the northern end of campus where the residences are. When we write to you before your arrival we will let you know the times of operation. If you can arrange to arrive during these times, it will make your arrival at the University easier.
Where possible we have included approximate prices of travel after 9am. It is more expensive to travel before 9am. Please note that prices quoted below are subject to change.
From London-Gatwick Airport
If you are travelling by plane, Gatwick Airport is within much easier reach of the University than Heathrow.
Train: On arrival, follow the signs for the train station and take a 30-minute train to Brighton (cost approximately £8). Several train operators run on this route and during the day trains run every 15 minutes. You can also buy a through ticket direct to Falmer Station (across the road from the Sussex campus) for approximately £9.50. You will still need to change trains at Brighton Station to get to Falmer Station. Trains to Falmer Station from Brighton Station run around every 15 minutes and the journey takes approximately 10 minutes.
From London-Heathrow Airport
If you arrive at Heathrow Airport and do not travel on our free coach service, there are two ways to get to Brighton:
Coach: This is the easiest option and is recommended if you have luggage. The journey takes about two hours. Several different services run from Heathrow Bus Station to Brighton, via Gatwick Airport. Please check the timetable on arriving. The fare is around £28. Coaches run every half hour during the day and every hour during the night and leave from Heathrow Central Bus Station, which is situated between Terminals 1 and 2 or at Terminal 4. For more information, call National Express on +44 (0) 8717 81 81 78 or visit the National Express website.
The coach will take you to Pool Valley Coach Station, which is near Brighton Pier. If you have heavy luggage, we advise you to take a taxi to the University. As there is no taxi rank you will need to phone for a taxi. The fare to the University should be around £12.
Train: Take the underground train (Piccadilly line) to Hammersmith Station and change to the Circle or District lines to travel to Victoria Station. At Victoria, follow the signs to the mainline station and take the overground train to Brighton. This option is not recommended if you have heavy luggage. If you are going to take the underground train then it is advisable to check the Transport for London website for up to date travel information. You can also download underground tube maps to help you prepare your journey.
Direct transport from Gatwick and Heathrow airports: Although public transportation links are generally good between the main airports and Brighton, you may prefer to travel directly from the airport to your accommodation. We can recommend a local taxi firm, 581 Travel, who can transport you from Heathrow (£81 single journey) or Gatwick airport (£41 single journey). Please note that there is a small additional charge if a larger car car is required for luggage and a further charge applies if the pick-up is between midnight and 5.59am.
You will need to prebook this service. For more information visit the 581 Travel Ltd website.
Contact details are as follows:
Tel: +44 (0)1273 300 300
Email: taxis@581travelltd.co.ukYou will need to pay the driver in cash.
From London-Stansted Airport
There are two ways to get to Brighton:
Coach: The coach station is located in front of the terminal building. The journey takes about four hours and costs around £34. The coach leaves hourly but does not run overnight. Please see details below left on how to get a taxi to the University from Pool Valley Coach Station. Visit the National Express website for more information.
Train: This will be difficult if you have a large amount of luggage and we recommend that you take the coach instead to make travelling easier. Take the train to London Liverpool Street Station. Change to the underground train (Circle line) to London Victoria Station. Then take the overground train to Brighton. For more information about travelling in London visit the Transport for London website.
Taxi Service in Brighton
There are many taxi companies in and around the city. You should make sure you pre-book a taxi or get one from the many licensed taxi ranks around the city.
Citycabs: T +44 (0)1273 205205
Streamline Taxis: T +44 (0)1273 747474Please note that Streamline Taxis operate a 'One Stop Fare Deal'. Students or visitors travelling from central Brighton to campus (or campus to central Brighton) can ask for a £12 fare deal. For more information refer to the Streamline Taxis website.
From Portsmouth and Southampton Sea Ports
Take the train direct to Brighton (cost approximately £15). The journey takes about two hours. From Brighton you can either get a Taxi (details above) or change trains at Brighton Station and get a train to Falmer Station (details above). This journey takes approximately 10 minutes and trains come every 15 minutes.
From Newhaven Sea Port
Take the train to Falmer Station. The journey takes about 20 minutes. The fare from Newhaven to Falmer Station is approximatley £3.50.
From Any Other Arrival Port
Take the train to London Victoria Station. There are also direct trains to Brighton from London Bridge and London St Pancras. The number for train enquiries is +44 (0)8457 484950 or look up your journey time on the National Rail Enquiries website.
If you arrive at another mainline train station in London, take the underground train to one of the previously mentioned London stations (you could also take a taxi but ask first how much it is likely to cost). There are maps in each underground station that are easy to follow and are colour coded for clarity. From there, take a train to Brighton. The journey takes about one hour and costs approximately £20. Ask for a ticket to Falmer Station, which is the same price as the ticket to Brighton and is valid via Brighton. For more information and underground train maps visit the Transport for London website
From the Channel Tunnel
The Eurostar train goes directly to St Pancras International Station in London. From there, take the overground train direct to Brighton. A ticket from St Pancras International to Brighton costs around £20.
From Brighton Train Station
Take a train direct from Brighton Station to Falmer Station (cost around £3), which will take about 10 minutes. Falmer Station is the third stop on leaving Brighton, after London Road and Moulsecoomb. At Falmer Station, you will be met by Sussex students during the main arrival times (details of which will be sent to you in advance), and a minibus will transport you to the University campus. If you are not able to arrive at Falmer Station during the hours when our minibus service operates, you could take a taxi from Brighton Station (taxis do not operate from Falmer). The cost of the taxi is approximately £12. However, if you can easily walk with your luggage, Falmer Station is 5-10 minutes walk from campus.
To Get to the University by Bus
The number 25 bus runs every 10 minutes during the daytime from Brighton to the University (every 20 minutes in the evening) and will cost £2.30 for a single/one-way ticket. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes and the nearest bus stop to Brighton Train Station for this route is at Brighton's main shopping centre, Churchill Square, which is about five minutes walk from the station. If you arrive by coach, the nearest stop for the 25 is at the Old Steine which is situated just a short walk from the coach station.
Luggage
For insurance and security reasons, the University offices cannot take responsibility for luggage. You will need to make your own arrangements for storage while looking for accommodation, etc.
