(2013 entry)
Admissions policy
Sussex aims to offer a diverse, multicultural undergraduate student community that is open and welcoming to those with the potential to pursue our courses successfully. Sussex has a long tradition of welcoming applicants with varied qualifications and backgrounds. We work towards this by:
- providing educational opportunities for all types of student satisfying the criteria of the policy, irrespective of their previous educational attainment, and reviewing each application individually on its merits
- attempting to recruit a diverse community of undergraduates with regard to gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, socioeconomic background and disability
- providing specific progression routes for identified groups, including mature students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds in the locality and region.
The University is committed to:
- equality of opportunity as set out in our Equality and Diversity Policy. The University aims to treat all applications fairly, equally, courteously and promptly
- giving applicants (who have applied by the UCAS deadline of 15 January and who have been offered places) the opportunity to take part in a structured visit to the campus
- taking properly into account all relevant factors bearing on the applicants’ previous and likely attainment
- offering information and special assistance to applicants who need it, particularly those with a disability and those from overseas.
Applicant complaints and appeals
Although we hope that all applicants will have a good experience in applying to Sussex, we recognise that there can be occasions when an applicant has a concern about an aspect of the admissions process and wishes to make a complaint. Also, we realise that, having asked for feedback (refer to Unsuccessful applicants), an unsuccessful applicant may wish to appeal against the decision.
Details of the complaints procedures and information on the grounds on which an applicant can appeal can be found at Applicant feedback, appeals and complaints.
A separate appeals process exists for those who wish to appeal against their fee status classification (refer to Fee status).
Equality of opportunity policy
The University of Sussex is committed to ensuring that staff and students are recruited, selected, trained, assessed, promoted and otherwise treated solely on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. A copy of the University’s Equality and Diversity Policy is available from Undergraduate Admissions and at Documents and policies.
Students with disabilities
We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, mental health difficulties and specific learning difficulties (eg dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, etc). We consider all applications according to the same academic criteria, regardless of other factors. We also recognise the need to ensure you are given advice on the facilities and support services available, so that if you are admitted to the University, you will have the support you need to complete your degree successfully.
If you have access requirements, we strongly encourage you to contact the Student Support Unit and to arrange to visit the campus to explore the facilities available. Please direct enquiries to:
Student Support Unit,
Pevensey Building 1,
University of Sussex,
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877466
E studentsupport@sussex.ac.uk
All applicants are considered on academic merit. We may ask for additional information about your access and support needs to ensure that we can provide the support that is required. You may also be invited for a visit to meet tutors and service providers. Properly assessing your needs takes time, so please ensure that you apply by the UCAS closing date of 15 January.
Refer to Your welfare for more information on how the University can support you.
Transfers and exemptions
For many subject areas, the University is happy to consider applications from students who want to enter directly into Year 2 and who have completed appropriate studies elsewhere. The current exceptions to this are our degrees listed in the subject areas for American studies, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, medicine, psychology, and social work and working with children and young people. In these subject areas, we will consider applications only for first-year entry. In addition, the University does not accept any students directly into the final year.
Whether you want to join the first or second year at Sussex, all applications to transfer from another university must be made via UCAS. You need to indicate your desired point of entry in the ‘choices’ section of the application.
Please ensure that the reference on your application is provided by one of your current tutors. In the qualifications section, please list details of all the modules you have studied at the other university, as well as your earlier school-leaving qualifications.
Each request to transfer is determined on its individual merits, and needs to take into account the compatibility of the curriculum studied elsewhere, the amount of credit accumulated and the results achieved (including school-leaving qualifications). Second-year entry would normally require 120 credits to have been awarded by another university. If we are not able to offer your chosen point of entry, we will automatically consider you for entry at a lower level (for example, first year instead of second). Please note that exemption is only given for full years of study.