Resources for teachers

Our popular podcast helps Year 12 and 13 students, their parents, guardians, carers and teachers understand all of the ins and outs of University.

Alongside special guests, including parents of students at college/sixth form and current University of Essex students and staff, we discuss a range of topics including:

• how to cope with stressful and challenging situations
• the benefits of going to University
• student support
• student life
• how to decide on a course
• student finance
• how university really is affordable

Understanding University: The Ultimate Uni Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple and Google. Whether you're out and about, or have 30 minutes to relax with a hot drink, tune in and discover the answers to all your questions about university.

To make sure you never miss out on an episode, sign up via the online form to receive updates and audio links directly to your inbox.

Downloadable guides

These resources provide information about the university application process, such as personal statements and student finance. We encourage you to share them with your students (and their parents) to guide them through the process.

• Higher Education guide (.pdf) - Everything your students need to know about HE.
• Prospectus - Find out what it's like to live and learn at Essex. Download or order a printed copy.
• Decision making guide (.pdf) - Guidance on deciding which university to attend.
• Personal statement writing guide (.pdf) - This guide features our top tips only, perfect for printing.
• Guide to University study in the UK (.pdf) - Find information about university and higher education in the UK

These innovative workshops have been designed for teacher-led delivery, either in person or virtually. To accompany the videos below, you'll find supporting notes, presentations and activity booklets to deliver the workshop.

Please note that we also offer student-led versions of all of these workshops on our Student Resources page.

Metacognition workshop

Learning about Metacognition will help students to develop their independent learning skills, encouraging them to think about the way they learn and assess their strategies. With interactive activities and a murder case that needs help solving, this resource will aid your students and help keep them motivated.

• Lesson plan (.pdf)
• Delivery notes (.pdf)
• Teacher led workbook (.pdf)
• Teacher led workbook (.docx)
• Teacher PowerPoint presentation (.pdf)

Life design workshop

This workshop will help students to learn about the process of Life Design and the theory behind it. Students can apply this way of thinking to solve problems that don't have an obvious solution.

Materials for the teacher-led workshop:

• Teacher led workbook (.pdf)
• Teacher led workbook (.docx)
• Teacher powerpoint presentation (.pdf)

Growth mindset workshop

This workshop will help students to understand what a growth mindset is, whilst identifying and exploring the benefits, and learn how it compares to fixed mind-set.

Materials for the teacher-led workshop:

• Lesson plan (.pdf)
• Teacher led workbook (.pdf)
• Teacher led workbook (.docx)
• Teacher powerpoint presentation (.pdf)

Reflective practice

This session will help students develop the skill to reflect on their actions and further the development of their overall learning.

• Delivery notes (.pdf)
• Teacher powerpoint presentation (.pdf)

Independent study and self-motivation

Do your students struggle to stay motivated with their studies?

Matteo, Senior Student Ambassador and Outreach Mentor, shares some of his top tips to stay focused.

Managing emails

Ideal for teachers and students, this resource covers a wide range of email skills, from composing a professional and formal email to discovering time-saving tips and tricks to help you organise your emails and work more efficiently.

The following resources have been created with a flexible approach so teachers can choose the sections and exercises that they feel are most relevant and beneficial to their students and insert them into their own teaching plans as they see fit.

Throughout the resources, elements of the University of Essex teaching has been included whilst staying closely linked to A-level syllabi.

• Image in literature and creative writing (.pdf)
• Poetry in literature and creative writing (.pdf)
• Setting in literature and creative writing (.pdf)
• Voice in literature and creative writing (.pdf)

We have an excellent relationship with the Further Mathematics Support Programme (FMSP) and with Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI), the educational charity which manages the FMSP.

The University is a fund-holder for the FMSP, providing a centre for FMSP activity in the East of England. Dr Chris Saker is an FMSP Area Coordinator and he is based in our School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science. The University is proud to be able to contribute to the excellent enrichment opportunities, teacher training and resources provided by the FMSP.

Registration with the FMSP is free and once registered teachers have access to free resources for teaching A-level Further Mathematics via MEI’s Integral website. Sample resources from Integral are available to try for free.

We recognise that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a valuable qualification for students to undertake in preparation for study at university. The following resources are designed to introduce students to the key skills needed for writing their first research project.

You can also book an EPQ support session via our online enquiry form, or email outreach@essex.ac.uk for more information.

• How to write a research project (.pdf) - A guide to some of the most important aspects of research projects.
• How to improve your academic writing (.pdf) - Tips for academic writing success.
• Plagiarism and how to avoid it (.pdf) - Guidance on authorship and plagiarism.

Develop your students' skills with the following workshop videos. Each workshop has an accompanying booklet to support the session.

Research skills

• Student-led workbook (.docx)
  

Referencing

• Student-led workbook (.docx)

Developing a research question

• Student-led workbook (.docx)

Academic writing

• Student-led workbook (.docx)

Skimming, Scanning and note-taking

• Student-led workbook (.docx)

Independent Study

• Student-led workbook (.docx)

UCAS administers all of the applications to higher education courses in the UK. The UCAS website offers guidance and advice on higher education courses for students, careers advisers, parents and carers.

Students can use the course search to browse and filter courses at universities across the country.

Brought to you via UniTasterDays, the Teachers' Guide to University will provide you with all the key higher education facts for schools and college colleagues. 

• Visit the University of Essex Fees and Funding pages to find out all about Essex fees and the funding options available to you.
• Gov.uk gives detailed information about all aspects of student finance and is also the site through which finance applications are made. The finance calculator tool is also really helpful for getting an idea of how much money you might be entitled to for living costs whilst at university.
• Money Saving Expert has a whole section on the student finance system from the perspective of an independent financial adviser.
• The Student Loan Repayment website explains how students' loans are repaid after university.
• Students thinking of studying an NHS funded or social work course will also need to look at the NHS website.
• Save the Student provides independent advice about finance and budgeting for students. Discover more in their Student Finance Guide 2024.

• DiscoverUni is a detailed website that allows students to search and compare universities and their courses across the UK.
• The Complete University Guide collates a range of different league tables and allows comparison of universities based on a number of factors.

• Opendays.com allows students to find out when universities across the country are having open events so that they can plan a number of visits in order to find the right place for them.

• Uni taster days is a one-stop source of university and higher education taster events, workshops and open days for teachers, careers advisers and students.

Celebrating and Rewarding Achievements in Learning

We are proud to be a Validated Learning Destination for Essex Children's University. By taking part in Children's University, we can celebrate and reward achievements in learning. Essex Children's University is one of a growing number of children's universities around the country, each working to provide children aged 7-14 (and 5-6 years olds with their families) with exciting and innovative learning activities and experiences outside of their normal school day.

Issued with a Passport to Learning, children can travel around Essex, Suffolk and the UK with their Passport to Learning, collecting stamps in recognition for their learning as they go, after all travel is what a Passport is for!

If you are interested in getting involved with Essex Children's University, please email admin@essexchildrensuniversity.co.uk 

• Prospects offer graduate job and career advice. University can dramatically improve career prospects by increasing graduates' average salary and offering them more choice and a variety of jobs.

Seven higher education institutions have developed exciting short online courses suitable for college students, teachers and advisers. The free AccessHE online courses range from specific subject introductions to understanding how the university application cycle works.