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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).
4.04.22.82171 Student reviews
Sort:Latest reviewsThere are many things to explore from socials to sports. The campus especially the ponds look lovely. The accommodation is spacious. My course is not too hard as there are many resources to help me. The only drawback is the location as I am far from my family but it seems like I found another family here.
worst- student union, lack of activities on weekends, best- course structure, accommodation prices and quality,
It’s a fun and homely place only thanks to the SU. The university administration doesn’t feel like it cares too much about the students.
18-24 years
I think facilities are good but accommodation could definitely be improved, some feels out of date. Other than that I like the experience
I find the campus very nice, however it is very spread out. Having to walk 25+ minutes to get from one side of campus to the other side to reach my accommodation is not the most convenient with the large bridge. The student union has lots of things going on which is great and there is a very large range of clubs and societies to join, but I have noticed glitches with the Essex blades app. Additionally, I think that having student’s tuition include any fees for sports clubs and societies would be ideal, as by having some activities cost extra reduces their accessibility to some students.
The campus is great, has great places to study such as the library that is open pretty much 24/7 which I love. I live in Essex so it is close to home which is one of the main reasons I picked it, my favourite part however is definitely my department. The sociology & crminology department/lecturers are absolutely wonderful and have definitely helped me tons since first year. They have a beautiful common area and the people are so lovely and willing to help no matter what, they truly do care about all students and it shows every day. The societies as well as this are amazing, I'm part of the dance club, and it was the best decision I made in my final year, I’ve made some lovely friends and have gotten opportunities such as competitions that I would not have outside of University, which I love. It gives me more of a reason to love the university life. This uni could be improved by the nightlife and the places on campus, due to the budget cuts they have reduced the food places on campus, the store times are shorter and the night life is so poor compared to what used to be. They ask student every year what they want to see but it seems they never take it on board unless it’s freshers or something. They really need to ask us what we want because we have ideas they just do not take them on board. They need to stop putting money towards useless businesses and start focusing on the people that are the reason they are still here, THE STUDENTS !!
The Student Union is really active and offers lots of opportunities. I have definitely benefitted from the Student Union - it let me know about an employment opportunity which I was able to apply for and get hired.
The best part of the uni is the students union and the departments support of the students. the worst part is being in a place removed from most of the important opportunities for my career path, some of the processes are difficult for international students
What makes it a great place to study is that the campus is away from the city, so most people live on site. That makes it easier to socialise and go out together, which creates a better community and more fun student life. It could be improved by having more organised events like FED, and using better venues. The venue matters a lot, and having more options than just Sub Zero would make events more enjoyable.
The best thing about the uni is the different types of campus study areas that there is to study. The uni also has a variety of different societies for each student to find something they can fit into and meet their people. I would say something that could have been improved Is the accommodation price, I think compared to other unis Essex's accommodation prices are quite high.
18-24 years
First gen student
Good community feel but the campus is run down and the current administration is iffy
Best parts: Lively campus with something to do every day, societies for everyone, great staff and courses, nightlife on campus The not-so-good stuff: Some of the accommodation is much older and may not be as high quality, uni shops are a little pricey
More international student meetups
Very good place to live: fresh air, nice infrastructure and everything made with people in mind. Lectures are also at a good level. Not sure what to criticize.
More event publicity
My accommodation, Wolfson Court, wasn't the best it could be. Multiple hot water outages, Hearing issues, Wifi outage and leaks. Wish you guys could fix this issue quicker
Best aspects : amazing student life and plenty of societies Bad aspects : slow at fixing accommodation issues
The rooms are good size and good for the price. However the toilets in the rooms need major improvements. The shower and toilet should be seperate
Basketballs to borrow when renting a court
4.3
The University of essex is very community focused. There is a lot of support from staff and other students and night life is good. The lakes are a great place to hangout and give the university a comforting feeling. The university could focus on making the university experience more affordable however with more perks for students and more affordable food options.
Supportive lecturers and good facilities make learning enjoyable, but course organisation, placements, and career support could be stronger overall.