Applying to Essex following the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak

We are aware that many of you will have had your studies interrupted and that some of you will either not receive the award you expected or will receive the award but with fewer credits. Please be assured that we will base our decision on your academic performance up until the point of any COVID-19 disruption.

We will normally expect you to have completed 50% of your final year’s study, and we will base our decision purely on your grades at that point. We will also be as flexible as we can with our minimum grade requirements and will take into account any impact on your final grades as a result of COVID-19 disruption.

In some countries we recognise that the COVID-19 situation is different to that of the UK. If you are unable to leave your country for example, because of restrictions we encourage you still to apply to us as the situation may well change by your course start date.

If your examinations have been affected by COVID-19, or you are unable to provide the information we have requested please provide what you can and contact our Undergraduate Admissions team at admit@essex.ac.uk or our Postgraduate Admissions team at pgadmit@essex.ac.uk. We may be able to accept proof of your results in an alternative format – this may include interim transcripts, copies of school/college/university records or a letter or email from your school/college/university.

If you have any concerns regarding getting your VISA please see our Student visa and immigration guidance FAQs (.pdf).and review the UKCISA website for further Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and advice for international students.

We are aware that some students might have difficulties taking their English Language test, either because they have been cancelled or postponed, or you are unable to attend test centres due to travel restrictions.

Please see below links for full details of the English Language tests that we can accept, including online tests, and the scores we require. Please note these are updated regularly with any additional tests that we are now able to accept:

• for undergraduate applicants who require a Student visa (.pdf)
• for undergraduate applicants who do not require a Student visa (.pdf)
• for postgraduate applicants (.pdf)

If you already hold an English language test that isn’t listed in the tables above, please list it clearly on your application and we can review it alongside your other qualifications. However, it may be that we still need to include an alternative English language test in any subsequent offer you may receive.