University of Brighton

Reviewed by Nastaran who studied Undergraduate Sociology & English Literature in 2011.

The University
Overall
Teaching quality
Access to teaching staff
IT facilities
Library facilities
Sports facilities
Social life
University Accommodation
Quality
Availability
Value for money

Private Accommodation
Quality
Availability
Value for money
The City or Surrounding Area
Shopping
Social life
Sports facilities
Term-time Employment Opportunities
University campus
Local area

Reviewed by Anonymous who studied Undergraduate Biological Sciences in 2011.

The University
Overall
Teaching quality
Access to teaching staff
IT facilities
Library facilities
Sports facilities
Social life
University Accommodation
Quality
Availability
Value for money

Private Accommodation
Quality
Availability
Value for money
The City or Surrounding Area
Shopping
Social life
Sports facilities
Term-time Employment Opportunities
University campus
Local area

Reviewed by Hannah who studied Undergraduate Business Management with Marketing in 2011.

What was really good about the experience?

The teaching

The University
Overall
Teaching quality
Access to teaching staff
IT facilities
Library facilities
Sports facilities
Social life
University Accommodation
Quality
Availability
Value for money

Private Accommodation
Quality
Availability
Value for money
The City or Surrounding Area
Shopping
Social life
Sports facilities
Term-time Employment Opportunities
University campus
Local area

Reviewed by Anonymous who studied Undergraduate English Language in 2010.

The University
Overall
Teaching quality
Access to teaching staff
IT facilities
Library facilities
Sports facilities
Social life
University Accommodation
Quality
Availability
Value for money

Private Accommodation
Quality
Availability
Value for money
The City or Surrounding Area
Shopping
Social life
Sports facilities
Term-time Employment Opportunities
University campus
Local area

Reviewed by Chell who studied Undergraduate Phamacy in 2008.

What was really good about the experience?

There is good online library facilities. I can not think of anything to say about this University to encourage others to attend.

The University
Overall
Teaching quality
Access to teaching staff
IT facilities
Library facilities
Sports facilities
Social life
University Accommodation
Quality
Availability
Value for money

Private Accommodation
Quality
Availability
Value for money
The City or Surrounding Area
Shopping
Social life
Sports facilities
Term-time Employment Opportunities
University campus
Local area

What could be improved?

The University is over-priced, and has an inflated opinion of itself when it is out-of-date and out-of-touch with students. Teaching was mundane, badly organised, and the content was excessively assessed to the point of inflicted anxiety and depression on many students. Drop-out rates are very high, and I lost 5 friends along the way. The content is very hard, but delivered in the most uninspiring way, with a very high level of continuous exhausting assessment. Chaos in the laboratories, lecturers not turning up, constant rewriting of the course so that is was a complete disaster for students every single year. Assessments were unfair, badly planned and awarded only cheaters. I have a disability, and despite the disability team telling the school of their legal responsibilities to ensure my equal access to education and testing, the school repeatedly denied me support or co-operation. I was under so much pressure to perform, I found it hard to maintain a formal complaint for this discrimination. The school often say they are listening, but something is lost somewhere at the administrative level, so that student feedback is ignored and no improvements made. The Moulsecoomb campus is old, ugly, with poor student facilities (especially food and communal areas), over-priced and nothing to do in those huge gaping holes between lectures. The school is filled to capacity, and cramped rooms, the noise and mass of bodies make it a very unpleasant place. Commuting outside of Brighton is hard. The parking facilities are useless. Trains and buses are filled to capacity and beyond. I did not use campus accommodation, but I looked at my friends' housing on and off-campus and thought it to be substandard and very expensive. I would never recommend this school to anyone. Worst years of my education.

The university replies:

We are sorry to hear that your time at the University of Brighton did not meet your expectations. The university is committed to listening to students’ feedback throughout their studies and has in place a range of feedback mechanisms. For example, through our course representatives’ scheme, undergraduate students’ council, year tutors, personal tutors, on-line surveys and our students’ union. Our Pharmacy course (MPharm) is challenging and academically rigorous, but it has excellent employment prospects and strong links with the pharmacy profession. The new MPharm course is now based in the recently completed £23m Huxley Building which houses state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories for the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences. In terms of student support, our Student Services Department which covers careers advice, counselling, disability and dyslexia services received a national award in 2012. The award, the Matrix Quality Standard, recognises the information, advice and guidance services that we provide to our students. Our careers service also helps students find part-time work and jobs as university student ambassadors, while studying with us. More than 800 students were helped to obtain part time roles last year. In terms of night life, most students relish the opportunity to study and live in one of the most vibrant cities in the country. In addition we have recently opened a £27m halls of residence at Varley Park, close to our campus in Moulsecoomb. As a university, we always endeavour to improve our services to students and we will pass on your feedback to colleagues.