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Hello ,

You may have seen in the news that today, 29 April the University of Sussex won a victory against the Office for Students (OfS) in the High Court. The Court overturned the £585,000 fine issued by the OfS, finding in Sussex’s favour. As a result, the OfS’s decision and the fine have been quashed. You can find more details on our webpage.  

Although this is really positive news for Sussex and the sector, we also appreciate that there may be additional attention from journalists and others, and we want to remind you of your rights which you can find out about under the ‘Your rights when sharing your views’ section on the Student Hub’s Freedom of Speech page. and also to let you know you can refer questions to the press office via press@sussex.ac.uk. 

With Revision week starting on Monday, to help set you up for success I am sharing some effective revision strategies, including different techniques and motivation tips. Find out more below.  

As summer approaches you may be starting to think about getting a job over the vacation, or your next steps beyond Sussex. Whether you are exploring career ideas, building skills, or preparing for job applications, our Careers and Employability team will support you with practical tools, advice, and opportunities to boost your confidence and experience. Check out the Student Hub for upcoming events, job vacancies and support. 

Finally, if you are passionate about environmental sustainability, the Changemaker Challenge may be of particular interest to you. If you have a green idea that could positively impact your community you can apply to win a £500-£2,000 bursary to make it happen. Read below to find out more about the opportunity

Read on to find out about: 

Effective revision strategies  

As assessments approach, revising little and often can help you stay focused and reduce last‑minute nerves. Try active strategies like testing yourself, explaining ideas out loud, and mixing up topics rather than just re‑reading notes. Planning your time and taking regular breaks can also make revision more effective. 

The Skills Hub has some excellent revision tactics including passive revision techniques, recognition versus recall, and tips for staying motivated while studying. 

Celebrating Sussex: free exhibition and ice cream picnic  

On Friday 29 May students are invited to a free open exhibition celebrating curated student work that showcases the diverse voices, lived experiences and creative contributions of our vibrant Sussex community, including sculptures and collages. 

Alongside the exhibition, join us for a relaxed celebratory ice cream picnic and open conversation between students, staff and members of our wider community. 

You can drop in any time between 11am and 3pm - please reserve your space

Brighton Festival: the best free and low-cost events to check out  

Brighton Festival is the largest curated annual multi-arts festival in England, and it begins tomorrow, Friday 1 May. There is lots on offer for students, including free events, £10-and-under tickets, and performances right here on campus. As the official Higher Education Partner for the festival, we’re making sure our students and staff have every chance to get involved. 

Whether you are after a study break, some creative inspiration, or just to enjoy some time with friends, check out some highlights to add to your calendar

Sussex Awards 2026: the winners 

The winners of this year’s Sussex Awards were revealed at a special ceremony at the Attenborough Centre last night, Monday 27 April. 

Hosted by Vice-Chancellor Professor Sasha Roseneil and Professor Michael Luck, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, the ceremony recognised the fantastic work of our staff, students and postgraduate researcher (PGR) community at Sussex. The winners were presented with a special trophy, designed by Product Design student Mabli Vuijk and 3D printed using recycled filament here on campus by Research Fellow Henry Dore. 

Read more about the event and see the full list of winners on the Student Hub

AI-powered phishing attacks targeting education 

In a new UK-wide security alert, hackers are targeting universities by sending messages that look like they are from the university, lecturers, or IT support. 

What to look out for: 

  • Any email asking you to click a link and log in – even if it looks like it came from someone you know 

  • An approval notification in your authenticator app (like Okta) that you did not trigger – never tap approve 

  • Urgent messages asking for your password, payment, or personal info 

  • Anything that feels slightly off, even if you can’t say why. 

If something seems wrong: 

  • Don’t click anything – close the email 

  • If you think you’ve already clicked something, contact IT immediately. 

Questions? Contact IT Services. We would rather you check and it be nothing than not check at all. 

Have your say on your Spring modules 

Module Evaluation Questionnaires (MEQs) are now open for your Spring modules and will close 4 May. This is your opportunity to share feedback on your teaching and learning experience and help improve your modules while you are still studying. Each questionnaire takes around two to four minutes to complete, is anonymous, and can be accessed via your email link or through Canvas. Your feedback helps tutors understand what is working well and where changes could make a difference. 

Apply for a £500-£2,000 bursary to bring your green idea to life 

Got an idea to make the world a better place? Apply for our Changemaker Challenge bursary of between £500-£2,000 to develop and deliver an environmental or social impact project in the local area. 

Open to all current students, this is an opportunity to create a more sustainable, connected, and equitable future for your community. 

A public vote in June will help to decide which projects are awarded between £500-£2,000, to bring their idea to life! Find out more and apply by 8 June. 

Student Food takeover to bring Greek flavours to campus on 6 and 7 May 

The third and final Student Food Takeover of the year is coming to Eat Central on Wednesday 6 May and Thursday 7 May! 

This time we are being treated to Greek pastitsio, as submitted by Eleni Chatziioannou. 

Pastitsio is a traditional Greek baked pasta dish, like a lasagne but made using pasta tubes, a meat ragu with a hint of cinnamon, and creamy bechamel sauce. 

Get your pastitsio for only £3 from Eat Central's Blue Kiosk, on Wednesday 6 May and Thursday 7 May from 12pm, while stocks last. 

With best wishes,

Kate

Professor Kate O'Riordan

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students)

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The Sussex Awards took place on Monday 27 April, with a ceremony and celebratory drinks and canapés at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA). 

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