The University of Essex is one of the UK's leading academic institutions. Founded in 1964 when it opened its doors to a cohort of just 122 students at Wivenhoe Park in Colchester, the University has grown in both reputation and size, developing a worldwide reputation for top quality teaching and research. There are now more than 8,000 students, studying at three campuses across Essex.
Academic departments span the humanities, social sciences, science and engineering, and law and management. Essex is the UK's most internationally diverse campus university, with students drawn from 130 countries.
In the 2008 national assessment Essex was ranked ninth out of 159 universities and colleges for the quality of its research - and top in the social sciences - while the quality of teaching was ranked eighth in the UK in the 2008 Sunday Times University Guide.
Sixteen of the University’s academic departments are based at the Colchester Campus. They are housed in a series of bustling squares, all inter-linked, designed by architect Kenneth Capon. The close proximity of the academic departments was designed to reflect, and nurture, the inter-disciplinary nature of teaching and research at the University. As well as teaching and research facilities, the Colchester Campus is also home to the Albert Sloman Library, shops, banks, restaurants and a wide variety of student accommodation.
Three academic departments run courses from the Southend Campus, their students benefiting from modern lecture rooms, rehearsal studios with panoramic sea views and high-tech medical skills labs.
The Southend Campus is also home to the Business Hub, a specialist resource for companies of all sizes, which aims to foster and promote economic sustainability. The Business Hub provides a wide range of support services and contemporary, professional facilities including a Business Incubation Centre for start-up businesses and the renowned i-Lab.
For details on tuition fees please visit www.essex.ac.uk/fees
For information on how to apply to the University, please visit www.essex.ac.uk/prospective
Name: Nika Prislan
Age: 21
Country of origin: Logarska Dolina, Slovenia
Programme: BA European Studies with Politics
I chose Essex because the University has one of the largest percentages of international students in the UK and because they had a degree that was exactly what I wanted to study. I’m enjoying it here lots. The people are great and it’s been easy to find a part-time job.
I’m enjoying all my Politics courses as I find them really interesting and my Spanish classes are good too because they are very interactive. My department is very organised and they have been brilliant in informing me about my year abroad in Madrid. They have given me many good tips on living in my host country and have helped me with any problems or questions that I had.
I am really enjoying my time here. The University has a very international atmosphere which enables students that are not from the UK to easily settle into their new life.
