South Africa

Contents

• Entry requirements and application information
• Fees and scholarships
• Life at Sussex
• Clubs and societies
• Alumni
• Get in touch

Entry requirements and application information

• Undergraduate entry requirements

  Clearing offer

  Undergraduate Year 1

  National Senior Certificate or Independent Examinations Board (IEB)

  A typical Clearing offer would be grades of 55544.

  Additional subject-specific requirements may apply depending on the undergraduate course you are applying for.

  English language entry requirements 

  Typical offers for undergraduate and foundation year courses include a standard overall IELTS score of 6.0, with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four components.

  See the full range of English language qualifications that we accept.

• Masters entry requirements

  Academic entry requirements

  A Bachelor’s degree is required, with minimum second-class division 2 depending on your chosen Masters course.

  Additional subject-specific requirements may apply based on the postgraduate course you are applying for.

  These entry requirements are intended as guidelines. If you have questions about your qualifications or if they are not listed here, please feel free to contact us.

  English language entry requirements 

  Typical offers for a Masters course include a standard overall IELTS score of 6.0, with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four components.

  See the full range of English language qualifications that we accept.

• PhD entry requirements

  Academic entry requirements

  A Bachelor’s degree is required, with a minimum grade of upper second-class 2 in a subject relevant to your chosen PhD course.

  However, if you do not meet the academic requirements, you may still be considered for the degree if you can provide evidence of extensive work experience in a related field.

  These entry requirements are intended as guidelines. If you have questions about your qualifications or if they are not listed here, please feel free to contact us.

  English language entry requirements

  Typical offers for a PhD degree include a higher overall IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the four components.

  See the full range of English language qualifications that we accept.

How to apply

Undergraduate applications

As an undergraduate student, you can apply via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Find out more about how to apply for undergraduate courses.

Read our guide to undergraduate study to find out about the structure of an undergraduate degree and ways you can enhance your course.

Masters applications

As a Masters student, you can apply using our Masters application portal.

Find out more about how to apply for Masters courses.

Read our guide to Masters study to find out how you’ll learn and be assessed as part of your Masters degree, as well as how to get extra support with your study or English language skills.

PhD applications

As a PhD student, you can apply using our PhD application portal.

Find out more about how to apply for PhD courses.

Read our guide to PhD study to find out who will supervise you and the typical structure of a PhD. 

Visas and immigration

You can find suggestions and advice for applying to the UK as a student on a visa in our guide to visas and immigration for students.

You can also find more information from the UK Home Office regarding the details and requirements for a Student visa.

Fees and scholarships

Fees for South African students

Find specific fees for our undergraduate, Masters and PhD degrees by visiting your selected course page’s fees and scholarships section.

Visit our tuition fees page to find out what your fees cover and ways to pay.

Scholarships for South African students

For the 2026-27 academic year, South African students are eligible for awards from our faculties and can also apply for the Chancellor’s International Scholarship.

Find out more about:

• undergraduate scholarships
• Masters scholarships
• PhD funding and scholarships.

Life at Sussex

Situated on the edge of a national park and located just a few minutes away from one of the most vibrant cities in the UK, Sussex has it all.

Spirit of Sussex Award

Safety on campus

We offer a safe campus community for our students, supported by our 24/7 on-site security team, who are contactable 24-hours a day if you have any concerns. The Security Centre is equipped 24/7 to respond to emergency situations and includes CCTV and other crime prevention equipment. Find out more about our campus safety.

Food 

Brighton has various international supermarkets which sell African products. 

You can also buy international products from our weekly on-campus market or food markets in Brighton.

Clubs, groups and societies

Choose from a range of student societies and groups at Sussex including:

• the Buddy Scheme, which matches new students with current students based on your interests and includes activities and trips
• the Language Café, where you take part in language exchange sessions and other activities
• African and Caribbean Society

To find out more about life in the UK, contact our Alumni Consuls in South Africa.

Alumni: careers after Sussex

Develop your leadership and professional skills for post-study career opportunities.

Our graduates go on to engage with global issues, make a positive impact in the world and achieve success after Sussex. Notable alumni include:

• Thabo Mbeki (President, South Africa)
• Festus Mogae (President, Botswana)
• Guy Scott (President, Zambia)
• George Saitoti (Vice-President, Kenya)
• Isatou Touray (Vice-President of The Gambia).

 Get in touch