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: 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 terms.

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.

Please note that if you visit us under the Erasmus+ programme, you must be studying in the academic discipline in which the Erasmus+ agreement is held.

Module directory

Our module directory lists the modules we offer.

To search for available modules, search for 'Incoming Essex Abroad' and select the department you are interested in.

Read the explanation of our module codes before you make your selection. When you look at the details of a particular module, it will tell you whether or not the module is available to you as a study abroad student. All modules you select must be credit bearing modules and suitable for your current level of study. Be aware that you can study at either our Colchester or Southend campus, but you aren't able to to study at both campuses.

If you're interested in a module that has pre-requisites, you will need to demonstrate via your transcript that you have already followed and completed modules with a similar subject content at your home university.

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 study abroad programme has 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 and Hospitality Management Study Abroad Programme, 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, meaning you will join a cohort of Essex students currently on the degree course, and experience everything our Edge Hotel School has to offer. Depending on your previous academic background, you will follow either the first or second year of the degree programme, we welcome applicants with all levels of experience in the hospitality and events management sectors.

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

Additional costs

Please note, all students will be required to purchase Wivenhoe House uniform for their work placements. This will cost £250, and you will be sent more information about how to order your uniform once accepted on to the programme.

English language

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

Full year students from EU/EEA and Non-EU/EEA countries

Undergraduate students:

•  IELTS: 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element (requirement of the UK Student Visa)
• 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:

• IELTS: 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element (requirement of the UK Student Visa)
• 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 from EU/EEA and NON-EU/EEA countries

Minimum requirements can be found in the 'First Year Entry’ section of our student visa guidance.

We are also happy to accept a letter or certificate confirming the student has reached the minimum B2 level from EU/EEA institutions.

Certificates must have been issued within three years of your application to Essex. 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), your university has an Erasmus+ agreement with us, or you're visiting us through ISEP Exchange, you won't have to pay tuition fees to Essex. Please note that if you visit us under the Erasmus+ programme, you must be studying in the academic discipline in which the Erasmus+ agreement is held in order to be eligible.

If you're a non-EU national, studying with us for more than six months, you may require a UK Tier 4 student visa. To apply for a UK Tier 4 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 2 years.
• 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.

Students with dependents

If you are studying with us and have a family with you, there is a wide range of information, support and advice available.

Some helpful resources can be found on our students with children and dependants of international students pages.

Students with dependents are encouraged to contact Essex Abroad to get more information about support services and accommodation options.