University of Essex

The University of Essex is a public research university and one of the UK’s foremost universities, having placed 32nd nationally according to the Complete University Guide 2024 rankings.  

The university was established in 1965 and has since worked to offer quality postgraduate study opportunities to thousands of students from around the world. With a place among the top 40 universities for overall satisfaction according to the 2022 National Student Survey, the university continues to attract students from all over the world. 

The university maintains three campus sites across the county: Colchester, Loughton and Southend-On-Sea. From historical Roman capitals and beautiful coastal towns, students at Essex enjoy a student lifestyle that combines the best that the south-eastern English countryside can offer and affordable, safe and fun student cities and towns. 

With easy access to London by train and road, students at any of the university’s campuses can access the endless professional, cultural and academic opportunities of the capital while enjoying an ideal coastal location for focused study and easy living. 

With a strong track record on graduate employability, postgraduates who complete a degree at Essex will join a global network of alumni characterised by their valuable professional skills and academic strength. Notable alumni of the university include John Bercow, Nick Broomfield and Yanis Varoufakis. 

The University of Essex offers a range of postgraduate study options, ranging from short courses to taught master’s degrees and in-depth research opportunities. Students at the university can choose from part- or full-time study patterns, as well as hybrid learning approaches or even fully online courses, providing a variety of flexible ways to study. 

Taught master’s courses at Essex allow students to collaborate with and learn from world-leading researchers and prominent academics. They’ll gain an understanding of their field and how it’s developing in real time, as well as access a range of networking and experiential opportunities ranging from lab work to presenting at conferences. Available master’s degrees including MA, MSc and MRes degrees, as well as shorter courses like PGCert and PGDip qualifications. 

Postgraduate research degrees at Essex empower students to develop a deep understanding of their subject area, produce impactful research and lay the groundwork for their career. Experienced supervisors and boundary pushing research activity come together to form a rich research environment in which students are encouraged to push boundaries and produce work that will help them stand out in their field. Available degrees include PhDs, MPhil qualifications and professional doctorates. 

Admission onto postgraduate courses at the University of Essex is dependent on satisfying the entry requirements for a students’ chosen course. Criteria may change between intakes, so applicants should check the relevant page on the university’s site to confirm them before applying. 

For example, students applying to the MA in Linguistics will need a 2:2 level bachelor’s or higher, or international equivalent, in subjects like linguistics, modern languages, English language or literature. Degrees in unrelated disciplines may be considered if evidence of significant linguistic or language study can be shown. 

Applicants for the MSc in Accounting will need a 2:2 level undergraduate degree in any subject, but this degree will need to contain one module in management accounting and one in financial accounting. Alternatively, four modules across accounting, in which one is financial or management accounting, will also be accepted. 

Applicants for the MA in Political Science will need a 2:2 level bachelor’s in a relevant subject, like political science, international relations or economics, or a different subject with two relevant modules. Details of these modules can be found on the course page. Six months’ relevant experience with an NGO may be accepted in lieu of completion of relevant modules. 

The University of Essex offers students a variety of ways to enhance their employability during their studies, leading to improved graduate outcomes across the professional and academic spheres. The university’s success in this area is demonstrated by the fact that 88% of its graduating students are able to secure further study or employment within 6 months of leaving, according to Graduate Outcomes 2022. 

Courses at Essex often contain career-oriented modules that provide students with the means to develop in-demand skills, gain relevant industry knowledge and apply their expertise to real-world situations. 

In addition to that, many postgraduate degrees contain opportunities to start building professional networks, take on an internship or industrial placement, or volunteer with relevant organisations. 

Students at Essex can get support from the university’s careers services throughout their degree, as well as for a time after as alumni. Some of the services available include CV and interview support, help with job hunting, tailored career advice and careers fairs. 

Accommodation

The University of Essex has a wide range of accommodation available for postgraduate students to choose from. Whatever their budget, lifestyle or accommodation requirements, students will be able to choose from a variety of safe, affordable and sociable living arrangements at Essex. 

Postgraduate students are guaranteed university accommodation for their first year of study, provided they submit their application by the specified deadline. 

The university offers accommodation centrally located in the campus, as well as residences in quiet areas nearby. Students can choose from single en-suite or shared bathroom options, as well as studio flats and entire townhouses. 

Some postgraduate students choose to live off-campus. The university is located on the outskirts of Colchester, Britain’s first ever city with a history stretching back for over 2,000 years. It was the capital of Roman Britain, and today is a vibrant small city that attracts visitors from all over.  

When students aren’t studying, they’ll be able to explore a wide variety of historical and cultural sites, or enjoy one of many places to shop, eat, drink or relax. 

The university can support students in finding the perfect private rented accommodation for their needs. 

There are a range of scholarship and bursary funding options for postgraduate students at the University of Essex, designed to support them in meeting the costs of student life so they can focus on their studies. 

Postgraduate students who have already completed a degree at Essex or one of its partner institutions are eligible for an alumni loyalty discount. This is a variable discount that is applied to the tuition fees of students’ first year of postgraduate study, depending on the students’ grades. 

There are a variety of postgraduate taught scholarships, such as the Master’s Excellence Scholarship. This award offers a 25% discount on tuition fees for students with a first-class undergraduate degree from a UK university. A range of master’s scholarships are also available to international students from certain nations or backgrounds – details of these can be found on the university’s scholarships page. 

Specific scholarships are also available for research students, usually in the form of funding for tuition fees and stipends for living costs. Some of these are funded PhD studentships, available through certain schools or for certain subjects. The School of Life Sciences PhD studentships, along with the Computer Science and Electronic Engineering PhD studentships, are examples of these.