Alumni

FAQ's

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Frequently asked questions

We love to help our alumni community as much as we can. So we have put together some answers to our most frequently asked questions to help you find what you are looking for. If you can't find the answer to your questions, please feel free to send an email to alumni@essex.ac.uk and a member of our team will be in touch.

I want to apply for an alumni card

You’ll need an alumni card to access the libraries on campus, and some other areas. If you’re planning a visit, simply complete this quick form – we print alumni cards twice a month and can get them ready for your visit.

I need my alumni/student ID

Drop us an email giving us some details about yourself and the course you studied and we can find it for you.

I want to access the library

Graduates can access our Colchester and Southend libraries for life – to set up your account, please bring your Alumni Card to the library information desk with proof of address and valid photo ID.

I need to log in to JSTOR

If you are a new user, please register for an account. We will then verify your details and you can access the site. If you already have a username but cannot remember your log in details or password, please contact us so we can reset it for you. Otherwise, if you know your details, you can log in now.

I need a reference for my job

At the University we use an online verification / reference programme called www.HEDD.ac.uk . The quickest way for you to verify study is to request this via HEDD. We are not responsible for administering this programme so if you have any other questions, please contact the Graduation and Awards team at award-docs@essex.ac.uk or on 01206 872174. If you require a personal reference, please contact your department directly, or email alumni@essex.ac.uk if you do not know the department’s contact details and we will pass your request onto them.

I have a question about award documents (including alumni document requests and replacement document orders) or external award verification requests

For alumni document requests eg your certificate, replacement orders or external award verification requests please contact our colleagues directly: award-docs@essex.ac.uk

If your query relates to a transcript or certificate from 2017 onwards, this can now be accessed online as your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) via your GradIntelligence account. More details about HEAR can be found at: https://www.essex.ac.uk/student/awards-and-achievements/hear

However, if it relates to a transcript or certificate prior to 2017, you can order replacement or additional award document copies online: https://www1.essex.ac.uk/alumnidocuments

The Graduation and Awards Team manage all award documentation requests for alumni and can be contacted via email award-docs@essex.ac.uk or phone 01206 872174

I want to visit campus - do I need to let anyone know?

The university is classed as an open campus – so you are free to walk around the campus anytime. If your visit is during our normal working hours and you would like to have a tour, we’d love to arrange for one of our team to meet with you, show you around and let you know what has been happening on campus since you were last here.

Alternatively, we have a self-guided campus tour that can be downloaded straight to your phone. Some parts of campus may require verification that you are a member of the university. Members are staff, students or alumni, and verification is via a photo card. Make sure you apply for your alumni card if you haven’t already got one – we can have it ready and waiting for you when you arrive. We’ve also got a few suggestions of things that you might like to do while you’re back on campus.

Our beautiful on-site hotel, Wivenhoe House, are now offering a 15% discount for graduates – use promo code UOE_ALUMNI at checkout to take advantage of this great offer.

I have a question about graduation or eligibility

Please contact our colleagues directly: graduation@essex.ac.uk

I am interested in volunteering/supporting the university

Find out ways to get involved and register your interest – we’ll be in touch.

I want to share my experience of Essex and career journey

Your experience at Essex, career journey and life story can inspire current and prospective students, as well as fellow alumni. Take the first step and spend a couple of minutes sharing your story. You could be featured in the prospectus or in social media campaigns celebrating the stories of our diverse global alumni community (always with your permission.)

I am looking to get back in touch with an old friend from Essex

While we can’t share contact details for fellow graduates due to GDPR regulations, we do offer a Friend Finder service where we try to reconnect alumni. Please send us an email with as much information as possible about the person you are trying to get in touch with (name at time of graduation, subject studied, year of graduation.)

We will then check to see if we hold current contact details for them. If we do, we can send them an email or letter on your behalf and can include a personal message from yourself by way of re-introduction. We will also need your written consent that you are happy for us to share your contact details with them.

We also recommend joining our Facebook group if you have not already done so, which has over 6,500 members and may help in your search.