University of Essex
speciality: Sociology

As a first year Sociology and Criminology student who took a gap year before university, I’ve had a positive experience so far. The course content is interesting and encourages critical thinking, and the lecturers are knowledgeable and approachable. I also like the diversity of the campus and the opportunities to meet people from different backgrounds.
The main downside is that the reading workload can sometimes be heavy, and making friends takes effort if you don’t get involved in societies or events.
Overall, I would recommend the University of Essex. It provides a supportive learning environment and a good balance between academic and personal development.

The university has a very good approach, to the student, where it is the student who primarily has a free hand and can easily combine work and social life with university life. However, for me, 6 hours of classes per week is a bit too little and I would have expected more interesting material to familiarise myself with.

I started Essex in 2016 for a 3-year undergraduate degree, I loved it so much I began a 1-year postgraduate in 2019. The lecturers are fantastic, so knowledgable and genuinely want to help you succeed. The campus is beautiful and makes you feel lucky to live in such an area. Social activities are a huge highlight of Essex and make it so easy to make amazing friends. Student accommodation is constantly being updated and is a pleasure to live in.