A sunny day on campus
The results are in, here’s what students told us in the latest Student Spaces Survey
At the end of last year, nearly 900 students took time to tell us what they think about campus in the 2024 Student Spaces Survey.
Their feedback gave us a great insight into what they love, what they’d like to improve and what they’d like to see on campus. From their favourite café to the best study spots, here’s what they had to say…
Food, glorious food
There is no doubt that Eat Central is their favourite catering outlet on campus. The newly renovated food-court style restaurant got the most mentions, followed by Falmer Bar. There was also a lot of love for the recently revamped Arts Piazza café – make sure you check out its latest glow-up.
Most students visit our cafés and eateries when meeting friends or taking a break. The main feature they look for in a café space? Comfortable seating (46%) and atmosphere (27%).
Living on campus
Most students are “somewhat” (40%) or “extremely” (31%) satisfied with our communal spaces, with 36% being “somewhat” and 31% “extremely” satisfied when it comes to the study spaces available. Regarding spaces to rest, 35% of respondents are “somewhat” and 41% “extremely” satisfied.
Some of their recommendations included more dedicated study areas, faster and more reliable maintenance services and, good news for everyone who wanted enhanced Wi-Fi, our Network Replacement Project will deliver improved wired and wireless internet speeds across campus.
Did you know the first of our new West Slope rooms will open in September 2026? Find out more about how students can live on campus as a returning student.
Visiting or studying on campus
Most students who live in off-campus accommodation visit the University four or five days per week, and spend half a day there (52%).
Almost all of them (98%) said they feel safe on campus, and they can usually find somewhere to study there when they need to (91%). When asked about what would make spending a day on campus more comfortable, they focussed on more quiet study areas, shared spaces for collaboration and socialising, and more outdoor seating as well as affordable food options.
With a mixture of individual quiet spaces and bookable rooms, the Library is their favourite study spot (69%), with many stating they are “extremely satisfied” or “mostly satisfied” with its study spaces.
Their next favourite is the Student Centre (44%), offering more collaborative workspaces.