Tuition Fees for UK and European Union undergraduates at the University of Essex will be set at £9,000 a year for new entrants in 2012, subject to the approval of the Office for Fair Access (OFFA).

In line with many of the UK’s top research intensive universities, Essex’s priority is to provide the highest quality teaching and learning opportunities for its students, and the best possible facilities.

Students will continue to be taught by world-leading academics as Essex invests to maintain its position as one of the UK’s top ten universities for research quality.

The University will invest significantly in a package of targeted bursaries and scholarships to enable it to continue to support the most able students, regardless of social background, and will also invest further in its extensive programme of outreach activities for schools and colleges. The University already has an excellent record in attracting students from low income households and low participation neighbourhoods.

Significant support will also be given to student internships and work placements to help Essex students to obtain graduate career opportunities.

Essex has already embarked on a £200 million-plus building and investment programme, with a new teaching centre and gym opened on its Colchester Campus last year and new student accommodation at Southend. A new Student Centre and library extension at Colchester and new library and learning centre at Southend are currently being planned for the coming years.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan explained: “An Essex degree represents a real investment in our students’ future. We aim to provide opportunities for both living and learning that will provide lifelong benefits through the experiences, skills and knowledge gained.

“Essex has a long tradition of providing access to a diverse community of students, including those from less privileged backgrounds and social groups, and our priority will be to continue to do so. We will be offering bursaries and academic scholarships to ensure those with the ability to succeed will be able to study here, regardless of their financial circumstances.”

The University will offer a package of bursaries and scholarships to support the most able students and those from lower income backgrounds. It will expand its programme of work in schools, campus visits, summer schools, subject taster days and mentoring schemes to help primary, secondary and college students and mature learners to make informed choices.

The University’s fee proposal has been approved by Council, its governing body, but is subject to the approval of fair access and widening participation arrangements by OFFA. OFFA is expected to confirm all universities’ fees and access agreements in July 2011.

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Note to Editors

1. To provide students with the information they need to choose the right university, the University of Essex will be publishing a Student Charter outlining what all students can expect from their studies. The University has already set out the key components of studying for an Essex degree.

The Essex degree:

• will help prepare students to obtain a graduate job from the moment they arrive
• is set in a modern learning environment with the highest quality teaching
• is taught by world-leading academics at student-focused campuses
• will give students a sense of community in a friendly, accessible and international environment
• is challenging and gives students the chance to be both independent and individual
• gives students experiences, skills and knowledge for life.

2. The University has proposed a single fee for all undergraduate degrees after detailed analysis of the costs of teaching its students and the proposed investment in teaching, new facilities, and its programme of scholarships, bursaries, outreach, retention and employability initiatives.

3. The University’s Government grant for teaching will be reduced by £17.8 million over the next four years, with additional cuts to capital funding which has previously supported investment in new buildings and major equipment.

4. Essex already has an extensive programme of outreach activity which, in the last academic year included visits to nearly 160 schools and more than 200 activities such as campus visits, subject tasters and summer schools. It attracts 96 per cent of its UK undergraduates from state schools, 16 per cent from low participation neighbourhoods and 21 per cent are mature students.

5. For further information about Essex’s tuition fees from 2012, see our Frequently Asked Questions at www.essex.ac.uk/funding