January start masters degrees

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Masters study

Start your Masters course in January

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We offer a wide range of Masters courses that enable you to start studying in January. Although our academic year starts in October, we recognise that everyone's personal circumstances are different, so perhaps starting a Masters courses in January suits you better.

Reasons to start in January

You'll be part of smaller classes for a more personal experience. The number of January students we have is always less than October, so you'll find your classes are smaller, giving you more contact with your tutors and peers. But don't worry, you'll still get the chance to mix socially with students from the October intake. You'll get the best of both worlds!
It fits your academic calendar well. We know that many academic calendars around the world are different to the British academic calendar (which starts in Autumn and ends in Summer). This is why, depending on where you are in the world, starting your degree in January may be better for you than starting in October, allowing you to finish your undergraduate course and move straight into a Masters degree.
Begin your Masters after a graduate scheme. We know that some graduate schemes will finish at the end of a calendar year in December, so starting your degree in January may mean for you that no time is wasted.
You want flexibility. Starting a Masters degree in person at university may be a big commitment for you. You may already have a home, a family or other commitments you are responsible for. Beginning your studies with us in January may therefore be the best option for you.
Easily secure student accommodation. We set aside on-campus accommodation specifically for our January students to call home. You won't miss out if you want to live on campus and start studying with us in January instead of October.
You've missed out on applying for October! Our January start courses also give you a second attempt at applying to Essex if you missed out on securing your place for October.

Will I still graduate with a full Masters qualification?聽

Yes, both October and January start dates will enable you to graduate with the same qualification.

Do the January-start courses end at the same time as the October-start courses?

No, if you begin your course in October, your studies will finish the following October. If you start in January, your studies will end the following January. For example, if you start in January 2026, you will complete your course in January 2027.

How can I apply?

Learn about how to apply, the deadlines to submit your application, and other important things to consider during the application process.

Please be aware that some of our courses may close earlier than the deadlines we publish, so if you are interested in one of our courses, we recommend applying as soon as possible so that you don't miss out.

What scholarships are available?

We offer a range of scholarships and financial packages that help students afford the tuition fee costs and other expenses of studying a postgraduate course at Essex. For students starting their degrees in January, we currently have the following available:

We also offer an Alumni Loyalty Discount to students who are currently studying their undergraduate degree at Essex and progress onto a postgraduate taught course or are returning to Essex after time away from education and previously studied at Essex.

There's also a wide range of other financial support options to consider, including loans, for students starting postgraduate degrees at Essex.

Can I apply for accommodation and live on campus?

There will be a range of accommodation available for all full-time postgraduate students who are starting their course in January.

Once you have received and accepted an offer of study from the University, you will be able to apply for accommodation on campus. Aim to get this done as soon as possible to secure your preferred option. Take a look at the choices available for postgraduate students, which includes North Towers, The Meadows and University Quays at our Colchester Campus.

If you would like to virtually look around our Colchester Campus and accommodation, check out our .