University of Essex
A 1960s parkland campus near Colchester with top-ten UK research in sociology, economics, politics and linguistics.
- Students
- 16,005
- International
- 48%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 14.8:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £22,575
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1964
About Essex
The University of Essex welcomed its first 122 students in 1964 to a new campus in Wivenhoe Park, two miles from Colchester, planned by founding Vice-Chancellor Sir Albert Sloman as a place where students would live and learn and research really mattered. Its brutalist towers, the Albert Sloman Library and the lake at the heart of the 200-acre park are still the campus's defining sights. A second campus at Loughton, on the edge of east London, is home to East 15 Acting School.
Essex is strongest in the social sciences: four subjects (sociology, economics and econometrics, politics and international studies, and modern languages and linguistics) are in the UK top ten for research quality in REF 2021, and its Human Rights Centre has worked in the field for more than 40 years. Teaching is organised in two faculties, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Health, with Essex Business School, Essex Law School and East 15 among its schools.
Entry is accessible: most 2027 courses ask for 112 UCAS tariff points (about BBC), Law 128 points, and applicants with lower predicted grades can still apply and may be considered for related courses or a foundation year. The campus is one of the most international in the UK, with staff and students from more than 140 countries, and suits students who want a self-contained campus with a strong social-science tradition.
Thought the harder, heart the keener
University motto
Why students choose Essex
Four Essex subjects, including sociology and economics, are in the UK top 10 for research quality (REF 2021), and teaching is described as research-led.
EU students paying overseas fees get an automatic £5,000 discount each year, and eligible international students from listed countries get £5,000 off their first year.
Essex guarantees campus accommodation for the whole of your course if you apply, with bills included.
East 15 Acting School offers a three-year conservatoire acting degree whose graduates include Alison Steadman and Blake Harrison.
Admissions
2027 entry (October 2027 start)
Selectivity
Essex does not publish an overall offer rate. Most 2027 courses ask for 112 UCAS tariff points, and applicants whose predicted grades are below the published requirement can still apply and are considered as a whole.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels / UCAS tariff | Offers are made in UCAS tariff points from at least two full A-levels: 112 points (about BBC) for Economics, Computer Science, Politics, Sociology and History; 128 points (about ABB) for Law. Contextual offers can be up to two A-level grades lower. |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | 29 points with at least two Higher Level subjects for most courses (with a Mathematics requirement for Economics and Computer Science); 32 points for Law |
| English language | IELTS 6 IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component for courses such as Law, Economics, Computer Science and Acting, or an equivalent accepted test. Pre-sessional English courses are available. |
Deadlines
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Most courses.
- UCAS last date before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applications received after this are entered into Clearing, which opens on 2 July 2027; places depend on availability.
UCAS dates for 2027 entry. Essex courses start in October, and the university also recruits through Clearing.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS (institution code E70) with up to five choices, a personal statement and a reference. If you are not in UCAS this year you can apply to Essex directly, and international students can also apply through Essex's educational representatives.
What admissions looks for
- Grades at the published UCAS tariff level, from a minimum of two full A-levels or equivalent qualifications.
- Your whole application if your predicted grades are lower: Essex reviews previous academic history, personal statement and reference before deciding.
- Subject requirements where stated, such as the Mathematics requirement for Economics and Computer Science.
- For UK applicants from under-represented groups, potential to succeed, recognised through contextual offers up to two grades lower.
Tips for applying to Essex
- 1 Don't be put off by lower predictions: Essex says you can still apply, and it will consider you for related courses or a foundation year if it can't offer your first choice.
- 2 Extra qualifications such as an EPQ, Core Maths or an extra AS-level can count if you narrowly miss your offer.
- 3 EU applicants on overseas fees should budget with the automatic £5,000-a-year EU Scholarship in mind.
- 4 Choosing a placement or study abroad year costs only 20% or 15% of the standard fee for that year.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
The Essex Futures Bursary gives UK students starting in October 2027 with household income of £35,000 or less up to £3,000 (cash and accommodation credit), awarded automatically. EU students on overseas fees receive a £5,000 discount for each year of study, and the International Undergraduate Scholarship gives eligible students from listed countries £5,000 off the first year. Sports scholarships and an International Baccalaureate Excellence Scholarship are also available.
- Up to £3,000 for household income up to £35,000
- Essex Futures Bursary (UK, 2027 entry)
- £5,000 off tuition each year
- Undergraduate EU Scholarship (2027-28)
- £5,000 off first-year tuition
- International Undergraduate Scholarship (2027-28)
Academics
Academic calendar: Terms (courses start in October)
Sociology (BA)
Sociology is in the UK top 10 for research quality and top 100 in the QS subject rankings 2026; 112 tariff points.
Economics (BA)
Economics and econometrics is in the UK top 10 for research quality (REF 2021); Essex graduate Christopher Pissarides won the Nobel Prize in economics.
Law (LLB)
128 tariff points; students give free legal advice on live cases in on-site legal clinics, with Essex's Human Rights Centre in the same school.
Politics (BA)
Politics and international studies is a UK top-10 subject for research quality at Essex.
Acting (BA)
A three-year conservatoire degree at East 15 Acting School in Loughton, which grew out of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop.
Computer Science (BSc)
Computer science is one of Essex's five UK top-10 subjects for research power; 112 tariff points.
Research
- The Human Rights Centre, part of Essex Law School, won a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2010 for its human rights work.
- The Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) is home to the Understanding Society household panel study and the EUROMOD tax-benefit model.
- Five Essex subjects are in the UK top 10 for research power: sociology, law, economics and econometrics, politics and international studies, and computer science (REF 2021).
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Science and Health
- Essex Business School
- Essex Law School
- East 15 Acting School
- Edge Hotel School
Student life
Life at Essex centres on the Colchester Campus in Wivenhoe Park, where the Silberrad Student Centre sits by the lake and the campus squares host bars, shops and market stalls. Students can live on campus for their whole degree in towers, courts and newer residences such as The Meadows, with bills included. The Essex Sport Arena and Essex Rebels sports clubs are on site, and Essex describes the campus as one of the most internationally diverse anywhere.
- Silberrad Student Centre beside the campus lake.
- Essex Sport Arena and the Essex Rebels student sports teams.
- Art Exchange gallery and the ESCALA art collection on campus.
- Chancellor Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent.
Housing. Essex offers guaranteed campus accommodation for the duration of your course if you apply, with all bills included.
Location
The Colchester Campus is two miles from the centre of Colchester, described by Essex as England's oldest recorded settlement. The campus is set in parkland with a lake and is reachable from London and Stansted Airport in under an hour. East 15's Loughton campus is on the edge of east London.
Nearest airport: London Stansted (STN)
Notable alumni
- CP Christopher PissaridesEconomist; 2010 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences
- ÓA Óscar AriasPresident of Costa Rica and 1987 Nobel Peace Prize winner
- JB John BercowSpeaker of the House of Commons
- YV Yanis VaroufakisEconomist and Greek Finance Minister (2015)
- BO Ben OkriBooker Prize-winning novelist
- AS Alison SteadmanActress; trained at East 15 Acting School
- DY David YatesFilm director, the later Harry Potter films
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for the University of Essex?
For 2027 entry most courses ask for 112 UCAS tariff points (about BBC at A-level) or 29 IB points; Law asks for 128 points or 32 IB points. Contextual offers can be up to two grades lower.
How much does Essex cost for international students?
International fees for 2027-28 range from £22,575 to £33,350 a year depending on the subject, for example £23,750 for Law and Economics and £26,325 for Computer Science.
Does Essex offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. EU students paying overseas fees get £5,000 off each year automatically, and eligible students from listed countries get a £5,000 International Undergraduate Scholarship for the first year.
When does Essex start and when should I apply?
Courses start in October 2027. Apply through UCAS by 13 January 2027 for equal consideration; UCAS forwards applications until 30 June 2027, after which Clearing applies.
Can I apply to Essex if my predicted grades are below the requirement?
Yes. Essex says it reviews the whole application and may offer a related course or foundation year if it can't offer your first choice.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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