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About Sussex Inspires

The Sussex Inspires programme has been developed to offer specific advice, guidance, insights and enrichment to support students in college or sixth form.

Programme overview

Sussex Inspires is a free programme to offer you support and guidance to shape your journey to university or elsewhere. You will have the opportunity to visit the university across the year. At each visit, you will focus on difference aspects including how to choose a course, subject experiences, social activities, career pathways and university application support. At the end of the programme, you'll be invited to a residential summer school at the ¿ìèÊÓƵ.

You will be allocated a subject strand based on your interests. These strands are:

• Arts and Humanities
• Social Sciences
• STEM

Which strand is for me?

Pick the strand most closely aligned to your current or future interests. There are some subjects that overlap, but you will be offered the chance to take part in activities dedicated to other strands if you are not sure. 

Take a look at the strands below. You should choose a strand based on which subjects you're currently studying, or the subjects you're most interested in studying at university.

• Arts and Humanities
  • History
  • Art History
  • English
  • Philosophy
  • Music
  • Drama
  • American Studies
  • International Development
  • International Relations
  • Media Studies
  • Media Production
  • Film
  • Filmmaking
  • Journalism
  • Linguistics
• Social Sciences
  • Politics
  • Law
  • Sociology
  • Criminology
  • Anthropology
  • Social Work
  • Psychology
  • History
  • Geography
  • American Studies
  • Childhood and Youth Studies
  • Business, Economics
  • International Development
  • International Relations
• STEM
  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Maths
  • Chemistry
  • Biomedical Science
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Genetics
  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Astronomy
  • Ecology
  • Robotics
  • Zoology

I have taken part in most of what Sussex Inspires has offered, from master classes, tasters, open days, subject trial days, and their summer school. Each allowing me to feel and experience a different part of what university life would be like. I loved each one as they accommodate any person who wants to take part and help in any way they can.” 2023/2024 Sussex Access Programme student
Varndean College, Brighton

The Sussex Inspires Programme

Welcome Day - Wednesday 10 December 2025

We will welcome you to Sussex Inspires and ensure you are familiar with what the programme has to offer. You will get a chance to meet your fellow participants and our student ambassadors who will be working with you throughout the year.

Study and See sessions - January 2026

• Wednesday 21 January - Social Sciences

• Thursday 22 January - STEM

Our Study and See sessions give you a chance to have a university-style experience in some of your favourite subjects, or try out subjects you may not have considered before.

You will take part in three 45-minute taster sessions. The sessions are led by academic staff and supported by current Sussex students. You will learn more about which topics you can study within a subject, explore possible career pathways and speak to students currently studying in that area.

Careers Day - Tuesday 10 March 2026

Where can a degree take you? What have Sussex alumni gone on to do? Do you have the option of continuing on to post-graduate qualifications like Masters and PhD? We will give you the knowledge and skills to consider your future career and hear from people who have had a similar journey.

Sussex Inspires Graduation Day - May 2026

To celebrate your achievements on Sussex Inspires, we invite you to celebrate at our graduation day. You will receive your certificate of completion and be allowed to bring guests for your special day.

Sussex Inspires Summer School – Tuesday 14-Thursday 16 July 2026

Our residential Summer School will give you the chance to experience student life on our campus. You will study topics within your strand, all delivered by academics. Alongside the academic programme you will attend a variety of social events on campus and in Brighton to get an insight into the student experience. You will stay for two nights in university accommodation, sharing a flat with other students on Sussex Inspires.

Key information

• Limited spaces are available on the programme. We will prioritise students who have been in receipt of free school meals in the past six years, have experienced living in care or are from a Gypsy, Roma or Traveller background. We also welcome applications from students who live in an area where young people are less likely to enter university, are a young carer or have a disability.

• Anyone in the UK can apply, but some events start at 10am on campus, and we can only provide train tickets from London to the Falmer campus.

• If you are successful in your application, you will receive an invite and event information for the Welcome Day in December.
• All five elements of the programme are compulsory. However, if you are ill or have an emergency, we will let you know what you need to do.
• We pay for your train or bus ticket to every event – this will be sent via email. 
• There will be an online Unibuddy community set up for each strand so you can keep in touch with other members of your strand, Sussex Inspires staff and ambassadors.