If politics and a good night out is your bag – then the University of Sussex is the place for you.

The university, based in Brighton, was voted among the best in the UK for both politics and a diverse local nightlife.

The report, conducted by Which?, was based on a survey of more than 16,000 undergraduates, rates UK universities on sport, creative arts, politics, student union activities and nightlife, as well as asking around 8,000 students for their views on their experience of higher education.

Former student Samantha Graham, 22, who still lives in Brighton, said: “There’s just so much to choose from. Big dance clubs like Oceana, to sophisticated bars like Pitcher and Piano.

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“There are loads of little pubs dotted around and after four years I still don’t think I've visited them all.

“My favourite night was ‘Poundance’ at Digital – £1 drinks before midnight. And it wouldn’t be a night out without going for shots at Oxygen.”

Graduate Chris Cox, 24, said: “There’s so much going on after dark in Brighton that there’s something for everyone, and you’ll most likely end up finding things you didn’t even know you wanted to find, like somewhere with a ballpit at 2:30am.

“Some of the most fun I had on a night in Brighton has been stumbling down a sidestreet and finding some quirky club, pub or bar tucked away.”

The student nightlife in the city is a huge boost to the economy, and is widely welcomed by Brighton and Hove’s bars and nightclubs.

As well as the nightclub life, the city is well-renowned for its vibrant music scene.

Former University of Sussex student Alastair Reid, news editor of local music site Brighton Noise, said: “Brighton has one of the busiest and most talented home-grown music scenes in the country.

“Not only that, but artists from around the world come here to play, because they knowthey’ll get a great reception and have something to do after the show.

“I’m not surprised our nightlife got rated so highly.”

The University of Chichester featured on the list among the top sporting universities in the country, but was also voted one of the worst in the country for nightlife.