EU students

Our EU community

EU students are an important part of our student family, and have always been active members of our community. Our EU students have started and run a number of cultural societies, offering an opportunity for students to meet and spend time with students from their country, and for other students to learn about the cultures of our European students. Our country-specific pages include details of cultural societies and student networks from your region.

A notable number of our staff are also from the EU, and we form part of the wider European research community, with networks extending across the continent. Part of our commitment to our European networks is our membership in the YUFE and YERUN alliances. Through our partnership with the alliance universities around Europe, our students have the opportunity to apply for a YUFE Diploma Supplement programme, build networks across Europe, or spend time studying abroad at one of the partner universities, either virtually or in person.

Applying to Essex

Our academic courses and student services will continue to be available to European students as before, but you should be aware of a few changes to student funding and immigration requirements after the UK has left the European Union. Please note that these changes do not apply to Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland.

Funding your studies

If you'll be coming to study in the UK for the first time after October 2021 you are likely to be classified as an international student for tuition fee purposes. This means that you will be required to pay international tuition fees. We'll assess your fee status when you apply to Essex and if you are successful in gaining an offer, your fee status will be confirmed in your offer letter. Visit our fee status page for more information. You can only access student loans from the UK government if you have settled or pre-settled status.

In recognition of the changed funding, we have introduced EU scholarships for undergraduate students worth £5,000, for masters students with awards up to £5,500, and also research scholarships worth £8,000. The undergraduate scholarships are available for the duration of your degree so you will receive the £5,000 scholarship for each year of studies in your undergraduate degree. We also offer a Double-Degree Law EU scholarship worth up to £8,900.  There are additional scholarships and funding sources available for some countries. Please check the webpage for your country for further information.

Entering the UK to study

You must not travel to the UK to study unless you have valid UK immigration permission or pre-settled/settled status. If you obtain Student immigration permission, you must make sure that you do not enter the UK before the date it is valid from. If you enter the UK without the relevant permission in place, you will be entering as a visitor and will not be able to study a course with us that is for longer than 6 calendar months.

If you are coming to the UK to study and do not have settled status or the right to apply, you are likely to have to apply for a visa to study with us. Find out if you need a visa and read our immigration and visas guidance about applying for your Student visa and travelling to the UK.

Please note that from the 1 October 2021 you will require a valid passport to enter the UK that should be valid for the duration of your stay. It will not be possible to use an EEA or Swiss national identity card to enter the UK unless you have obtained settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, in this case you may be able to use a valid identity card or passport which is registered on your UK Visas and Immigration account. Read the government website for more information.

EU Settlement Scheme

If you have valid pre-settled or settled status after applying to the EU settlement scheme, we will require evidence before you can study with us inside the UK. If you have pre-settled status you will need to apply for settlement before it expires and when you have been in the UK for 5 years.

If you do not have a Certificate of Application and applied for EUSS after 30 June 2021, you will not be able to study with us inside the UK until one is issued to you or you have been granted settled/pre-settled status. Please see our page on Coming to the UK for more information.

Please note that, you register and start your course at your own risk, if your application is refused you may need to apply for a Student visa overseas to continue your course and would need to request a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from the University, we are unable to guarantee our sponsorship for a student visa.

Part-time courses

Please note that if you are an EU or EEA national, you will only be able to study a part-time course if you hold Settled Status in the UK. If you will need a Student visa to study in the UK then you will not be able to study part-time.

Working in the UK after your studies

If you have a Student visa to study with us, it may be possible for you to stay in the UK to work after you have been awarded an eligible qualification, through the new Graduate route. Our courses prepare you for the world of work, and our Student Development Team are on hand to support you in making the most of your time outside of your studies, with careers advice and preparation, and part-time work opportunities to gain real-world work experience (subject to your immigration conditions).