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The ºÚÁÏÍø is taking decisive steps towards a sustainable future by concentrating research and education on two campuses instead of three.

We are really proud of what we’ve achieved at our Southend Campus, but we are having to make exceptionally difficult decisions to support the financial sustainability of the University and respond to the challenges facing the whole UK higher education sector.

The decision to bring our activities together at Colchester and Loughton forms part of a broader effort to renew the University and safeguard our long-term sustainability.

Consolidating teaching, research and student services on fewer sites will help us reduce duplication, improve the way we use our facilities, and operate more efficiently at a time of significant financial pressure.

We hope students moving to our Colchester Campus from Southend will be able to more easily benefit from the full range of academic, social and cultural opportunities on offer.

The Southend Campus will be closing at the end of August 2026. Nothing will be changing immediately and if you are due to finish your course by 1 October 2026, you will be able to complete your studies in Southend*. If you are expecting to continue your course with us into the next academic year, we will support you to transfer to our Colchester Campus to complete your course.

*Students on postgraduate taught courses that started in October 2025 may have to visit Colchester or Loughton Campuses on very limited occasions after August 2026 to fulfil supervision and visa requirements. We will provide further information to students affected by this.

The Southend Campus will be closing at the end of August 2026. If you are expecting to continue your course with us into the next academic year, we will support you to transfer to our Colchester Campus to complete your course.

We are expecting placements for students in the School of Health and Social Care will be continuing as normal and we are speaking to our partners to reassure them there will be no changes. We are committed to supporting placement provision in East 15 Acting School and Essex Business School.

If you are taking a break from your studies at our Southend Campus and you are due to restart your course in the autumn term, your course will be based at our Colchester Campus. We will support you with all the information you need to transfer successfully and we are here to answer any questions you may have. Please contact our Student Services Hub if you have any questions.

The financial challenges facing the whole UK higher education system mean we have had to take the exceptionally difficult decision to close the Southend Campus to support the financial sustainability of the University. This decision has only just been taken and we are telling you as quickly as possible. We are now focused on supporting you to transfer successfully to our Colchester Campus.

We have carefully looked at all options and feel the best approach is to transfer students where possible to our Colchester Campus to complete their studies, once the Southend Campus closes in August 2026. If you are due to finish your course by 1 October 2026, you will be able to complete your studies in Southend*. If you are expecting to continue your studies with us into the next academic year at the end of the 2025-26 academic year, we will support you to transfer to our Colchester Campus to complete your course.

*Students on postgraduate taught courses that started in October 2025 may have to visit Colchester or Loughton Campuses on very limited occasions after August 2026 to fulfil supervision and visa requirements. We will provide further information to students affected by this.

There will be no impact on your visa if you move to the Colchester Campus to continue your studies. If you have any questions, just contact us via askthehub@essex.ac.uk.

Yes. All the courses at Southend will be moving to Colchester.

Teaching staff will depend on which modules you are studying next year.

It depends on which modules you are studying. Some courses may have classes which mix current Southend students with current Colchester students. We are aiming to make sure you feel welcome on the Colchester Campus from the start and will be looking to give you the opportunity to stay in contact with friends from Southend and make new friends on the Colchester Campus.

Yes. We will be arranging opportunities for current Southend students to visit the Colchester Campus in the next few months. We’ll let you know when this is.

All current postgraduate research students will be transferring to Colchester after the closure of Southend Campus. The move to Colchester doesn’t mean your supervisor will change. However, the University does sometimes need to make changes to supervisory arrangements, so we can’t guarantee that your supervisor will remain the same for the whole of your studies. We’ll keep you up-to-date about our plans.

We hope you feel Colchester Campus will be a really great place to continue your studies and we want to support you to do that, but please talk to us. We’re here to help you make the right choice and to successfully complete your studies.

You can contact our Student Services Hub via email at askthehub@essex.ac.uk, Live Chat or by calling +44 (0)1206 874000, You can also visit us on the 2nd floor of The Forum. Further information about our Student Services Hub is online.

We recognise that the transfer of your course to the Colchester Campus represents a change to what you were expecting. We are therefore offering £600 to students affected by this decision. You will qualify for this sum if you are currently registered with the ºÚÁÏÍø and would be expecting to continue your education on your current programme in the 2026-27 academic year, had this change not taken place.

In addition, we understand that transitioning to a new campus may also possibly lead to some increased costs such as in travel or accommodation.

To recognise this, we have prepared three options which respond to the needs of different students who want to continue their course at our Colchester Campus.

Option One: For students currently living in University Square, we will offer guaranteed on-campus accommodation in Colchester at the same price as your existing Southend accommodation for the remainder of your current course. You will also remain eligible for the Returning Student Cashback. In addition, you will receive an Essex Sport silver membership, giving you access to the gym and sports facilities at the Colchester Campus.

Option Two: For students currently living in private accommodation in Southend who wish to relocate to Colchester Campus, we can provide a tailored on-campus accommodation package aligned to your needs and budget. This will include options comparable to your current rent, ensuring the move is as straightforward and affordable as possible.

Option Three: For students who don’t want to move to live on the Colchester Campus while they are continuing their studies with us, we are offering an additional £400 for each upcoming year of study on your current programme to reflect any additional costs as a result of the transfer. There will be no evidence of loss required for this option.

You will receive the £600 payment we are providing to students who are currently registered with the ºÚÁÏÍø and would be expecting to continue your education on your current programme in the 2026-27 academic year, had this change not taken place.

If you decide not to transfer your studies to the Colchester Campus and instead choose to study elsewhere, we are also offering £400 for each upcoming year of study on your course to reflect any additional costs. We will also work with you to support that transfer, both through guidance and assisting with the necessary transfer documentation.

We want to reassure you that we are listening to students and keen to identify ways to offer the right support.

In these FAQs we’ve outlined the payments we are offering to all students affected by this decision who will be continuing their studies into the next academic year and we’ve outlined three different options which respond to the needs of students in different circumstances as they transition to the Colchester Campus.

However, we understand these options will not cover everyone as some students will have additional requirements. In the new year we will be confirming the process for discussing these with us and we’ll be sending you more information about these arrangements.

If you want to register your interest in discussing your additional requirements with us in the new year then please email askthehub@essex.ac.uk and include a brief outline of your specific needs.

Students will be asked to sign a short agreement reflecting their choice of options or decision on future study to draw matters relating to the transfer to a conclusion. We will be keeping you updated on how to apply and provide support through the process.

We are speaking to the Student Loan Company to inform them you are moving to the Colchester Campus.

Yes. We have lots of accommodation choices at our Colchester Campus.

Please see the finance section for full details of the options we are offering in relation to accommodation.

There is plenty of time to organise your accommodation. We are extending the application date for Southend students to be eligible for returning student cashback at our Colchester Campus to 1 April 2026. Students who apply after this date will still be guaranteed accommodation, but not eligible for cashback. The guaranteed deadline for booking accommodation will be 11 September 2026.

We’ll be releasing details soon about how you can book your accommodation and how it will link in with the support packages listed in the finance section of these FAQs.

We’ll be releasing details soon about how you can book your accommodation and how it will link in with the support packages listed in the finance section of these FAQs.

We can’t give Southend students priority, but there are lots of accommodation options and plenty of time to review and book your preferred choice. We’ll be sharing information about booking your accommodation soon.

We want to support you to transfer successfully to our Colchester Campus. We have lots of options at our Colchester Campus and you’ll have the chance to speak to our Accommodation team about what you need and look at the options online.

You can talk to our Accommodation team about what you need and look at what we offer online. You’ll have the chance to speak to our Accommodation team about what you need and can look at the options online.

You’ll find some great accommodation options on our Colchester Campus, but if you are only interested in private sector accommodation can provide help and advice.

Please see the finance section for full details of the options we are offering in relation to accommodation.

Please see the finance section for full details of the options and support we are offering in relation to accommodation.

Yes, we have lots of accommodation options and you can talk to our Accommodation team about what you need and look at what we offer online.

We offer flexible, convenient and affordable short term accommodation for students. You can find our more on our student pages.

Please see the finance section for full details of the options we are offering in relation to accommodation.

Resources to help you find work in the local area can be found on our student webpages. 

You can also get advice and help with your CV from the careers team in Student Development 

Our Colchester Campus is three miles from the city centre. Information about how to get there is available on our website.

Yes, we have extensive parking available at the Colchester Campus. Details of parking facilities are online.

Please see the finance section for full details of the options we are offering in relation to transport.

Please see the finance section for full details of the options we are offering in relation to transport.

We are here to support you. You can contact our Student Services Hub via askthehub@essex.ac.uk, Live Chat or by calling +44 (0)1206 874000, You can also visit us on the 2nd floor of The Forum. Further information about our Student Services Hub is online. You can also contact the .

The SWIS team works across all campuses to provide support. We will make sure you continue to have a caseworker to support you and will keep you updated if any changes are proposed to the arrangements already in place.

All reasonable adjustments will remain in place at the Colchester Campus. Our specialists will provide advice and support as you transfer. They can be contacted by email at: include@essex.ac.uk

We hope you will continue your studies with us, and we want to support you to do this, but if after receiving all the information you decide this isn't right for you, we will give you guidance around moving to another provider, and how we can support you with this.

Please remember that applying for direct entry tnto the second or third year of a programme has different deadlines to those applying for their first year of study and does not reflect the deadlines listed on UCAS. Your course will continue as expected and Southend Campus will continue to be open until summer 2026, so you have enough time to make an informed decision on the best approach for you.

If you need further information, documentation or want to talk to us about moving to another provider please email: askthehub@essex.ac.uk

Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery on our Colchester Campus is rated as ‘Good’ by Oftsed and is very popular. We offer student rates and we would encourage you to make contact with the nursery as soon as possible to discuss availability. The website is: www.wivenhoeparkdaynursery.co.uk

We know this will be a stressful time for some students. Please keep in touch with us so we can provide you with the right support. Information about all our support services can be found online.

The Colchester Campus has some great facilities already, including the 200 seat . We’re undertaking work to create bespoke East 15 studio spaces and other specialist facilities.

Many of these will be ready for the start of the 2026-27 academic year and the rest will be ready for the start of Term Two in January, with appropriate temporary spaces provided.

We’re working closely with the East 15 team to provide the best possible experience.

Yes, all courses currently delivered in Southend will be moving to Colchester from autumn 2026.

No. East 15 is internationally-recognised as one of the UK’s top acting schools and will be maintaining its separate brand identity.

East 15 Acting School is internationally-recognised as one of the UK’s leading acting schools so will maintain its distinct identity and we are expecting it to build on that outstanding reputation.

We are not expecting any changes to the delivery of your course.

We are not expecting any significant changes to the teaching calendar for your course.

We are not expecting any changes to our East 15 courses.

Your new home at our Colchester Campus will have excellent facilities to meet the needs of East 15 Acting School. We are working with the East 15 team to develop new facilities to support your studies. We’ll be updating you about them in the coming months.

Yes. We will update you on everything available in the coming months. We want you to have everything you expect and to also benefit from all the extra things on offer at the Colchester Campus.

We’ll be giving you opportunities to visit the Colchester Campus to give you a taste of your new home and see everything we have to offer.

The Colchester Campus is based in historic parkland with extensive facilities including the landmark Albert Sloman Library, which has the Lakeside Theatre Cafe on the ground floor part of the Lakeside Theatre. Other facilities close-by include the Silberrad Student Centre, a range of cafes, restaurants and street food, the SU Bar, social spaces, the sports centre and gym, a food market on Thursdays, the Lakeside Theatre and Wivenhoe House Hotel.

We are investing in creating a new home for East 15 Acting School. We’ll be sharing more information in the coming months, but we’re really excited about welcoming East 15 to our Colchester Campus and showing you everything which will be available to you. We want East 15 to feel like they have a home and are a valued part of our community.

No. The Loughton Campus is remaining open and will continue to offer its full range of courses.

No. Loughton and Southend offer different courses, and all Southend courses will be transferring to Colchester.

The Lakeside Theatre at our Colchester Campus is a 200-seat venue with a cafe-bar area.

We’re creating new spaces for East 15 and we’ll be sharing further information soon.

We’re in contact with all relevant bodies to inform them of our plans.

Our Colchester home is a landmark building with excellent study facilities just a few steps away from our accommodation. Facilities include a state-of-the-art Bloomberg Trading Floor, a range of learning spaces, an on-site cafe and a stunning winter garden to work and relax in. We’re also part of the Knowledge Gateway research and technology park allowing us to create close links with the 50+ businesses based there and the many organisations connected to its programme of events. The nearby Innovation Centre is also home to our Essex Startups team and our business engagement team with the largest portfolio of Knowledge Transfer Partnership with companies in the UK.

You will be part of a larger community of Essex Business School students, allowing you to build wider networks and connections with other disciplines. We are also planning to extend our range of Work Based Learning projects to enhance students’ employability and practical learning experience through meaningful engagement with external organisations.

Other facilities close-by include the Albert Sloman Library, the Silberrad Student Centre, a range of cafes, restaurants and street food, the SU Bar, social spaces, the sports centre, a food market on Thursdays, the Lakeside Theatre and Wivenhoe House Hotel. You’ll also be able to benefit from the SU’s societies and clubs.

We are fully committed to maintaining our relationships with all current placement providers who support our Southend-based students. Your placement remains an important part of your learning, and we will continue to work closely with providers to ensure continuity and quality.

Our aim is to keep all existing placement opportunities available. In some cases, you may also be offered additional or alternative placements that could support your learning and development.

We are not expecting any issues and are in contact with all professional, statutory and regulatory bodies.

There will be no changes to the structure or expectations of your teaching and assessment. Courses taught at Colchester follow the same curriculum and standards as those delivered at Southend.

Yes. You will continue to have access to the resources required for your course in the spring and summer terms.

Yes. This will offer valuable opportunities for interprofessional learning, collaboration, and sharing different perspectives and experiences.

Colchester Campus provides excellent facilities designed to meet the needs of all our health and social care courses, similar to, and in some areas more extensive than, those at Southend. All students across the University have access to high-quality learning spaces, specialist resources, and support services.

Courses delivered at Colchester follow the same curriculum and uphold the same standards as those taught in Southend. The Colchester Campus also offers a wide range of facilities, many more extensive than those at Southend which we hope will provide students with additional opportunities and benefits including extra-curricular activities at the Colchester Campus.

Facilities on the Colchester Campus include the Albert Sloman Library, the Silberrad Student Centre, a range of cafes, restaurants and street food, the SU Bar, social spaces, the sports centre, a food market on Thursdays, the Lakeside Theatre and Wivenhoe House Hotel.

Being based in Colchester will support our work to be an important regional provider in health and social care areas while also building links with other disciplines within our Faculty of Science and Health including life sciences, sport and rehabilitation and psychology and other faculties.

We also hope students will benefit from better access to a more extensive range of facilities including careers, workshops, student societies and sports facilities. This will also enrich group learning and encourage more peer interaction.