PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

• Study at one of the top-ranked universities in the U.K. where your experience will be shaped by Essex’s welcoming student community and engaging campus culture. Experience the region’s history, from Roman ruins to the classic English High Street, right within your host community. 

• Choose from a wide variety of engaging and challenging courses. At Essex, you can study political science, business, engineering, computer science, social sciences, humanities, and more. 

• Join an active and diverse student body where over one-third of students come from abroad, making it one of the most international campuses in the world.  

LIFE ABROAD  

Based in the historic town of Colchester on one of England’s most beautiful parklands, you’ll feel right at home on this campus in the English countryside. Although it’s just a quick train or bus ride from London, Essex and the surrounding community offer enough to keep you involved and engaged all semester long. 

LIVE  

Stay minutes away from the center of campus while living in the North Towers and enjoy a private bedroom in a shared flat with local and international students. Each flat accommodates up to 16 students and offers shared bathrooms and kitchen space.  

DINE  

Situated on one of the longest coastlines in England, Essex offers world-famous oysters, shellfish, and seafood. Right on campus, you’ll find plenty of dining options. Check out unique spots like CRUMBS, which serves fresh baked cookies and coffee, or FUNc, specializing in gelato, espresso, crepes, and waffles. Enjoy Mexican food, Italian stone-baked pizza, plant-based lunches, and more at the eateries across campus. With shared kitchen space provided in every residence and multiple grocery stores walking distance to campus, it’s also very easy to cook at home. Meals are not included in the ISEP Direct program fee, so you’ll need to budget accordingly for meals. If you’re studying at Essex on our ISEP Exchange program, you will receive a meal stipend. 

EXPERIENCE  

Check out one of the “Squares” at Essex, which are always buzzing with life, or stop by the Lakeside Theatre, which hosts Open Mic night every Friday, and puts on plays and live music. Visit ESCALA, a world-renowned Latin American art collection, which might inspire your own creative endeavors at the Art Exchange gallery. The SubZero nightclub and many bars on campus are great spots for socializing—but so are the many student societies and the Student Union, which is ranked one of the best and most active in the U.K! If you really want to have fun, be sure to check out the Paternoster lift (elevator) in the library... it’s quite the ride!  

EXPLORE  

The City of Colchester has excellent shopping, dining, and sightseeing, with old Roman ruins, picturesque streets, and interesting museums. When you're ready to broaden your horizons, you’ll easily be able to jet off to the rest of Great Britain and Europe with nearby access to London’s airports and local train stations.  

THRIVE  

The university strives to foster an inclusive and diverse environment for all students and offers a wide array of support services through the Student Services Hub. They can assist with health and wellbeing, accommodation, exam stress, and more. When you want to get in a workout, use the brand new, state-of-the-art Essex Sport Arena, a cutting-edge gym, over 300 monthly fitness classes and an extensive range of sports.   

What We Love About Essex 

We love how Essex fosters an academically engaging and community-oriented experience that will have a lasting impact. Whether you are looking to experience the scenic countryside, or learn about the history of the city, Essex offers something for everyone. 

See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses- Fall

See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses - Spring

See ISEP Exchange budget and estimated expenses

Program Website

Course Description

The flexible study abroad program at Essex creates the freedom to select modules (classes) from across multiple departments and take modules (classes) of all levels. From Exercise Science to Film Studies, Business to the Life Sciences, this means students from virtually any major or area of study will find an academic home at Essex. The chart below reflects some of the more popular classes ISEP students have taken in the past.  Use this to get started on planning your own study abroad program at University of Essex! 

Credits Earned 

Students who complete the program in good standing can expect to earn 60 UK credits which ISEP recommends is the equivalent of 30 ECTS or 15 U.S. Credit Hours. Each course is usually worth 15 UK credits. Students typically take 4 courses.

If you use financial aid, please speak with a qualified financial aid advisor to understand your academic obligations and the requirements for using financial aid. 

Sample Classes Available: 

Business

Computer Science & Engineering

Government & Law

Psychology & Sociology

Sports Science

Hospitality & Tourism (yearlong only)

Intro to Finance

Intro to Databases

Institutions of Democracy

Thinking like a Social Scientist

Sport and Exercise Psychology

Finance for Hospitality Business

Corporate Finance

Fundamentals of Digital Systems

Politics and Power

Methods of Social Data Science

Anatomy and Physiology for Sport

Food and Beverage Management

International Business Environment

Software Engineering

Parties and Elections

Ethics and Public Policy

Introduction to Coaching

Marketing and Customer Behavior

Management Psychology

Data Structures and Algorithms

British Government

The Sociological Imagination

Introduction to Performance Analysis

Wedding and Festival Planning

Digital Marketing and Social Media

Engineering Mathematics

Measuring Public Opinion

Ethnographic Research Methods

Treatment of Sports and Exercise Injuries

Tourism Operations

For detailed instructions on how to search for all available courses, please click on the "other academic conditions" dropdown link below.

Website for Course Availability

ISEP STUDENT SERVICES OFFICER Samantha Newell 703-504-9986 | snewell@isep.org Thank you for your interest in ISEP Study Abroad! I’m your Student Services Officer and main point of contact here at ISEP. As you search for programs, I’ll be available to answer any questions you might have. Feel free to contact me at any point in your search process for help, tips or advice.

Academics

Undergraduate
(in English)

*This program is OK for Sophomores

Fields of Study

  • Area Studies:

    African Studies Area Studies, Other Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other European Studies French Studies Latin American and Caribbean Studies Latin American Studies Multicultural and Diversity Studies Regional Studies (U.S., Canada, Foreign) United States Studies Western European Studies Women’s Studies

  • Biology:

    Anatomy Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology Biometry/Biometrics Botany/Plant Biology Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Genetics Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography Marine Sciences Microbiology and Immunology Oncology and Cancer Biology Physiology Plant Physiology Zoology/Animal Biology

  • Business:

    Accounting Actuarial Science Auditing Business Communications Business Management Business Statistics E-Commerce Economics Entrepreneurship Finance Human Resources Management International Business/Trade/Commerce Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management Management Information Systems Marketing Organizational Behavior Studies Organizational Leadership

  • Communication:

    Advertising Digital Communication and Media Journalism Mass Communication/Media Studies Photojournalism

  • Computer and Information Sciences:

    Artificial Intelligence Computer and IT Support Services Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications Informatics Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation Web Page/Multimedia Design

  • Education:

    Early Childhood Education Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language

  • Engineering:

    Computer Engineering Computer Software Engineering Electrical and Electronics Engineering Robotics, and Automation Engineering Systems Engineering

  • English Language and Literature:

    American Literature (United States) English Literature (British and Commonwealth) General Literature Rhetoric and Composition Writing

  • Foreign Languages and Literatures:

    African Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Chinese Language and Literature Comparative Literature Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other French Language and Literature German Language and Literature Interpretation and Translation Italian Language and Literature Japanese Language and Literature Korean Language and Literature Portuguese Language and Literature Spanish Language and Literature

  • Health Sciences:

    Athletic Training Community Health Services/Counseling Rehabilitation Science

  • History:

    American History (United States) Asian History European History History, Other Medieval and Renaissance Studies Museology/Museum Studies

  • Hospitality and Tourism:

    Culinary Arts Event Planning Hospitality Management Hotel and Restaurant Management Tourism Management

  • International/Global Studies:

    International Relations and Affairs Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

  • Language and Culture

  • Law/Criminal Justice:

    Business Law Corrections Administration Criminology Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation International Business, Trade, and Tax Law International Law Legal Studies Pre-Law Studies

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences

    Humanities

  • Mathematics:

    Statistics Topology and Foundations

  • Natural Resources/Conservation

  • Philosophy and Religious Studies:

    Ethics Philosophy Religious Studies

  • Psychology:

    Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics Counseling Psychology Developmental and Child Psychology

  • Social Sciences:

    Anthropology Political Science and Government Sociology

  • Sports Studies:

    Kinesiology and Exercise Science Sport and Fitness Management Sports Studies

  • Visual and Performing Arts:

    Acting Art History Cinematography and Film Production Drama and Theatre Arts Film Studies

Academic Requirements

  • U.S. GPA: 2.75 or higher
    *accepts lower GPA with explanation
  • TOEFL iBT Score: 76
  • TOEFL Writing Score: 17
  • TOEFL Reading Score: 18
  • TOEFL Listening Score: 17
  • TOEFL Speaking Score: 20
  • IELTS Score: 6
  • IELTS Writing Score: 5.5
  • IELTS Reading Score: 5.5
  • IELTS Listening Score: 5.5
  • IELTS Speaking Score: 5.5

Special Application Instructions

Students must have successfully completed one year of higher education prior to enrolment at the University of Essex. 

Students are required to submit an internal application following their placement which is required of the host institution. Instructions will be sent by the ISEP Host Coordinator by email. 

PASSPORT: All students must have a valid passport to participate in this program. If you do not have a valid passport, we suggest you start the application process as soon as possible.

VISA/RESIDENCE PERMIT: Most students attending this program will not be required to obtain a visa/residence permit prior to or upon arrival. Any student not requiring a visa/residence permit will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to their program arrival date. For more information on the process and estimated cost of the ETA and visa/residence permit, please review the ISEP Country Handbook here

Special Needs Support

  • Mental Health
  • Mobility
  • Hearing
  • Visual
  • Speech
  • Learning

Graduate
(in English)

Fields of Study

  • Area Studies:

    Area Studies, Other European Studies Latin American and Caribbean Studies Latin American Studies Multicultural and Diversity Studies United States Studies Western European Studies Women’s Studies

  • Biology:

    Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology Biometry/Biometrics Botany/Plant Biology Genetics Plant Physiology

  • Business: Recommended!

    Accounting Actuarial Science Auditing Business Communications Business Management Business Statistics E-Commerce Economics Entrepreneurship Finance International Business/Trade/Commerce Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management Management Information Systems Marketing

  • Communication:

    Advertising Digital Communication and Media Journalism Mass Communication/Media Studies

  • Computer and Information Sciences:

    Artificial Intelligence Computer and IT Support Services Computer Applications Programming Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications Informatics Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation Web Page/Multimedia Design

  • Education

    Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language

  • Engineering: Recommended!

    Computer Engineering Computer Software Engineering Electrical and Electronics Engineering Robotics, and Automation Engineering Systems Engineering

  • English Language and Literature:

    American Literature (United States) English Literature (British and Commonwealth) General Literature

  • Foreign Languages and Literatures: Recommended!

    Chinese Language and Literature Comparative Literature Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other French Language and Literature German Language and Literature Interpretation and Translation Italian Language and Literature Japanese Language and Literature Portuguese Language and Literature Spanish Language and Literature

  • Health Sciences:

    Athletic Training Rehabilitation Science

  • History:

    American History (United States) European History History, Other

  • International/Global Studies: Recommended!

    International Relations and Affairs Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

  • Language and Culture

  • Law/Criminal Justice: Recommended!

    Business Law Corrections Administration Criminology Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation International Business, Trade, and Tax Law International Law Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis Legal Studies

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences

    Humanities

  • Mathematics:

    Statistics Topology and Foundations

  • Philosophy and Religious Studies

    Philosophy

  • Psychology Recommended!

  • Social Sciences: Recommended!

    Anthropology Political Science and Government Sociology

  • Sports Studies:

    Kinesiology and Exercise Science Sport and Fitness Management Sports Studies

  • Visual and Performing Arts:

    Art History Film Studies

Academic Requirements

  • U.S. GPA: 2.75 or higher
    *accepts lower GPA with explanation
  • Language Test: CEFR   A1

Special Application Instructions

Students must have successfully completed one year of higher education prior to enrolment at the University of Essex. 

Students are required to submit an internal application following their placement which is required of the host institution. Instructions will be sent by the ISEP Host Coordinator by email. 

PASSPORT: All students must have a valid passport to participate in this program. If you do not have a valid passport, we suggest you start the application process as soon as possible.

VISA/RESIDENCE PERMIT: Most students attending this program will not be required to obtain a visa/residence permit prior to or upon arrival. Any student not requiring a visa/residence permit will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to their program arrival date. For more information on the process and estimated cost of the ETA and visa/residence permit, please review the ISEP Country Handbook here

Special Needs Support

  • Mental Health
  • Mobility
  • Hearing
  • Visual
  • Speech
  • Learning

Other Academic Conditions

Students Arrive: early October (autumn), early January (spring)

Classes Start: early October (autumn), mid-January (spring)

Classes End: mid-December (autumn), late June (spring)

Exams: mid-December through early January (autumn), mid-May through early June (spring)

Students are responsible for staying until the end of the semester and may not leave before the final date of their semester exams. Neither ISEP nor University of Essex can guarantee an early departure; leaving early may result in a failing exam grade and/or forfeit of credit. 

Students are free to select modules across the academic departments at Essex. Please check that you meet any pre-requisites for specific modules – this information is listed on the module directory. 

Students should note that the Spring “Semester” consists of two terms: Jan-Mar and Apr-Jun.  Students are required to remain on campus through the exam period through the end of June.  Depending on their class or program, Fall Term students may have online exam requirements in early January, which they may take from home. Students can check the module directory to see when classes (modules) are assessed and whether the exam is in-person or remote.  Exam dates are not flexible. You will be unable to change the time or date of any exams you may have.  Please wait to book return flights until you are sure about when exams will be taking place. 

Please check our website for more information about our English language requirements. We do not require proof of English language proficiency from native English speakers.

The University of Essex also accepts the following English proficiency tests:

-Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge English Advanced (CAE)): Term students need 169 overall on the Cambridge English Scale. Full Academic Year students need 16 overall on the Cambridge English Scale w/ minimum of 162 in each component.

-Cambridge C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)): Term students need 169 overall on the Cambridge English Scale. Full Academic Year students need 16 overall on the Cambridge English Scale w/ minimum of 162 in each component.

-Please check our website for more information about our English language requirements. We do not require proof of English language proficiency from native English speakers.

Semester & Prices (based on your filters)

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