International Day of Friendship was officially recognised in 2011 and takes place on 30 July each year. On this day, people celebrate the strong connections between diverse global communities. In this blog post, we explain why friendship comes top of the list when studying for a qualification with the University of Essex Online.
Build a global friendship circle
Take the unique opportunity to make friends and build connections around the world. We have an expansive student community covering all corners of the globe – and by studying online, you’ll join students from over 140 countries worldwide! Whether it’s for future networking purposes or simply strengthening your friendship circle, studying online can introduce you to those with similar ambitions.
Engage in discussion forums
Discussion forums lay the foundations of our course content and assessment, allowing you to bounce ideas off each other and debate viewpoints. Putting your ideas forward will help you to build confidence, ask others for opinions and form deeper connections with those on your course. What’s more, you can message other students online and connect on social media to help build connections.
“The discussion forums are my favourite, as you get to interact with other students and share interesting points.”
Zainab Selman -CertHE Business and Management
Work as part of a team
We provide a variety of lesson and assessment formats, including video, audio, text, images, infographics and multiple-choice questions. Group work, however, — including presentations – gives you the chance to complete assignments with your fellow classmates, where you will all contribute towards the final mark. You may also come across opportunities to help out friends and peers on your course. After all, friendship goes two ways!
Celebrate with new friends at graduation
To mark the end of your undergraduate or postgraduate course, you’ll attend a graduation ceremony at the University of Essex’s Colchester campus, where you can celebrate your achievement. This is a special moment to mark the end of a chapter for you and your friends, and celebrate the next steps in your career. To learn more about International Day of Friendship, visit the United Nations website.
Why choose the University of Essex Online?
- 7 in 10 undergraduates would highly recommend us to a friend (2024 employability student survey).
- We’ve been rated Gold in the Times Higher Education (THE) Online Learning Rankings 2024 for excellence in online learning.
- Study 100% online, part-time around your current commitments.
- Receive your certificate from the University of Essex, one of the top 25 universities in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2025).
Interested to find out more? Connect with our student ambassadors directly using the Unibuddy platform! Alternatively, download a copy of our prospectus.