Students on our Southend Campus
The University of Essex has climbed seven places in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2015.
Essex rises to 32nd place out of 123 higher education institutions, and is ranked in eighth place for student satisfaction, a rise of four places.
Eight subjects are ranked in the top 20: politics, economics, linguistics, dance drama and cinematics, philosophy, American studies, history of art architecture and design, and sports science. Sociology, which is ranked 21st, is among the top 25% of institutions in its discipline.
The Guide highlights Essex’s aim to be firmly established in the top 25 UK universities in five years’ time, and for every subject to be among the top 20% of institutions in its discipline.
According to the Guide: “The social sciences already meet those standards and Essex achieves excellent student satisfaction scores all round, this year ranking 8th in the UK under the guide’s analysis of the outcomes of the National Student Survey.” The University also ranks eighth for its investment in academic services and staff and student facilities.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), Professor Aletta Norval, said: “The University has given the highest priority to our students’ education and we believe this is bringing positive results. Our aim has been to bring the strength of our research into our teaching, while increasing the focus on students’ developing the skills they need for future success.
“We are particularly pleased with our continuing rise in student satisfaction, but we will not be complacent and are targeting a further improvement in our ranking next year.”
The University has put a strong focus on helping students to find graduate level jobs, having expanded its internships programme and developed the award-winning frontrunners scheme, which provides paid on-campus work placements for hundreds of students. It has also developed the Big Essex Employability award, which helps students to reflect on the skills gained from volunteering, work experience and involvement with student societies and to articulate these to employers.
The University, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is ranked 22nd in the world among universities under 50 years old by the Times Higher Education.