University of Sussex School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

We are a research-intensive School that simultaneously delivers outstanding teaching to our students. As such we aim to be consistently recognised as truly world-leading in key areas of our science, by extending the international excellence, impact and visibility of our research. We aim to be within the top 10-15 UK universities in our discipline areas, attracting high-quality students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. We will establish a reputation as having a particularly open, stimulating, collaborative and supportive working environment for both staff and students, enabling the best possible outcomes for research, teaching and learning. We will further enhance our links with non-academic actors on local, national and international scales, and will maximize the impact of our work.

We Foster Critical Thinking

We are here to create and exchange knowledge that makes a difference to the world in which we live. We encourage and support everyone to shape and participate in their own learning. Our teaching is characterised by flexible pedagogies, inter-disciplinarity and collaboration.

We Engage Respectfully

We welcome and celebrate different opinions. When we engage in intellectual dialogue inside or outside the classroom, we do so with mutual respect. We are inclusive in the way we work together, within and outside the classroom. We challenge any form of discrimination, whether based on gender, age, ethnicity, class, sexuality, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy or parenthood, religion or belief, disability or any other distinction.

We Value Participation and Accountability

We contribute to decision-making and are engaged in identifying problems, discussing, choosing and implementing solutions. We expect decisions that affect us to be made transparently and decision-makers to be accountable to us as part of the community.

We Contribute to Creating an Environment that is Safe for All

We are active in making the campus a place that is safe for all, in which everyone enjoys the right to be free of any form of violence or threatening behaviour. We carry our commitment into our interactions outside the campus, in Brighton and Hove and elsewhere.

How to apply for a Masters's course

We are looking for ambitious, enthusiastic and motivated students. You’ll have the passion to succeed, the independence to take on your own projects, and the ability to go above and beyond.

Apply to Sussex

For most of our Masters's courses, you apply using our postgraduate application system. Check which courses have different application routes.

Choose your course

Choose from more than 200 Masters degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) courses.

We offer full- and part-time courses and some courses include an integrated placement year.

If you are an international student with a student visa (students outside the UK), you can only study Masters's courses full-time.

How to apply

Most applications for Masters's courses are made directly to Sussex through the postgraduate application system.

Medicine and health

If you’re applying to study a course in medicine, you must apply to Brighton and Sussex Medical School via the University of Brighton.

PGCE courses

For postgraduate primary, secondary and School Direct courses, you should apply through UCAS Teacher Training (UTT).

Part-time Master of Business Administration (MBA)

If you’re applying for a part-time MBA that starts at times other than in September, you must use our business school application form.

If you’re applying for a full-time or part-time MBA that starts in September you must use our postgraduate application system.

Social work MA/PGDip

If you’re applying for the Social Work MA or PGDip you must apply through UCAS.

Online courses

For our online courses, you should follow the applying link on the relevant course entry.

Entry requirements

To find the specific entry requirements for your course, see our Masters's courses.

You also need to meet our general entry requirement: at least an upper second-class (2:1) or lower second-class (2:2) undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) depending on the course you are applying for.

If you’re an international student, you need to meet our English language requirements, or successfully complete our pre-sessional English course.

If you need a visa to study in the UK, we provide you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). You can view and download your CAS statement through the postgraduate application system.

Pre-Masters Programmes

Pre-Masters programmes are designed to improve your English language level, study skills and academic knowledge ahead of postgraduate study. Find out more.

When to apply

You must submit your application by:

• UK applicants: One month before the course start date
• International applicants: Two months before the course start date.

These are the latest dates that we guarantee to consider applications and you should apply earlier as some courses are in high demand and may close before the above deadlines.

There are also some courses with earlier deadlines. Check our Masters's courses for specific deadlines.

You must also submit your application earlier if you apply:

• Without formal academic qualifications
• With professional qualifications
• On the strength of relevant experience.

The deadlines are to ensure that there is sufficient time from receiving an offer for you to arrive on time for induction and the start of teaching.

The earlier application deadline for international students is to allow additional time to complete the visa application process and, if required for the course, to obtain clearance by the UK Government’s Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS).

Overview

You can apply for a student visa to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over and you:

• Have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor;
• Have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - the amount will vary depending on your circumstances;
• Can speak, read, write and understand English;
• Have consent from your parents if you’re 16 or 17 - you’ll need evidence of this when you apply.

If you’re 16 or 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may be eligible for a Child Student visa instead.

This visa has replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa.

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you or your family member started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme.

The deadline to apply was 30 June 2021 for most people. You can still apply if either:

• You have a later deadline - for example, you’re joining a family member in the UK;
• You have ‘reasonable grounds' for being unable to apply by 30 June 2021 - for example, you had an illness or were the victim of domestic abuse.

When to apply

When you can apply depends on whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.

Applying from outside the UK

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course.

You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Applying from inside the UK

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts.

You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring.

You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

How long you can stay

How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you’ve already completed in the UK.

If you’re 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If it’s below degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years.

Staying longer in the UK

You may be able to:

• Extend your visa if you’re eligible, for example, to continue your studies in the UK;
• Switch to a Student visa from another visa if you’re already in the UK;
• Switch to a Graduate visa to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing your course.

When you can travel to the UK

You can arrive before your course starts. This can be either:

• Up to 1 week before, if your course lasts 6 months or less;
• Up to 1 month before, if your course lasts more than 6 months.

You must not travel to the UK before the start date given on your visa, no matter when your course starts.

Fees

It costs:

• £348 to apply for a student visa from outside the UK;
• £475 to extend or switch to a Student visa from inside the UK.

You must pay the visa fee for each person that joins you.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

How much you pay depends on how long your visa lasts.

Your partner and children

You may be able to bring your partner and children (‘dependants’).

What you can and cannot do

You can:

• Study
• Work as a student union sabbatical officer

You may be able to work - how much depends on what you’re studying and whether you’re working in or out of term-time.

You cannot:

• Claim public funds (benefits) and pensions;
• Work in certain jobs, for example as a professional sportsperson or sports coach;
• Be self-employed;
• Study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school).

If your application is successful, you’ll be told what you can and cannot do on a Student visa.

University league table rankings

The University of the Year for Student Retention 2022

We're extremely proud that Sussex has been named the 'University of the Year for Student Retention by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.

• Joint 41st in the UK: The Complete University Guide (CUG) 2022;
• 47th in the UK: The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022;
• 44th in the UK: The Guardian University league tables 2022;
• 21st out of 101 UK institutions in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022.

World rankings

• Joint 15th in the world: Times Higher Education (THE) “Golden Age” ranking (for universities established between 1945 and 1967);
• 41st in the world: Times Higher Education (THE) World Impact Rankings 2021;
• Joint 151st in the world: The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022;
• 8th in the world: World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI) Ranking 2021 - Student Mobility and Openness.

QS World Rankings

In the QS World Rankings 2021, we have been:

• Rated number one in the world for Development Studies.
• Rated high for research output.

Global Student Satisfaction Award winners - Student Diversity

We’re thrilled to have won the award for Student Diversity at the 2021 Global Student Satisfaction Awards.

This category asked students how friendly the atmosphere at their university was for people from diverse backgrounds – including different countries, cultures, religions, ages, gender, and special needs.

Our ambitious internationalisation strategy seeks to be inclusive and encourage a diverse student body, and this award is recognition of that diversity.

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014

Sussex is a leading research university, as reflected in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF).

Over 75% of research activity at Sussex is categorised as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) in terms of originality, significance and rigour.

Individual highlights of the REF 2014 results include:

• Sussex History was the highest-rated History submission in the UK for the quality of its research outputs;
• 84% of the University’s research impact in Psychology was rated as the top possible grade, 4*;
• Sussex Geography had the most 4*-rated research impact of any Geography submission across the UK.

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

The Teaching Excellence Framework is a government-run exercise to evaluate the quality of the undergraduate student experience in higher education institutions in the UK.

We were awarded a silver rating in the 2017 TEF submission, and as part of our submission, Sussex was strongly praised by HEFCE for:

• Our outstanding employment strategy, with the proportion of Sussex graduates in highly-skilled jobs or further study 12 per cent above benchmark expectations;
• The very high proportion of Sussex students from all backgrounds who complete their course and go on to highly-skilled employment or further study.

As well as our employment strategy and the performance of under-represented groups in our student body, the TEF panel assessors said our submission reflects:

• Our culture values excellent teaching through career progression, professional development and teaching awards;
• The significant investment in the University estate and high-quality physical and digital resources that aids student learning;
• Our students’ consistent and frequent exposure to, and engagement in, cutting-edge research;
• Optimum levels of student engagement and commitment to learning, secured through excellent teaching and assessment practices.