The Complete Guide To The University of Essex

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1. Introduction

1.1 Background

In the words of the University of Essex’s first Vice Chancellor, Albert Sloman; the university is for students to be able to live and learn, and where research really mattered. This has been carried on today since the university’s founding in 1964.

To date, the university has reached greater grounds by making the institution more value-added, where courses are dynamic, allowing students to create their pathway while delivering the university’s best education. 

The university has also produced multiple big names in various fields, particularly in acting thanks to its dedicated campuses. Alumni include the director of the Harry Potter movies and actors in iconic British television series.

Total Student Population15,540
Percentage of International Students41%
Teaching Faculty-to-Student Ratio1:16
Graduate Employability Rate89%

1.2 University of Essex Rankings 2025

The University of Essex is ranked #472 globally on the QS World University Rankings 2025. Some popular courses in the university are ranked in the Top 250 under the QS Subject Ranking:

QS Subject CategoryRanking For 2025
Sociology#72
Philosophy#101 – 150
Politics#101 – 150
Social Policy and Administration#101 – 150
Accounting and Finance#151 – 200
Linguistics#151 – 200
Economics and Econometrics#189
English Language and Literature#201 – 250

2. Student Life & Living Cost

2.1 University of Essex Campuses

Colchester Campus

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Key Highlights

  • Located in the award-winning Wivenhoe Park.
  • The largest campus among the 3 under the University of Essex.
  • Home to most of the faculties of the university.

How To Get There
🗺️ A 10-minute drive from the historic Colchester city centre

  • The nearest train station is Hythe Station, a 20-minute walk from campus.
  • The First Bus is a provider of buses within the campus.

Southend Campus

Key Highlights

  • Home to the School of Health and Social Care, East 15 ACting School and Essex Business School.
  • The campus is located by the coast at Southend.
  • Being a city campus, the Southend Campus also utilises some facilities of Southend city.

How To Get There
🗺️ A 15-minute walk to the Southend-on-sea city centre

  • Southend Victoria and Southend Central are the closest train stations to the Southend Campus, both a 10-minute walk from campus. 
  • The Southend Bus Station is 10 minutes away from campus.

Loughton Campus

Key Highlights

  • Also known as the East 15 Acting School. 
  • The campus has produced many of the UK’s entertainment icons.
  • The campus contains the university’s film studios and theatres.

How To Get There
🗺️ A 15-minute walk away from Loughton city centre

  • 45 minutes away from the London city centre.
  • A short walk to the Debden Underground train station.

2.2 Learning Facilities

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2.3 Recreational Facilities

Sports and recreation are a part of the University of Essex, and students can choose to compete or play socially at the facilities. Fancy a bit of disc golf at the 8th oldest course in the UK?

Yes, you can find it at the University of Essex, too! 

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2.4 Student Activities

With more than 120 clubs and societies under the University of Essex governed by the Essex Students Union, there is never a dull day at campus! Despite having 3 campuses that are quite a distance from each other, the Student Union makes a conscious effort to ensure that there is something for everyone!

2.5 Student Services

The Student Services Hub is the place where students can go at the University of Essex to get the necessary support at any point of time during the period of their stay, with services such as:

  • Wellbeing and mental health support
  • Health Services
  • Financial Support
  • Study and exam support
  • Disability Accessibilities
  • Childcare
  • International Student Support
  • Student Security Services

2.6  University of Essex Accommodation and Cost

Between the two campuses, most on-campus accommodation options are around the Colchester campus, while the Southend Campus only has University Square as their option.

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Colchester Campus Accommodations

On-Campus

  • North Towers (from GBP 119.14/week)
  • South Towers (from GBP 126.56/week)
  • The Pastures (from GBP 195.56/week)
  • University Quays (from GBP 179.34/week)
  • The Copse (from GBP 200.97/week)
  • The Meadows (from GBP 187.84/week)
  • Wolfson Court (from GBP 129.92/week)
  • South Courts (from GBP 114.73/week)
  • The Houses (from GBP 114.66/week)

Off-Campus

Nearby towns: Old Heath, Hythe, Greenstead

Southend Campus Accommodations

On-Campus

  • University Square (from GBP 165.48/week)

Off-Campus

Nearby towns: Southend-on-Sea, Westcliff-on-Sea, Prittlewell

The Loughton Campus, home to the East 15 Acting School of the University of Essex does not have any on-campus accommodations, but there are many private rental options available within Loughton city that are nearby!

Cost of Living in Essex

Students of the University of Essex can expect to spend approximately GBP 109 weekly, excluding accommodation fees. The costs mentioned cover necessities such as groceries, socializing, mobile phone plans, health and well-being, and transportation. 

This is just an estimate, however, and the cost of living will change depending on the student’s lifestyle!

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3. Courses, Fees & Scholarships

3.1 Courses You Can Study at the University of Essex

Fields Of StudyCourses
Accounting Accounting
Biological SciencesBiological Science, Biomedical Science, Ecology & Environmental Biology, Human Biology, Marine Biology
Business & ManagementBusiness Management, Business Administration, International Business, Management & Marketing
Computer ScienceComputer Science, Computer Games, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Systems Engineering
Data AnalyticsData Science & Analytics, Statistics
EconomicsEconomics, Business Economics, Financial Economics, Management Economics
EngineeringCommunications Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Robotic Engineering
EnvironmentEcology & Environmental Biology, Global Sustainability
Health & Social CareSocial Work, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Speech & Language Therapy
LawLaw (LLB)
Politics & International RelationsPolitics, International Relations
PsychologyPsychology (BA), Psychology (BSc)
SociologySociology, Criminology, Social Sciences
SportsSports & Exercise Science, Sports Performance & Coaching, Sport & Exercise Psychology, Sports Therapy

3.2 Course Fees At The University Of Essex

We have also saved you the hassle and compiled the full list of the university’s detailed course fees into one article below. Check it out and share it!

Coming Soon!

3.3 University Of Essex Scholarships

These are some of the scholarships offered by the University of Essex to international students. Check out the full list here. (Coming Soon)

ScholarshipsDetails
Vice-Chancellor’s Global Talent Scholarship50% off tuition fees for first year

Got Scholarship?

Use our Pathway Match tool to accurately get matched with your preferred courses, fees and scholarships you qualify for in 5 minutes.

Biological Sciences

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There is full flexibility for students studying Biological Sciences to specialise in an area of interest.

Apart from being in one of the largest departments in the university, there are more reasons why studying Biological Sciences at the University of Essex is so sought after. The university also ranks 23rd in the UK for Biology (The Guardian University Guide 2024).

As development in technology drives current research, it does to what students are learning, too, as the syllabus is research-driven. Leading scientists in the biology field, who are involved with research on microorganisms, hospital-related infections, vaccine development, and more  

The University of Essex runs an Integrative Biology pathway that allows students to choose a broad selection of modules across different disciplines, and students are also given the flexibility to customise their degree to specialise in an area of interest, in either Molecular and Cell Biology, or Ecology and Conservation biology. 

Students will have hands-on experience to develop practical skills, with the help of the STEM Centre, facilities, and laboratories available on campus. Alternatively, students can also gain the necessary skills through fieldwork. Students will also conduct an independent research project to contribute to future biological science knowledge in their final year

As this discipline is global and practical, students can opt to spend a semester abroad in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and more to expose themselves to the field of the countries. Students can also opt for a placement year with an external organisation during their 3rd year. 

To encourage students to these pathways, studying abroad means they’ll only have to pay 15% of their annual tuition fees while doing a placement allows students to only pay 20% for the year. 

Computer Science

uni enrol university of essex guide popular courses computer science
The University of Essex has 6 dedicated computer science laboratories available to students!

Want an opportunity to study in a department that was founded by Professor Tony Brooker, who worked with Alan Turing, the father of modern computer science? 

The Computer Science course at the university is one the most flexible courses in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering of the University. Students can choose from a broad choice of optional modules and specialise in areas such as computer games, artificial intelligence, evolutionary computation, and Big Data. 

At the University of Essex, students are encouraged to use creativity and imagination to drive their course experience, as their teaching staff have. The academics at the University consider themselves a “community of scholars”, who have led the way in technological research and development in the earlier-mentioned specialisation fields. 

Students will also have a load of facilities to assist them in learning and development of skills. The University of Essex has 6 laboratories that are exclusively for computer science and engineering students, and 3 are open 24/7. All computers within the school are dual-booted with Windows and Linux, and the Macs are also dual-booted with MacOS and Windows. 

Throughout their studies, students will work with software including Java, Prolog, C++, Mysql, Matlab and more. Students can also spend their 3rd year on placement, focusing on using the specialist technical skills acquired in the first 2 years. Recent placements by students include companies such as ARM, Microsoft, Intel and the British Aerospace. 

Economics Studies

The goal for economics at the University of Essex: it’s not only about stocks, shares, and financial markets, it is also concerned with the material well-being of human societies. This is one of the reasons why the university is ranked 7th in the UK for economics and 1st for value-added learning in the Guardian University Guide 2024.

One of the unique features of studying Economics at the University of Essex is its strength in public policy measures to stimulate and manage the economy, including behavioural techniques to get messages across. Students will learn from teaching staff who are prominent economists in the UK, some have even received MBEs. Researchers at the university also provide consultancy services to businesses in London and other major financial centres.

Students can combine the study of various economic branches (public, health, development) to get a broader perspective. That being said, studying Economics at the University of Essex offers a large degree of flexibility that allows students to focus on a broad range of areas of interest, including some niche areas that the university is strong at, such as:

  • Game theory and strategic interactions
  • Theoretical and applied econometrics
  • Labour economics

Students also get hands-on experience in the world of investment banking with the Student Investment and Trading Fund (SIT Fund), a unique initiative in the East of England. Here, students participate in an investment boot camp run by the university’s alumni who are now investment bankers and also pitch investment recommendations and monitor their success. 

Psychology Studies

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Students can use equipment like these at the Centre For Brain Science on campus.

At the University of Essex, studying Psychology is about breaking from the traditional boundaries of learning Psychology

How, you ask? 

The university’s Psychology department employs a multi-method approach that helps combine different expertise to share unique techniques and interesting theories that answer questions about the importance of social relationships, cultural effects to thinking and motivation, and much more. 

Some of the factors that contribute to the approach are the academic staff, who are award-winning teachers and prize-winning researchers. Academics play an important role in shaping how learning is conducted at the university, which heavily emphasizes inclusiveness in the syllabus, taking learning to a more personal level instead of the traditional, “colonial” or “territorial” pattern. 

To put this in perspective, Dr. Veronica Lamarche, one of the lecturers you could be learning from, has developed inclusive modules that resonated and engaged with students from diverse backgrounds, centering on creating a learning environment that reflects student experiences that are relevant to their own lives. For this approach, Dr. Veronica was awarded an Excellence in Education Award!

Students will also benefit from specialist laboratories and state-of-the-art facilities that are housed within a purpose-built building on the Colchester Campus. Within the list of facilities, there are virtual reality suites, observation suites, an infant lab and the multimillion-pound Centre for Brain Science, which allows staff and researchers to investigate brain activity, measure eye movements and other physiological responses!

4. Entry Requirements & Intake Dates 

4.1  University of Essex Entry Requirements 2025

Minimum entry requirements for Foundation:

  • SPM: 5C
  • IGCSE: 5C

Minimum entry requirements for Degree:

  • UEC: B4 for 5 subjects
  • STPM: BBB
  • A-Level: BBB
  • IB: 30 points
  • Foundation: Completion of Foundation
  • Diploma: Completion of Diploma

Minimum language proficiency requirements (IELTS):

  • Foundation: 4.5 Overall
  • Undergraduate: 6.0 Overall
  • Postgraduate: 6.0 Overall

Some courses may require you to earn higher entry requirements and additional qualifications.

4.2  University of Essex Intake Periods for 2025

The intake periods for 2025 are as follows:

  • Foundation: September, January, March
  • Degree: September, January
  • Postgraduate: September, January

Please note that the intake periods may vary depending on the courses. For specific intake periods and dates, click here (Coming Soon!).

4.3 Admission Process For Studying in the UK

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5. Student Testimonials & Alumni

5.1 Student Testimonials

Looking for more reasons to apply to the University of Essex? Hear it from the students!

5.2 Notable Alumni

The University of Essex has produced some notable names in its history, including actors, award-winning directors, politicians, and even an astronaut!

  • Blake Harrison – Star of the Inbetweeners series and movie (Acting)
  • David Yates – BAFTA Award Winner, directed the final 4 instalments of the Harry Potter movie series (Government)
  • Rt. Hon. John Bercow – Current Speaker of the House of Commons (Government)
  • Dr. Rodolfo Neri Vela – Mexico’s first astronaut (Electronic Systems Engineering)

6. Conclusion

The University of Essex is a university that has always aimed to create impact if you’ve read until the end. It’s time for you to do the same!

Looking to apply to the University of Essex? You could speak to our study abroad consultants and they will help you out!

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