Library and academic facilities

Our study facilities provide the perfect environment for you to study, conduct research and develop academic and professional skills.

Students studying in the library at the University of Sussex

Library

Explore our world-class resources and find your perfect place to study in our campus library. You have access to:

  • 800,000 books and e-books
  • 40,000 online journals
  • databases for research
  • online subject guides
  • digital archives.

Choose from quiet, silent or group study spaces and benefit from computing facilities and wi-fi in all areas. You can also buy academic textbooks in our University bookshop.

If you are a PhD student, you have access to specialist study facilities including private study areas and meeting rooms as part of the Sussex Research Hive, as well as one-to-one support sessions tailored to your research interests.

We also have services for students with disabilities and/or additional needs to support your studies.

As well as our main Library, we have specialist libraries on campus. These include the British Library for Development Studies, and the Keith Pavitt Library and Resource Centre, which contains resources for policy research in science, technology and innovation.

Special collections

Access archives and rare book collections housed in The Keep, a historical resource centre close to campus.

The Keep contains:

  • archives of East Sussex Record Office
  • Brighton & Hove City Council’s archival collections
  • Brighton History Centre resources
  • the papers of Leonard and Virginia Woolf
  • the archives of Rudyard Kipling
  • The Mass Observation Archive.

Research facilities

Since 2007, we’ve invested £150 million in regenerating our campus, including specialist research spaces.

Designed to enable and enhance your student experience, you could work in facilities including:

  • the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, a flexible space for performance and exhibitions
  • the £10 million Computing, Robotics, Electronics and Mechatronics Centre.

Find out more about our research centres

Students sitting in rows of seats watching a performance on stage at the Attenborough Centre

Computers and IT facilities

Benefit from our specialist computing facilities to help you with your studies.

Wi-fi is available throughout the campus and we have over 800 computers available, both PCs and Macs.

Some computer rooms are open 24 hours a day. You can view computer spaces online or use the SussexMobile app to find a free computer.

You can also attend IT courses and download software for free, including Microsoft Office and SPSS.

And to support your studies, you can use Study Direct - an online learning environment where you can access learning materials for your course.

Students working at computers in the University library

Language learning facilities

Develop your language skills at our Language Learning Centre, a multimedia learning resource.

You can use self-study resources for languages including French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic and Japanese.

To help you develop reading, writing and listening skills, our facilities include:

  • satellite television from different countries
  • computers with access to digital audio, video and DVDs
  • language learning software
  • a study area with TV and DVD workstations, and group viewing facilities
  • dictionaries, magazines, films, documentaries and newspapers in world languages.

If English is not your first language, you can attend courses and workshops to improve your language skills, including:

Places to study on campus

If you're a current student, see spaces on campus where you can study or socialise – as recommended by other students.

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