If you are looking for a liberal, laid-back, and fun-loving city to call home during your university years, Brighton & Hove is a top option. Known for its beautiful beaches, this vibrant city is the perfect student playground thanks to an irresistible mix of beaches, bars, pubs, and boutiques.
So, make yourself at home by the seaside in Brighton and enjoy all that it has to offer.
Student.com will make it easier for you to find your home. We offer three different types of student accommodation Brighton from the dozens of student accommodation options we list. Most of our student homes and lettings are located within a short walk away from the beach and close to the city centre.
If you need more information on the uni accommodations we offer, give us a call or chat with us via Live Chat.
Get to know Brighton & Hove
The coastal city in East Sussex, South East England, is one of the UK's most iconic cities. Despite only being granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001 after forming a unitary authority in 1997, the neighbouring towns of Brighton and Hove are considered one of the best beach cities in the UK.
The popular seaside resort is also one of England’s most popular tourist attractions, capturing the attention of 11 million visitors in 2016.
The city is also popular among students as well, ranking 83rd in QS’ Best Student Cities 2019 index.
With a large and diverse student population, Brighton earned its highest score for the Student Mix indicator coming in at 26th. The city’s two internationally ranked universities have a high proportion of international students with 27 percent of the student population coming from outside the UK.
Though mostly known for its vibrant beachfront, the south coast city is far more than a seaside resort. There is a wealth of things to do in Brighton & Hove.
It’s home to a vibrant and active cultural, music, and arts scene. At times the streets are a living exhibition with live music and dancing around every corner.
The city hosts several high-profile annual events such as the Brighton Festival - the largest multi-arts festival in England - Brighton Fringe Festival, and Brighton Pride.
From the exotic Royal Pavilion to the wonder of the new British Airways i360 tower, to the stunning South Downs National Park with its famous white cliffs, Brighton & Hove has enough attractions to intrigue people of all ages.
Wander away from the city centre in any direction and there’s still a lot to see in the wider 'city villages.’ From the Regency splendour of Hove to the elegant eateries, boutique hotels, and lifestyle shops of Kemptown and the picturesque seaside village of Rottingdean, each of these villages have their own unique character.
Diversity
If you’re from the LGBTQ+ community you’ll love Brighton, which is unofficially named the LGBTQ+ capital of the UK. The city welcomes a large number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender visitors.
The relaxed village feel of Kemptown is the bustling heart of the LGBT community. There you’ll find the majority of LGBT bars and clubs.
The Trans Pride and Brighton Pride festivals, big affairs on the city’s annual calendar of events, are demonstrations of the city’s acceptance of the movement.
Student living in Brighton
Ranked 61st in QS 2019 Student View indicator, Brighton was highly praised in its student survey with some pointing out the city’s vibrancy, independent shops, cafes and friendliness as the best things about studying there.
Whether you’re enjoying all the vibrant beachfront has to offer, or shopping at The Lanes or partying in one of Brighton’s many pubs or nightclubs, there’s plenty of fun activities and attractions to immerse yourself in while studying in Brighton.
Brighton is a city sandwiched in between the sea and the countryside and is known, by UK standards, for its glorious weather. So you won’t have to look hard for opportunities to soaking up the sun’s rays during the summer whether it’s by classic beach sports such as volleyball or frisbee, or sailing, kayaking, or stand up paddleboarding.
Complete a day at the seaside with a visit to Brighton Palace Pier and enjoy its rides and activities as well as plenty of food and free deckchairs. Then hop over to the Sea Life Brighton and learn about the creatures of the deep and watch a shark swimming over your head in the underwater tunnel.
Eating and Drinking
Brighton is bursting at the seams with options when it comes to food. In fact, readers of Conde Nast named the city as the top destination for restaurants and bars.
From beachfront brunches to fine dining at the many seafood and vegetarian restaurants, you'll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the city's wide range of international cuisine.
It’s not all about the food in Brighton though. From beachside drinks to sparkling wines and local gin, there are plenty of cafes, bars, pubs, and microbreweries ready to serve killer cocktails, real ales, and craft beers.
Shopping
Shopping in Brighton is second to none on the South Coast.
From the independent shops of The Lanes, North Laine and London Road, to the unique shops of Hove, to the big-name stores of Churchill Square and Brighton Marina, there are plenty of opportunities for retail therapy throughout the year.
The city also offers a wide range of markets and fairs where you can buy locally produced food and arts & craft.
If you get tired of all Brighton & Hove has to offer, London is only an hour away by train.
Where to study in Brighton?
The seaside city has two universities ranked in the 2021 QS World University Rankings.
The highest-ranked is the University of Sussex at number 246. The research-intensive campus university is also ranked inside the top 150 (#146) in the 2020 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
It also ranks well locally, placing in the top 50 UK universities according to the 2020 versions of the Guardian University Guide and The Complete University Guide.
It has an excellent international reputation with a Teaching Excellence Framework Silver award for the quality of its teaching.
With over 500 undergraduate and postgraduate courses Sussex offers one of the widest course ranges of any university. Its offerings are spread across the arts, humanities, and sciences from American Studies, Zoology, International Business, Astrophysics, Media Studies to Social Work.
Some of these courses are internationally recognised such as Development Studies which is ranked as number one in the world by the 2019 QS World Rankings by Subject.
Sussex is also renowned for its outstanding employment strategy and excellent student success rate. A very high proportion of Sussex students go on to earn highly skilled employment after completing their studies.
This diverse, multidisciplinary institution has been a part of Brighton since 1859.
The university has more than 20,000 students enrolled across its five campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne, and Hastings.
The three Brighton campuses are:
Grand Parade - located in the city centre, it houses the arts and humanities students.
Moulsecoomb – the largest student population of the three campuses, it houses many departments including maths, life sciences, and geography.
Falmer – this campus, located four miles from the city, hosts the university’s trainee nurses, teachers, social scientists, and linguists.
Frequently asked questions about student housing in Brighton
How do I apply for uni accommodation on Student.com?
Use our robust search feature to compare the different student housing we offer. After making your choice, go to the property page and then click ‘Enquire’ or ‘Book Now.’
One of our booking consultants will then give you a call to inform you of the next steps and answer any questions you might have.
What are the different room types you offer in your lettings?
There are three different room types with the lettings we of offer:
With a Shared Room you’ll share a bedroom with at least one other person and share other living facilities with other tenants from other rooms.
With a Private Room you’ll have a room for yourself but share additional living spaces. In some properties you might have a private bedroom.
Renting the Entire Place will give you a fully self-contained studio apartment with your own bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette.
Can you arrange a viewing for me?
Yes. Just give us a call and one of our booking consultants will arrange a viewing for you.
Do I have to pay a deposit to secure my student home booking?
Yes, in most properties you’ll have to pay a deposit to secure your booking.
What if my question was not answered here?
If you have any more questions, just give us a call or talk to us through our Live Chat. Our booking consultants are always happy to answer any questions you may have.