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University of Essex

Colchester

  • Location: City, Rural

Student life

You’ll become part of the Students’ Union, which gives you access to societies, clubs and events on campus.. If you can’t find the right society for you, get together a group of like-minded students and create it - Essex is yours to shape!

Our Colchester Campus is located within easy reach of both beautiful countryside and extensive coastline, but also only minutes from Colchester city centre and all that it has to offer, from shops and boutiques to restaurants, bars and theatres. When it comes to things to do, there’s something for everyone – a spa, bowling alleys, escape rooms, the world-class zoo, and so much more!

Our Southend Campus is right in the middle of the city with coffee shops, big brands and everything else you might expect from a city centre location. The 7-mile beach and mile-long pleasure pier might be more of a surprise.

For East 15 students, our Loughton Campus is positioned on the London Underground’s Central Line, so the capital city of London is yours to explore!

What's it like to live in East of England?
Check out our region guide

The East of England is made up of five counties and cities like Luton, Norwich, and Cambridge. Made famous by its namesake university, picturesque Cambridge attracts droves of visitors, with graduates including Stephen Hawking and Emma Thompson.

Branch out and you’ll find Europe’s equivalent to Silicon Valley – Silicon Fen – a burgeoning hub for big tech players and software start-ups.

This corner of England has a star-studded history, too. Iconic movies like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and The Shining were shot at Elstree Studios in Essex. Meanwhile, the University of East Anglia served as Avengers HQ in multiple Marvel movies.

Learn more

What's it like to live in Colchester?
Check out our city guide

Studying in Colchester? Explore England’s oldest recorded town with its mix of Roman heritage, university life, and access to the Essex countryside.

Learn more

Campus and facilities

The Colchester Campus is home to most of our courses and students. A mix of iconic brutalist architecture and modern buildings creates the unique Essex feel. Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland and with 2 lakes, there’s plenty of natural beauty too.

You’ll find various cafes and food outlets covering everything from a classic English fry up to burritos, plus the Thursday market offers a range of street food and local produce. There are two student bars, Sub Zero (our nightclub) and even a theatre just minutes away from your accommodation.

Our Albert Sloman Library is open 24/7 and we also have the Silberrad Student Centre, which is home to private and group work spaces, IT labs and our student services.

We have a wide range of department facilities including mock wards for our health students, translation and interpreting booths for language and linguistics students, a mock trading floor for business students, and a large wet lab for life sciences students, just to name a few.

Course locations

Colchester Campus

University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ

Southend Campus

10 Elmer Approach, Southend, SS1 1LW

East 15 Acting School, Loughton

Hatfields, Loughton, IG10 3RY

Main Site

Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ

Chat to students

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  • Hannah

    University of Essex
    Engineering
    Hi! I’m Hannah, a second-year student studying Neural Engineering with Psychology. My degree isn’t one that’s very well known but I love it. It combines Psychology, Engineering and Computer Science. In my next couple of years, I will cover areas like working with prosthetics, AI and brain computer-interfaces. If that sounds like your sort of thing, then definitely go check it out and feel free to ask me any questions about my experience so far. I mostly work in the CSEE department so I can answer questions about other courses as well. Outside of university I like to listen to music and I’m trying to get back into the gym. Ask me any questions you have, big or small, and I will try my best to answer them.

  • Ann

    University of Essex
    Biomedical Science
    Hi, I’m Ann, a second-year biomedical student with a keen interest in pathology. I’m currently looking for a placement in the field and plan to continue my studies in the future. I’m happy to share my experiences and help fellow students navigate university life, from academics to placements and beyond!

  • Grace

    University of Essex
    BA Criminology and American Studies
    Hi hi!!, I am a second-year student currently studying Criminology and American Studies with hopes of working either as a criminology teacher or working with juveniles to prevent reoffending. I did Re, History, Psychology and an EPQ at alvls and went through clearing because I thought Essex would be a better school for me. I'm happy to answer any questions!!!

  • Asiya

    University of Essex
    Childhood Studies
    Growing up, I was privileged enough to only be surrounded by a lot of children within my family but also witness what children go through in the society, the mischief that they can get into and the social rejection that they might face. This made me develop an interest in children’s rights and their welfare. I have learnt more about social justice and child protection while studying at the university of Essex. My career goal is to work in the field of community development especially for the protection of children and creating safe environments for them as well as addressing the causes of criminal activities from a young age. I love reading and this has always been a way of keeping me informed as well as how I can be motivated to find new ways to solve different issues. I am interesting, I promise 😁.

  • Charlotte

    University of Essex
    BA Politics with Human Rights
    Hi, I am Charlotte, a third year politics with human rights student. I am also a member of the Student Union trustee board and a student representative alongside my studies, so I am very immersed in the student life here and more than happy to answer any and all questions you may have. I love to go out and I’m always attending the nightlife events on campus (maybe a little too much)! I am currently treasurer for the sustainable students society so if there’s anything you would be interested to know about societies, I can always let you know. I’m very friendly and bubbly so don’t be afraid to ask anything, no questions are silly.

  • Anastasiia

    University of Essex
    Art History
    I am a 28 y.o. PhD student with a background in Museum Studies (St Petersburg State University of Culture) and Curatorial Research (St Petersburg State University). My PhD is sponsored by Essex's Human Rights Centre. I'm here to help you start your academic journey with the UoE. Ask me anything about PGR studies at Essex (especially PHAIS), financial support for international students, accommodation, life on and off campus (especially cultural events, e.g. museums, theatres, etc.) and what it's like to live in the UK/Colchester (e.g. what's there for people from my (and probably yours!) part of the globe, such as where we celebrate Orthodox Easter!). Fun facts about me: travelled to 30+ countries; have a cute little chinchilla named Pyshka 🍩; learnt that all stereotypes about British weather are true yet still enjoy it here.

  • Amaia

    University of Essex
    Physiotherapy
    Heyy👋🏻, I am Amaia from the UK. I am studying MSc Physiotherapy at University of Essex (Year 2). I enjoy learning about anatomy, biomechanics, nutrition and rehabilitation. I am passionate about Sport and Exercise Science, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, and Rehabilitation. Feel free to ask me questions about uni, my course, or any other queries you may have. Looking forward to chatting with you :))

  • Fleur

    University of Essex
    European Studies
    Hello there, nice to meet you! My name is Fleur and I am studying European Studies at Essex. I love my course because it allows me to study a lot of different topics, such as history, politics, sustainability, philosophy, and even recently a bit of economics! While I'm not completely certain what I would like to do after leaving University, I know that I would like to contribute to making the world a better place, whether that be through working in social policy, a non-profit organisation, or an area contributing to reducing the climate crisis. Outside of university I am very interested in arts and crafts, and I love to curl up on a rainy day and crochet while listening to music, which is another hobby of mine. I love all things to do with music, playing musical instruments and listening to all different genres! I'm not incredibly sporty but I do enjoy going on walks in my beautiful hometown, along with swimming in pools and rivers (although the fish do scare me a bit). Archery is another interest of mine, and I've really enjoyed getting involved at the University Club!

  • Hannah

    University of Essex
    Biochemistry
    Hi, I’m Hannah and I am an undergraduate biochemistry student at the University of Essex. I loved biology and chemistry at A level which lead me on to choose my degree to find out about those subjects in more depth. I like drawing and reading. I also love music, my favourite artist is Adele. And I also like playing on my piano

  • Eniola

    University of Essex
    Business and Management
    Hi, my name is Eniola. I was born in London but I am Nigerian by blood, and I am currently studying Business Management with French! French is a language I have been passionate about since I was young, and I chose to study this course after a trip to Marseille, in which I fell in love with the French culture: the music, the food, the vibes. From there, I applied to Essex through clearing as I was coming to the end of my gap year. I wanted to study a degree that combined the two things that I loved, marketing and French, and Essex was one of the very few universities that offered this opportunity. Doing a combined degree has opened a lot of doors for me, for example, in my first year I became a Social Media Ambassador for the university, and I also was given the chance to do a Marketing internship in Paris at the end of my first year. This was very rewarding as being able to do marketing not only for the university but in my favourite city as well was a dream come true.

  • Craig

    University of Essex
    Sports Therapy
    I enjoy stepping out of my comfort zone with adrenaline-inducing activities and going with the flow. I aim to work as a physiotherapist/sports therapist for a professional sports team and travel the world.

  • ELEESYA SOFEA

    University of Essex
    Actuarial Science
    Hi! I'm Eleesya Sofea I'm a 2nd year Actuarial Science student at the University of Essex and an international student from Malaysia. I have a strong passion for mathematics, statistics, and problem-solving, and I aspire to become an actuary in the future, using my analytical skills to assess risks and make informed financial decisions. Beyond academics, I'm actively involved in social events and love connecting with new people. I also sometimes volunteer with the university’s V-Team, which allows me to give back to the community and develop new skills. Being a Student Ambassador gives me the opportunity to share my university experience, support prospective students, and help them navigate student life. If you have any questions about studying at Essex, career aspirations, or university life in general, feel free to reach out—I’d love to help!
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