Professor Anthony Forster FHEA FRSA AcSS
We are well known for the warmth of our welcome so, whatever your interest in
the University, please visit us at one of our campuses at Colchester, Loughton
or Southend.
We are an internationally oriented, research intensive university with a
commitment to excellence in research and research-led teaching, to the personal
development of all our students, and to offering an outstanding campus-based
student experience. Our commitment to research that matters, and that has global
impact, informs all that we do. We have a broad spread of subjects with
particular peaks of excellence in the social sciences and humanities, and
especially in interdisciplinary research.
We are proud of our track record of business engagement, both in Southend and
Colchester. Our commitment has been consolidated by a £7 million investment in
the Knowledge Gateway at our Colchester Campus, created so that small businesses
and blue chip companies can benefit from close links with our University.
Essex is one of the world’s most internationally diverse campus universities,
with 40 per cent of our students from outside the UK, representing 135
countries. We take pride in being globally recognised, being ranked 20th in the
world for universities under 50 years old by the Times Higher Education (May,
2012).
We take our commitment to research-led teaching very seriously and our staff
are expected to be great researchers and great teachers; our curriculum is
regularly updated by the latest research; and our students undertake research
themselves. Because our University is on a human scale, there is also a very
strong sense of community.
Essex also has a great reputation for our campus-based experience, providing
a wide range of extra-curricular activities, student clubs and societies, and an
extensive programme of student volunteering. We are especially proud of our
close working relationship with our award-winning Students’ Union. Our
University is home to outstanding arts and sports facilities that help to make
the Essex experience special for our staff and students.
We welcome your interest in our University and hope you can find the
information you are looking for on this website or our Twitter and Facebook
pages. If you are in Essex, you have an open invitation to visit us and to meet
staff and students. At all of our campuses you will be warmly received.
Professor Anthony Forster
Vice-Chancellor