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Registration for new students

Find out how to register as a new student at Sussex.

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Read guidance about:

How to complete online registration

As a new student, you need to register for your course. Registering means you are officially a member of the University, and ensures you have access to all the information and resources you need for your studies.

You must register in time for the start of teaching and within three weeks of the start of your course. Failure to register could result in your place at the University being withdrawn.

You will receive an email with your candidate number and instructions on how to complete online registration.

Completing registration

The first step of registration is collecting your username and password. 

To complete this step, follow the link below and select ‘Collect username and password’. All you need is your surname, date of birth and candidate number. You should make a note somewhere safe of your username and password, which are case sensitive. 

Register now

 Collecting your username and password gives you access to your:

If you cannot see your teaching timetable or modules in Sussex Direct, contact your school office.

Your printing account is set up the first time you log into a campus computer.

Once you’ve got your login details, you can update your profile, including:

Read tips on how to upload a photo for your student ID card.

If you are a new student and any of the information relating to your course is incorrect, please email Admissions at ug.applicants@sussex.ac.uk.

It's important that the University holds your personal mobile number (and country area code, where applicable) so we can contact you if there is an emergency or another exceptional situation when we may be concerned about your safety or welfare.

Once you have completed this step, follow the checklist where you can:

      • confirm your personal email address 
      • confirm your emergency/trusted contact
      • confirm your term-time address
      • agree to the University’s rules and regulations and other formalities
      • choose any optional or elective modules (if applicable)
      • pay tuition fees or rent (if applicable). 

Note: If you are an international student (on a visa) paying your own fees, you must pay 50% of the balance of your fees as part of this stage of registration. You will not be able to complete the in-person stage of registration until this payment has been received by the University.

Getting your student ID card

Once you have completed registration, if you are UK-based and don't require a visa, we will email you when your student ID card is ready to collect from the Student Centre.

If you are expecting a loan from Student Finance, we will notify them of your arrival at the University once you have collected your student ID card. It can take three to five working days after our confirmation to Student Finance for funds to be transferred to your bank account.

Find out more about student ID cards. 

Registering as a students from overseas

Find out what you need to do if you’re a student on a visa (including a student visa and non-student visa).

On a student visa   

If you’re a student from outside the UK who has been issued a CAS by the University and issued a student visa, you'll need to attend an in-person session following your arrival at the University.  

This allows us to complete your registration process, confirm your status to study in the UK and issue you with your student ID card. 

To ensure you complete the final stages of registration as quickly as possible, make sure you bring:

      • your passport
      • evidence of your arrival date in the UK (either a stamp in your passport or your boarding card/air ticket)
      • the letter from UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) confirming your ‘leave to enter’ or ‘leave to remain’ dates
      • your share code if you have digital visa status.

If you are a self-financing student (paying your own fees) registering on a taught postgraduate course, you must have paid at least 50% of your tuition fees prior to attending the final in-person stage of registration. You will be able to complete this payment as part of the online registration process. 

If you applied for a visa while still in the UK (for instance, as a student who has been studying with Study Group) you will need to bring your previous BRP (if you have one) and evidence of your new visa application with you when you attend to complete registration.

When to attend an in-person registration session

Visit the Student Centre on any of the following days to complete your registration:

  • Wednesday 14 January 
  • Tuesday 20 January 
  • Wednesday 21 January
  • Thursday 22 January
  • Tuesday 27 January
  • Wednesday 28 January
  • Thursday 29 January.

You must complete in-person registration as soon as you can, and within three weeks of your course starting at the latest. 

How to register if you are on a non-student visa

Completing registration is different if you’re an international student with a non-student visa, and you haven’t been issued a CAS by the University. You do not need to attend an in-person registration system and can upload your documents online.

The online Registration system will show you how to upload the documents you need to provide to confirm you are eligible to study in the UK. This will include your passport and your share code (where you have a digital visa status). 

Once we have checked your uploaded documents, we will be able to confirm your registration and let you know your ID card is ready to collect. Document checks can take a few days.

Paying your fees

You pay your tuition and accommodation fees as part of the Online Registration process. You will be guided through this by the system.

If you are paying tuition fees with a Student Loans Company loan, you do not need to arrange payment through Online Registration.

If you’re staying in University-managed accommodation, you pay your accommodation fees through our accounts system a few days after you move in. We will be in touch with you about how to do this.

See more about paying fees when you start at Sussex.

Scholarships and loans

If you have a scholarship, this will show in the Registration process. If your scholarship is not showing, email scholarships@sussex.ac.uk.

Maintenance loans are released to eligible students once registration is complete and your ID card has been collected. This usually happens two to three working days after you collect your ID.

Late arrival

All new students are expected to arrive for the start of teaching. 

If you are joining Sussex on a visa, your latest arrival date is automatically included in your CAS. If you do not arrive and complete registration by this date, the University will be required to withdraw its visa sponsorship. If you are in this position, please contact the Admissions team as a priority and please do not travel to the UK.

Registering attendance at teaching sessions

You may need to use the SussexMobile App to register attendance at teaching sessions. If this is the case, you'll be guided by your tutor.

This is different to completing the online registration process.

Read more about what you need to do before you arrive.

See more from Before you arrive