THOUSANDS of university students flocked to the seafront this week to celebrate graduating for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Students from the University of Brighton celebrated at the Brighton Centre in Kings Road and posed on the seafront before enjoying the traditional “mortarboard toss” with their classmates.

The ceremonies saw 3,500 students celebrate years of hard work, with proud parents and friends making the trip to the city to join in the celebrations.

Those who stepped up to receive their degrees range in age from 19 to 76 and include people from 105 countries.

Professor Debra Humphris, vice-chancellor of the University of Brighton, said: “Graduation is always a high point of the year for everyone at the university – this year perhaps more than ever.

“It is a moment to reflect on a special time that is coming to an end. But it is also an opportunity to look forward to what lies ahead. We know that all our graduating students will take the skills, knowledge and values that they have developed here at Brighton into their future careers and future lives.”