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, 

This week, I would like to congratulate the two University of Sussex Business School (USBS) student teams, who won the Rewired Earth Competition in December. The teams, Sucseeds and Greenify presented their sustainability projects at the House of Lords. Monica Deakin, Ben Foreman, Emily Johnston and Bibusa Chifwanakeni (Sucseeds), and Kee Cheng, Isabel Keast and Sofia Zacharia (Greenify) impressed a panel of politicians and business leaders with their projects. You can read more about the Rewired Earth competition on the Student Hub.

I’d also like to highlight World Religion Day, this Sunday, 19 January. Its aim is to promote interfaith awareness and dialogue between all religions as well as mutual understanding and tolerance between people from different backgrounds.

This resonates with our own aims as a diverse community at Sussex, where we welcome and celebrate students and staff from all religious and non-religious backgrounds and beliefs. An important part of our commitment to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for everyone, is our University Chaplaincy team. Supported by a team of Associate Chaplains who represent many different religious and spiritual traditions, their work upholds the University’s commitment to interfaith understanding and dialogue.

You can read more about how Sussex is supporting World Religion Day and our interfaith work on the Student Hub.

Please read on for your regular update, including: 

• No deposit housing for next year
• Win a £25 Love2Shop voucher to spend at over 50 high street brands
• 50% off hot drinks at Arts Piazza now until Friday 6pm
• 10 Sussex students have won £1000 each!
• Easy and accessible help to manage your money
• Come be a part of our Student Centre Pet Photo Exhibition!  
• January is National Hobby Month.

No deposit housing for next year

If you are still looking for accommodation for next academic year, you can apply to live on campus and there is no deposit required.

Find out more about the accommodation available and apply on the Student Hub.

Win a £25 Love2Shop voucher to spend at over 50 high street brands

We are giving away 20 £25 Love2Shop vouchers, which you could win when leaving a Whatuni review about Sussex by Friday 24 January. Visit the Whatuni website to leave your review.

Leaving a review can help future students decide where to study, and we also receive anonymous feedback from you and your fellow students’ reviews. Your insights, shared through feedback opportunities like the WUSCA reviews, help us to continue to make sure your education and student experience here is the best it can be.

We collect Whatuni reviews every year – if you’ve left a review in previous academic years, you can still leave a new one this year and be in with a chance of winning a voucher. 

50% off hot drinks at Arts Piazza now until Friday 6pm

Our Arts Piazza café reopened its doors this week following a mini refurbishment inspired by Social Impact Coffee – our new partner roastery on a mission to create a better world.

Visit Arts Piazza by 6pm, Friday 17 January, for 50% off hot drinks when you bring your own cup or use one from our returnable cup scheme. (Discount available until budget limit is reached).

10 Sussex students have won £1000 each!

I'm happy to share that earlier this week we announced the selection of the 10 winners of the Brighter Futures Grants initiative that took place during the autumn term. Each student has won £1,000. Read our latest story to find more information about this initiative, what our winning students plan to put the money towards, and other opportunities you can benefit from.

Easy and accessible help to manage your money

All Sussex students have access to Blackbullion, an easy-to-use platform to help you get the most out of your money. Alongside short videos, articles and quizzes, Blackbullion has a useful Budget Calculator to help you plan your weekly or monthly budget, why not give it a go today?

Come be a part of our Student Centre Pet Photo Exhibition!  

Many of you might have had the joy of spending the holiday season with your own pet or a friend or family member's furry companion. As you return to campus and dive back into your studies and commitments, you might find yourself saying a short goodbye to your cherished pet. We invite you to bring a photo of your pet to the Student Centre by Friday 31 January. On the back, please include a brief paragraph introducing them, sharing what you will miss most, and explaining the joy they bring to your life. Your picture will be featured in our exhibition! 

January is National Hobby Month

January is National Hobby Month, so we’ve shared some ideas for hobbies you might like to try out! Don't forget - if you try out something new, you can log five Spirit of Sussex Award points in the 'Creativity and Culture' category, under the question 'Have you been involved in any creative or cultural activity?'

With best wishes,
     
Kate 

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