Changes at Southend Campus

The University of Essex is taking decisive steps towards a sustainable future by concentrating research and education on two campuses instead of three.

We are really proud of what we’ve achieved at our Southend Campus, but we are having to make exceptionally difficult decisions to support the financial sustainability of the University and respond to the challenges facing the whole UK higher education sector.

The decision to bring our activities together at Colchester and Loughton forms part of a broader effort to renew the University and safeguard our long-term sustainability.

Consolidating teaching, research and student services on fewer sites will help us reduce duplication, improve the way we use our facilities, and operate more efficiently at a time of significant financial pressure.

We hope students moving to our Colchester Campus from Southend will be able to more easily benefit from the full range of academic, social and cultural opportunities on offer.

The Southend Campus will be closing at the end of August 2026. If you are an applicant or offer holder for a course starting in January, April or October 2026 you will have been sent specific information about how your course is affected by this and where your course will now be taught. Further information is also outlined here in the relevant section for your intake and/or School.

The financial challenges facing the whole UK higher education system mean we have had to take the exceptionally difficult decision to close the Southend Campus to support the financial sustainability of the University. This decision has only just been taken, and we are telling you as quickly as possible. We are now focused on supporting our current students to transfer successfully to our Colchester Campus and supporting our incoming applicants to understand this change and your options.

There will be no impact on your CAS application. Your CAS will show that you are beginning your studies in Southend, and we will let the Home Office know when your study location changes. If you have any questions, just contact us via visaquery@essex.ac.uk.

Yes. All the courses at Southend will be moving to Colchester.

Yes. There are lots of opportunities to visit our Colchester Campus – via a campus tour or one of our regular Open Days – and you are very welcome to come and look around. Visit our webpages for more information and to book.

All current postgraduate research students will be transferring to Colchester after the closure of Southend Campus. The move to Colchester doesn’t mean your supervisor will change. However, the University does sometimes need to make changes to supervisory arrangements, so we can’t guarantee that your supervisor will remain the same for the whole of your studies. We’ll keep you up-to-date about our plans.

If you have already applied for a course starting in Southend in January 2026, you will have received an email with details regarding your specific course and your options.

You will start your studies in Southend in January 2026 and will transfer to the Colchester Campus in summer 2026, and by the Autumn 2026 term. Further information for relevant courses is available on individual course pages for January 2026 and in our FAQs for the School of Health and Social Care and Essex Business School below.

If you have already applied for a course starting in Southend in April 2026, you will have received an email with details regarding your specific course and your options.

You will start your studies in Southend in April 2026 and will transfer to the Colchester Campus in summer 2026, and by the Autumn 2026 term.

We recognise that the transfer of your course to the Colchester Campus, for part of your studies, represents a change to what you were expecting and you were expecting to start your course with us in Southend in the next few weeks. We are offering £600 to our current students affected by this decision. You will qualify for this sum if you go onto become registered with the University of Essex and would be expecting to continue your education on your current programme in the 2026-27 academic year, had this change not taken place.

In addition, we understand that transitioning to a new campus may also possibly lead to some increased costs such as in travel or accommodation.

To recognise this, we have prepared three options which respond to the needs of different students who want to continue their course at our Colchester Campus.

Option One: For students currently living in University Square, we will offer guaranteed on-campus accommodation in Colchester at the same price as your existing Southend accommodation for the remainder of your current course. You will also remain eligible for the Returning Student Cashback. In addition, you will receive an Essex Sport silver membership, giving you access to the gym and sports facilities at the Colchester Campus.

Option Two: For students currently living in private accommodation in Southend who wish to relocate to Colchester Campus, we can provide a tailored on-campus accommodation package aligned to your needs and budget. This will include options comparable to your current rent, ensuring the move is as straightforward and affordable as possible. Please be aware if you have not already secured accommodation for January, we would recommend that you opt for University accommodation instead of private accommodation to ease your transition to the Colchester campus part-way through your studies.

Option Three: For students who don’t want to move to live on the Colchester Campus while they are continuing their studies with us, we are offering an additional £400 (pro rata)for each upcoming full year of study on your current programme to reflect any additional costs as a result of the transfer. There will be no evidence of loss required for this option.

If you have already applied for a course due to start at Southend in January, you will have received an email directly about your options. Please contact Admissions via the details provided in your email if you need more advice, or to make your selection from the available options.

We want to reassure you that we are listening to students and keen to identify ways to offer the right support. In these FAQs we’ve outlined the payments we are offering to relevant students affected by this decision who will be continuing their studies into the next academic year and we’ve outlined three different options which respond to the needs of students in different circumstances as they transition to the Colchester Campus.

However, we understand these options will not cover everyone as some students will have additional requirements. In the new year we will be confirming the process for discussing these with us and we’ll be sending you more information about these arrangements after you start your course in January or April 2026.

If you want to register your interest in discussing your additional requirements with us in the new year, after you have registered and started your course, then please email askthehub@essex.ac.uk and include a brief outline of your specific needs.

If you go onto register in January 2026, and any of the above is of relevance to you, you will be asked to sign a short agreement reflecting your choice of options or decision on future study to draw matters relating to the transfer to a conclusion. We will be keeping you updated on how to apply and provide support through the process once you become a registered student at Essex.

Yes. We have lots of accommodation choices at our Colchester Campus, either for when you commence your studies, or to transfer to at the point you need to.

Please see the finance section above for full details of the options we are offering in relation to accommodation.

There is plenty of time to organise your accommodation. The guaranteed deadline for booking accommodation will be 11 September 2026.

We’ll be releasing details soon about how you can book your accommodation and how it will link in with the support packages listed in the finance section of these FAQs. This will be available to you after you have started your course in January or April 2026.

We can’t give Southend students priority, but there are lots of accommodation options and plenty of time to review and book your preferred choice. We’ll be sharing information about booking your accommodation soon.

We want to support you to transfer successfully to our Colchester Campus. We have lots of options at our Colchester Campus and you’ll have the chance to speak to our Accommodation team about what you need and look at the options online.

Please see the finance section for full details of the options and support we are offering in relation to accommodation.

Yes, we have lots of accommodation options and you can talk to our Accommodation team about what you need and look at what we offer online.

We offer flexible, convenient and affordable short-term accommodation for students. You can find out more on our student pages.

Please see the finance section for full details of the options we are offering in relation to accommodation.

Your tuition fee liability will remain with the University of Essex.

For undergraduates, your living cost support may change depending on your new accommodation and travel arrangements. Update your term-time address with Student Finance England (SFE) so your maintenance loan reflects your new circumstances.

For the 2026/27 academic year, you will need to update your SFE application to the Colchester-based course. If you are unsure which course to select or need the SLC course code, contact the Funding Team at askthehub@essex.ac.uk.

To apply for funding for academic year 2026/27 when applications open in 2026, log into your SFE portal and follow the guidance depending on your situation.

• UG courses applications will open around March 2026
• PG courses applications will open around May 2026

Your LSF will be unaffected as long as you progress in your studies. Your course will remain the same, so no change will be required. The LSF cannot be provided for repeat years of study.

In receipt of a Canadian Loan – If you are in receipt of a Canadian Loan, and the university has confirmed your enrolment to your province, we will need to be informed of your decision to transfer course in order to advise. Depending on the province and transfer, you may be required to inform the province of your change. Please contact us at USLoans@essex.ac.uk

If you are in receipt of a scholarship or bursary, your transfer from Southend to Colchester would not affect your scholarship or bursary entitlement if you remain on the same eligible course. Please check the terms and conditions for your specific award here: https://www.essex.ac.uk/student/previous-terms-and-conditions

Please see the finance section for full details of the options we are offering in relation to the financial implications of the transfer.

Please see the finance section for full details of the options we are offering in relation to the financial implications of the transfer.

If you have already applied for a course starting in October 2026, you will have received an email with details regarding your specific course and your options.

Courses originally due to be taught at Southend in October 2026 will now be taught at our Colchester Campus instead.

Yes, we have lots of accommodation options and you can talk to our Accommodation team about what you need and look at what we offer online.

We offer flexible, convenient and affordable short term accommodation for students. You can find our more on our student pages. 

Resources to help you find work in the local area can be found on our student webpages. 

You can also get advice and help with your CV from the careers team in Student Development. 

Our Colchester Campus is three miles from the city centre. Information about how to get there is available on our website. 

Yes, we have extensive parking available at the Colchester Campus. Details of parking facilities can be found online.

We are here to support you. When you are a registered student you can contact our Student Services Hub via askthehub@essex.ac.uk, Live Chat or by calling +44 (0)1206 874000, You can also visit us on the 2nd floor of The Forum. Further information about our Student Services Hub is online. You can also contact the SU Advice team.

For support with your application, and prior to commending your studies, contact Admissions on either ugquery@essex.ac.uk (for Undergraduate) or pgquery@essex.ac.uk (for Postgraduate).

All reasonable adjustments will remain in place at the Colchester Campus. Our specialists will provide advice and support as you transfer. They can be contacted by email at: include@essex.ac.uk

Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery on our Colchester Campus is rated as ‘Good’ by Oftsed and is very popular. We offer student rates and we would encourage you to make contact with the nursery as soon as possible to discuss availability. The website is: www.wivenhoeparkdaynursery.co.uk

The Colchester Campus has some great facilities already, including the 200 seat Lakeside Theatre. We’re undertaking work to create bespoke East 15 studio spaces and other specialist facilities.

Many of these will be ready for the start of the 2026-27 academic year and the rest will be ready for the start of Term Two in January, with appropriate temporary spaces provided.

We’re working closely with the East 15 team to provide the best possible experience.

Yes, all courses currently delivered in Southend will be moving to Colchester from autumn 2026.

No. East 15 is internationally-recognised as one of the UK’s top acting schools and will be maintaining its separate brand identity.

Yes. You will continue to study on rigorous, industry-focused programmes aimed at preparing students for professional careers in the performing arts, including acting, directing, filmmaking and technical theatre.

East 15 Acting School is internationally-recognised as one of the UK’s leading acting schools so will maintain its distinct identity and we are expecting it to build on that outstanding reputation.

Your new home at our Colchester Campus will have excellent facilities to meet the needs of East 15 Acting School. We are working with the East 15 team to develop new facilities to support your studies. We’ll be updating you about them in the coming months.

The Colchester Campus is based in historic parkland with extensive facilities including the landmark Albert Sloman Library, which has the Lakeside Theatre Cafe on the ground floor part of the Lakeside Theatre. Other facilities close-by include the Silberrad Student Centre, a range of cafes, restaurants and street food, the SU Bar, social spaces, the sports centre and gym, a food market on Thursdays, the Lakeside Theatre and Wivenhoe House Hotel.

We are investing in creating a new home for East 15 Acting School. We’ll be sharing more information in the coming months, but we’re really excited about welcoming East 15 to our Colchester Campus and showing you everything which will be available to you. We want East 15 to feel like they have a home and are a valued part of our community.

No. The Loughton Campus is remaining open.

No. Loughton and Southend offer different courses, and all Southend courses will be transferring to Colchester.

The Lakeside Theatre at our Colchester Campus is a 200-seat venue with a cafe-bar area.

We’re creating new spaces for East 15 and we’ll be sharing further information soon.

Our Certificate of Higher Education will no longer be available at the Southend Campus from October 2026. The course remains available at our East 15 Loughton Campus for the October 2026 intake. There will now be a Certificate of Higher Education intake in January 2027 at our Colchester Campus.

Our Cert HE Acting for Stage and Screen courses will be running at both the Loughton and Colchester campuses in 2026-27. The Loughton and Colchester courses will have different term dates and arrange their teaching a little differently from one another. However, the same modules are taught on both courses and both courses contain exactly the same number of teaching hours overall.

Our January 2027 Certificate of Higher Education course will start in Colchester on 4 January 2027 and end on 2 July 2027.

Yes, you are welcome to start the course in Loughton in October 2026 instead if you would prefer this to the January 2027 option in Colchester.

Please note all of our other Southend BA East 15 courses will be moving from our Southend Campus to the Colchester Campus from October 2026, so if you do progress from the Certificate in Higher Education to a Colchester based BA programme you will already be in the right place for your further studies.

During your Certificate in Higher Education course you will also have contact with the existing BA course tutors and students. You will be guaranteed University accommodation at our Colchester Campus (whereas University accommodation is not available at our Loughton Campus).

No, the tuition fee remains the same for the course.

If you have already applied for a course starting in January 2026, you will have received an email with details regarding your specific course and your options.

The first two terms (Spring and Summer), and supervision including for your dissertation (where relevant), will take place at our Southend Campus. Any remaining supervision and the final term (Autumn 2026) will take place at our Colchester Campus. If you will be in the UK on a Student visa it is a condition that you must meet with your supervisor in person on campus once per month.

We’re in contact with all relevant bodies to inform them of our plans.

Our Colchester home is a landmark building with excellent study facilities just a few steps away from our accommodation. Facilities include a state-of-the-art Bloomberg Trading Floor, a range of learning spaces, an on-site cafe and a stunning winter garden to work and relax in. We’re also part of the Knowledge Gateway research and technology park allowing us to create close links with the 50+ businesses based there and the many organisations connected to its programme of events. The nearby Innovation Centre is also home to our Essex Startups team and our business engagement team with the largest portfolio of Knowledge Transfer Partnership with companies in the UK.

You will be part of a larger community of Essex Business School students, allowing you to build wider networks and connections with other disciplines. We are also planning to extend our range of Work Based Learning projects to enhance students’ employability and practical learning experience through meaningful engagement with external organisations.

Other facilities close-by include the Albert Sloman Library, the Silberrad Student Centre, a range of cafes, restaurants and street food, the SU Bar, social spaces, the sports centre, a food market on Thursdays, the Lakeside Theatre and Wivenhoe House Hotel. You’ll also be able to benefit from the SU’s societies and clubs.

This course will no longer be offered at our Southend Campus after 14 August 2026. This means the first two terms (Spring and Summer terms) will continue to take place at our Southend Campus. After the end of term 2 (14 August 2026) and from the commencement of the third term (9 September 2026) the remainder of the course will take place at our Colchester Campus.

There will be no impact on the number of places available on BSc Oral Health Science Top Up starting in January 2026. If you have applied for this course, you will have heard from us regarding the outcome of your application, and any impact of the Southend Campus changes to your course, via email.

We are working to confirm the exact arrangements for our other Oral Health courses (BSc Dental Hygiene and Therapy, FdSc Dental Hygiene) starting in October 2026. These courses will no longer be taught in Southend from October 2026, and will only be taught at our Colchester Campus. The number of places that will be available for these courses as a result of this change and specific arrangements from October 2026 are not yet confirmed. For further information about these specific programmes, and the selection process, please refer to our courses pages, as usual.

We are fully committed to maintaining our relationships with all current placement providers who support our Southend-based students. Your placement remains an important part of your learning, and we will continue to work closely with providers to ensure continuity and quality.

Our aim is to keep all existing placement opportunities available. In some cases, you may also be offered additional or alternative placements that could support your learning and development

We are not expecting any issues and are in contact with all professional, statutory and regulatory bodies.

Colchester Campus provides excellent facilities designed to meet the needs of all our health and social care courses, similar to, and in some areas more extensive than, those at Southend. All students across the University have access to high-quality learning spaces, specialist resources, and support services.

Courses delivered at Colchester follow the same curriculum and uphold the same standards as those taught in Southend. The Colchester Campus also offers a wide range of facilities, many more extensive than those at Southend which we hope will provide students with additional opportunities and benefits including extra-curricular activities at the Colchester Campus.

Facilities on the Colchester Campus include the Albert Sloman Library, the Silberrad Student Centre, a range of cafes, restaurants and street food, the SU Bar, social spaces, the sports centre, a food market on Thursdays, the Lakeside Theatre and Wivenhoe House Hotel.

Being based in Colchester will support our work to be an important regional provider in health and social care areas while also building links with other disciplines within our Faculty of Science and Health including life sciences, sport and rehabilitation and psychology and other faculties.

We also hope students will benefit from better access to a more extensive range of facilities including careers, workshops, student societies and sports facilities. This will also enrich group learning and encourage more peer interaction.