University of Brighton - Definition and Overview

The University of Brighton (formerly Brighton Polytechnic until its re-designation in 1992) is one of two universities in the city of Brighton & Hove (England), the other being the University of Sussex. The main campuses of the two institutions are located directly opposite one another, on either side of the railway tracks at the village of Falmer.

The University was formed as Brighton Polytechnic in 1968 by the merging the Brighton College of Technology and Brighton College of Art. Before the merger external University of London degrees were offered. As a polytechnic, degrees were granted under the auspices of the Council for National Academic Awards, an umbrella organisation responsible for monitoring the quality of degrees at most polytechnics during the 1960s and 70s. It was awarded full university status in 1992, allowing it to offer degrees in its own right.

Brighton College of Technology was located at Moulsecoomb in Brighton. It initially offered degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Pharmacy, Computer Studies and Applied Chemistry. There were about 1200 students in 1970. An appreciable number of students came from overseas, mainly from countries that were part of the British Commonwealth.

Brighton College of Art was located in Grand Parade, where the University's Faculty of Arts and Architecture is still based.

Brighton College of Technology had grown out of the much older Brighton Technical College.

External link

• University of Brighton website (http://www.brighton.ac.uk)