University of Essex: Fees, Deposit and Scholarships

TL;DR: The University of Essex charged international undergraduates £20,475 to £30,275 a year in its latest published fee table (2025-26), set by subject band. Self-funded international students who pay the full year's fee by 1 December 2026 for a January 2027 start get a £1,000 reimbursement, and a £5,000 Global Talent Masters Scholarship is applied automatically for eligible 2027-28 master's starts.

The University of Essex is ranked 23rd in the Guardian University Guide 2027, and it publishes unusually clear rules on fees, deposits and scholarships. This guide sets them out in the order you will meet them: the fee band, the deposit before your CAS, then the discounts you can claim. To check your own fit first, Check your eligibility with Prosper.

Is the University of Essex a good choice for international students?

The University of Essex is a UK public university whose main campus is in Colchester, and it says central London is easy to reach from all its campuses. Its student body comes from more than 140 nationalities. On its own site Essex cites:

• 23rd in the Guardian University Guide 2027
• a top 30 place in the Complete University Guide 2027
• 14th for international outlook in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026
• 85 percent of graduates in work or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2026)

Rankings are one input. The course, the cost and your entry route matter more, and our guide to universities in the UK for international students shows how to weigh them.

University of Essex tuition fees for international students

Essex sets undergraduate international fees in five subject bands. Its most recent published table is for 2025-26, and it states that fees for new students rise by up to 5 percent in each later year of study:

For a master's, Essex confirms your fee status and fee in your offer letter, so read the course page and the offer together. Our guide to UK tuition fees for international students shows how Essex compares.

The University of Essex deposit before your CAS

Essex asks international applicants who need a Student visa for a tuition deposit before it issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). The deposit policy covering October 2026, January 2027 and April 2027 entry sets it by country at £2,000, £4,000 or £6,000. It is paid through Flywire, and Essex does not accept payments from third parties.

If you cannot start, Essex refunds the deposit minus an administration fee:

• £500 in most cases
• £2,000 if the visa is refused through your own fault, which you can ask to reduce to £500 within one calendar month of withdrawing
• no fee if you cancel within the 14-day cancellation period

A deposit carries forward if you defer. Applicants holding sponsorship or a scholarship of £8,000 or more are among those who do not pay one. Read our UK university deposit guide and CAS guide for what follows.

Check your eligibility ›

University of Essex scholarships and discounts

Essex applies most international awards automatically from the documents you submit, so there is no separate form for the two main ones.

• Global Talent Masters Scholarship. £5,000 off the first year of a full-time master's (£2,500 a year over two years part-time) for self-funded international fee payers starting in October 2027 or January 2028. You need at least the equivalent of a UK 2:2 from a university in a listed country, and three years' ordinary residence in a listed country. Pathway students are not eligible.
• International Undergraduate Scholarship. £5,000 off the first year of a full-time degree starting in October 2027, for self-funded international fee payers resident in a listed country. It does not apply to University of Essex International College pathway students.
• Early-bird Reimbursement. £1,000 back for self-funded, full-time international students who pay the full year's fee by the deadline: 1 December 2026 for January 2027 entry, or 6 March 2027 for April 2027 entry.
• Loyalty discount. Essex graduates get up to 20 percent off the first year of their next degree.

University of Essex intakes and English

Essex's deposit and reimbursement terms name October, January and April starts. Essex sets English language scores by course, so check the course page before you book a test. Our comparison of IELTS UKVI and IELTS Academic helps you book the right one.

Applying from Sri Lanka

• Deposit. Under the current policy, applicants from Sri Lanka pay a £4,000 minimum deposit before Essex issues a CAS.
• Scholarships. Sri Lanka is on the listed-country schedules for both the Global Talent Masters Scholarship and the International Undergraduate Scholarship for 2027-28, so a self-funded applicant with a qualifying Sri Lankan degree or residence can be assessed automatically.
• Visa steps. The UK TB test is at the IOM clinic in Colombo and biometrics are at VFS Colombo. See the IOM Colombo TB test guide and the VFS Global Colombo guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the University of Essex deposit for international students? Essex sets the minimum deposit by country at £2,000, £4,000 or £6,000 for October 2026, January 2027 and April 2027 entry. It is paid before the CAS is issued, through Flywire.

Does the University of Essex give scholarships to international students? Yes. For 2027-28 Essex offers a £5,000 Global Talent Masters Scholarship and a £5,000 International Undergraduate Scholarship, both applied automatically to eligible self-funded students from listed countries.

What are the University of Essex tuition fees for international students? Essex's latest published undergraduate table, for 2025-26, runs from £20,475 to £30,275 a year by subject band. Master's fees are confirmed in the offer letter.

Does the University of Essex have a January intake? Yes. Essex's deposit and early-bird terms cover January 2027 entry, and the Global Talent Masters Scholarship also covers January 2028 starts.

PS

Essex rewards students who decide early: the £1,000 reimbursement for January needs the full fee by 1 December, and the scholarships are checked against the documents you send. If you want to know which Essex course and start fits your grades and budget, Check your eligibility with Prosper. Prosper can apply to the University of Essex for you.

Check your eligibility ›

References

1. University of Essex home page, University of Essex, https://www.essex.ac.uk/ (accessed 11/11/2026)
2. International students, University of Essex, https://www.essex.ac.uk/international (accessed 11/11/2026)
3. EU and international undergraduate fees, University of Essex, https://www.essex.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/eu-and-international-fees (accessed 11/11/2026)
4. Master's fees and funding, University of Essex, https://www.essex.ac.uk/postgraduate/masters/fees-and-funding (accessed 11/11/2026)
5. International fees and funding, University of Essex, https://www.essex.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding (accessed 11/11/2026)
6. Tuition fee deposit policy, October 2026, January and April 2027, University of Essex, https://www.essex.ac.uk/-/media/documents/about/governance/contractual-documents/2026-27/tuition-fee-deposit-policy-oct-2026-jan-and-april-2027.pdf (accessed 11/11/2026)
7. Global Talent Masters Scholarship terms 2027-28, University of Essex, https://www.essex.ac.uk/-/media/documents/directories/fees-and-funding/pg-terms/global-talent-masters-scholarship-tcs-2027-28.pdf (accessed 11/11/2026)
8. International Undergraduate Scholarship terms 2027-28, University of Essex, https://www.essex.ac.uk/-/media/documents/directories/fees-and-funding/ug-terms/international-undergraduate-scholarship-tcs-2027-28.pdf (accessed 11/11/2026)
9. Early-bird Reimbursement 2026-27, University of Essex, https://www.essex.ac.uk/-/media/documents/directories/fees-and-funding/uoe-early-bird-discount-2026-27.pdf (accessed 11/11/2026)