London

University of Essex

Before you meet with a study abroad advisor be sure to complete the "Advising Form" linked at the top of this page.

Please note that you will not be able to apply for semester or yearlong study abroad program until you've met with a study abroad advisor.

Program Overview

Eligible participants must be at junior or senior level with a 3.0 GPA preferred.

Voted Top 10 for student satisfaction in the U.K., with a well-established position in Top 5 for Social Sciences in the U.K., and a Gold standard in Teaching Excellence, the University of Essex welcomes students to select courses from an internationally relevant curriculum.

The University of Essex is located near Colchester and has excellent transport links to the whole of the U.K. and Europe, with a local bus service to Stansted International Airport and only one hour by rail to London. With a student population of approximately 13,000 from more than 130 different countries, the university is genuinely a global community that lives, works and learns together. Students are encouraged to become actively involved in this diverse community, enhancing both their academic and social experience with access to over 120 student clubs and societies and over 50 volunteering opportunities.

While the departments of political science/government and sociology are particularly strong in Essex, other popular areas of study include accounting/finance, business, computer science/gaming, mathematics, psychology, journalism, human rights, art history, linguistics, sports science, film, theater studies, history, philosophy, criminology and biological sciences.

£500 scholarships through BUTEX, a U.K. higher education membership organization, are available for students in all NCC England programs.

University of Essex website

Academics

Students are required to complete GLS 277 in the spring term prior to studying abroad in the fall.

Students earn 9-15 credits depending on courses selected at the University of Essex. All grades earned abroad affect your North Central College GPA when transferred back. Students cannot take courses pass/fail.  

To search available modules at the University of Essex, click here.

Note:  Students must have courses pre-approved by North Central College prior to taking them abroad. If students change their course schedules while abroad, they must get this change approved. Some departments only permit students to take a certain number of courses that count toward their major abroad. To ensure that all courses count towards their degrees, students must get their department's approval.

Housing and Meals

Students have their own rooms and usually stay in The Towers accommodation. For more information about accommodation, visit the University of Essex's accommodation page.

Meals:  not included in program costs. Students prepare their own meals in a kitchen shared with other students.

Estimated Costs

Students in Direct Enrollment programs (i.e. Universidad Viña del Mar) pay North Central College tuition plus a $4,000 program fee. A $30 non-refundable application fee is due at the time of application submission. This program fee includes placement, orientation and guidance fees, as well as standard self-catered housing. The College selects accommodations; if students choose to upgrade, they are responsible for paying any difference in cost. Unless otherwise noted, the fee does not include airfare, travel to and from airport, meals, visa fees, departure tax, books, national insurance, personal travel or spending money. North Central College financial aid does apply.