Brighton College entrance guide

Open Days and Events at Brighton College

A whole school open morning takes place in the summer term and is bookable via the website. Private tours are also available although there is a waiting list for these. If you are looking for 11+ entry to Brighton College, the school offers three taster days a year. 

11+ Entry to Brighton College

Pupils wishing to attain a place in Year 7 (11+ route) will be invited to sit a series of academic tests in Maths, English, Verbal, and Non-verbal Reasoning in December of Year 6. Following on from this in January, pupils will be invited to take part in an interview and activities day (this typically consists of further academic activities to assess the pupils’ suitability for the school). Offers are sent out by the end of January. 

13+ Entry to Brighton College

Pupils applying for a place in Year 9 (13+ route), have a slightly different process. 13+ pupils will sit the ISEB- Pre-Test at their current school in Year 6. If successful, further assessments and interviews (an ‘orientation day’) take place in the following February with offers made in March.

16+ Entry to Brighton College

16+ entry to Brighton College is a two stage process. The first stage (held in November of Year 11) is an assessment day, where pupils are examined in verbal reasoning and maths alongside a general paper. The second stage is an interview which takes place the week after the assessments. Offers are normally made as conditional until the results of GCSE exams are known.

Scholarships and Bursaries at Brighton College

Scholarships are available at Brighton College, and 11+ candidates are assessed for an academic scholarship during the normal entry process, meaning offers of scholarships are sent out promptly following this. College Scholarships are also available for those pupils who have a specialism in music, sport, art, dance or drama; these are assessed in January for a September start. A chess scholarship and a choral scholarship are also available at 11+ and must be applied for separately at the time of registration. 

At 13+, potential academic scholars are assessed in Year 8 (before joining in Year 9). Pupils sitting Common Entrance at their prep school can sit the Common Academic Scholarship; if pupils are joining from a state school they can sit Brighton College scholarship exams at the same time. There are also scholarships available at 13+ in chess, dance, design and technology and music.  

At 16+, academic scholarships are available alongside sports and creative arts scholarships. These are assessed soon after the entrance assessments detailed above.

Bursaries are available at Brighton College at 11+ and 16+ for those otherwise unable to afford the educational opportunities offered. Applications must be made at the time of registration. There is also a specific scholarship for disadvantaged local pupils – the ‘Opening Doors’ scholarship, details of which are available on the website.