Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students), Professor Kate O'Riordan, wrote to all taught students earlier today. Below you can read her full message:

Hello, 

Happy New Year (at least according to the Gregorian calendar!). I hope you have been able to have something of a break, and I wish all of you who are working on assessments the very best of luck. In this Update you can find out about resources, information and support offered by Sussex to all students during assessment periods. Please do take advantage of these, as they can help you to achieve your best results.

Remember the Library has now returned to 24/7 opening times, so you can study there whenever suits you. On the Skills Hub you can also find useful resources to help you revise.

As well as feeding your mind in the Library, you can get FREE daily breakfasts courtesy of Sussex Uni Food to help fuel your assessment journey with build-your-own breakfasts. Choose between a variety of toppers, from fruit and seeds to peanut butter. This offer is available between 7-17 January in Eat Central, from 8am until 11am. Presentation of your Sussex student ID card is required.

While it is important that you do your best academically, don’t forget to be kind to yourself. Below you can find some tips and resources to look after your wellbeing and you can also explore the favourite places to chill on campus with our Digital Media Creators, Ray, Grace and Manasi.

On the theme of kindness, as part of their placement at the Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness, Psychology students Augusta and Glebs organised a kindness bingo for World Kindness Week in November, and participants told them that receiving support during stressful times and checking in with loved one had helped them feel better. You can read Augusta and Glebs’ findings on the Student Blog.

Please read on for your regular update, including: 

• Information and support with your assessments
• Reminder: deadline for second tuition fee instalment is 14 January
• Reminder: Check your details are up-to-date in Sussex Direct 
• Looking after your mental wellbeing in 2025
• Which charity would you like to see receive our National Student Survey donation? Vote before 13 January
• Apply now for paid work experience with our Student Consultancy Programme
• Sussexsport New Year student membership offers
• Travel update for students commuting to campus by car or bus
• Sussex snapshot. 

Information and support with your assessments

You can reach out to your academic tutors or the Student Centre if you need help. You may find this online guide to submitting work and accessing feedback on Canvas useful – it will show you how to submit your work online and how to understand feedback from your tutors.

Reminder: deadline for second tuition fee instalment is 14 January

Tuition fees pay for the teaching and learning and facilities that all students benefit from. Prompt payment ensures we keeps costs down, enabling more to be spent on your student experience.

For most students the deadline for paying the second instalment of tuition fees is Tuesday 14 January. If your fees are paid by a student loan or a sponsor then this should all taken care of automatically, as long as your information is up to date with our Finance team. For students who pay their own fees, information on how to pay, or any support you might need, can be found on the Student Hub.

The finance team can be contacted directly by email at creditcontrol@sussex.ac.uk.

Reminder: Check your details are up-to-date in Sussex Direct

With the start of the new year, we encourage all students to check that the personal details held in Sussex Direct are up-to-date. To check, simply log into Sussex Direct, select the Personal tab in the blue bar at the top of the screen and then scroll down to the Contact Information. You can update any information by clicking the edit button. 

Looking after your mental wellbeing in 2025

Just like physical health, there are things you can do to look after your mental health. On the Student Hub you will find advice on ways to look after your mental wellbeing and how to access support from the University if you need it.

With so much to do and prepare for during assessment time, it can be also easy to forget to look after ourselves. We have compiled a list of top tips to look after your wellbeing during assessment time.

Which charity would you like to see receive our National Student Survey donation? Vote before 13 January

You have until Monday 13 January to vote for your preferred charity for this year’s National Student Survey donation.

From 27 January until 30 April 2024, final year undergraduates will be able to take part in the National Student Survey (NSS). The University will donate £1 to charity for every Sussex student that participates in the NSS. We will split the donation between charities based on your votes.  

As a result of last year’s campaign, the University donated £2,987.

Apply now for paid work experience with our Student Consultancy Programme

Are you looking to gain work experience whilst working flexibly around your studies? Applications for the spring Student Consultancy Programme are open now! Gain work experience by tackling a real-life challenge faced by an organisation, supported by a bursary paid at the Living Wage. Learn how to develop a project, work in a team, and deliver your findings to a client in a supportive setting.

The programme is open to third/final year and taught postgraduate students. Applications close on the 12 January.

Sussexsport New Year student membership offers

Sussexsport are offering all students the chance to get five months Gold membership for the price of four! Purchase your membership between Thursday 2 January and Friday 28 February to be eligible. Memberships are available to purchase via our website or in person at reception. More info is available on the Sussexsport website.

Travel update for students commuting to campus by car or bus

Some of you will be commuting to campus regularly this month. Remember that campus car parks have gone digital with cameras monitoring vehicle number plates and charges always in effect. If you're driving to campus, make sure to remind yourself of the rules applying and the payment methods available.

Travelling on the bus? Keep up to date with the latest changes to bus ticket prices.

With best wishes,
     
Kate 

Professor Kate O’Riordan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students)