Our key statistics

Latest rankings

• 25th for international outlook in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022.
• Top 50 for politics and sociology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021.
• Top 75 for social sciences and law in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022.
• Top 175 for the arts and humanities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022. 

Research excellence

The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) assesses research quality and impact at UK universities.

Our REF 2014 results show we are:

• Top 20 in the UK for research excellence (REF 2014, intensity weighted GPA, mainstream universities, Times Higher Education, December 2014)
• Top in the UK for research in politics (REF 2014 website)
• Top five in the UK for social science research

Truly international

We have students from more than 140 countries and a third of our students are from outside the UK - 12.8% are from the European Union and 21.5% are from overseas.

A growing university

• 17,800+ students on Essex programmes at our three campuses.
• 13,800+ undergraduates at our three campuses.
• 3,900+ postgraduates at our three campuses.

Note: Our figures refer to headcount - total number of students registered on Essex courses in 2021.

Awards won

• The Guardian University Awards 2016 - Student Experience
• RIBA Building of the Year Eastern Region (Patel Taylor Architects website)
• RICS Design through Innovation East of England (ADP Architecture website)
• Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Award Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year

Economic impact

• Our contribution to the UK economy is worth more than £500m. In Colchester our economic impact is £478m and in Southend our economic impact is £55m.
• We are in the top 10 for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships in the UK (Innovate UK).
• Our research income is £30m (2016-17).
• We employ more than 2,100 people.