Good University Guide shows we're one of best top universities for social inclusion

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide has praised Essex for our social inclusiveness compared to other top universities.

Essex is ranked 29th overall this year meaning it is in the top 30 for the second year in a row, but this year's Good University Guide also focuses in on social inclusion to highlight the performance of universities in this vital area.

The Good University Guide shows Essex is the highest ranking university for social inclusion out of the top 30 universities in the Guide and the entry for Essex noted: "Essex's population is unusually inclusive for a pre-1992 university with high proportions of mature and international students."

Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Forster said: "At the University of Essex we take pride in recruiting students on the basis of potential and not just prior achievement. This is something we are very proud of as a University and we work incredibly hard to focus on student success for students from all backgrounds."

The University of Essex was awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017. In making the award the TEF Panel praised Essex stating: “Students from all backgrounds achieve outstanding outcomes with regards to continuation and progression to highly skilled employment or further study, notably exceeding the University’s benchmark.”

The Good University Guide combines measures for admissions from deprived areas, black ethnic minority students, ethnic minority students, disabled students, mature students, state school students (non-grammar) and working class students.