Exchange Programme

As an exchange student at Essex, you will be expected to take the same workload as a degree student at Essex.

Full year students

You will typically study eight modules totalling 120 Essex credits. These are usually split equally, four modules in our Autumn term, and four modules in our Spring term. Teaching takes place during the Autumn and Spring Terms, with revision classes and final exam during the Summer term. The exam period is mid-May to mid-June. You are able to leave once you have taken your last exam, but you will be committed to your accommodation contract for the full academic year.

Term-only students

You will typically study four modules totalling 60 Essex credits. If you are studying with us in the Autumn term, all of your assessments, including written exams, will take place during this time. If you're studying with us in our Spring and Summer terms, your exams for your Spring term modules will take place in the Summer term.  Please note in the Summer term teaching is very minimal and consists of mostly revision classes.

The academic year at Essex is divided into three terms of ten weeks:

Autumn term: September/October to December
Spring term: January to March
Summer term: April to June

*as an exchange student you will either be here for a full academic year (all three terms) or Autumn term or Spring AND Summer term.  There is currently no option to just attend in the Spring OR Summer term only.

We're flexible at Essex. You're not restricted to study within one department, you can explore new areas of study across multiple departments and build your own academic programme. 

Module directory

Our module directory provides a list of the modules we offer. When searching available modules, please select the department you are interested in and ensure you choose one of  'include only incoming Essex Abroad' options based on your exchange stay.

Each module listing will indicate whether it is avaialble to Essex Abroad students. All selected modules must be credit-bearing and appropriate for your level of study. Please note that you can study at either our Colchester or Southend campus, you cannot study at both campuses.

If you wish to take a module that has pre-requisites, you must demonstrate via your transcript that you have successfully completed similar subject content at your home university.

Please note that every student is required to take 60 Essex credits (typically 4 undergraduate modules) per term and that your module choice is subject to approval by our Department Study Abroad Officers.

Departmental Study Abroad Officers (DSAOs)

Each department has a dedicated Departmental Study Abroad Officer on hand to provide academic advice and assess your suitability for your chosen modules. For specific questions about module content, they're the ones to speak to.

Spend a year studying events management or hospitality management at our pioneering Edge Hotel School and develop your industry knowledge and professional skills by combining academic study with hands-on work experience.

Our bespoke programmes have been developed by leaders in the field to ensure you have the confidence, experience and skills employers are looking for.

As part of the events management or hospitality management programmes, you will work in Wivenhoe House, the 4* hotel located on our Colchester Campus, putting theory into practice and gaining invaluable industry experience.

If you want to be challenged, if you want to gain the skills you need to succeed, if you want to make industry connections and get ahead, welcome home.

Course structure

Our programme follows the Edge Hotel degree courses, allowing you to study alongside Essex students currently enrolled in these programmes. This immersive experience gives you full access to everything the Edge Hotel School has to offer, blending academic excellence with practial learning in the hospitality industry.

Depending on your previous academic background, you will follow either the first-year (level 4) or second-year (level 5) of the degree courses. We welcome applicants with diverse experience level in the hospitality and events management sectors.

You will choose from one of the following four programmes:

• Year one (level 4) Hospitality management
• Year one (level 4) Event management
• Year two (level 5) Hospitality management
• Year two (level 5) Event management
• We are launching Tourism Management 2025

The programmes follow a set curriculum, meaning you will take a prescribed list of modules without optional electives. This structured approach ensures you gain the essential skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the hospitality and event industry.

If you have little or no experience in the industry, Year One of our Events Management or Hospitality Management programme is for you. If you currently study within a relevant field, Year Two of our Events Management or Hospitality Management programme is the one for you.

The Events and Hospitality Management Study Abroad Programme runs from October to June. This programme is not available as a term-only option.

The academic year consists of up to 21 weeks of teaching, 8 weeks working in the hotel and 2 weeks self-study, in addition to your holidays.

During a teaching week you will spend around 8 hours in lectures, or smaller seminars. During a working week you will spend 4 or 5 days on shift, Monday – Sunday including evenings and weekends, gaining experience and applying the academic theory from your lectures. You will receive your work schedule at the beginning of term and will rotate between departments.

English language

If you are non-native speaker of English, we accept the following English language certificates:

Full year students studying at Essex for more than 6 months

Undergraduate students: (requirement of the UK Student Visa)

• IELTS: 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element 
• TOEFL iBT: 76 overall with a minimum of 17 listening & writing, 18 reading, 20 speaking
• Further details can be found in the 'First Year Entry’ section of our student visa guidance

Postgraduate students: (requirement of the UK Student Visa)

• IELTS: 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element 
• TOEFL iBT: 88 overall with a minimum of 17 listening & writing, 18 reading, 20 speaking
• Further details can be found in the 'First Year Entry’ section of our student visa guidance.

Term only students studying at Essex for less than 6 months

• IELTS: 6.0 overall
• TOEFL iBT: 76 overall
• We are also happy to accept a letter or certificate confirming the student has reached the minimum B2 level from EU/EEA institutions.
• Further details can be found in the 'First Year Entry’ section of our student visa guidance.

For all the exams listed above, except Pearson Test of English (PTE) and TOEFL, the certificates must have been issued within five years of your application to Essex. The PTE certificate is valid for three years from the test date, and the TOEFL certificate is valid for two year from the test date.

If you do not meet our language requirements, or would like to improve your English before studying abroad at Essex, we offer a wide range of Pre-sessional English language courses taught by University of Essex International College (a Kaplan International Pathways college).

Academic requirements

You must be in a good academic standing at your home institution. Please check the modules you would like to take at Essex for any pre-requisites.

If you are a student from one of our partner universities (.pdf)  or you're visiting us through ISEP Exchange, you won't have to pay tuition fees to Essex.

If you're studying with us for more than six months, you will need to obtain a UK student visa. To apply for a UK student visa, you'll need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds in place to cover your tuition fees and living costs. The amount of money you must have available for living expenses depends on the length of your course. You'll also need to ensure you budget enough money for living costs in addition to your tuition fees.

You may find information about the cost of living in Essex useful to plan your finances.

As an exchange student from one of our partner universities, you must first be nominated by your home university. Once we’ve received the list of nominees from our partners, we will send you the link to complete our application form. Please do not complete the application form for study abroad students as this is a separate programme.

If you are visiting us through ISEP Exchange, Essex Abroad will contact you with our application details after you are accepted to study at Essex. If your home university does not have an exchange partnership with Essex, you are welcome to study at Essex through our Study Abroad Programme.

Application deadline

• for Autumn only and full academic year entry, apply by end of May
• for Spring/Summer only and calendar year entry, apply by end of September

Supporting documents

As part of your application, you will be asked to provide digital copies of a number of important documents:

• a colour copy of your official transcript, in English.
• proof of English language proficiency (if English is not your first language), usually in the form of an English language certificate, issued within the last 5 years (except PTE and TOEFL).
• a colour copy of the information page of your passport (please note your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after you finish your studies).
• a personal statement outlining why you are interested in studying abroad at Essex.
• details of any previous UK Visa(s).

We are committed to ensuring that every student can feel safe and secure no matter what their circumstances. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Essex Abroad office if you would like to discuss your individual needs.

Health, wellbeing and disability

Our student support services have a wide range of resources to support you throughout your studies at Essex. There is a space on our application form for you to disclose any disability, health condition, mental health condition or learning needs that you would like to make us aware of. We will then put you in touch with our student support team, who will work with you to ensure you are fully supported while at Essex.

Anything you tell us will be treated in confidence and will not affect your study abroad application. We cannot share this information with your family, host institution or other external party without your permission.

Information about the mental and emotional health support available can be found on our website.

For information about accessibility on campus and support services for students with disabilities or learning difficulties, please see our website.