Essex University Logo

The University of Essex, based at Wivenhoe Park on the outskirts of Colchester, received its Royal Charter in 1965. It is one of the UK’s leading academic institutions and has an international reputation for the quality of its research and teaching. The University is considered by Times Higher Education World University Rankings as one of the top 2% of universities in the world, and made the top 30 UK universities in the The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017.

There are currently over 10,500 students at the University, from more than 130 countries, roughly 20% of these being post-graduates.

In 2015 two major projects were completed on the Colchester campus: a new Student Centre and Library extension, and a Business School. The Business School aims to be carbon-neutral, and includes a functional dealing room. with live data feeds

Famous Essex Alumni

Famous Essex alumni include BBC foreign correspondent Brian Hanrahan; the President of Costa Rica and 1987 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dr Oscar Arias and Booker Prize Winner, Ben Okri.

Several senior members of the Greek government studied at Essex Uni.

The Southend Campus

The university is extending from its Wivenhoe base to start a new campus in Southend. In January 2007 the first brand new state-of-the-art building was opened, in the middle of Southend town centre. It is home to the Business and Acting faculties, and a new business development unit.

The Campus Cat

In 2017 the university gained a new celebrity: the Campus Cat. The distinctively-marked cat has made himself, and many other people, at home on campus. Pebbles has has been formally adopted by the students union, and has his own library card and Twitter account.