THE University of Essex has confirmed that its Southend campus will close next year with courses moved to Colchester.
Southend's campus in the city centre will close next summer ahead of the 2026-27 academic year with all courses moved to the Colchester campus, with 400 redundancies set to hit staff across the university.
The university said it was taking "decisive steps towards a sustainable future" with the move following a decline in international student numbers at the campus which have fallen 52 per cent since 2021-22.
A university spokesperson said the "exceptionally difficult" decision was taken due to "significant financial challenges, with 800 students currently studying at the campus expected to move their studies to Colchester.
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Vice-Chancellor, Professor Frances Bowen, said: “To provide the best environment for our students to flourish we must deliver our mission in a different way.
“This not only means having to operate more efficiently and reduce our costs but also focusing on our strengths and delivering a student experience across the whole university that matches the investment students are making in their own future.
“As a world-class research institution, we are taking action now that strengthens our long-term sustainability and positions Essex for the next 60 years.
“We know this news will cause concern among our staff and students, and we are putting in place additional support to help them throughout this period and updating them regularly.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly but after reviewing all reasonable alternatives, we find ourselves having to make decisions we could have never previously imagined.
“I want to pay tribute to every member of our staff who has played a part in the Southend Campus.
“We are exceptionally proud of the contribution of our staff to Southend over more than 20 years and the graduates they have nurtured across business, theatre, health and social care.
“The work of our staff has and will leave a lasting legacy.”
Redundancies will begin this year with 200 academic posts to be reduced this academic year and approximately 200 professional service roles over the next two years.
It is understood that nothing will change immediately for students at the Southend campus who will continue to study there until the end of summer 2026, with engagement officers working with students from today to offer support.
Have you been impacted by the announcement the University of Essex will be closing its Southend campus?
The University of Essex has announced its Southend campus will be closed and 800 students will relocate to the Colchester campus. Are you a student or the parent of a student who has been impacted by the announcement? We want to hear from you to talk about the impact it will have and the consequences of the closure.
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