Student Reviews
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The overall ranking is decided by students from this institution rating them in a 2026 Whatuni review. This forms the basis of the Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs for short).
2171 Student reviews
18-24 years
First gen student
Best aspects for me include their never ending supply of events. There is always something on at the uni be it the nightlife or the day time events. The worst aspect for me would be that covid has meant we couldn’t do a lot of uni in person.
The buildings look a little communist from the outside and the whole campus is located on a hill, which makes it hard to access for some people
It has some really good facilities and has integrated zoom into the tech they have on campus. It could be improved if we were made to think more critically and apply our knowledge rather than just learn it. More interaction with teachers and students would make it so much better.
worst would be living with mainly second years as they have no interest of making friends with you, and best would be the societies available to join
18-24 years
First gen student
Love the campus and how big it is, beautiful park land, amazing study spots, so many resources and state-of-the-art research equipment More student interaction could be nice, it’s been hard with online lectures and societies not being very active.
Since coming to uni, I have never felt so comfortable even with terrible anxiety. I have been able to make amazing memories, and it has really given me a chance to think more about my future. It has pushed me to take steps out of my comfort zone and it has made me so much more confident. The worst aspects of the campus is that there isn’t enough gluten free options, like the take out places and stores. It makes it hard for me to enjoy time out with my friends on campus as I can’t enjoy eating the same food as them.
45-54 years
First gen student
The location of the Southend campus is very central to the town close to the train stations lots of nightlife and access to local shops the library on campus is a wonderful place to study lots of study areas and a short walk to the conservation area or hills by the seafront allows some welcome green space. At the moment a lot of our study is online so I am not getting the feeling of “being in uni” yet bring on the face to face learning and lectures
25-34 years
Lots of support from personal tutors and lecturer's, brilliant facilities with a good market every Thursday! Some faculties could do with updating as it’s an old uni
University of Essex is has a modern campus, which is big and accessible, I really like every time when I walk there I have great views, nature is all around me, but at the same time I am on campus, where I go to study. It feels like studying in the park, with lovely squares and nice people all around me. However, because of pandemic, I realize that I missed a lot of opportunities and also for so long I have studied online. Now when I am on campus I feel like I have much less classes and lectures on campus than I should have.
Lovely, friendly atmosphere around the university and teachers always offer extra help. The Colchester town not the most exciting for student life.
It has good facilities and there is a lot of support, but the campus look could definitely be better.
Everything is brilliant
No
The support makes it’s a great place to study
18-24 years
First gen student

I think that university of essex is great university to study but campus life can be improved by increase facilities in campus because campus is little bit far away from the university.
18-24 years
Societies and sport on campus
the student support and security do a terrible job of managing expectations and emergencies relating to mental health and some of the facilities could use an update. also as a 41% international school none of the service hubs take american express cards :(
18-24 years
First gen student
the accommodation is kinda bad. there's way too many strikes im paying the international fee for no classes. there should be more POC and LGBT representation.
The feel of the university induction was warming and made me pick this university to study at. Speaking to past students in open events helped me to get info on the uni. Lower the printing cost, higher amount for students.


The best aspects are that there is a club on campus and good facilities like the library and other learning hubs. The worst aspects are that my whole course has pretty much been online and I’ve not been able to meet people from my course
The best aspect is that there are some interesting topics and it is flexible in terms of learning online. The worst aspect is that pretty much everything is online and I have had 0 interaction with people from my course