Before you start

Once you are registered, you'll get access to the Welcome Portal through our online learning platform - Moodle.

This will help you discover what life is like at Essex and give you all the information you need to get started. We'll email this to you as part of our confirmation of registration.

If you're heading to us for the first time, take a look at our travel directions on how to get to our Colchester, Southend and Loughton Campuses.

There's information for those of you arriving from overseas, including about the airport transfer buses from Heathrow and Gatwick airports at the start of the academic year. There are also full details of travel and transport options on the Student Directory.

Commuting to Colchester Campus?

Our campus is well served by public transport, and if you're not living on campus, you can drive and park here (for students living in University accommodation there is some limited parking on campus).

If you’re travelling to campus by train or bus then downloading their app can give you easy access to etickets, timetables and alerts for delays to services.

Train

Our nearest station is Hythe (Essex) which is a 20-minute walk from campus. Trains run less frequently to this station, however, both Colchester and Wivenhoe stations (which have more frequent trains) are a bus ride away.

If you’re eligible, you could invest in a 16-25 railcard, which can save you up to 1/3 on rail fares. Also, season tickets usually work out more cost effective than single journeys. Find out more about discounted train travel.

Bus

The campus is well served and there are several bus stops within the campus serving the local areas.

Main bus routes

74  Clacton – Wivenhoe – University – Colchester
76  Clacton – Great Bentley – University – Colchester
77  Aingers Green –Elmstead Market  – University  – Colchester
87  Brightlingsea – Wivenhoe – University  – Horksley Heath
51  Highwoods – Colchester  – University – Wivenhoe 

Most buses to campus are run by First Essex and Konectbuses.

Find out about discounted bus travel in and around Colchester.

E-scooter / cycle scheme

TIER/Dott offers discounted access e-scooters and bikes. Find out more about TIER/Dott.

Car

Campus is easy to get to by car and we are well served by major roads in and out of Colchester. There are two main entrances to the campus, each have their own car parks:

• Wivenhoe entrance - CO79HT (closest to the gym, Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall and the Lecture Theatre Building). 
• Colchester entrance - CO4 3SQ (closest to the Essex Business School) 

Parking

As a commuter you can park on campus, just make sure you register your vehicle to get the cheaper parking rates, otherwise you'll need to pay the more expensive visitor rate. You can register your vehicle during Welcome Week. 

Loughton Campus

Loughton is easily accessible via the London Underground (Central line), it is also easily reachable via bus and coach network. More information on how to get to Loughton can be found on our visit pages.

Information for new students joining East 15 can be found on the East 15 website.

Southend Campus

Both Southend Central and Southend Victoria train stations are just a short walk away from the University campus. Trains run frequently from London with journey times of 45 minutes to one hour.

• London Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria (0.3 miles from our campus) - operated by Abellio Greater Anglia
• London Fenchurch Street to Southend Central (0.2 miles from our campus) - operated by c2c

Southend Campus is situated in a busy city centre with several public car parks near by. More information about parking can be found on the Student Directory.

Starting university can be a wonderful and exciting experience, but it can also bring its own unique challenges. It’s natural to feel nervous or overwhelmed during the first few weeks and it can be a while before you feel like you’ve found your feet. Take a look at the Student Minds ‘Know Before You Go' University of Essex guide (.pdf) for information and tips.

Still want more? Why not read what our students have said about preparing for life at Essex and what to expect when you are here. You can also chat to our students who are happy to answer any question you may have.

Our Student Directory is a hub of information about University services and facilities for your day-to-day needs, your course and studies, and support and guidance across a range of topics.

Where to start? Here's a list of a few helpful webpages you might need in your first few weeks when finding your feet.

• Access your Essex email
• Student Service Hub - the place to go for information and support
• Getting in touch with your department
• Getting started with IT
• Commuting students information
• Essex values - expectations we have for everyone in our community at Essex

Living on campus

If you're living in campus accommodation, take a look at what's included in your accommodation and what you'll need to bring so you pack the right things. If packing really isn't your thing or you don't have much space in your suitcase, then you can order stuff before you arrive and it will be delivered to your room.

Alternatively, there are large supermarkets near campus, so you can stock up on household essentials when you get here. If you plan to do this, then it is worth checking beforehand to see which shops and supermarkets will be open nearby when you arrive, particularly as most will have reduced opening hours on Sundays.

Commuting students

There are just a few things you should consider packing in your bag when coming on to campus, whether it's for Welcome Week or for your lectures:

• chargers - for both laptop and phone. If you stay on campus longer than expected then you may suddenly find your phone has 20% battery and you can’t charge it until you get home
• reusable water bottles and coffee cups - water refill stations are dotted around our campuses, and many food and drink outlets offer a discount when using a refillable cup for your hot drinks
• small amount of cash - although our campuses are cashless and many public transport options have digital payments, it's always good to have a small amount of backup cash with you. Power cuts can take out services, or your card may be blocked by your bank if they detect suspicious activity. A spare £20 note may be the difference between travelling home or standing on a platform for hours

We are proud to be a global community and we recognise that living and studying in the UK may be very different from your own country. Make sure you read all the guidance for new international students to help you arrive and settle in to your new life at Essex. 

If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty, long-term medical condition or mental health condition, you can register with our Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Team before you arrive so that we can consider your support needs. You can register by emailing include@essex.ac.uk Find further information on what is available:

• Access and disability
• Mental and emotional health

If you've chosen to live at home while you're at university, you're in good company. A large number of our students are commuters and so we want to make sure you also get the very best out of your time at Essex.

Here's a selection of essential information for you:

• Plan your journey - take a look at all your transport options for getting to campus.
• Travel and transport - all the essential travel info, including discount travel.
• Short-stay accommodation on campus - if you want a place to stay overnight, there are flexible and low-cost options in University accommodation.
• Places to study and social spaces - where you can make the most of your time between lectures.
• Food and drink - there's something everyone from coffee and light bites to street food, a weekly market and restaurants.
• More information, advice and tips for all our commuting students.

It is not uncommon for mature and part-time students to find it difficult at first to juggle other commitments with their university life. There are opportunities for you to contact others in similar situations.

Our student communities page are a great source of information about all the support and services that are available to you if you're under 18 and coming to Essex.