Preparing the hospitality and events leaders of tomorrow, today

Want to travel the world? Hoping to run your own business? Thrive on the thrill of organising events? You’re in the right place.

 The Edge Hotel School experience is like no other student experience. Here, you will gain real hospitality experience and hands-on skills in a 4* hotel on the university campus, while studying for your BA (Hons) degree at Essex. Your learning is complemented by your access to Wivenhoe House - putting the knowledge you gain into practice throughout your degree.


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Why choose us?
  • 7th in the UK for student satisfaction for our subject area in the National Student Survey 2022.
  • Edge Hotel School's strong focus on industry connections allow our graduates to go onto careers all over the world 
  • You will have opportunities to connect and network with hospitality and events professionals to get ahead in your career. You will become a confident, leading graduate, who has both the degree and the experience that employers are looking for.
Find out more about the Edge Hotel School

So, what do we have to offer?

Flexible degree options

We offer a mix of degree types, including accelerated, two-year degrees and more traditional three-year (or four including a Year Abroad) degrees - completing either of which will gain you a full BA degree result. We also offer Top Up programmes, designed for those with previous vocational or academic experience seeking to boost their employability. 

Our two-year accelerated degrees (BA Hotel Management and BA Events Management with Hospitality) allow you to fast track the start of your career and spend less money along the way. These degrees are a little bit more intense - we're still giving you all of the content that a longer degree would give, but doing so in much less time! 

If you're ready to work harder, learn faster and succeed sooner, these degree options might be for you. But if you want a more traditional degree structure, our three-year options could be right up your street. Unsure? Talk to us - we're always happy to chat about what might suit you. 

Integrated work experience

Our degrees are different. Here you will spend some weeks in lectures and others gaining hands-on work experience in Wivenhoe House hotel. Your placement is fully integrated into your course so that you are constantly learning and reflecting on your experiences alongside your business management lectures. This also allows you to take on more responsibility in the hotel as you progress through your degree and graduate ready to start your career as a future manager.

As an Edge Hotel School student you will be issued with a uniform to wear for your shifts in Wivenhoe House and when representing the School externally. You will just need to provide your own white shirts and black shoes.

4* facilities

 Wivenhoe House is a 4* country house hotel set in parkland on the Colchester campus. The original building is an 18th century Grade II listed house with 16 individual suites and bedrooms and the grand lounges downstairs. The traditional main house is complemented by the modern garden wing which is home to 24 contemporary bedrooms, 3 conference suites and the brasserie restaurant. The conference and events function at Wivenhoe House hosts over 300 events, including over 50 weddings, annually.

You will also have access to outstanding facilities on the University of Essex's Colchester Campus to support your studies. There are communal study spaces, an Edge Hotel School section in the massive library and lots of online resources for you to access. 

Academics with international industry knowledge

Our academic staff includes lecturers with both professional and academic backgrounds to ensure you are taught by people with industry-relevant experience themselves.  Among our staff are published authors including a former hotel General Manager,  a Food and Beverage Manager for award-winning cruise lines, an organiser of the BRIT Awards and London Fashion Week and a Dr. (PhD) with international research experience.

Learn a language

Our award-winning Languages for All programme gives Essex students the opportunity to learn a language alongside their degree, at no extra cost, for one year. Learning a language is an invaluable skill to have in hospitality. Having access to the Languages for All programme during your degree studies will boost your employability even further.

Direct applications

You can apply to study at the Edge Hotel School directly through our admissions team by filling in our application form. You can also apply via UCAS.