Organisation: University of Essex

The University of Essex is one of the UK's leading academic institutions. Founded in 1964 when it opened its doors to a cohort of just 122 students at Wivenhoe Park in Colchester, the University has grown in both reputation and size, developing a worldwide reputation for top quality teaching and research.

There are now more than 9,000 students, studying at three campuses across Essex. Academic departments span the humanities, social sciences, science and engineering, and law and management. Essex is the UK's most internationally diverse campus university, with students drawn from 130 countries.

In the 2008 national assessment Essex University was ranked ninth out of 159 universities and colleges for the quality of its research - and top in the social sciences - while the quality of teaching was ranked eighth in the UK in the 2008 Sunday Times University Guide.

View more on the University of Essex web site

Partnerships

• Colchester2020 Local Strategic Partnership