How it all stacks up
We're a university going places with increasing numbers of students and one of the most international academic communities in the world.
We were named University of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards in November 2018.
We strive for excellence and we're excelling in everything we do. We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2017), top 15 for the sixth year running in The National Student Survey (2018, overall student satisfaction, English mainstream universities*), and top 25 for research quality in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 where we're also ranked 29th overall.
Latest rankings
- Ranked 29th in the UK in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and shortlisted for University of the Year.
- Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2017.
- Top 15 for the sixth year running for overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey (2018, overall student satisfaction, English mainstream universities*).
- Top 20 for the most international student community in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018.
- Top ten for political science and international relations (Centre for World University Rankings 2017).
- Top 50 for law and social sciences in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018.
- Top 40 for politics and sociology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017.
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 over a third of our students are from outside the UK. This makes us the most international mainstream university in the UK outside London (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018).
- 14% of our students are from the rest of the EU.
- 22% of our students are from the rest of the world.
- We also attract many 'home' students with 64% of our student community from the UK.
A growing university
- 15,317 students on Essex programmes at our three campuses and our partner institutions.
- 10,701 undergraduates at our three campuses.
- 2,493 postgraduates at our three campuses.
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.
* Non-specialist higher education institutions with a survey population of at least 500.
