University of Essex
At the University of Essex we nurture thinkers and doers who make change happen. Where our students don’t just learn how but ask why.
The University of Essex isn’t about fitting in. It’s about standing out. We’ve always been the university that does things differently and proudly so. Our past proves it. Our people prove it. Our impact proves it.
Founded in the 1960s to be different - a challenger to the traditional elite. Essex has remained a bold, innovative force in UK higher education.
Our diverse global community lives, works and plays together. We have staff and students from more than 140 countries, an expanding network of transnational education partnerships and more than 130,000 alumni making a powerful global impact that keeps growing.
We’re the top university for working with business through Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, ranked 14th for international outlook in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 and ranked 12th in the UK In the Guardian University Guide 2026.
We’re also in the top 100 universities worldwide for action on poverty, tackling inequalities, promoting responsible consumption, protecting marine environments and climate action in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025. And we’re in the UK top 10 for research power in five subjects according to Times Higher Education.
We believe that knowledge should be created together, not just handed down. By actively participating in research, our students become bold enough to tackle inequality and change the status quo; to discover how they want to grow and what they want to change. We give them the space to think, learn, listen, and debate.
At Essex, we create hope and drive innovation. It’s what inspired us at the start, drives us today, and shapes our future. The University of Essex is where change happens.
From Professor Frances Bowen said:
“Essex is where change happens, and at the heart of our mission is delivering world-class research while fostering a powerful research-inspired learning experience. This approach supports our students to become bold and ambitious graduates with the confidence and skills they need for future success.
“ResearchPlus is a great opportunity to bring together universities which share that enthusiasm for research and education, wanting to take the incredible difference we’re making to our students and within our communities even further.
