University of Essex to Close Southend Campus After Sharp Decline in International Enrolments
The University of Essex has announced plans to close its Southend campus in summer 2026, following a significant fall in international student enrolments and escalating financial pressures across the UK higher-education sector.
According to the university, international enrolments at the Southend site have dropped by 52% since 2021/22, leaving the campus financially unsustainable. Approximately 800 students currently studying at Southend will be transferred to the university’s Colchester campus from September 2026.
In a statement, the university said it had “reviewed all reasonable alternatives” before finalising the closure. However, consolidating teaching and services across fewer sites is now necessary to balance rising costs and falling student numbers.
Impact on International Students
The campus closure is expected to significantly affect international students in several ways:
- Relocation & Adjustment
Students will be required to move from Southend to Colchester, leading to:
- New accommodation arrangements
- Additional travel or living costs
- Adjustment to a new academic and social environment
- Visa & Compliance Considerations
International students may face concerns regarding:
- Address updates and UKVI compliance
- Administrative delays during the transition
The university has assured full support to ensure visa compliance is maintained.
- Academic Changes
Due to restructuring and job cuts:
- Some courses may be adjusted or merged
- Access to specialised facilities may shift
- Support services could experience delays
- Support Services
Reductions in staff (200 academic + 200 professional roles) may affect:
- Student support response times
- Availability of immigration, welfare, and career guidance
- Access to academic supervision
- Concerns for New Applicants
The closure may impact the confidence of future international applicants seeking long-term campus stability.
Staff Reductions and Restructuring
The University of Essex will implement:
- 200 academic redundancies this year
- 200 professional service role reductions over the next two years
The university will focus all services on its Colchester and Loughton campuses, where enrolments are higher.
Sector-Wide Challenges
The announcement comes amid broader challenges for UK universities, including:
- A decline in international student recruitment
- Rising operational costs
- Heavy reliance on international fee income
- The proposed £925 per-international-student levy from 2028
hile the levy aims to generate £480 million by its third year, experts warn it could result in a £330 million annual loss to English universities, increasing financial pressure on the sector.
University’s Statement
A University of Essex spokesperson reaffirmed:
“Essex will continue as an internationally recognised UK degree-awarding body, with no intention to step back from partnership or transnational education provision.”
According to HESA data, the university enrolled 5,905 international students in 2021/22 before numbers began to fall at Southend.
Outlook
As financial pressures continue to rise, higher-education analysts warn that more English universities may face campus closures, departmental mergers, or reductions in academic offerings if international enrolment does not stabilise.
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