Life in the UK

A vibrant place to live

The UK is a popular study destination because of the excellent quality of its universities, and also for its world-famous culture, beautiful countryside and exciting cities.

The United Kingdom is a multicultural place to live, where you can see the influence of many cultures reflected everywhere: from the food you can buy, to the architecture all around you. The UK is well-connected to the rest of the world, and it's easy to travel around the country to explore history and culture. The UK is famous for music, the arts, food and sport - particularly football, rugby and cricket. When you choose to live and study here, you will find many activities on offer to suit all interests.

British history and heritage

The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each of these countries has its own culture, and people from these countries are proud of their heritage. You can see this reflected in the many historical buildings and sites around the UK, such as Buckingham Palace, home to the Queen, many castles, famous sites such as Stonehenge, and areas of natural beauty such as the South Downs, located close to Brighton, home to the University of Sussex.

“The location is pretty attractive, only one hour by train to London. Brighton is a beautiful city with a unique beach and sunshine. I love the city so much.”

Lydia from China
International Year One Business and Management

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The best of British food

When you arrive in the UK you might be surprised at how easy it is to find international food. There are many international supermarkets, restaurants and cafés, where you can find everything from classic Italian pizza, to Vietnamese banh mi, American style burgers, or Chinese dim sum. There is also a lot of traditional British food on offer, such as:

• roast dinner, usually served on a Sunday
• fish and chips
• sausages and mash (mashed potatoes)
• afternoon tea - a selection of cakes, sandwiches and desserts served with tea
• 'toad in the hole' - a dish made of Yorkshire pudding and sausage
• Cornish pasties - meat and potato pastries
• haggis - a traditional meat dish served in Scotland.

Welcoming community

The UK is home to many different nationalities, religions and cultures. There are many international students living in the UK, from all over the world, so you will easily fit in when you arrive. If you choose to study at the University of Sussex International Study Centre, you will find a welcoming and diverse community among the student body. Here you will learn more about British life, and also about the cultures of students from other countries, which makes for an enriching study experience.