Essex Abroad team

Essex Abroad is the student mobility team and the specialists in international experiences at Essex. We manage a profile of over 150 exchange partnerships with universities across the world, manage incoming exchange and study abroad (fee paying) students, guide and process Essex students on a year or term abroad and offer a range of short term international experiences. We are the key team and contacts for the YUFE Student Journey within Essex and work with departments to promote international opportunities available to students. 

At Essex Abroad, we’re passionate about internationalisation. We’re responsible for the day-to-day operations of our inbound and outbound exchange programmes and short-term international experiences. So, whether you’re an exchange student visiting Essex or an Essex student preparing to embark on the adventure of a lifetime abroad, we’re here to help.

Section contacts

Incoming students – incomingexchange@essex.ac.uk

Essex students (Outgoing) – essexabroad@essex.ac.uk

Short-Term Programmes – stpabroad@essex.ac.uk

Grants and Agreement – eagrants@essex.ac.uk or eaagreements@essex.ac.uk

YUFE Programme – yufestudentmobility@essex.ac.uk

Meet the team

 Kristi Connell

Essex Abroad Manager

Essex Abroad,

Kristi is passionate about students taking on and exploring the idea of and international experiences, looking at opportunities which open their minds to the possibilities out there and learning about how it has made a difference. “It’s a big world out there and why not be a little fish in a big pond, rather than a big fish in a little pond. The Essex Abroad Team are here to guide you on your next new adventure...where will Essex Abroad take you? Where will you take yourself?”

 Rosie Bonny

International Experience Manager

Essex Abroad,

Rosie manages our summer abroad programmes and deputises for Kristi as needed. Rosie is passionate about making opportunities available to as many students as possible, a positive student experience and supporting the work of the team. Rosie will encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and seize all opportunities for personal and professional development.

 Julie Procter

Essex Abroad Adviser - Outgoing

Essex Abroad,

For over 10 years Julie has worked with outbound students, supporting them from their initial interest, their completion of a period of study abroad and their return to Essex. It is a marvellous opportunity for students to discover themselves as well as discovering the world, to grow and to develop. For Julie the most rewarding aspect of her role is to see the difference that a period of study abroad makes to a student, enjoying the marked increase in their self-confidence and self-belief.

 Katherine Dickerson

Essex Abroad Adviser - Incoming

Essex Abroad,

Katherine is the adviser for Incoming Exchange and Study Abroad students alongside Chelsea Morrell. Katherine is passionate about supporting students from the beginning to the end of their exchange programme and strives to help make their experience at Essex as fulfilling and enjoyable as possible. Katherine studied Italian at university, spending a year abroad in Italy and is fully aware of how enriching and important an international experience can be!

 Agnieszka Lastowska

Essex Abroad Adviser - Grants and Agreements

Essex Abroad,

Aga is responsible for overseeing bilateral institutional agreements with our partner universities, and the funding schemes supporting students participating in international mobility programmes. As a student she participated in the Erasmus program herself and studied in Portugal. Having experienced this invaluable opportunity, Aga is very excited to assist students on their journey.

 Joe Young

Essex Abroad Adviser - Grants and Agreements

Essex Abroad,

Joe supported the incoming team for the first four months of his time in the Essex Abroad team, before moving over to support our outgoing Essex students, whilst also coordinating our Peer Mentor programme. Joe is passionate about internationalisation in general and loves to see students trying something different, somewhere different, as it can have a hugely positive impact on them both personally and professionally.

 Claudia Fogg De Castellino

Essex Abroad Officer - Outgoing

Essex Abroad,

Claudia is excited to be helping the outgoing students have a life-changing international experience, meeting new people from across the globe and taking part in all their time abroad has to offer.

 Chelsea Morrell

Essex Abroad Officer - Incoming

Essex Abroad,

Chelsea works alongside Katherine coordinating the incoming study abroad and exchange programmes. Chelsea is very passionate in supporting students ensuring that all of our international students are able to fully enjoy and benefit from their experience at Essex. Chelsea is the key point of contact for advice and guidance to our incoming students and has helped manage over 2000 incoming students during her time in the Essex Abroad Team.

 Chorong Vrticka

Essex Abroad Officer - Incoming

Essex Abroad,

Working alongside Katherine and Chelsea, Chorong now supports incoming Study Abroad & Exchange students from all four corners of the world. She is passionate about assisting international students so that they can enjoy and benefit from their time at Essex to the fullest. Chorong studied Political Sciences in South Korea and lived in Canada, Switzerland, the USA, and Germany. Witnessing how diverse and exciting our world is, Chorong would like to help make incoming students’ experience at Essex as enriching and memorable as possible.

 Jasini Hobbs Granados

Essex Abroad Officer - YUFE programme

Essex Abroad,

Jasini joined the team in February 2023 and focuses on the YUFE programme. Jasini has previously worked in the Department of Government at the University. Jasini completed her studies abroad in Brazil so has first-hand experience of study abroad and is a dedicated member of the team who will support you throughout your YUFE journey during your time at the University of Essex. Jasini is enthusiastic about study abroad in general and especially the learning opportunities available to Essex students through YUFE. Queries about the YUFE programme can be directed to Jasini via yufestudentmobility@essex.ac.uk

Essex Abroad Ambassadors

If you'd like to talk to another student about anything Essex Abroad related, please email us at essexabroad@essex.ac.uk and explain briefly what you would like to discuss and we will do our best to put you in touch with another student.

If you'd like to promote your experience abroad you can tag us on social media using the following tags:

  • @essexabroad
  • @abroadatessex

Who are the Essex Abroad Ambassadors?

Our Essex Abroad Ambassadors are current Essex students who have completed an Essex Abroad experience or are currently completing one! Our Ambassadors are both Essex students who are outgoing students or our incoming students who are here at Essex to complete their exchange term or year.

We are always looking for ambassadors who are in their study abroad location and feel they can support students who are applying for future study abroad programmes. Ambassadors may interact on social media, share information on their host country, or give insight on tips and tricks when it comes to studying abroad.

If you are interested in becoming an Essex Abroad Ambassador please email stpabroad@essex.ac.uk who will provide you with more information. If you complete at least 25 hours of activities then you can claim the Essex Abroad Ambassador units from Big Essex Award - Chart my Path.

You can also become an informal ambassador by tagging us on any social media photos using the tag @essexabroad.

Antonio Ferreira

Antonio completed a remote internship in 2021, via Absolute Internship, with a marketing research company based in China. Antonio studies in the Psychology department at our Colchester campus.

You can ask Antonio about Absolute Internship (he is an ambassador for the programme), what it's like to take part in a remote internship and what it's like to study Psychology at Essex. Antonio is also a mental health ambassador and takes on many initiatives for mental health.

Email: af19080@essex.ac.uk

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Contact us
Essex Abroad General Enquiries
Telephone: 01206 873976