Commuting students
You won't miss out on a great University experience by not living on campus. There are plenty of ways to make the most of your time on campus and opportunities to meet new people and make friends.
If you're about to start your course, make sure you check out your Welcome and Orientation information to find out more about what you need to do before you get here and begin your studies.
Making the most of campus
Commuting to campus is not just about coming to study. There's so much more to experience whilst you're here. We want to make sure you get to make the most of everything available to you.
Travel
Getting here
Travelling by bike, car, bus, train or coach? Find out how best to plan your journey:
- commuter options for getting to and from campus
- travelling to campus and finding your way around campus
- travel and transport information
It may be a good idea to allow extra time for travel to take account of traffic, train/bus delays, bad weather and also finding a parking space on campus.
Car sharing
Sharing your car or being a passenger helps reduce emissions and is a great way to save you money. Find out more about car sharing.
Parking
If you're driving to University, you can park at the Colchester Campus.
You'll need to register your car and obtain a permit. Find out more about:
Discounted travel
- If you’re travelling by train, you could invest in a 16-25 railcard, if you are eligible; this can save you up to 1/3 on rail fares. Also, season tickets are available from National Rail - these usually work out more cost effective than purchasing single journeys.
- If travelling by bus; First Essex offer a special season ticket price for University of Essex students.
Find out more about all the different discounted travel opportunities.
Facilities and resources
Places to study, eat and relax
Places to study
On each campus you have access to state-of-the-art learning technology, quiet study areas and IT spaces. Find a place to study on campus.
Social spaces
There are lots of social spaces on campus to chill out and relax between lectures, where you can also charge your phone, access a microwave and eat your own food. Check out your department common room too, they often have a microwave and kettle.
You can also make use of the Communities Common Room on Square 4.
Food and drink
You won’t go hungry at Essex - we offer a wide choice of cafés, restaurants and bars on campus to suit all tastes and budgets. Find out where to get food and drink on campus.
Academic and wellbeing support
Supporting your academic journey, as well as your mental and emotional health, is a key priority.
Mental and emotional health
The University provides wellbeing support if you are experiencing emotional or mental health difficulties; there are also links to external support services.
Academic support
If you want to further develop your skills in writing, maths, research, study skills and English language, you can visit Skills for Success for workshops and also individual support.
Peer support
If you are a first year student, you will have access to a peer mentor who can offer practical advice and information, and point you in the right direction to services that may be available - If you are not sure who your peer mentor is, email peermentor@essex.ac.uk.
Careers and employablity
The Careers Service provides information, advice, guidance and opportunities to help you develop your future career plans, gain experience, meet employers and successfully apply for work or further study both as a student and graduate.
At Essex, you are always part of the family, and you are able to access careers support for life.
Gym and showers
Gym
A gym session is a great way to maintain wellbeing, decrease stress and can be fitted between timetable gaps. You can use the University gym for a discounted student rate.
Showers
IT and equipment
- The University's free wifi network Eduroam is available to all current students. The wi-fi how to guides can help you connect if you’re unsure.
- You can get Microsoft Office 365 software free of charge as a University of Essex student.
- The library in Colchester offers free laptop loans for up to three hours, which can help reduce the need to bring your laptop onto campus. This facility is also available in Southend and Loughton.
- You can also access your personalised timetable for the academic year online.
Lockers
- Colchester - lockers are available on campus in the Lecture Theatre Building (LTB), more information is available through the Students’ Union.
- Southend - lockers on campus should be booked online. Please visit our Student Lockers Southend page for more information
Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery
Students with children can benefit from discounted rates at our Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery on campus.
Money saving tips
We know that money can a challenge for all students, but particularly if you've a commute and other responsibilities outside of uni to consider. Here are a few ideas to help you save money.
- Look at your timetable carefully, see how often you’re required to be on campus and how best to make travel expenses as economical as possible. You may also find it cost effective to stay over in short-stay University accommodation now and then.
- Find out about a range of train and bus travel discounts.
- Car sharing is a great way to save money and helps reduce emissions.
- Council Tax exemption - students living off-campus on a full-time course of at least one academic or calendar year aren't liable for Council Tax.
- UNiDAYS and Student Beans are good ways to find the latest student discounts.
- You can bring your own food and drink onto campus to help save money – investing in a travel mug for hot drinks and a cooler bag may be really useful for helping food and drink stay fresh. Check out our social spaces where you can heat up and eat your food.
- You can use the University gym for a discounted student rate.
- The Essex Food Rewards Upay app gives you access to exclusive rewards, discounts and money off selected food and drink.
- Discounts are available in The Kitchen (on Square 3), for those who bring their own mugs!
- Essex students can benefit from reduced fees at the Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery.
- Find out more about money budgeting and planning while studying.
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Jobs on campus are available and are a great way to earn extra money, gain experience, as well as meet new people. The Students’ Union advertises available vacancies and the University advertises on Essex Career Hub.
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Also check out our financial support information, which has details about scholarships, bursaries and other ways of making your money go further.
Student life
Life at University can be one of the best things you ever experience. A big part of that is belonging to a community people and making friends for life. Not living on campus won't stop you from having that. Here are some ways for you have full and enriching student life.
Managing your time
Getting to and from university, attending lectures, studying, as well as managing life and commitments outside of university can take some juggling. Here are some ideas that might help.
- Think of university as not only a way to get a great education, but also a way of enriching your life personally. So think about how you can manage your time to make the most of everything the University and its community have to offer.
- Try and get into good habits with studying and time management, including how to use pockets of time through the day effectively. This could be through going to a study space during breaks between classes, for example.
- The library on campus is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; perfect for fitting in studying at a time that suits you. You can also join your local public library and make use of the resources and spaces there.
- Due to less time physically on campus, it may be useful to prepare in advance for any meetings with staff members, or for when you’re meeting with a staff member during their academic support hours. Consider what you cannot leave the meeting without knowing; whether it’s guidance for an essay, or how to access a certain support service.
Societies and sports clubs
Societies
Students’ Union societies are a great way to meet other students and there is only a small joining fee. Societies are actively encouraged to organise non-alcoholic, daytime events.
Sport
Sports clubs in Colchester and Southend are also a great place to meet like-minded individuals. Discover your passion for new sports, get active, have fun and make friends with Essex Sport.
Events
There are regular social events on campus organised by both the University and the Students’ Union:
- University events (Colchester)
- University events (Southend)
- Students' Union events (Colchester)
- Students' Union events (Southend)
When attending social events, you could check with the event organiser whether you can bring a non-student friend along for moral support.
Volunteering
- Volunteering opportunities on campus can provide you with valuable work experience as well as the opportunity to meet fellow students.
- The Students' Union vTeam is a great opportunity to meet others, and they run both weekly and one-off projects for students.
Other ideas
Become a course rep
Becoming a course rep is a great way to engage with others on your course, as well as staff in your department.
Other ideas
- As a local student, you are likely to know the local area really well, and can help other students settle in and get to know the best places.
- Try and maintain strong social and support networks outside of university too.
- Commuting is a great way to stay close to family and friends, and allow some downtime from campus life; it may feel overwhelming sometimes, so this is important.
Studying at home
University is different from college; it can often feel more difficult and stressful whilst you adjust. However, it is important to remember that it is completely normal to feel this way. Here are some ideas that may help.
- Be aware of your deadlines in advance, and don’t be afraid to ask friends and family for additional support. This could even be just a home-cooked meal, or practical help with jobs that normally take up time, such as washing/ironing etc.
- Try to establish a routine and plan ahead. This will help minimise having to rush and stress.
- The correct study space is vital. Find a quiet and comfortable place to study at home without interruptions – considering appropriate lighting, sound levels (e.g. not where people watch TV loudly in a nearby room), as well as a suitable desk and computer set-up to avoid eye and muscle strain.
- Make sure you take regular breaks – if you are struggling to get started on a task, it may be useful looking into the Pomodoro technique, which can help. This involves setting a timer for 25 minutes, taking a break for 5 minutes, then returning to work four times in this manner. A longer break is taken (between 15-30 minutes) after four “Pomodoros” have been completed.
- When on campus, use facilities such as the gym or social spaces to relax.
Self-care and support
Self-care as a commuting student is really important. You may be facing a number of different challenges and juggling priorities and responsibilities, so trying to minimise stress and maintaining your mental health is key. If you feel you're struggling, don't suffer alone, you can get help and support for your mental and emotional health.
For further help and advice please contact the Student Services Hub.