Essex in UK's top 30 for sports for first time in history

Essex is now one of the UK’s top 30 sporting universities for the first time in its 60-year history.

The University is celebrating its highest ever ranking in the British Universities and Colleges Sport table and the highest points ever scored.

More than 700 students have contributed to the national success across numerous sports with Essex’s volleyball, basketball, football and tennis teams delivering particularly strong performances.

The news comes as the University of Essex further establishes itself as the leading sporting institution in the Eastern region.

With the record-breaking ranking coming the same year the University launches an elite women’s professional cricket team with Essex Cricket.

And follows the Essex Rebels men’s basketball side placing second in the top tier of the National Basketball League and the women’s team competing in a cup final for the first time.

Their success was echoed by the professional volleyball teams – with the men and women both making it into the play-off finals.

All of this builds on the establishment of the region’s only FA Women’s High Performance Centre – which is helping to transform female football. 

Essex is one of just six institutions in the top 30 with less than 20,000 students, and of those is the leading institution in England where over 90 per cent of students come from state school.

Director of Sport Dave Parry said: “Our students have demonstrated their Essex Spirit in performing so brilliantly in BUCS this season.

“This is a momentous achievement for the University of Essex and really cements our position as the East’s home of sport.

“I want to thank everyone who made this possible it was a real team effort, and a testament to the passion and dedication of the entire team.

“For a mid-sized institution that selects students on their potential, we are really punching above our weight.

“To be competing at such a high level is testament to the talent and determination of our students and the amazing work done by staff in both the Students’ Union and our sport department, Essex Sport in supporting them.”

Competing under the Blades banner 

The student competition sees young sportspeople from across the country compete in a wide range of events from athletics to surfing.

The University ranked 29th this year after competing in 22 different disciplines across the year and scored a total of 1759.5, a 16 percent increase from last season.

The teams compete under the Blades banner with over 700 students competing in over 80 teams across the season.

“This success is well deserved recognition for the incredible student athletes we have at Essex and their winning spirit in everything they do," said Joar Blume-Robertsson, VP Student Experience in 2023-24 for University of Essex Students' Union.

"As a Students’ Union we support 47 student-run sports clubs to compete against other universities and this record-breaking season is something that we can all celebrate. Our students and staff have worked so hard to achieve what we hope will be a continued rise up the rankings, showing great resilience and ambition, and we honestly couldn’t be prouder of them"

Top photo by Hamsika Pagadala