GET READY GUIDE
Vice-Chancellor’s welcome I am delighted that you have chosen to join us at the University of Brighton. You will be part of an academic community that is creative, enterprising and inclusive and that values you, your experience and personal perspective. At Brighton we will encourage you to play an active role in the life of your university, you will be supported throughout your course, and into your career and life after university. We take pride in creating an education experience in partnership with you and with professional associations and accrediting bodies – a sign that your degree will be relevant and high quality. I join with all my colleagues in welcoming you to the University of Brighton, your university. We are committed to do all we can to help you get the best from your studies and your time spent here. I look forward to meeting you.
Professor Debra Humphris Vice-Chancellor
Applied Criminology and Psychology third year student
University of Brighton, first year student.
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The step up to university was quite big, but the university helped me through it and now I’m looking forward to getting my degree. And I feel much more confident in social and work situations.
Everything is easier than it seems and you are not on your own. Everyone feels just as anxious about starting university but you are not thrown in at the deep end. You can be as independent as you like, but you always have help available.
CONTENTS Before you get here
02–11
Your first week
12–15
Once you are here
16–21
Essential online tasks 05 Your course 06 Advice for new students 07 Accommodation 08–09 Money 10–11 Welcome and induction events Your student life Your career Brighton Students’ Union Support and advice
Useful contacts Complete checklist
14–15 18 19 20 21
23 back cover
Welcome In just a few weeks you will be starting your course with us. We know you are going to have a brilliant time here. Going to university can involve all kinds of change and during your first few weeks you are likely to be very busy adjusting to your new situation. There are lots of things that you can do before you get here to prepare. First, read this guide! It is packed with important and useful information including how to complete stage 1 online enrolment, what to expect during your first week, and about life at university and the support and services we provide.
THERE’S MORE ONLINE Studentcentral
Log into https://studentcentral.brighton.ac.uk for advice written specially for students starting this September. From Thursday 23 August you can enrol online, then you’ll be able to check important dates and details about your course.
Social media
Keep in touch with what is going on at the university on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. universityofbrighton
uniofbrighton
uniofbrighton
Friends and family can find out more too
Family and friends can find out about university life at our new students section – www.brighton.ac.uk/newstudent. It’s useful for you to refer to as well.
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Before you get here IN THIS SECTION Essential online tasks ®® ®®
Online enrolment Upload your photo
Your course
Welcome events Your timetable ®® Confirm your start date ®® ®®
Advice for new students Students with disabilities Students with children ®® International students ®® Health ®® ®®
Accommodation Money
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The teaching, learning environment and educational outcomes we provide for our students consistently exceed the rigorous national requirements for all UK higher education providers.
We are very proud of our students. 68% achieve firsts and 2:1s, and 22% attain a 2:2 – not only are these excellent academic achievements but they look great to future employers.
Our graduates leave us with the confidence and skills to make a difference. 94.4% of our full-time, first degree graduates are working, studying or training within six months of completing their course. (DLHE 2016–2017)
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Our Student Services and Information Services hold the Customer Service Excellence® standard. This government-backed standard means the services we provide for our students have been independently assessed to be efficient, effective, excellent, equitable and empowering.
The University of Brighton has a First Class honour from People & Planet, the student network which campaigns to protect the environment, placing us in the top 10 greenest UK universities in People & Planet’s University League 2017.
C HA R T E
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GEND
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We hold a Bronze award from the Equality Challenge Unit’s (ECU) Athena SWAN Charter, in recognition of our commitment to gender equality, and we are a Race Equality Charter member and Stonewall Diversity Champion.
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WHAT YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE YOU GET HERE CHECKLIST What you can do now Essential online tasks
Activate your university user account.
Log into studentcentral to read advice for students starting in September. Upload your university photo. Join us on social media.
Finance
Make or update your student
finance application (UK and EU students only). Work out a budget. Open a bank account.
Accommodation
Confirm your accommodation (see our accommodation checklist on page 09).
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Check your vaccinations
Make sure your vaccinations are up to date, including the meningitis vaccination for 18–25 year olds and MMR. Students on some health courses require additional vaccinations.
Some of you will also need to...
Book a place on international
orientation (international and European students). Arrange childcare and funding. Apply for Disabled Student Allowance (DSA).
What you can do from 23 August Complete stage 1 online enrolment
Complete the first stage of
enrolling with the university; confirm the details we hold for you and upload a university photograph.
Prepare for your course
After you have completed online enrolment on 23 August log into studentcentral so you can: find your welcome event timetable and your draft teaching timetable (click the timetable button on the home tab). Check back regularly for updates. check your start date. check the academic school and campus where your course is based. complete pre-course preparation if requested. check what’s going on in your first week, including welcome programme events. You’ll find them by clicking the timetable button on the hometab.
Get ready for student life
Check out Freshtival 2018 and
sign up for the Brighton Students’ Union Freshers’ mailing list at www.brightonsu.com/freshtival. Join the official Freshers’ Facebook groups at www.facebook.com/ brightonstudentsunion.
Complete stage 1 online enrolment
Essential online tasks There are a few things to do online before you start your course – including stage 1 online enrolment and uploading your university photograph.
From Thursday 23 August if your place has been confirmed, you’ll be able to complete stage 1 online enrolment on studentcentral. You’ll receive a letter that explains what you need to do and we’ll send you email reminders. Stage 1 online enrolment takes about 15 minutes and you need to complete this process before you arrive at university. The morning after you have completed stage 1 online enrolment you will be able to see details about your course on studentcentral, events during your first week, your school’s induction events and much more. We will also confirm that the details we hold about you are correct. You may need to provide us with missing information such as who to contact in an emergency.
DIGITAL TOOLKIT The digital toolkit will help you access important online services. https://about.brighton.ac.uk/dt University wifi Your university email ®® Microsoft cloud services including your free copy of Office Pro Plus Word, Excel and PowerPoint ®® Social media groups ®® Travel and transport ®® Budget calculator ®®
Logging onto studentcentral
Studentcentral is the university’s online learning environment where you’ll manage your studies and access academic and support services. But first, studentcentral is where you will complete Stage 1 online enrolment and find out about getting ready for life as a University of Brighton student. Log in regularly to check for updates.
Activate your university user account
If you have already used studentcentral (maybe to access the applicant area when you applied here) you have completed this step. If you haven’t, here’s what you need to do. ®® Visit https://activate.brighton.ac.uk and follow the instructions. ®® You will be asked for your University of Brighton student number, which you will find in the letter that accompanies this guide. ®® Make sure you remember your new username and password when they are displayed because you will not get an email reminder. ®® WAIT 15 MINUTES for your account to be activated.
To complete online enrolment you need to have activated your university account and be logged on to studentcentral. https://studentcentral.brighton.ac.uk
Upload your university photograph
It is really important that you upload your photograph to studentcentral before you get here. We’ll use it to make your Unicard when you complete the second stage of enrolment. Your Unicard will enable you to get into your halls of residence, access buildings and computers, and borrow books and other resources from the library. And you’ll be able load it with money to pay for food and drink from our cafes and restaurants, photocopying and items from our Students’ Union shops. It gives you discounts too so you can start saving money as soon as you get here.
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Many of these services will be available to you after you have enrolled online from Thursday 23 August. Start using your university email address before you get here and throughout your time as a student making sure you check your inbox regularly; otherwise you may miss important information and updates. If you are applying for placements or part-time work your university email address is the one you should use.
TIP: Why not buy your Totum card, powered by NUS Extra, at the same time www.brightonsu.com/totum – you can use the same photo for both and you can start saving money with discounts on clothing, food and lots more.
Your username is usually your initials and two or three numbers eg js123. Keep it and your password safe and don’t share them with anyone. If you have forgotten or would like to change your password visit https://myinfo.brighton.ac.uk/forgot.
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TERM AND SEMESTER DATES
Your course
Term dates 2018–2019
Join us on social media
Autumn Monday 24 September– Friday 14 December
Meet other students in your campus Facebook group and follow us on social media. www.brighton.ac.uk/ socialmedia
Spring Monday 7 January– Friday 29 March
Find out about your welcome events and timetable, and check the date you’ll start your studies.
Summer Monday 23 April–Friday 7 June ®®
Semester dates
Semester 1 Monday 1 October– Friday 1 February Semester 2 Monday 4 February– Friday 7 June
Your welcome events and timetable Find out about your welcome events Before you get here, check your events happening in the first few weeks. You’ll need to attend in-person enrolment, and the Vice-Chancellor’s talk, as well as events specific to your course such as school welcome, introduction to your course, meeting your tutor and introductory teaching sessions. Your welcome timetable can be found on studentcentral after you have enrolled online – click the timetable button on the home tab of studentcentral.
When can you expect to see your timetable?
You’ll be able to see your draft timetable the day after completing stage 1 online enrolment. (see pages 4 and 5 for info, but you can do this from 23 August). Click on the timetable button icon on the home tab of studentcentral. Timetables are provisional until after the start of term. Sessions may be added or deleted during the first couple of weeks while teaching groups are being confirmed. Check your timetable regularly for changes, and we advise that you do not buy season tickets or make work commitments until timetables are confirmed. Brighton and Sussex Medical School students will find their welcome timetable in the BSMS new student area of studentcentral and the academic timetable will be in the module area.
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Pre-course preparation
For some courses there may be precourse preparation or information you must read before you start your course, such as reading lists. Find out about your course requirements by logging onto studentcentral and visiting the My Course section of the Studies tab.
Confirm the start date of your course on studentcentral
Monday 24 September is the first day for most courses, but there are some exceptions. To check the first day of your course, log onto studentcentral, go to the Studies tab and click on My Course area where you’ll find key dates and other specific instructions for your course. The following courses have earlier start dates, but note this is not a complete list and you should check studentcentral to be sure of your course start date. Brighton and Sussex Medical School Brighton and Sussex Medical School students’ induction week starts on Monday 17 September. MedSoc will be arranging welcome activities on 15–16 September. ®® PGCE (postgraduate teacher training) Starts on Monday 3 September. ®® Postgraduate health courses Most have earlier start dates – check studentcentral. ®®
Brighton Business School Some top-up degrees and postgraduate courses have earlier start dates - check studentcentral.
Confirm your academic school and campus The University of Brighton is based on campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. You will find the school and campus where your course is based on the letter accompanying this guide and on the new student area of studentcentral.
Your course is based with one of the 13 academic schools. Brighton and Sussex Medical School Brighton Business School ®® School of Applied Social Science ®® School of Architecture and Design ®® School of Art ®® School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics ®® School of Education ®® School of Environment and Technology ®® School of Health Sciences ®® School of Humanities ®® School of Media ®® School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences ®® School of Sport and Service Management. ®® ®®
Studying with the School of Media, Humanities or Health Sciences?
Double check where your course will be taught as courses from these schools are based at more than one campus. Courses validated by the university are also taught at our partner colleges across East and West Sussex. Timetables and course information will be provided by the college directly to you.
Students with children
Advice for new students Students with disabilities
We recommend you do the following as soon as possible so we can put in place any support you may need.
Declare a disability to the university. Apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance.
Most UK students with disabilities can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) which is designed to help meet any extra costs that may arise from your disability. Students who are not eligible for DSA will still be eligible for funded disability support.
Book an appointment with the Disability and Dyslexia Team.
Bring up-to-date evidence of your disability either from a medical practitioner or an educational psychologist. We can help you to obtain this evidence if you do not already have it.
If you have a long-term health condition and receive benefits, we encourage you to find out about how becoming a student will impact you financially.
Apply for childcare
There are two nurseries at the University of Brighton, based on the Moulsecoomb and Grand Parade campuses. Both have been recognised as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Contact the manager of the nursery as soon as possible to check availability. There is also a nursery at the University of Sussex which may be more convenient if you are studying at our Falmer campus. www.brighton.ac.uk/childcare Remember to complete your application for childcare grant or allowance. For more information visit www.gov.uk/ childcare-grant or for NHS-funded students visit: www.gov.uk/nhs-bursaries.
International students Get ready for life in the UK
To find out more about life, culture and customs in the UK and preparing for study at the University of Brighton visit www.brighton.ac.uk/international. We offer an orientation programme for international and EU students, which takes place on 18–21 September. It’s based in Brighton, with daytime events in Eastbourne for students who will be studying there. A meet and greet service for students arriving at London Heathrow and Gatwick airport is also available, as is accommodation for the duration of the programme.
Our Student Advice Service can advise, email them at studentadvice@brighton.ac.uk.
Find out more www.brighton.ac.uk/orientation
Turn2Us provide information online at www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/ Full-time-students-and-benefits.
Before you arrive read our health advice about mumps, measles and meningitis. Make sure your vaccinations are up to date, including the Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccination for 18– 25 year olds. Students on some health courses require additional vaccinations – you will be contacted if this applies to you.
Find out more www.brighton.ac.uk/disability
Stay healthy, get vaccinated
Our Student Advice Service provides high quality, free and confidential immigration advice to our applicants, students and their dependents. Before you can begin your University of Brighton journey you need to complete a number of requirements, and that’s where I can help. It’s my job to help you apply for a visa to study in the UK and to provide you with advice and guidance throughout the immigration process. We understand that your family may have lots of questions too; whether they’ve got questions about finance, visas or life in the UK, we’re here to help them understand what to expect. We have many years of experience providing immigration advice and have taken all the necessary training in immigration law. We work to strict guidelines and procedures and are regulated by the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) so you can be confident about the quality of the information and advice we provide to you.
Students from the EU need to bring a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from their home country to get free NHS treatment. www.brighton.ac.uk/stayhealthy 07
A place to call home Our accommodation team have excellent local knowledge and many years of experience. They’re here to advise you on all the options open to you, and support you in finding somewhere suitable to live throughout your time here. University-managed and arranged options Applications for university accommodation closed on 30 June. Room offers are made after your application status becomes unconditional firm (UF).
Our accommodation options include: ®® halls of residence ®® university-managed houses (unihomes and unilets) ®® house share scheme – rooms in private rented sector accommodation managed by partner letting agents and reserved for our students ®® homestay – living with a host family or resident landlord registered with the university.
Every eligible student will be offered a place in universitymanaged or arranged accommodation in either Brighton or Eastbourne.
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We aim to let everyone who applies know by the end of August. Go to www.brighton.ac.uk/accommodationpolicy to find out how we allocate university accommodation.
Accepting your offer of a room in university-managed accommodation You need to accept our offer of a room, and pay your first instalment of rent, within three days of receiving the offer from us. Log in to the accommodation portal using your university username and password.
https://accommodation.brighton.ac.uk.
House share scheme
This option is available to students who apply for but are not offered a room in university-managed accommodation. The university works with local letting agents to secure private rented houses in Brighton and the surrounding area exclusively for our students. All the properties offered through the scheme have been checked by our accommodation team to ensure that required standards have been met. You’ll be renting a room in a shared house with other University of Brighton students so it’s a great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
If you are offered a reserved room you will need to make an upfront payment to the letting agent to secure the room. This would usually be one month’s rent, a deposit and agent’s fee. Rooms in the house share scheme are subject to availability.
Homestay
Homestay gives you the extra security of living with a family, couple or single person in the local area who have been endorsed by the university. The scheme is able to accommodate varying length of stays, from two weeks up to a whole academic year. If you’re interested in applying for Homestay, phone us on 01273 644100 or email us at accommodation@ brighton.ac.uk. Our accommodation team can advise on availability and help you to find a suitable host.
I’m not living in universitymanaged accommodation
If you’re not living in halls or universitymanaged houses we can offer you lots of support in finding an alternative – including studenthomes online housing database, housemates Facebook group and our house hunting guide.
I f you opt for private rented accommodation you get more choice over where you live – and who with. ®® We offer plenty of support and advice if you go for this option. Contact us to get advice from our experienced team. ®® Our closed Facebook housemates group allows you to meet like-minded people and buddy up to look for a rented house. ®® Log in to our studenthomes housing database and search through all the accommodation options registered with us. ®® Read our house hunting guide. ®®
I joined a Facebook group for the halls I would be staying in. Through this I found three people that I am living with and this meant when we did meet on the day I moved in, it was a lot less awkward and it was like we were already friends.
Facebook housemates group
In the summer we can give you access to our Facebook group so you can meet other students who are looking to share and ask the accommodation team any questions you might have. Contact the accommodation office for advice and access to this group. Prepare beforehand by visiting our househunting web pages. www.brighton.ac.uk/newstudents/ accommodation
Use our studenthomes housing database
Before contacting letting agents, use our studenthomes database to find private rented accommodation. Studenthomes provides housing advice for University of Brighton students, as well as details of houses and flats available for rent in Brighton and Eastbourne. You could save up to £200 in agency fees by using it. You need your university username and password to log on. Every year hundreds of students find great places to live using this service. https://studenthomes.brighton.ac.uk/ For more information visit www.brighton.ac.uk/accommodation or email accommodation@brighton.ac.uk.
House-hunting guide
Our house-hunting guide provides advice about finding and renting property in the private sector, and is full of useful information to guide you through the process of choosing the right home. Make sure you read it before you start your accommodation search.
ACCOMMODATION CHECKLIST Halls of residence and unihomes
Read our halls allocation policy
– this explains who is eligible to apply and how to accept our offer of a room. If you are eligible and want to apply for halls you need to have done so by Saturday 30 June 2018. We’ll let you know the outcome of your accommodation application after the deadline has passed and after your place with us is unconditional – so if you’re waiting for results, we’ll let you know the outcome after your results are available and your place is fully confirmed. If we offer you a place in halls you need to pay the first rent instalment within three working days of us contacting you to secure your place. Join your halls Facebook group – we’ll email you details.
Complete the online
accommodation induction, where you’ll be given an arrival time. If we offer you a place in halls you need to accept the offer and pay the first rent instalment within three working days of us contacting you to secure your place. Join your halls Facebook group – we’ll email you details. Complete the online accommodation induction, where you’ll be given an arrival time.
Private accommodation
Read our advice on looking for
accommodation in the private rented sector. Check out https://studenthomes. brighton.ac.uk Contact the accommodation office for further advice and access to our housemates Facebook group.
Download the house-hunting guide at www.brighton.ac.uk/accommodation. 09
Money At Brighton we’ll help you with your student finances. To get you started here are a few ideas to help you to manage your money.
Student finance Open a bank account
Your student loan or other funding will be paid into your bank account, so it makes sense to have an account organised before you arrive. PP PP
Look for student accounts with benefits that suit you. Remember to take ID and confirmation of student status – your acceptance letter.
There are banking facilities on our Moulsecoomb campus and within walking distance of all our other campuses. If you are an EU or international student please be aware that it may take several weeks to open a UK bank account after you have enrolled on your course. You need to make sure you have money for this period by making arrangements similar to those you make if you are going on holiday abroad, like using credit or a cash card.
Applying for student finance
If you are a UK or EU student studying an undergraduate course or PGCE, and you have not already done so, you should apply for student finance now. If you have applied for student finance, make sure that the company you applied to has your correct bank details. 10
Take the time to read our funding and fees information and the advice we provide about managing your money in this guide and online. www.brighton.ac.uk/money
Postgraduate masters loan scheme
If you’re a UK or EU student studying for a masters degree, you may be able to apply for a government loan of up to £10,609. Your loan can be used as a contribution towards the costs of study including tuition fees and maintenance costs. www.brighton.ac.uk/money
Changed university?
If your choice of university has changed since your original Student Finance application you must let your student finance company know as soon as possible. For more information about student finance and loans visit www.gov.uk/student-finance.
Funding for health courses
There have been changes to funding arrangements for some health courses. If you are from England, and starting a nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, podiatry, paramedic practice or occupational therapy undergraduate course, or postgraduate pre-registration course in the allied health professions
you will need to apply for a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan through Student Finance. There may be additional grants available from the Learning Support Fund which is assessed through National Health Services Business Service Authority (NHSBSA). These grants are for parents and if you wish to claim any travel and dual accommodation expenses during placements.
International students
If you’re a self-funded international student you’ll need to pay a tuition fee deposit of £2,500 by Friday 31 August. If you require a Tier 4 student visa to study here your deposit must be paid before we can issue you with a CAS number. It is important that your deposit is paid in plenty of time to apply for your visa. www.brighton.ac.uk/international/fees
Bursaries
If you are an English or EU undergraduate student, we will let you know if you are eligible for a bursary once you have completed stage 1 online enrolment. Your details will be passed to the university by Student Finance England once you receive confirmation of your tuition fee and maintenance loan.
For this to happen you must give Student Finance England consent for them to share your household income information with us. Bursaries will be paid in two equal instalments in January and May 2019. Care leavers and estranged students will receive their University of Brighton bursary soon after the start of the autumn term.
Receiving your student funding
If you have applied for student funding, once you have completed stage 2 in-person enrolment the university will confirm your registration and attendance with your student finance company. If you are receiving a student finance package, your maintenance loan will be released to your bank account, usually within three to four working days and your tuition fee loan will be paid straight to the university. If you are receiving a masters loan, it will be released straight to your bank account. If you wish to use the masters loan to pay for your tuition fees, you can do so once you have received your loan.
Be prepared
Budget checklist
Budget while you are here – calculate your income and expenses and work out what your weekly or monthly income and outgoings are. Budgeting isn’t just about seeing how much money you will need to pay for your food, travel and rent – it’s a really good way of working out how much you can spend on things you enjoy. For more advice on ways to manage your money visit www.brighton.ac.uk/moneymatters.
Student loan
Your student loan covers the cost of your tuition and your maintenance loan (UK students only) will cover some of your living costs while you are studying.
Make a budget
You can find price details of university accommodation at www.brighton.ac.uk/living-here.
If you are concerned about your financial situation either before you arrive or once you are here, contact the Student Advice Service. Our service is confidential and non-judgemental. Email studentadvice@brighton.ac.uk or call 01273 642888. We offer one-to-one advice sessions on all of our campuses. There are hardship funds to help students in certain circumstances and we can help you access these if you are eligible. www.brighton.ac.uk/budgeting
Income = less than your outgoings – your money may not last until the end of term. Are there ways to cut back on your spending or increase your income (for example, a part-time job)?
Money from relatives or guardians Income from a job Benefits or tax credits
Grants, bursaries, sponsorships or scholarships you’re eligible for
– OUTGOINGS
Student Advice Service
Income = same as or more than your outgoings – looks like you’ve got things covered, stick to the budget and you’ll be fine.
+ INCOME
Make sure you have enough money in your bank account when you arrive to cover your rent, food, study, travel and entertainment costs for at least the first two weeks of term in case there are any delays in receiving your student finance. Paying for your studies and your living costs may seem daunting at first, but organising your student finance early and making a budget you can stick to will make a big difference.
Do the numbers add up?
Accommodation
Household bills
Internet, TV licence, water, gas, electricity, phone contract and council tax (not applicable if the housing is solely occupied by fulltime students).
Contents insurance
Factor this cost in if you live in private accommodation.
Travel costs
Transport to and from uni as well as visits home. Find out about buses and Unizone train tickets for cheap travel on Southern Rail for students.
Household supplies and toiletries Music, film and social activities Clothes and shoes Credit card or debt repayments Books and equipment Healthcare
Dental treatment, glasses and contact lenses.
Childcare
Food, laundry
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Your first week IN THIS SECTION Welcome and induction events In-person enrolment Wifi ®® Welcome events ®® Travel ®® ®®
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If you are not sure what you need to bring please contact us.
Welcome and induction events Monday 24 September is the first official day of the university’s autumn term. Some courses start earlier than the first official day of term: check studentcentral to see when your course starts.
If you do not attend the in-person enrolment session you will experience delays in receiving your funding. If you are unable to attend your inperson enrolment session contact the enrolment helpline as soon as possible. Email studentadministration@brighton. ac.uk or call 01273 644777.
Stage 2 in-person enrolment dates and venues
Log onto studentcentral and click on the timetable icon on the home tab to see the welcome events in your first week.
Welcome events in your academic school
You will need to attend induction and teaching events for your course in your first week. Dates, times and locations can be found on studentcentral in your timetable (on the home tab – draft timetables are available after you complete stage 1 of enrolment online). Note, there’s a lot going on this week and you may end up going to induction and teaching events before you attend your in-person enrolment session.
Stage 2 in-person enrolment
HOW TO ACCESS UNIVERSITY WIFI Select eduroam from the list of networks on your device. Enter your eduroam user name, @ and the university domain: ®® your user name is the one you use to access studentcentral ®® the domain is brighton.ac.uk. ®® For example abc1@brighton. ac.uk. Click continue/connect/trust/ accept if asked. Visit https://about.brighton. ac.uk/dt for a quick guide on how to access our online services. Please avoid using the wifi guest as it’ll stop you accessing the faster eduroam service for our students.
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In order to become a fully enrolled student at the university and receive your Unicard, you need to complete stage 2 of the enrolment process, inperson enrolment. Attendance at in-person enrolment is essential and you should bring documentation required to confirm your identity, nationality and in some cases entry qualifications as follows: passport or other official photo ID (such as UK driving licence) ®® if English is not your first language please also bring your original certificate for your most recent or highest English language qualification ®® if you are an international student with a visa to study at the University of Brighton, you need to bring original certificates for all qualifications which were identified on your CAS. Some students may need to bring original certificates for their qualifications. We will contact you via email if this is the case.
Find out where and when you will complete stage 2 in-person enrolment by logging into studentcentral and going to the timetable button on the home tab of studentcentral. This will be available once you have completed online enrolment after Thursday 23 August. You may have other induction or course events before your enrolment so make sure you check on studentcentral when and where you have to be. Monday 24 September ®® Eastbourne ®® Moulsecoomb Tuesday 25 September ®® Falmer ®® Moulsecoomb Wednesday 26 September ®® Grand Parade
Stage 2 in-person enrolment for courses that start earlier
Check the start date of your course on studentcentral and check your enrolment date too. Brighton and Sussex Medical School in-person enrolment is Tuesday 18 September. EU and international students based in Brighton and attending our orientation programme will be able to attend stage 2 in-person enrolment on Friday 21 September. Eligible students who wish to register to vote in UK elections at their term time address will need to have their national insurance number ready.
Meet the Vice-Chancellor
During your first week, the ViceChancellor or Deputy Vice-Chancellor will welcome you to the university and provide essential information about the university community. You can find out the dates and times of these sessions on studentcentral – go to your timetable on the home tab (available the morning after you have completed online enrolment after Thursday 23 August).
Meet Student Services
Student Services provide support to help make your university experience the best it can be. You can meet members of the Student Services team at your in-person enrolment session and at the freshers’ fairs organised by the Students’ Union.
Students’ Union welcome events
Brighton Students’ Union runs a fortnight of events and activities to help you settle into university life. It includes the Freshers’ Fair where you can sign up to societies and sports teams, as well as finding out more about SU services and pick up great discounts and freebies from local companies. They also have a wristband which you can buy to gain access to the official freshers’ events. www.brightonsu.com
Attend library induction and IT skills induction sessions
Library induction and IT skills sessions take place early in the autumn term. www.brighton.ac.uk/is
Travel around campus
YOUR FIRST WEEK CHECKLIST Complete your enrolment and go to course events
Attend stage 2 in-person enrolment.
Go to your course induction events as indicated on your timetable.
Get involved in student life
Go to the freshers’ fairs and
Students’ Union events – join in Freshtival 2018. Have fun, meet new people, join a club or society. Visit www.brightonsu.com/ welcome.
Get your Get your Totum card,
powered by NUS extra for student discounts in shops, restaurants and online. Visit www.brightonsu.com/nusextra.
Look after yourself
Register with a doctor (GP) near
where you live. This is compulsory for Brighton and Sussex Medical School students but recommended for all students. Find out about our student services and how to find them if you need them.
Whatever your location there are transport options to reduce your costs and carbon emissions. All our campuses have excellent public transport links and you can save money on your travel by purchasing discounted student tickets; the Unizone train ticket is available from Southern Rail and student bus tickets can be bought from Brighton & Hove buses using a keycard or the smartphone m-ticket app.
There are facilities for cyclists on all our campuses, including bike racks, lockable cages, public pumps and toolkits. There are bike share docking stations at our campuses: Brighton BikeShare bikes in our Brighton campuses, and Eastbourne’s App-Bikes in the Eastbourne campus. There is a network of cycle lanes across Brighton and Eastbourne to help you navigate by bike.
If you can show that car travel is essential, you can apply for a parking permit upon your arrival to university. Please note that parking is prohibited at some of our halls of residences and parking permits are not guaranteed. www.brighton.ac.uk/travel For information on sustainable travel, visit the Greener living section on our website www.brighton.ac.uk/currentstudents/my-student-life.
Parking on campus is very limited and we discourage students from bringing cars to university, and encourage alternatives wherever possible, to reduce our impact on the environment.
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Once you are here IN THIS SECTION Your student life Your career Brighton Students’ Union Support and advice
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Your student life Getting involved with things outside your course during your time here will definitely add to your skills and experience. But more than that, it’s about finding what it is you love to do and is a great way to make new friends.
Sport and fitness
Sport Brighton is run in partnership by the university and the Students’ Union and can help you take part in whatever sporting activity you like, whether you want to compete, keep fit or just have fun. There are fitness, health and wellbeing classes and many clubs and societies to choose from. www.brighton.ac.uk/sportbrighton
Societies, clubs and events
Brighton Students’ Union brings together like-minded students through shared interests by supporting studentled groups like societies and running events. It’s a great way to meet new people, take part in activities and gain new skills outside of your studies. You can find a club or society that’s right for you at Brighton SU’s Freshers’ Fairs or have a look online before you get here. www.brightonsu.com/societies
Your student voice
Brighton Students’ Union officer team are elected by students to represent students, and they campaign on a range of issues to ensure that your student voice is heard. We listen to feedback and ideas to make sure we provide you with the best possible student experience. www.brightonsu.com You’ll also be asked to complete a number of surveys during your time here. Students are at the heart of everything we do and your voice matters to us. https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/ yourvoicematters/
Student contract
The student contract highlights the university and Students’ Union relationship with our students through shared commitments and expectations. www.brighton.ac.uk/studentcontract
c-change
Our carbon reduction campaign aims to inspire you to live sustainably. blogs.brighton.ac.uk/sustainability/
Leanne Bayley, English Language and English Literature 18
Joining a society is the best thing I’ve done at uni, I’ve met some of my best friends here. The union do a great range of activities, events and campaigns, but they’re there if you need support and advice too.
Become a student ambassador
We are always looking for new students to help us to promote the university through our Student Recruitment and Outreach Ambassador Programme. We have paid opportunities available to work at events such as open days and higher education fairs as well as with local schools, colleges and communities. We will be recruiting ambassadors to work at our autumn open days. Chat to us at the freshers’ fair or contact studentambassadors@brighton.ac.uk for more information. Student Services require ambassadors on an ad-hoc basis too. To find out more, contact them at StudentServicesStudentAmbassadors@ brighton.ac.uk.
A lifelong link
Even when you graduate you’ll still be able to access our sports, library and careers services through our alumni association. You can also benefit from the Alumni Advice Network while you are a student and we are happy to put you in touch with alumni to discuss career paths and opportunities or to just get some advice about being at university.
Your privacy matters
The university is committed to being transparent about how it collects and uses that data and to meeting its data protection obligations. To find out more about the privacy notice for our students visit www.brighton.ac.uk/ studentprivacynotice
Your career During your studies you will have access to careers advice and support. Our courses have builtin work-related experience and skills development. Volunteering and mentoring
Boost your career potential
Part of your university experience is about preparing for your future career. It is never too early to start thinking about next steps and how you can make the most of your time here.
Career development support
You can book an appointment with one of our professionally qualified Career Development Advisers as soon as you start your course. Our advisers can help you decide what activities will help you with your career development.
Entrepreneurship
Beepurple, our enterprise support programme, helps students and graduates get their business ideas off to the best possible start. Over 3,500 staff, students and alumni have signed up to the Beepurple entrepreneurship programme. Beepurple offers free workshops to develop members’ enterprise skills as well as one-to-one business support for anyone looking to develop an entrepreneurial idea, start a company or social enterprise or for those who are already trading. www.beepurple.co.uk
Volunteering provides opportunities to gain experience, enhance your employability and meet new people. The Active Student Volunteering Service will work with you to find a rewarding, safe and supported role within the local community. www.brighton.ac.uk/volunteering Our mentoring scheme, Momentum, offers you the chance to work with a mentor to improve your confidence and boost your chances of career success. Mentors are professionals from a variety of backgrounds, committed to helping you develop your skills. www.brighton.ac.uk/careers You can also volunteer with your Students’ Union in a range of fun opportunities. If you’re passionate about change and making a difference you can nominate yourself to become a Brighton SU Course Rep, Volunteer Officer or join their Health and Wellbeing team.
Finding a job during and after university
Whether you know what you want to do when you graduate or not, you can get expert advice from our Careers Service staff who can help you with your CV, job applications and interview techniques. They can help you to research careers and further study and training opportunities. There are lots of ways we can help you to develop your skills while you are here. Get a part-time job, volunteer or develop your own business ideas. ®® Join or start up a club or society through Brighton SU. ®® Take advantage of placement opportunities. ®® Work for the university, maybe as a student ambassador. ®® Become a Brighton SU course rep or volunteer officer. ®®
Find out more about how we can help you develop your career at www.brighton.ac.uk/careers
www.brightonsu.com/volunteering
Charlotte Jackson Digital Media BA(Hons)
The degree introduced me to many skills for the digital media industry and inspired me to discover my passion for web design and development. The course regularly exposed me to industry professionals, placement opportunities and relevant conferences in the local web community – these were fantastic opportunities. 19
Brighton Students’ Union So you’re on your way to the University of Brighton. Starting university can feel a bit daunting, but it’s such an exciting time and one you’ll remember for a very long time.
Did you know you’re automatically a member of the Students’ Union as soon as you enrol here? Getting involved in your Students’ Union is one of the best ways to make the most of your time as a student. In fact, ensuring that you have a fantastic, fulfilling experience at the University of Brighton is our aim. As we’re led by students and work solely for our student members, you can guarantee that we’re on your side.
Follow us
Join a community of thousands of University of Brighton students on social media. brightonstudentsunion SUBrighton
Advice and support
Student voice
Lead and participate in student-run campaigns. ®® Get to know your officer team - they’re elected by you. ®® Stand and/or vote in our elections ®® Become a course rep. ®® Attend the NUS national conference ®® We help represent your academic interests, and influence changes to policies around the university and union. ®®
Events and SU outlets
Come along to Freshtival and welcome events. ®® Enjoy exclusive student discounts with Totum (powered by NUS extra). ®® Relax in our cafe-bars on campus or visit our shops for cheap meal deals. ®® Go out to our weekly nightclub events. ®® Get involved in special nights like our garden party and other events throughout the year. ®®
subrighton
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Obtain free independent confidential academic advice and guidance from our advice team. ®® Talk to our team about any problems that may be affecting your academic experience. ®® Benefit from our health and wellbeing services that offer stress-relieving activities and advice sessions including pet therapy: come and have a cuddle with our friendly visiting dogs and pick up some stress-relieving tips. ®®
Student activities
Join a club or society to find likeminded students and create your own community. ®® Get involved in student media: host your own Buzz Radio show, write articles for The Verse. ®® Get a job or volunteer with the Students’ Union. ®® Fundraise for charities with the RaG society. ®®
www.brightonsu.com
Support and advice Got any questions about uni life or need help with something?
ASK US Speak to our staff
Your personal tutor, Student Support and Guidance Tutor (SSGT), course rep or staff in your school. Look out for staff in blue lanyards or ASK ME badges to help answer your questions.
Ask a question online
Click on the Help and Advice tab in studentcentral.
Visit your nearest student centre You’ll find confidential and impartial advice at every campus.
Contact the Students’ Union
They’re here to enhance your university experience, and also have a support team to provide you with academic advice. Contact the SU at www.brightonsu.com/contactus.
Study support
There is a lot of support available to help you with your studies, from online tools to one-to-one tutoring, alongside specialist support for students with specific needs. You can explore our online academic study kit (ASK) and find out dates of study skills sessions at www.brighton.ac.uk/ask. Studentcentral can help you manage your workload and provides access to e-books, journals and other study materials tailored to your course.
Academic English skills
If English is not your first language and you would like to develop your academic English skills, our international academic study kit (iASK) offers free help. www.brighton.ac.uk/iask
Finding a part-time job
Many of our full-time students work part-time while they are studying. You might need to work for financial reasons, or you might want to work to gain experience and learn new skills. If you decide to get a part-time job while you are studying then register online with the Careers Service. www.brighton.ac.uk/careers The Students’ Union have part-time jobs across all campuses that give you the opportunity to make extra money during term time. Find out more at www.brightonsu.com/jobs.
Communication from the university
These messages will be sent to your university email address and via studentcentral. We will also let you know of opportunities to get involved with paid market research, enter competitions and to give your feedback about the university.
Keeping safe
Brighton and Eastbourne are safe places to live, but there are steps that you can take to look after yourself and your property, like taking out insurance, bringing a bike lock and labelling expensive equipment. We will be in touch by email with top tips throughout the year. The university has two dedicated police community liaison officers, PC Lee Cook and PC Gaynor Martin, along with our Community Liaison and House Advice Officer, Andrew Keefe, who are all available to help and advise our students throughout their time at the university.
You are going to be busy at university and there is a lot to take in – it’s easy to miss important information. Look out for updates throughout the year, relating to your student finances, your studies, career and student life in general.
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A1(M) M11 M25 M25 M40
M25
LONDON M4
HEATHROW AIRPORT
M3 M2 M25
M26 M25 M20 M23
GATWICK AIRPORT A22
DOVER FOLKSTONE
A23
(CHANNEL TUNNEL)
HASTINGS
BRIGHTON
PORTSMOUTH
EASTBOURNE
HOW FAR WE ARE FROM... BRIGHTON A23 London
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM
Stanmer
A27
Falmer train station
VARLEY PARK
A27
Coldean Lane
FALMER CAMPUS PADDOCK FIELDS AND GREAT WILKINS London Road
MOULSECOOMB PLACE
Moulsecoomb train station
MOULSECOOMB CAMPUS
CENTRAL LONDON 80 mins
55 mins
100 mins
90 mins
GATWICK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 45 mins
30 mins
75 mins
60 mins
HEATHROW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
A270 Lewes Road
PHOENIX BREWERY
Brighton train station
EASTBOURNE
75 mins
120 mins
105 mins
150 mins
i360 GRAND PARADE CAMPUS
A259
Brighton Pier Brighton Marina
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University of Brighton locations Halls of residence
Useful contacts These are the contact details that you are most likely to need before you arrive and during your first few weeks.
Admissions and general enquiries
01273 644644 enquiries@brighton.ac.uk The enquiries team are your first point of contact for help with studentcentral, activating your university account or any other questions you have about starting university.
Enrolment helpline
01273 644777 studentadministration@brighton.ac.uk For questions about stage 1 online enrolment and stage 2 in-person enrolment.
Fees Tuition fees enquiry team
01273 642449 fees@brighton.ac.uk For queries about what fees you need to pay.
Fee status enquiries
01273 644500 registryfeesassessment@brighton.ac.uk For enquiries about your fee status assessment.
Paying your fees
01273 642959 income@brighton.ac.uk For enquiries about ways to pay your fees.
Accommodation
Our accommodation service is open Monday–Friday offering all students help and advice in finding somewhere to live. Check studentcentral and Facebook regularly for updates about accommodation.
Brighton
01273 644100 accommodation@brighton.ac.uk This service handles all Brighton halls of residence queries, house share queries and private sector accommodation enquiries for Brighton-based students.
Eastbourne
01273 643810 accomeastbourne@brighton.ac.uk
Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) 01273 643528 medadmissions@bsms.ac.uk
Other services Student information
studentservices@brighton.ac.uk www.brighton.ac.uk/current-students Twitter: @brightonstudent
Information and advice from your campus Moulsecoomb 01273 642671 Grand Parade 01273 643187 Falmer 01273 643584 Eastbourne 01273 643845 Hastings 01273 644643
Careers Service
Find part-time work and volunteering opportunities. 01273 642855 careers@brighton.ac.uk
Childcare
01273 642021 (Moulsecoomb) 01273 277016 (Grand Parade) childcare@brighton.ac.uk
Disability and dyslexia
01273 643799 disability@brighton.ac.uk
Student advice service
Specialist advice about issues including benefits, money management, visas and immigration. 01273 642888 studentadvice@brighton.ac.uk
Sport Brighton
Advice about our facilities, the availability of sports and activities and how to join in. 01273 643520 www.brighton.ac.uk/sport
Brighton Students’ Union
01273 644679 www.brightonsu.com bsucommunications@brighton.ac.uk
This publication is available in alternative formats on request. University of Brighton Mithras House, Lewes Road Brighton, BN2 4AT www.brighton.ac.uk 23
Your notes
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Private accommodation
Your complete checklist
Read our advice on looking for Join us on social media
Meet other students in your campus Facebook group and follow us on social media. www.brighton.ac.uk/ socialmedia
accommodation in the private sector.
Join the house-hunting Facebook group for your location.
Check out https://studenthomes. brighton.ac.uk/accommodation.
Contact us for house hunting advice. YOUR FIRST WEEK
BEFORE YOU GET HERE Getting started
Activate your university user account.
If you haven’t already, you need to activate your university user account – this will provide you with your university username and password for studentcentral. Log into studentcentral to read advice for students starting in September. Upload your university photo. Join us on social media.
Finance
Make or update your student finance
application (UK and EU students only). Work out a budget. Open a bank account.
Accommodation
Arrange your accommodation (see our accommodation checklist on page 09).
Some of you will also need to...
Book a place on international
orientation (international and European students). Arrange childcare and funding. Apply for Disabled Student Allowance (DSA). Check your vaccinations are up to date.
What you can do from 23 August
Complete stage 1 online enrolment. The morning after online enrolment you can log into studentcentral where you can: check your course details including your start date and term and semester dates start using your university email account.
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Prepare for your course
Log into studentcentral. Check your start date Check the academic school and
campus where your course is based.
Complete all required pre-course preparation.
Find your welcome event timetable
and your draft teaching timetable via the timetable button on the home tab of studentcentral. Check back regularly for any updates. Look at our academic study kit (ASK) resources www.brighton.ac.uk/ask.
Get ready for student life
Check out Freshtival 2018 and sign up for Brighton Students’ Union Freshers’ mailing list at www.brightonsu.com.
ACCOMMODATION Halls of residence
Read our halls allocation policy – this
explains who is eligible to apply and how to accept our offer of a room. We’ll let you know the outcome of your accommodation application after the deadline has passed and after your place with us is unconditional – so if you’re waiting for results, we’ll let you know the outcome after your results are available and your place is fully confirmed. If we offer you a place in halls you need to pay the first rent instalment within three working days of us contacting you to secure your place. Join your halls Facebook group – we’ll email you details. Complete the online accommodation induction, where you’ll be given an arrival time.
Complete your enrolment and go to course events
Attend stage 2 in-person enrolment. Bring the following: passport or other photo ID (such as UK driving licence)
if English is not your first
language please also bring your original certificate for your most recent or highest English language qualification international students need to bring original certificates for all qualifications which were identified on your CAS. Some students may be need to bring original certificates for their qualifications. We will contact you via email if this is the case. If you are not sure what you need to bring please contact us. Go to your course induction events as indicated on your timetable. Timetables are provisional until after the start of term, so we advise that you do not buy your season ticket or make work commitments if possible. Go to Students’ Union events including Freshers’ Fair – join in Freshtival 2018 www.brightonsu.com/freshtival. Have fun, meet new people, join a club or society with Brighton SU. Get your Totum card (powered by NUS extra) for student discounts in shops, restaurants and online. Visit brightonsu.com/totum. Register with a doctor near where you live. Find out about our student services and how to find them if you need them.