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About Sussex Inspires

Our free Sussex Inspires programme offers advice, guidance, insights and enrichment to support college and sixth form students who are curious about university. Find out more and sign yourself up.

Programme overview

Sussex Inspires is a free programme to offer you support and guidance to shape your journey to university or elsewhere, completely free of charge. The programme includes a series of university visits that provide support with choosing the right course for you, experiencing academic subjects, exploring career pathways, and providing university application support. You will also be given priority access for our residential summer school in July 2026.

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

• Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
• STEM

Which strand is for me?

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

You must attend one Study and See conference as part of Sussex Inspires. You are welcome to attend both if you would like to experience a wider variety of subjects.  

Careers advice 1:1s - January-March 2026

You’ll have the option to access a 45-minute one-to-one session with a friendly qualified careers advisor. They’ll help you explore your options, whether you’re already sure about your future or just starting to think about it and support you with your next steps.

These sessions are online (unless you’re at BHASVIC or Varndean College, where you can attend in person). We have 70 places available which will be allocated to participants on a first-come first serve basis. 

Subject Exploration Day - March 2026 (dates TBC)

Our Subject Exploration Days give you the chance to experience university-level learning in more depth. You’ll be able to choose from themed days across Media and Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities, and STEM.

Each day includes around three hours of subject content, led by academics and making use of the university's specialist facilities, so you can explore subjects in greater depth than on our Study and See Days. The experience can also help you think about future course choices and give you examples to draw on when completing your UCAS application.

Find your Future and Graduation Ceremony - Saturday 9 May 2026

Our final event includes workshops and talks to kickstart your university applications, as well as a chance for you to celebrate your achievements on the Sussex Inspires programme. You can bring up to two guests with you.

You’ll leave knowing exactly what you need to do to complete a UCAS application, understand the student finance system and gain an insight into student life.

If you complete the Sussex Inspires programme, you will get priority access for our summer school in July 2026.

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

Our residential Summer School will give you the chance to experience student life at our beautiful campus. You will study topics within your strand, all delivered by academics. Throughout the summer school, you will work independently or in small groups on a short, university-level assignment.

Alongside the academic programme you will attend a variety of social events on campus and in Brighton to soak up the student experience. You will stay for two nights in university accommodation, sharing a flat with other students on the summer school.

Who we are targeting

Places on the Sussex Inspires programme are limited, so we give priority to students who:

• Get the 16–19 bursary
• Had free school meals or pupil premium at secondary school
• Have lived in care
• Are from a Gypsy, Roma or Traveller background
• Live in an area where fewer young people go to university
• Are estranged from their parents or guardians
• Are young carers
• Are refugees or asylum seekers

Key information

If your application is successful, we’ll send you an invite to the Welcome Day by late November.

To complete the programme, you need to attend at least three out of four main events. If you’re ill or have an emergency, we’ll let you know what to do.

We’ll cover your travel costs — you’ll get your train or bus ticket by email before each event.

You’ll also be invited to join our online Unibuddy community, where you can chat with other students, staff, and ambassadors.

Parents or guardians will be kept informed about the events. If you attend the Summer School, they’ll need to fill out a permission form.

Anyone in the UK can apply, but some events start at 10am and we can only provide train tickets from London to the ÈÕº«ÎÞÂë (Falmer campus).