The University of East Anglia

Summary

History

There were attempts to establish a university in Norwich as early as 1919 but it was not until 1960 that the University of East Anglia was given the go ahead. The Earlham golf course was chosen as its site and work began in 1961. The university was originally based in the present-day University Village, with space for about 1200 students. It admitted its first cohort of 87 students in 1963. The first permanent university buildings opened late 1966. In 1973 Sir Robert and Lady Lisa Sainsbury donated their vast collection of world art to the University and work began on the Sainsbury Centre, which opened its doors to the public in 1978. In 2000 UEA's state-of-the-art Sportspark opened. The INTO centre opened in 2007, offering high quality preparation for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

University Environment

The University of East Anglia is located on a campus on the outskirts of the historic city of Norwich. The campus is situated in 130 hectares of beautiful parkland and therefore has a large amount of green space. The campus combines natural beauty, historic grade two listed buildings and modern flair. It has won more than 20 architectural awards. Almost all university buildings are within walking distance from each other and almost every student need is catered for on campus. There are a number of shops and plenty of places to eat and drink.

Academics

Colleges/Schools/Faculties

Faculty of Arts and Humanities

• School of Art, Media and American Studies
• School of History
• School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing
• School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies
• Interdisciplinary Institute for the Humanities

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

• Norwich Medical School
• School of Health Sciences

Faculty of Science

• School of Biological Sciences
• School of Chemistry
• School of Computing Sciences
• School of Environmental Sciences
• School of School of Actuarial Sciences
• School of Engineering

Faculty of Social Sciences

• School of Economics
• School of Education and Lifelong Learning
• School of Geography
• School of International Development
• Law School
• Norwich Business School
• School of Psychology
• School of Social Work

Research

UEA was ranked in the world’s top 50 for research citations in the Times Higher Education World rankings 2019. UEA was 10th in the UK for quality of research outputs (Times Higher Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 analysis) and UK Top 25 for research quality (Times Higher REF 2014 analysis).

Over 82% of UEA research is rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in REF 2014, confirming UEA’s position as a premier research institution making a substantial impact on the global challenges facing society. Social Work is one of UEA’s highest-achieving individual subjects, with almost half of its research ranked world-leading and an overall position of 4th in the UK.

Also ranked 4th in the country is International Development, with American Studies and Languages collectively ranked in 5th place. UEA’s Food Science research also fared well at 8th place. And a further three subject areas, each achieved 10th place in their Units of Assessment – English, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences.

International & Industrial Opportunities 

Lot of degrees at UEA include the chance to study abroad, giving students a unique perspective on their chosen subject. Students can choose from over 100 universities and colleges throughout the USA, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The University is also an active participant in the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme with links at more than 90 partner institutions in countries in Europe. Students can participate in study aboard across the globe for one semester or a full year.

Many courses at UEA offer students the chance to spend a year in industry. This gives them the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical environment and can greatly enhance their CVs.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships

The University of East Anglia currently offers nearly 200 scholarships and prizes to students across the academic spectrum, the majority of which are awarded on an annual basis. These may be available to students from a certain faculty or to all students at the university. Below are some examples of the scholarships available to the undergraduate students; for a complete list of scholarships, please see the UEA website.

The Difference Undergraduate Scholarships are offered annually to UK undergraduate students with a household income less than £30,000 studying at any of the UEA’s schools. The award value is £9000 split across the duration of study and can be used towards either the tuition fees or for maintenance.

The UEA Elite Sport Scholarship is for undergraduate students currently ranked in the top 10 in their sport nationally or be part of the national squad within their chosen sport (UK home nations or EU countries). This scholarship is both financial and support based, and has a value of £3000 (£1000 annually).

The EU Scholarships are awarded to EU citizens who achieve a high standard in their pre-university qualifications and be liable for ‘EU’ fee status. The award is up to £3,000 (£1,000 per year for the duration of the course).

Bursaries

Bursaries are offered to support students based on household income or social factors. UK students do not need to apply for bursary support, they are all automatically considered, whereas EU students will need to apply for an income assessment. Eligible students will be contacted by the university around the course start date. Bursaries cannot be combined (but students can receive both a bursary and a scholarship if eligible).

Facilities

Learning Facilities

UEA’s library holds over 800,000 volumes of books and journals as well as collections of specialist materials, including government publications, DVDs, music scores and periodicals. Around 16,000 titles are added to its collections annually. The Extensive Online library catalogue and search tools can be accessed from home or from the library’s 270 computers, or via a smartphone.

UEA provides its students with more than 1,400 workspaces. It has 42 individual study rooms in total: all individual study rooms have power points and wireless network access is available throughout the Library building, and some rooms are also equipped with a PC. There are 16 individual study booths, with each booth supplied with power and a lamp. There are 20 bookable group study rooms of different sizes in the Library building, some can accommodate between 6 and 16 people. Some group study rooms have a PC and whiteboard.

There is a staffed Helpdesk to help you with your Library enquiries in person, by phone, or by email. In addition, there are also Academic Librarians to support you with finding information, Library workshops and a lot of information and training available online. The Library and IT Helpdesk are open seven days a week during term time.

There is a free wireless network throughout the library, and a high-speed wired and wireless network throughout the University. The University network is also accessible from anywhere in the world.

The Learning Enhancement Team provides free and confidential tutorials, workshops to help students achieve their full potential,  including: study skills; mathematics and statistics; academic writing; and use of English. A wide range of study guide materials is also available, including specialist study support for international students and students with specific learning difficulties.

Sporting Facilities

The University of East Anglia’s £30 million Sportspark is one of the finest sports complexes in Britain and is unrivalled by any British university. The facilities available include an Olympic-sized swimming pool, badminton, squash, basket and volleyball courts, an indoor arena, floodlit hockey and football pitches, a five-a-side Soccerpark, a fitness centre with state-of- the-art cardiovascular and weight lifting equipment, martial arts and dance studios, a gymnastics and trampolining centre and an indoor climbing wall.

As well as the University’s excellent facilities, there are over 60 different sports clubs for students to get involved in to keep fit or just for fun.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

As well as running shops, bars and a nightclub, the UEA Students’ Union represents student interests to the University, locally and nationally, and runs campaigns aimed at positive change. By joining the Students Union students can put forward their opinions and lend their voices to the issues that matter to them.

The Union offers over 60 Sports Clubs and 160 Student Societies to students, including those for climate change, photography, music, media and sports. It can also help students to set up new societies. The Union runs both the on-campus live music venue, the LCR which hosts more than 60 gigs a year, and the city-based Waterfront, one of Norwich’s best-loved nightclubs and alternative music venues.

In addition to representation, the Union provides professional support and advice on academic, welfare and housing issues to individual students, as well as running our own housing bureau, Home Run.

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

UEA's Multifaith Centre is a spiritual meeting place and community centre on campus. They are open for staff and students from 10 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday during semester time and on Sunday evenings for services. Facilities include a large Common Room with easy chairs and a kitchen, two Quiet Rooms for individuals or small groups to spend time in contemplation or prayer, and a large Worship Room for religious services. The Multifaith Centre is open to students of all faiths, including those without a specific belief system. The University does however, employ chaplains for the following faiths: The Church of England, The Coptic Orthodox Church, The Eastern Orthodox Church, the free churches, Quakerism, Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.

Health & Wellbeing

UEA has an on-campus Medical Centre with GP services, specialist clinics and visiting practitioners. They also have an on campus Dean of Students' Office, NHS dental practice, a Boots pharmacy and an on-site nursery for student parents.

The UEA Wellbeing Service offers confidential help and support to those with disabilities, mental health issues or personal difficulties. The offers include: self-help resources; workshops; and talking therapies (counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy) for e.g. anxiety, low mood, body image and much more. Likewise, Financial Advisers can help you navigate financial emergencies, manage hardship fund applications and offer budgeting advice.

Students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties can find help from the University’s Disability Service. They can assist students with: information and advice on planning for university life and study; specialist study skills tuition; Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) applications and process, assessment of study support needs; accommodation requirements; examination arrangements; provision additional study support; and loan laptops and other equipment.

Career Facilities

Students at UEA have access to a dedicated careers base, Career Central, which runs, among other things, CV writing and interview skills workshops. They can also find specialist careers advice from within their School of Study. Throughout their degree, students can meet people from industry at networking events, and try out different careers through internship and work placement opportunities. The university runs a vacancy service for part-time jobs, graduate level work, work experience and volunteering roles, as well as, Springboard, a specific, campus-based program offering paid internships. Students also have access to UEA’s summer internship program and their mentoring program.

Open in 2015, the UEA Enterprise Centre is a dedicated start-up incubator. It aims to bring together teaching and learning facilities with work spaces for local companies and act as a dedicated space for aspiring student entrepreneurs to grow and develop their business ideas. Students have access to the services and support they need to become fully fledged entrepreneurs, including one-to-one business coaching, mentors, skills workshops, grants and funding, competitions and more. Students can also run their businesses out of the Centre, with a range of tenancy options on offer to meet changing needs as businesses grow.

Accommodation

The UEA has 4000 fully furnished rooms, available for student accommodation. All students are guaranteed a room in halls in their first year (subject to restrictions and conditions). Most of the university’s student accommodation is located directly on campus except the 700 rooms located in the university village, located next to the university’s entrance, and about 244 rooms located in the city centre. All rooms are self-catered, but there is a mix of ensuite and shared bathrooms available. Free wireless internet is available in all study bedrooms.

UEA has some of the best value student accommodation when comparing prices across the country's top 30 universities and having twice been ranked first in the UK by the What Uni – Student Choice Awards. A range of shops, several bars, a collection of eateries, the Sportspark, the Drama Studio, the Library, the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts and the LCR live music venue are all within a few minutes walk from the halls of residence.

International

English Language Requirements

International applicants are required to provide evidence of proficiency in the English language, if English is not their first language. The English Language requirement is as follows:

International Scholarships

International Undergraduate Scholarships are designed to reward international (non-EU) applicants who have been offered a place to study with UEA and who can clearly and concisely explain how studying at UEA will help them to make an outstanding contribution to their chosen field of study as well as the wider UEA community. In addition, you will need to be independently funding your studies. The award is a minimum of a £2,000 first year tuition fee discount, whilst a large number of successful applicants will be upgraded to fee discounts of£4,000, £6,000 or £10,000 per year of study.

UK International Foundation Scholarships reward performance on your International Foundation programme taken in the UK. An unlimited number of awards are available from £1,000 to £5,000 depending on the grades you achieved.

International Support

Before you arrive a helpful Pre-Departure Guide for International Students will give you information and advice to prepare you for studying in the UK. You’ll receive guidance on everything from preparing to travel, to health care, to immigration regulations. International Office staff are available to help you with any queries you might have about studying at UEA. The University staff regularly attends education events overseas and if you can’t meet them in person please contact one of the International Student Ambassadors who will be happy to help. This team of student ambassadors from over 30 different countries is dedicated to helping you through the process of course selection, application and enrolment. They have dedicated webpages, Facebook sites and email addresses.

When you join the University, you’ll attend a special orientation programme where you can meet other UEA students and find out more about living and studying in Britain.

Throughout the academic year you’ll get to attend fun social events, and will be supported by a dedicated International Student Advisory Team. You’ll also have the chance to join the International Students Society and many smaller societies for students from different countries.

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