Essex has been rated as ‘excellent’ in economics, political science and psychology, in European rankings compiled by the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) in Germany.

Only 11 UK universities attained Excellence Group status in all three academic disciplines. The CHE ExcellenceRanking highlights the research strengths of more than 100 European higher education institutions in 20 different countries.

Excellence Group status is based on five indicators relating to research publications and citations, and an international dimension realting to masters degree programmes, student mobility and staff mobility.

The results are published in the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit, and online at www.zeit.de/excellenceranking.

The Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE), based in Gütersloh, is an independent institution that is committed to reform of the higher education system. A relatively new initiative, the CHE-ExcellenceRanking provides a comparison of the best European university research facilities for prospective masters and doctoral programme students.