In recent years, the University of Sussex has become one of the most popular choices for Bangladeshi students planning to study in the UK. Sussex, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, is currently home to approximately 50 Bangladeshi students, who study a range of subjects, from Engineering to Law to Business.
The University of Sussex is a leading research-intensive university ranked in the UK top 20 (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021). It is the only English university surrounded by a national park and is located within the south coast city of Brighton and Hove. As a city, Brighton and Hove is popular with its international student population, thanks to its beach location, rich culture and reputation for safety.
The university offers courses in a broad range of fields across Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences. The University of Sussex's Business School is EQUIS and AMBA accredited, and is ranked among the UK's top business schools. The institution is also world famous for Development Studies and has been ranked by QS as the world's top university for the subject for the past four years.
In recognition of Bangladeshi students' contribution to the university, Sussex recently introduced a master's scholarship for students from Bangladesh. The Sussex Bangladesh Scholarship is worth £3000, and is available to applicants for a wide number of courses. Sussex warmly welcomes Bangladeshi students in both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Applying to Sussex is simple and can be done through the university's dedicated application portal.
The university's Bangladesh Students' Society actively contributes to the diversity and culture of the institution. Since its formation, the society has been successfully organising various events. Last year, the society celebrated Bangladesh's Victory Day and International Mother Language Day at the campus with several hundred students participating in these programmes. At these events, international students not only learned the history of Bangladesh, but also enjoyed the country's rich music and cuisine.
The society assists incoming students from Bangladesh with necessary information about accommodation and life at Sussex. It also collaborates with the university's Students Union to organise events, which enhance the capacity of Bangladeshi students in many ways.
Bangladeshi students choose to study at Sussex for several reasons. For many, the fact that Sussex is ranked number one in Development Studies in the world is a key factor. Bangladesh is developing very quickly and so, the knowledge and skills offered by Sussex are critical. In addition, top-class faculty members and supportive staff make academic sessions meaningful and enjoyable. The university provides students with excellent facilities and a rich environment for learning. The campus offers numerous amenities, including libraries, on and off campus accommodation, computer labs, open fields, playgrounds for children, gymnasiums, a health centre, shops, restaurants, a post office, societies, and clubs.
Bangladeshi Sussex alumni are serving in key sectors in Bangladesh, including academia, government, business and development organisations. Many former students have gone on to serve with distinction in international agencies. The university strives to provide the bridge between current and former students so they can provide support and advice to each other. Anyone wishing to know more about courses at the University of Sussex can register for the upcoming Masters Online Open Event on March 6, 2021.
The authors are respectively: Senior International Officer for Central and South Asia at the University of Sussex, MBA graduate of the University of Sussex Business School; International Student Ambassador of the University of Sussex, and a PhD student at Sussex with Bangladesh Prime Minister Fellowship.
