We're celebrating in style
Graduation 2018 this week will be the biggest graduation we have ever seen with 15 degree ceremonies over five days. Acclaimed British film director and producer Stephen Daldry is among the 11 illustrious people to be awarded Honorary Degrees. Ceremonies, at 10am, 1pm and 4pm each day will be live-streamed on our website and there will be updates on our Facebook pages.
100,000 students and counting
This year we are proud to see our 100,000th graduate and one of our oldest. Sofie Samuelsson, who will collect her MA Linguistics, is our 100,000th graduate, while Essex grandmother Betty Mlandeli, who at 75 years of age is one of our oldest, graduates in Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations. We are also delighted to welcome back our very first student John Dowden, who loved Essex so much he never left!
Pathways to placement success
If your student is considering a placement year with industry, you may want to know more about what is involved. Sport and Exercise Science student Will Gurton describes his own fantastic experience.
Sign up for Languages for All
Languages for All is the Essex scheme which allows students to study a language, alongside their degree, for free. This not only expands their options for studying, travelling or working abroad but may also give them the competitive edge employers are looking for. Taking part counts towards the Big Essex Award - a record of the skills and experiences students have gained while at University. There's a choice of up to seven languages, with courses for beginners and those with a GCSE. Sign-up for courses starting this autumn is in September.
Bank of Mum and Dad supports students
The average student spends £770 a month while at university, with parents contributing £138.50 according to the annual Student Money Survey 2018. Over 3,000 students were asked what it is like to live on a student budget, what they spent their money on and the role of Bank of Mum and Dad. One of the findings was that half of students don't understand their loan agreement. Student Finance England has produced films and a printed guide to help parents find out everything they need to know about student finance.
Essex historian sheds new light on Princes in the Tower An Essex historian's discovery could unlock the key to whether bones in Westminster Abbey are those of Edward VI's sons. Dr John Ashdown-Hill was a graduate at Essex and went on to teach in our Department of History. He died in May, but his book The Mythology of the Princes in the Tower has just been published.
See your way through clearing
If you have a student at home who is worried about their A-level results, or who has made a late decision to head into higher education, we have some helpful hints on applying to university through clearing, which is now open.
