Home to the curious, brave and bold.

You’re ready to take your education to the next level. You’re ambitious and want to push your career further. You’re craving a personal challenge. Whatever your reason for studying or plans for the future, we are ready to help you get there.

At Essex Online, we do things a bit differently, and student success is always at the heart of everything we do.

Here are just a few of the reasons you should choose us for your online study journey.

Quality assured programmes

We’ve been reviewed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), and we are registered with the Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of higher education in England. Find out more about our quality assurance here.

We received the award for best online classroom experience at the Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2021. The Global Student Satisfaction Awards are the only student-powered global university overview that captures students’ feedback on their study experience.

Designed for online delivery from the start

Don’t expect hour after hour of teaching filmed in a lecture hall – our teaching materials have been designed within online delivery in mind from the very beginning. Our bite-size study materials are ideal for a busy professional who’s always on the move.

You will get access to our cutting-edge virtual learning environment (VLE), available 24/7 on any device. Our VLE allows you to get the full higher education experience from anywhere in the world: whether it’s completing a multimedia lecturecast, swapping ideas with your peers in our discussion forums or accessing academic journals via the University of Essex eLibrary. Your fellow students will be professionals based around the world, so alongside your learning you’ll be building a global network of contacts in your field.

The VLE is also where you’ll be assessed, via a varied range of assessment methods. Most of our courses don’t have exams, and instead you’ll do written assignments, take part in group work or complete reflective journal entries. For the courses where exams are required, these are open-book exams that can be done at home using our rigorous eProctoring software.

Check out our learning platform to learn 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 are one of the top 40 universities in the UK (Complete University Guide 2023) 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 is your chance to benefit from world-class research and ground-breaking teaching, and become a member of a truly global community.

At the end of your degree, you’ll be invited to celebrate your achievement among family and friends at graduation held on the beautiful Colchester Campus, where you’ll receive the same certificate as students who studied on campus. Learn more about graduation.

A study experience that’s both flexible and career-focused

There’s no need to press 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 to take 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, even before they finish their course. You don’t need to wait until graduation day to see the impact on your career!

Education that’s accessible to everyone

We know that 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 of our undergraduate degrees and postgraduate programmes 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, take a look at the open entry route onto our CertHE programmes, where you’ll just need to pass the first assignment in order to get on the route to a higher education qualification.

Our students come from all over the world, but you don’t need to 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 if you don’t already have an English language qualification.

At a distance but never alone

No one is going to spoon-feed you a degree, but we’re here to help you face the challenge.

Our Student Advisers and study skills specialists provide world-class mentoring and academic study skills support to students from enrolment to graduation. On starting your course, you’ll be welcomed by a team of dedicated Student Advisers who will be on hand to help and guide you as you progress. Whatever the question or problem, rest assured, we’ll work with you to find the solution.

It’s superb support like this that has earned us an outstanding 88% overall student satisfaction rating in the National Student Survey (NSS), well above the national average of 75%. This makes us the highest-rated online only higher education provider.

You’ll benefit from the expertise and knowledge of our academic tutors – all subject matter experts or industry leaders. We keep class sizes small to maximise your learning opportunities and ensure you get the individual support you need. Your tutor will provide feedback on all assignments within seven days, so you are kept up-to-date about your academic performance, and they are available to support you throughout your module during live Q&As and virtual office hours.

Find out more about our student support.

A rewarding experience

Our 2021 student survey showed impressive results.  

89% of students said their studies fit with their future plans, while 60% believed their studies had a positive effect on their career. Meanwhile, almost 9 in 10 said they were applying the knowledge and skills gained from their course to their future career or further study.  

This is your opportunity to enjoy a student experience like no other. Let nothing stand in your way. Start your application to begin your adventure with us.