Essex University - In Depth
Founded: 1962, Royal Charter received 1965.
Site: Wivenhoe Park, 2 miles east of Colchester.
How to get there: By rail (frequent trains from London take under an hour; also from Harwich and East Anglia); by coach (from most parts of Britain including Stansted airport); by road on A12. For the university, local buses from train and bus stations, 78 and 78A (and 74, 75, 77 from bus station).
Academic features: New degrees in health & human sciences; drama & acting; literature, film & theatre; European culture & society; sociology, culture & media; human rights: computer games & internet technology; biological sciences.
Awarding body: Essex University.
Main undergraduate awards: BA, BSc, LLB, BEng.
Length of courses: 3 years; others 4 years (eg modern languages, environmental and marine & freshwater biology, information management systems).
Library & information services: 916,000 books, pamphlets, e-publications; 1000 study places; 3-hour loan system for certain course books.
Specialist collections: Latin American and Russian collections; Sigmund Freud collection. Annual expenditure on information provision, £144 per (FTE) student. Separate IT service, access up to 24 hours/day. Ratio 1:7 workstations to students. 110 points with access to the library, 400+ networked computers with internet access (100 open 24 hours/ day); internet points in all student accommodation. IT support from computing helpdesk (12 hours/weekday plus some weekend cover) and some departments. Library induction course for new students, information leaflets, assistant librarians available to help; IT induction training if needed. based on self-assessment by new students; some IT courses arranged by departments.
Study abroad: 3% of students spend a period abroad. Formal exchange links with 80 universities and colleges across Europe, open to students in a variety of subjects.
Careers: Information, advice and placement service.
Student advice & services: Advice service, student support office; doctors, FPA; multi-faith chaplaincy centre; counsellors, welfare rights advice. Some residential facilities for married and disabled students; day nursery.
Amenities: Bookshops, general shop, photocopy centre, insurance shop, banks and post office; 217-seat theatre, exhibitions gallery, bar: SU building with shop, 3 bars, nightclub, print room, newspaper; film society plus 100 other societies for sports, academic and cultural interests; RED (radio station); multi-media studio.
Sporting facilities: Sports hall, weights room, aerobics studio, fitness room, indoor climbing wall, fitness testing lab, gymnasium, squash courts; floodlit all-weather playing area and tennis courts (40 acres for sporting activities); wide range of sports including water sports association with club house and dinghies.
Accommodation: All first years in university accommodation, 60% of all students. 3100 self-catering places available, £45-£75 per week (average £56 pw), Oct-June contracts. Students live in privately owned accommodation for 1-2 years: £55-£75 pw self-catering + bills. 20+% of first degree students live at home.
Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £5774, excluding tuition fees, for academic year recommended by university (£7465 for full calendar year).
Term-time work: University allows term-time work for first degree students. Some work available on campus in SU bars and entertainment and university offices; holiday work available in domestic, catering, language teaching. SU advertises other local vacancies and JobShop helps students find part-time work.
Financial help: Total available £260,000 government funds plus various university bursaries and loan schemes. Special support for international students in exceptional financial circumstances, students from Worthing and from Jamaica, mature students, those with refugee status or non-traditional backgrounds. Apply for help to Student Support Service.
Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £8240 pa (classroom), £10,595 (lab/studio).
