The academic year, which lasts from early October to late June, is divided into three terms. The University of Sussex , the first of the new English universities to be built in the 1960s, has approximately 8,200 students. Sussex differs from most universities in that it is organized not by departments, but by schools of study which bring together a number of related subject areas. The curriculum is designed to foster an interdisciplinary approach and strikes a balance between in-depth study and a broadly based education.
Teaching is conducted primarily in small groups which permits close contact with faculty.
The University of Sussex is situated near the village of Falmer , four miles from both Brighton and Hove. The University Park covers 200 acres and has bars, restaurants, a take-out food service, stores, a post office, banks and a pharmacy. The Gardner Centre for the Arts is one of the most striking buildings on campus and houses a full professional theater, studios, and a purpose-built art gallery. The Students Union Sports Federation has more than 100 Union societies, covering most interests and activities, and the Union runs a campus radio station and a student newspaper. Brighton , a lively seaside town, is situated less than an hour south of London by train.