UK-based, the University of Essex provides a range of courses at Postgraduate (PG) and Undergraduate (UG) levels. It claims that all its courses are open for international students. At the University of Essex, we place emphasis on providing high-quality education that significantly enhances employability, internships, placements and engagement with businesses, ensuring hands-on experience and real-world relevance, Anthony Forster, vice-chancellor, University of Essex, told FE Education. “We are a campus-based residential university, emphasising extracurricular activities, volunteer work and building a supportive community,”  he noted. 

The university claims to provide UG and PG courses in Accounting, Acting, Producing and Stage Management, Actuarial Science, Art History, Biochemistry, American Studies, Biological Sciences, Business Management, Biomedical Science, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Drama, Data Analytics, Economics Engineering, Finance and Banking, Global Studies, among others . “ We strive to create an environment that fosters personal and academic growth, equipping our students with the skills and knowledge needed for success in a globalised world,” Forster added.

However, as per the university’s website, its scholarship offering changes with the country. For example, to Chinese students who belong to tier-1 and tier-2 universities with 70% (2.0 CGPA) and 75% (2.5 CGPA) respectively, it offers £2,500 of scholarship. As for Indian students who are from tier-1 universities with 55% (CGPA 6/10), it offers scholarships worth £4,000 and to students from tier-2 universities with 60% (6.5/10) it offers £3,000 of scholarships. For Pakistani students, it claims to offer scholarships worth £4,0005,000. “Recognising the challenges of living expenses, we’ve implemented a significant accommodation subsidy, ensuring that a student from India pays no more than Rs. 581,000 for 15 weeks. Beyond this, we have initiated various subsidies related to food, on-campus activities, and support for living expenses,” he explained.

In terms of employment, the university claims to have introduced initiatives such as ‘Data for All’ allowing students to gain expertise in data-related fields and a ‘Democracy in Action’ that aims to provide real-world project experiences. “These initiatives, along with our focus on employability, aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful future,” Forster said.

Furthermore, the university claims to have partnered with Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) and the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai to run joint research initiatives besides student exchange programmes. “The University of Essex focuses on deep and broad partnerships, not limited to student recruitment but extending to research collaborations, staff exchanges and cultural understanding. While the process takes time and effort, the rewards are immense, bringing diverse perspectives and strengths to tackle global challenges collaboratively,” he added.Also, the institue informed that it is going to organise a graduation ceremoney in Feb, 2024 to provide degrees to its graduates from the India and the Indian subcontinent with an additional opportunity to celebrate thier achievements.