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Higher education

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Original poster

Anyone know much about Essex University?

15 replies

user17353 · 30/01/2025 09:30

DS is a classic last minuter and put in his final UCAS choice yesterday with about 3 minutes to spare before the 6pm deadline. He has pulled Essex out of nowhere. He's never mentioned it, hasn't visited and we know very little about it. He said it looks pretty.. Hmm

Can anyone fill in some gaps?! They've literally offered already (6pm submitted, 8.30am offered) so I guess it sort of worked as a tactic..

OP posts:
CautiousLurker01 · 30/01/2025 09:32

Which subject/degree course OP?

Original poster
user17353 · 30/01/2025 09:35

Its for law.

OP posts:
HebeJeeby · 30/01/2025 10:14

Essex was one of my DD’s choices and we went to an open day there last year. Looked at both Law and English lit. The law lecture was excellent, the Professor was very motivated and the actual lecture was very engaging and very well taught. We looked at Essex as it ranks quite highly for law overall and DD was thinking of law rather than English at this point.
We loved everything about Essex, it’s not a top ranking uni but it’s very ambitious and is doing everything it can to go up through the ranks. The campus was lovely and the accommodation was excellent, there wasn’t anything we didn’t like about it. The vibe was friendly and welcoming. We didn’t look at Colchester - the students didn’t rate it but another poster on MN has said it is a lovely town.
DD hasn’t chosen Essex as one of her choices but she would have been very happy to go there but just preferred her top 2 choices more. Hope this helps.

Original poster
user17353 · 30/01/2025 10:24

Thank you that is useful, he has two choices for his firm but has struggled to find anywhere for an insurance choice with a lower grade requirement. Obviously nowhere tends to offer particularly low for law since high grades are required for a career in law so theres little point doing it if you haven't got reasonably good grades.

OP posts:
ErickBroch · 30/01/2025 10:34

Very good for Law. I went there and was friends with many who studied it at undergrad and then post-grad. Most are now Barristers, working at the UN in Human Rights, private practice etc. I worked with the Human Rights Clinic there which is a fantastic aspect for Law students. On a personal note, it's a wonderful campus environment and very enclosed - we never really left!

CautiousLurker01 · 30/01/2025 10:51

Highly ranked for law acc to The Times Higher Ed guide? My DD considered it when considering law because of its ranking and the great student reviews on various websites. I have to confess, was unaware it existed until she raised it as a contender!

BiscuitTins · 30/01/2025 10:58

It’s been highly rated for law for a long time now.

Original poster
user17353 · 30/01/2025 11:12

They've made him a very low offer which is good. His first choice is a reduced offer of ABB if he puts them as first choice (Lancaster). Essex have offered CCC. He's predicted AAA

OP posts:
RareMaker · 30/01/2025 11:27

We looked around Essex. Very nice uni. Lovely open day and nice town.

BornSandyDevotional · 30/01/2025 11:38

My son graduated from Essex in 2023. He was originally off to Manchester but was swayed by an interview and the campus in Colchester. I'm so glad he did because Manchester was terrible in terms of student care during COVID. He had a great experience at university. Course (anthropology) was well taught and he formed really strong friendships and gained a wonderful partner while there despite lockdowns. Unbeknownst to him at the time, his girlfriend was also set on Manchester and changed her mind about her first choice for the same reasons. I'm not sure either of them would be in a rush to go back to Colchester as a town though. Other than working, it's better to stay on campus at night. They're living and working in Manchester now! Great university. Strange little city!

DiddlyDiddly · 30/01/2025 15:27

Colchester has a significant army presence and that affects the pubs and clubs on the weekends.

Essex University I think is a little under-rated. If your son is predicted AAA then it's not going to be for him unless something goes terribly wrong in his exams. Nice to have a solid safe choice though.

HPFA · 30/01/2025 18:36

Visited with DD although she didn't opt for the course in the end.

Loved the vibe on the campus. Great range of accommodation from the mega cheap to the very posh

DizzyDandilion · 30/01/2025 18:42

We visited Essex and both me and ds impressed by lecture (politics) and the very friendly campus.
He went to Bath in the end but Essex a pleasant surprise.

BornSandyDevotional · 30/01/2025 18:47

HPFA · 30/01/2025 18:36

Visited with DD although she didn't opt for the course in the end.

Loved the vibe on the campus. Great range of accommodation from the mega cheap to the very posh

My son was in The Towers. Which is the cheapest. You might not get an ensuite but it's the place to be! During COVID, that campus was a such a blessing. All that green space. A PP said it's not for you if you get all As. But I don't understand that. Teaching is good. It has a reputation for being pretty progressive. Not everyone who goes there is Pretty Patel (whose tutor admits to having to rewrite her dissertation - it was so bad)! Edited to say 'Pretty' is autocorrect. Not an attempt at sly irony

Original poster
user17353 · 30/01/2025 19:15

It would be an insurance choice. His Lancaster offer is ABB so I would expect them to allow him in with BBB

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