University of Essex

‘A new kind of university… where students could live and learn… and research really mattered’ – this was the founding vision of Essex’s first Vice-Chancellor Sir Albert Sloman. The plans were seen as so ground-breaking that Sir Albert was asked to give the prestigious Reith Lectures on BBC Radio in 1963, the year before we opened to explain our cutting-edge approach to study, research and teaching.

In 1964, 122 students arrived at a new university built upon a bold vision. We were small, with big ambitions.

Over five decades we have more than fulfilled our potential, becoming one of the UK’s leading academic institutions. Today, we are a truly global community producing impactful research, with members who thrive on critical thinking, creativity and challenging established conventions to improve the world.

In 2014-15 we celebrated our collective achievements, reflected on our founding years and reminisced about our evolution. We explored six research topics that offered an insight into the scope of the outstanding work our researchers undertake. The Something Fierce exhibition looked into how the architecture and the people shaped Essex’s unique living and learning environment.