Home to the curious, brave and bold.
You’re ready to take your education to the next level. You’re craving a personal challenge. You want to push your career further. Whatever your reasons for studying or planning for the future, we’re ready to help you get there.
At Essex Online, student success is at the heart of everything we do.
Here are just a few reasons you should choose us for your online study journey.
Quality assured programmes
We’re a member of the Quality Assurance for Higher Education (QAA) and are registered with the Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of higher education in England. Find out more about our quality assurance.
We also received the award for best online classroom experience at the Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2021. This is the only student-powered global university overview that captures students’ feedback on their study experience.
Designed for online delivery from the start
You don’t need to expect hour after hour of teaching filmed in a lecture hall – our teaching materials are designed with online delivery in mind from the very beginning. That’s why our bite-sized study resources are ideal for busy professionals who are always on the move.
You’ll enjoy access to our cutting-edge virtual learning environment (VLE), available 24/7 on any device. The VLE allows you to get the full higher education experience from anywhere in the world – whether that’s completing a multimedia lecturecast, swapping ideas with peers in our discussion forums or accessing academic journals via the University of Essex eLibrary. Your fellow students will be likeminded professionals based around the world, helping you build a global network of contacts in your field.
The VLE is also where you’ll be assessed through various methods. Most of our courses don’t have exams and instead you’ll complete written assignments, take part in group work or complete reflective journal entries. For courses where exams are required, you’ll undertake open-book exams that can be done at home using our rigorous eProctoring software.
Check out our learning platform to discover more about how you’ll study.
Graduate from a top UK university with a difference
The University of Essex has a powerful global outlook. They’re one of the top 30 universities in the UK (Complete University Guide 2025) and were named University of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards 2018 for their determination to do things differently.
All University of Essex Online degrees are awarded and validated by the University of Essex. This means you’ll get to benefit from world-class research, ground-breaking teaching, and become part of a truly global community.
At the end of your degree, you’ll be invited to celebrate your achievements among family and friends at a graduation ceremony held on the beautiful Colchester campus. You’ll also receive the same certificate as students who studied on campus. Learn more about graduation.
Spotlight on quality and standards
We’re proud to be rated Silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) undertaken by Office for Students (OfS). This recognises our commitment to delivering high quality student experiences, with outstanding ratings achieved for learning environment and academic support – as well as teaching assessment and feedback.
We also scored highly for student outcomes, with outstanding ratings awarded for progression, and continuation and retention.
You can find out more about the TEF results and what they mean here.
Excellent student experiences
The University of Essex Online was delighted to have achieved excellence for teaching, organisation and management, and learning opportunities in the 2025 National Student Survey (NSS). We’re pleased to say:
- 81% of students believed their feedback was valued by staff
- 9 in 10 students felt their course helped them to develop skills for the future
- 89% of students believed their course was well organised
Find out more about the impressive NSS results we received on the blog.
Gold ranking
We’re proud to be rated Gold in the Times Higher Education (THE) Online Rankings 2024. Our achievement, which is based on four pillars – resources, engagement, outcomes and environment – recognises our commitment to excellent online education.
You can discover more about our Gold ranking on our blog.
AACSB accreditation
The University of Essex has been awarded AACSB Business accreditation; this includes some business courses delivered by University of Essex Online.
Education that’s accessible to everyone
We know students from a non-traditional background have just as much potential to succeed and that’s why we offer multiple entry routes onto our degrees. All undergraduate and postgraduate courses have two entry routes – academic and work experience – so you don’t need to have A-levels or a Bachelors degree to start studying. And for those without any academic qualifications or work experience, we offer an open entry route onto our CertHE programmes, where you’ll just need to pass the first assignment to get on the path to a higher education qualification.
Our students come from all over the world. If you don’t already hold an IELTS or TOEFL qualification to prove your English language ability, we offer a free online English test to assess whether you meet our minimum requirements.
A study experience that’s both flexible and career-focused
There’s no need to hit pause on the day job while you study with us. Our programmes are designed to fit flexibly around your work, allowing you to gain the qualifications you need to get ahead in your current industry or a new one, without the need for a career break.
What’s more, the skills you’ll develop on the programme can be applied in your workplace from day one of the course. Many of our students take on new responsibilities, get promoted or switch to the field they’re studying their degree in before they’ve even finished their course. You don’t need to wait until graduation day to see the impact on your career!
At a distance but never alone
On starting your course, you’ll be welcomed by a team of dedicated student advisers who’ll be on-hand to help and guide you as you progress. What’s more, our study skills specialists will also support you with world-class mentoring and academic study skills, from enrolment through to graduation. Whatever the question or problem, rest assured we’ll work with you to find the solution.
You’ll benefit from the expertise and knowledge of our academic tutors, who are all subject matter experts or industry leaders. They’ll provide feedback on all assignments within seven days, so you’re kept up to date about your academic performance, and they’re available to help you throughout your module during live Q&As and virtual office hours. We also keep class sizes small to maximise your learning opportunities and ensure you get the individual support you need.
Find out more about our student support.
A rewarding experience
Our 2024 employability student survey showed impressive results.
80% of participants agreed their studies led to personal growth and achievement, while 7 out of 10 undergraduates would highly recommend us to a friend. 90% of survey participants stated they feel better prepared for their future career and over 80% of postgraduates who responded saw a salary increase.
Apply now to enjoy a student experience like no other.