The University of Essex, based at Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, received its Royal Charter in 1965. It is one of the UK's leading academic institutions and has an international reputation for the quality of its research and teaching. The University has 19 departments spanning the Humanities, Social Sciences and Science and Engineering.

There are currently around 8,800 students at the University, 25% of these within the Graduate School. The University is an international community with students from more than 125 countries. In recent assessments Essex has regularly ranked among the top twelve UK universities for the quality of its research, with many of its departments rated as 'outstanding' by international standards.

Over 200 acres of attractive parkland, much of it landscaped in the eighteenth century, provides the setting for the University's Colchester campus. There is easy access to coast and countryside, including the area of outstanding natural beauty known as 'Constable Country', after the famous landscape artist John Constable, who painted many local scenes, including Wivenhoe Park itself. Visitors are able to take advantage of the facilities available at Wivenhoe House, the original focus for the park, which has now become the University's hotel and conference centre.

The close knit Colchester campus has shops, banks and restaurants, and the University is able to offer accommodation to a high proportion of its students. As part of its excellent range of sporting and leisure facilities - all on the campus - the University boasts four squash courts, fitness gym, climbing wall and an eighteen-hole frisbee golf course. The Arts are also well catered for at Essex - there is a University Theatre, an Exhibition Gallery, and an extensive programme of musical and dramatic events.

Mission
The aim of the University is to equip students, employers and the wider community with the knowledge, skills and ideas for living and working successfully in an international world of rapid social and technical change, by means of teaching, training, expert advice and research of a world-class standard.

Facilities

• Library
  The Sir Albert Sloman Library currently holds over 850,000 books, pamphlets and microforms. The opening hours are amongst the longest in the UK - 84 hours a week during term time. It is light and airy, and provides ideal conditions for quiet study with some 1,020 reader places.

• Computers and Networks
  Students have access to a range of computing facilities, some of them open 24 hours, and all connected to the Internet; all campus study bedrooms have network connections, and there is a dial-up services for students in private accommodation.

• Language Study Facilities
  A variety of language courses are available in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, at a variety of proficiency levels.

• English Language Teaching Centre
  The Centre offers nine-month courses in English for Academic Purposes; Pre-sessional English Language courses; free English language courses for students taking a full-time academic course and for the dependants of overseas students.

• Health Centre and Nursery
  There is a Health Centre situated on campus, with attending nursing staff and regular surgeries run by local GPs. The University also boasts one of the largest purpose-built Day Nurseries of any British university, providing 121 places for the children of students and staff.

• Careers Service
  There is an extensive careers programme covering application processes, occupational areas and information on postgraduate study. Regular visits by employers are arranged for advice and recruitment, and there is an up-to-date Careers Information Library.

• Student JobShop
  The Student JobShop was established in 1996 to find part-time and vacation work opportunities for students with local employers. This successful scheme not only helps to supplement student finances, but also allows them to demonstrate 'transferable skills' which can improve their long-term job prospects.

Accommodation

All the University-owned accommodation is modern and purpose-built and the majority of it is situated on, or close to, the University campus. Apart from the six tower residences, there are The Houses, Wolfson Court, South Courts and the University Quays. This development is situated on the edge of the campus and offers 756 en suite single-study bedrooms, ten couples accommodation, and a launderette. Negotiations are currently underway for a catering facility, although this is not yet confirmed. It is the first part of an exciting phase of residential development in the area.

The South Courts is the largest residential development on the University campus. Students who are resident in South Courts and the Towers have access to the main launderette, close to Square 4, as well as to the shops and catering outlets on Squares 3 and 4. In 2005-2006 Harwich Court, the largest of the Courts, was reserved for postgraduates. Two of the Towers, and Matthews Quay at University Quays are also reserved for postgraduate students.

All the accommodation consists of single bedrooms, which are grouped in self-contained flats of varying sizes with communal kitchen-dining facilities. Rooms in University Quays and South Courts have en suite facilities and shared kitchens for 6-9 students. Some South Courts flats are larger, accommodating 12-14 students, and in these flats there are three kitchens.

Most flats are mixed-sex, although single-sex flats are available if you prefer. Some of the ground-floor flats on campus have been specially designed or adapted for disabled students, including wheelchair users.

All accommodation is networked so you can use your computer to access the internet and university network from your room free of charge. Each room also has a telephone which provides free use of the internal telephone system.