Offer Holders

Your offer holder checklist

1. Reply to your offer 

If you have applied via UCAS, once you have received a response from all the universities that you have applied to, you’ll need to decide which two universities you will select as your firm and insurance choice.

Your firm choice is the course and university you most want to go to. Your insurance choice is your second choice, which is where you would want to go to if you don’t meet the conditions of your firm choice.

After you’ve made your decision, you’ll need to log into UCAS Hub and reply to your offers via the online portal.

If you have applied to Essex directly, you can reply to your offer via your Applicant Portal.

2. Book your Offer Holder Day

Offer Holder Days are exclusive events for offer-holders where you will get to explore your chosen subject and department in detail, meet other students who have applied to your course and explore our beautiful campus and accommodation options.

If you are a UK student with an offer from us for undergraduate study in 2024, you will have received an email inviting you to an event from February – May 2024.

We’re pleased to offer a travel bursary worth up to £150 to contribute to the cost of travel on the day and have a team ready to help should you have any questions: offerholderdays@essex.ac.uk

If you are an international student, you’ll soon be invited to join us online for our exciting Experience Essex series, to explore Essex from the comfort of your own home!

3. Apply for accommodation

If you have chosen Essex as your firm choice, applications for accommodation are now open and as long as you apply by Friday 23 August, you are guaranteed Essex accommodation for your first year of study.

With a variety of room designs to suit different budgets and needs, we’ve got the perfect place for you to call home. At Essex your rent includes your energy bills, internet access, 24/7 security, well-being support and even gym membership – meaning you can keep an eye on your budget whilst making the most out of our campus facilities.

4. Organise your finances

It’s important to plan ahead and get to grips with tuition fees, government loans, scholarships and bursaries – and we’ve got a wide range of resources to guide you.

Student Finance England offers eligible students tuition fee loans and maintenance loans to cover tuition fees and contribute toward living costs – you can explore the funding available and apply online here. You don’t need to have confirmed your place before you apply, so make sure you apply before the relevant deadline.

Use the Essex scholarship finder to explore what additional funding may be available and find out more about the ways we have supported our students through the cost-of-living crisis.

• Essex Futures Bursary 2024 -Up to £3,000 support package awarded to eligible students with a household income up to £35,000
• Schools Membership Bursary 2024 - £1,000 bursary awarded to eligible students progressing from Schools Membership Schools and Colleges (including Plus, London, South East and Midlands) 

5. Meet your future classmates

The best way to find out more about what to expect at Essex, is to hear from the students already living it! You may have questions on your course, finance or employability, or simply want to find out the best places to eat on-campus, the comfiest accommodation or the liveliest night out in welcome week – ask us anything!

Better yet, join our offer holder community to chat to those who are also planning to join us in 2024 to start building your Essex network before you arrive. 

6. Complete the Essex Preparation Programme

The innovative Essex Preparation Programme is a short 6-module online study skills course to support students in making a flying start at Essex. Covering topics from academic integrity to critical thinking, you’ll build your academic skills to help you succeed at university.

You’ll be invited to complete the course over the summer and if you do so by the October deadline, you’ll receive a £250 bursary (T&Cs apply).

7. Join us on Social

Get ready for an incredible journey! Join us on Social to follow our vibrant and diverse community and explore the adventure that awaits you.  

8. Get registered and prepare for Welcome.

Before you can start studying with us you'll need to Register and pay your tuition fees. Once done, you'll get access to your IT account, get your student card and become a full student here. Registration will usually open the month before you are about to start with us.

Your first few weeks here on campus is called 'Welcome' - we'll have a range of activities and events taking place throughout this time to help prepare you for your future with us. This'll be your opportunity to make new friends and familiarise yourself with your campus, and academic life.