ALMOST a third of those who have just graduated from the University of Sussex are from abroad - a record for the institution.

More than 3,500 donned their gowns and mortarboards for ceremonies at the Brighton Dome last week.

Of those, 32 per cent are from abroad.

Professor Michael Farthing, the University’s vice-chancellor, said: “In this, my last graduation as vice chancellor, I am so very proud of all our students graduating this summer.

"We are honoured to be a university that encourages our students to look at the world through a global lens, and we will always place great emphasis on understanding different perspectives.

“With 104 nationalities graduating as well as boasting alumni from more than 190 countries and relationships with dozens of universities globally, internationalism is at our heart, and this will never change.”

The university’s chancellor, actor and writer Sanjeev Bhaskar OBE, led the ceremonies and confered the degrees at the Brighton Dome.

He said: "When I was appointed chancellor in 2009 I spoke about how proud I was to be associated with a transformational university such as Sussex.

"Not only is Sussex transforming the lives of its students, they too are transforming the university, giving it a wonderful international perspective. Graduation is the time for students, their families and University staff, to come together and celebrate that.”