The Colchester campus, set in Wivenhoe Park with a lake and 1960s concrete towers, is where most Essex students live and study. Founded in 1964, the university is known for government and politics, economics, sociology and human rights law. There are also campuses in Southend and Loughton, where East 15 Acting School trains actors. London Liverpool Street is about an hour by train.
Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom
Official website: essex.ac.uk
Public university in the East of England
1964
Colchester, Southend and Loughton
£19,500 – £25,000
International students, undergraduate and taught master's
£11,000 – £14,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on essex.ac.uk before you apply.
MSc Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Oct
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
LLM International Human Rights Law
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Oct
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
MSc Finance
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Oct, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
BSc Economics
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Oct
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
BA Politics
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Oct
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
Politics and social science research with a strong reputation.
Human rights law through the university's Human Rights Centre.
A lakeside parkland campus at Wivenhoe Park.
Graduates join government, policy, finance and research roles in the UK and abroad.
Law graduates work in human rights organisations, NGOs and legal practice.
The Graduate route lets eligible graduates stay and work in the UK after their degree.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Selected courses
Postgrad
Selected master's
Wivenhoe Park is about two miles from Colchester town centre, with halls on campus and frequent buses into town. The riverside village of Wivenhoe, on the Colne, is walking distance.
Colchester calls itself Britain's oldest recorded town, and its Norman castle and Roman walls back that up. Rent is lower than in London, which is about an hour away.
CAS from University of Essex
Proof of funds for fees and living costs
English test at B2 level or above
TB test certificate, if required
Immigration Health Surcharge payment
Valid passport with blank pages
Undergraduates apply through UCAS, with January as the main deadline, though later applications are usually accepted. Master's applications are rolling; apply by summer for October to allow time for the CAS and visa.
Courses start in October. A number of master's courses also start in January.
You'll apply for a Student visa. University of Essex gives you a CAS number once your offer is unconditional and the deposit is paid. You can then apply online up to six months before the course starts, with bank evidence and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Economics, politics, data science, finance and human rights law are popular. Undergraduates need grades equivalent to UK A levels, and master's applicants need a bachelor's degree, usually with IELTS 6.5.
Essex offers international scholarships for undergraduates and postgraduates, often as tuition discounts linked to grades. Check the scholarships page for current awards.
