Students and staff celebrate as University of Brighton marks return to in-person graduation

Graduating students posed for photos on deckchairs and a replica Brighton beach inside the venue – while others headed to the seafront for the traditional ‘mortarboard toss’ with their classmates to mark the end of their studies.

Pandemic restrictions have meant the university held its graduation ceremonies online over the past two years. The return of in-person ceremonies this week marks a welcome opportunity for students to celebrate with their classmates – and for the university as a whole to recognise the incredible resilience, hard work and talent they showed during an immensely challenging time.

Those stepping up to receive their degrees range in age from 19 to 76 and include people from 105 countries, underlining the global impact of the University of Brighton's alumni cohort which now numbers 180,000 around the world.

Among those graduating this week is Sarah Beth Parker, who earned a Primary Education (3-7 years) BA(Hons) degree, alongside receiving the prestigious Diana Award in 2021 (named after the late Princess Diana and celebrating achievements by those aged 9-25), which recognised Sarah Beth's outstanding work promoting British Sign Language (BSL) in both the university and wider community during her time at Brighton.

Product Design graduates at the Brighton Centre

Now working as a primary school teacher, Sarah Beth said: “I loved my time at Brighton. I met some lifelong friends, I loved my course, and it was great to meet so many like-minded people. Setting up and running the Brighton BSL Society was definitely the highlight of my time there. We achieved so much and I'm so proud to see that it's still going strong. Students are really encouraged to be themselves at the University of Brighton, that’s something I’ll always remember.’"

Sam Peace, who graduated with Computer Science For Games BSc(Hons), said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Brighton, my course has enabled me to get a job on my dream career path as a games engineer. I couldn't have got to where I am without Brighton as they facilitated my internship with my now employer!"

Professor Debra Humphris, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton, said: “Graduation is always a high point of the year for everyone at the university – this year perhaps more than ever.

“It is a moment to reflect on a special time that is coming to an end. But it is also an opportunity to look forward to what lies ahead. We know that all our graduating students will take the skills, knowledge and values that they have developed here at Brighton into their future careers and future lives.”

From teachers and healthcare professionals to engineers and artists, University of Brighton make a positive difference to people’s lives in the local area, across the UK and around the world.

High-profile University of Brighton alumni include Norman Cook (aka global superstar musician and DJ Fatboy Slim, who fronts the celebratory film showing at each ceremony), current Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell (creator of the How to Train Your Dragon book series), star couture designer Julien MacDonald, and artist Alison Lapper MBE, as well as current Brighton & Hove Albion WSL star Ellie Brazil, and leading LGBTQ+ activists Paris Lees and Munroe Bergdorf - the latter currently in the spotlight as the first ever trans cover star of Cosmo UK.