The University is opening its doors this month to give prospective students the chance to see first-hand what higher education is all about.

The open day on Saturday 18 June allows students, their families and sixth form groups to look around the University’s Colchester Campus, meet with staff and current students, and view student accommodation.

There will be talks on student life, finance and welfare, student and graduate employment, admissions and applying, study skills and study abroad opportunities.

Staff from the University’s 17 academic departments will also be on hand to answer questions about particular subject areas and course details.

Loren Murphy, Student Recruitment Assistant and former Essex student, said: “The open day will give prospective students the opportunity to get a real feel for the campus and to find out what it would be like studying and living here.”

Because broadening social horizons is an important part of the overall university experience, prospective students can also learn about the 165 Students’ Union (SU) societies and 40 sports clubs at Essex, as well as other SU facilities and services.

Continued excellence in both research and teaching has seen current applications for 2011 increase by nine per cent on 2010, compared with a national average increase of two per cent. The University was ranked ninth in the UK in the most recent national assessment of research quality, and is the top 20 nationally for student satisfaction, according to the National Student Survey for 2010.

The Colchester Campus open day runs from 10am to 4.30pm on Saturday 18 June. Free parking is available throughout the day and there will be a minibus running to and from Colchester North railway station. To book a place and for further information about the open day (and other open days at the University) see: www.essex.ac.uk/opendays.

Ends
Note to editors
For further information please contact the University Communications Office, telephone: 01206 872400 or e-mail: comms@essex.ac.uk.