Working here

Salaries and pensions

Salaries

The university offers competitive salaries (see our salary scales pdf) and contributory pension schemes giving staff a range of retirement benefits plus provision for their dependents. It is possible to transfer in from other pension schemes.

Pensions

Our two main schemes are the Local Government Pension Scheme, and Teachers' Pensions. The university also operates the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). This is a national scheme available for staff who were contributing members of USS immediately prior to commencing employment at the University of Brighton.

The university provides generous employer pension contributions:

Holidays and other leave

The university offers a generous annual leave entitlement, dependent on grade and length of service, of between 23 and 35 days a year (pro-rata for part-time staff). 

The annual leave entitlement is in addition to public holidays and any concessionary days (pdf) when the university is closed over the Christmas period. All leave, including public holidays and university concessionary days, is pro-rated for part-time staff.

There are also generous maternity (pdf), adoption (pdf) and paternity/partner leave schemes.

Flexibility and work-life balance

The university offers and encourages many ways to achieve a balance between work and life outside work.

Our Agile Working Framework recognises the benefits that a blend of working arrangements can bring.

Others include flexible working, family friendly schemes, health and welfare support, training and development and special leave (pdf) for situations such as family emergencies and exams.

Gym membership and discounts

Sport Brighton operates sport and fitness facilities at Falmer and Moulsecoomb campuses and staff membership covers use of both sites. Moulsecoomb has a gym and studio. Falmer offers an extensive range of facilities including gym, studios and swimming pool. Falmer also has sports halls and courts and outdoor pitches that can be hired with a discounted rate and priority booking.

Gym facilities include high end equipment from leading brands such as Eleiko, Technogym and Hammer Strength, with a minimum of six squat racks at both sites.

Monthly direct debits are flexible and there are no joining or exit fees.

Membership packages include all our classes, priority booking and discounted casual hire of facilities.

Discounts on shopping and banking

NUS Extra card

All staff are entitled to buy an NUS Extra card through Brighton Students' Union and are able to enjoy discounts and offers from over 170 companies in store and online.

Edenred Benefits Scheme

Members of staff have access, from the start of their employment, to retail discounts and benefits through the Edenred Benefits Scheme. This scheme provides benefits that include discounts with several large supermarkets, and with other large well-known retailers (for example, gardening, DIY and travel).

Santander Universities network

As a member of the global Santander Universities network, staff and students of the University of Brighton have access to a number of funding opportunities and also to a range of exclusive commercial products such as preferential mortgage rates.

You can find out more information on our Santander webpage.

Transport and parking

All our campuses are easily reached by frequent bus services from Brighton & Hove Buses and by train from Southern Rail stations at Moulsecoomb and Falmer.

The university supports sustainable commuting by offering interest free travel loans and the opportunity to purchase bikes, accessories and Beryl Bike membership tax-free, up to a value of £3,000, through Cyclescheme.

Staff also have access to discounts on sustainable travel options though the Easit Network, including 15% discount on Southern Rail train routes (excluding London), discounts with local bike retailers Baker St Bikes and All Bikes Electric, access to discounts through Edenred and a 10% on Brighton & Hove Buses network Saver tickets.

The university also works with Brighton & Hove Buses to offer a free four-week bus pass to new colleagues.

Car parking on all sites is managed through and e-permit system enforced by ANPR cameras. Staff who have an e-permit can pay daily (£2) or by salary deduction. Details of permits, eligibility, and parking charges are in the university’s Car Parking and Permit Application Policy and on the parking at the university webpage.

If you are invited for interview, you will receive further information about travelling to your interview.

Find out more about how to reach our campuses with our maps and directions information.

Development, training and library access

The university offers manycon personal and professional development activities, including workshops, conferences, part-time certificate and diploma courses, professional qualifications and higher degrees, to learning another language. There is a Financial Support for Studying Policy available to staff who wish to undertake a qualification relevant to their role.

Excellent learning resources are available on each site and staff members are encouraged to undertake a mixture of formal training and self-development throughout their time at Brighton.

Each site has a library with resources for all subjects taught at the university as well as a selection of recreational and background material. There are also reciprocal arrangements with the libraries at the University of Sussex and Brighton Metropolitan College.

Find out more about our libraries.

There is also an online library allowing access to thousands of eBooks, databases and full text journals – most accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.

Health and wellbeing

We have services, resources, groups and events that support the health and wellbeing of our staff including our Occupational Health Service, confidential counselling, support and pastoral care through the Faith and Spirituality Network, and our staff wellbeing hub. Staff and their immediate family members who live with them also have access to a 24-hour telephone confidential counselling service.

We are committed to upholding a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for everyone in our community, and any form of harassment or bullying is #NeverOK and will not be tolerated. Our #NeverOK pledge, is supported by a staff disclosure tool and a team of trained Harassment Disclosure Response Advisors (HDRAs).

Cultural events

There is a regular programme of lunchtime and evening concerts, open lectures and exhibitions in the Sallis Benney Theatre and Gallery. Open lectures and other cultural events are held on all sites throughout the year.

Find out more about our news and events.

Trade unions

The university recognises the following trade unions:

• University and College Union (UCU)
• UNISON.

Disability Confident

The university is a Disability Confident employer. This government scheme supports equality and diversity in our staff recruitment practices and is part of our on-going commitment to employing people with disabilities and health conditions, and ensuring every possible opportunity to progress at the university.

What do we mean by disability?

Under the Equality Act 2010, disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.

We offer our assurance that, should applicants with disabilities meet the minimum criteria for a post, they will be shortlisted for the post and given an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at interview.

Advance HE

As a member of Advance HE we are committed to addressing the university’s specific equality needs and are part of a supported community of good practice across the higher education sector.

Athena Swan Charter

Athena Swan recognises commitment to addressing unequal gender representation across academic disciplines, professional and support functions and removing obstacles faced by women.

The University of Brighton holds a silver Athena Swan award. It joined the charter in 2012, achieving its bronze institutional award in 2013, reaccredited in 2016.

Race Equality Charter Mark

The university achieved a Bronze award for the Race Equality Charter in 2019. This award recognises that the university has a foundation for eliminating racial inequalities and developing an inclusive culture that values all staff and students. We have developed a four year action plan which aims to improve the representation, progression and success of Minority Ethnic staff and students at our institution.

Stonewall Proud Employer

The university is a proud member of Stonewall’s Proud Employers programme which means that we follow their best-practice in creating an inclusive workplace for LGBTQ+ employees. Between 2005 and 2025 Stonewall ran the Workplace Equality Index (WEI) which was the UK's leading benchmarking tool for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace.

The university last submitted to WEI in 2024 where we ranked 14 out the Top 100 Employers and were awarded Gold employer status. Our position recognises us as one of the top employers for LGBTQ+ people in the UK amongst private, public and charitable organisations that have applied to the Index.

Staff Equality Network Groups

The university currently has a number of Staff Equality Network Groups which are open to all staff members to join. 

• Brighton anti-racist network
• Disability equality network
• Faith network.
• LGBTQ+ network
• Neurodivergent network
• Parents network
• Transgender and Non-binary support network
• Zaft! Jewish staff network

These groups are run by staff for staff and feed into the university’s Equality and Diversity Delivery Committee. Attendance at Equality Network Group meetings and events is recognised as university business.