Undergraduate study

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. 

Wivenhoe House, the hotel where you will gain your experience, 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.

Based at the University of Essex Colchester campus you will also have access to outstanding facilities to support your studies – we’re proud to have been ranked within the top 5 in the UK for the amount we spend on services and facilities per student (Times Good University Guide 2019). There are communal study spaces, an Edge Hotel School section in the massive library and lots of online resources for you to access. 

Our academic staff includes a former hotel general manager, an organiser of London Fashion Week and a cruise ship food and beverage manager. As well as their academic backgrounds our lecturers have worked across the hospitality and events industries themselves, both in the UK and overseas – bringing a wealth of industry knowledge into the classroom.

Supporters of the Edge Hotel School include The Ritz London, Red Carnation Hotels, EDITION Hotels, Georgian House Hotel, Moet Hennessey, Hilton Worldwide, Milsoms Hotels and Restaurants, the Savoy Educational Trust, Marriott, Exclusive Hotels and Venues, Jurys Inn, Vineyard, and Adnams - among many others.

During your studies you will benefit from an annual careers fair, where employers from cross the industry will come to network with you and discuss graduate opportunities. There are also guest lectures, field trips and conferences with industry to help further your career and build contacts.

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.