The University of East Anglia (UEA) has a strong tradition of research, including from the renowned Climatic Research Unit on campus and the world-leading Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. The £75 million Quadram Institute has a remit to improve health and prevent disease through innovations in microbiology, gut health and food. Another standout strength is UEA’s creative writing course, whose alumni include Ian McEwan, Tracy Chevalier and Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, and the university hosts an annual literary festival. Situated three miles outside Norwich, UEA’s estate reflects its 1960s DNA, and students still use the original grade II* listed Denys Lasdun-designed buildings, including the landmark Ziggurats blocks for accommodation.

What is the University of East Anglia’s reputation?

The university celebrated its 60th birthday last year with a visit from Sir Paul Nurse, the Nobel prize-winning geneticist and UEA alumnus. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) 91 per cent of the university's submission was classified as world-leading or internationally excellent, pushing it up 15 places to enter the top 20 of our research quality index (17th). Highlights included research in agriculture, food and veterinary sciences; development studies; anthropology; history; Earth systems and environmental sciences; and social policy and social work. A triple silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023) highlighted the university’s “outstanding” physical and virtual learning resources “which are tailored and used effectively to support outstanding teaching and learning”. 

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?

More than ten degrees are closing, among them politics and economics, marine sciences, and global development with anthropology. Placement years, study abroad and foundation years are being added to a range of courses. And the medical school now has a four-year graduate-entry programme, with a view to fast-tracking doctors into jobs. 

What are the University of East Anglia’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?

Standard offers range from BBB to AAA. A nuanced approach to contextual offer-making includes the university’s Medicine With a Gateway Year programme. Other degrees may offer one or two grades lower than the standard rate to those who qualify, which was about 10 per cent of entrants in 2023. Nearly one in five (19 per cent) entrants gained their place through clearing.

What are the graduate prospects?

At 35= in our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which tracks how many students have moved on to highly skilled jobs or postgraduate courses within 15 months of finishing their degree, UEA has fallen two places since our previous edition and 11 places since 2022. Its CareerCentral service helps students with internships, work experience placements and mentoring, and the university has links with regional, national and international organisations including Aviva, BT, the National Trust and the National Centre for Writing. Since 2021 UEA has partnered with the Swedish energy company Vattenfall to help to create routes into skilled jobs in the offshore industry.

What is the University of East Anglia’s campus like?

The campus covers nearly 360 acres and includes fens and meadows that are home to otters, deer, hares and rare orchids — as well as the more commonly spotted students, who can enjoy nature trails and a “silent space” in the Dutch garden. A significant project to improve teaching and learning facilities at Lasdun Wall is under way, following the completion in 2021 of Productivity East, a £7.4 million interdisciplinary hub for engineering, technology and management, and the opening of the £30 million New Science Building in 2020. The university has a media suite and an Enterprise Centre to support entrepreneurial skills, while medical students at the £19 million Biomedical Research Centre have access to 360-degree virtual reality headsets. 

Everything you need to know about the University of East Anglia’s student life and wellbeing support

The campus has two live music venues as well as the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, which houses a priceless collection of modern and tribal art in a building designed by Lord (Norman) Foster of Thames Bank. UEA’s Sportspark has an Olympic-size swimming pool, a fitness centre, five sports halls and a climbing wall among its numerous facilities, while Colney Lane sports pavilion has pitches for ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, rugby, cricket and football.

Since UEA’s Student Information Zone (SIZ) opened in 2021 it has handled more than 50,000 student inquiries. Support teams enhance wellbeing through clubs for crafts, gaming and conversation. SIZ also has a Citizen’s Advice Bureau and a “borrow bank”, where students can access smart clothes, games, electronics and sports equipment free of charge. There is support available in the form of wellbeing advisers, talking therapists, advisers specialising in finance, help with visas and learning-enhancement tutors to improve study skills. There are alcohol-free events and all first-years living in halls are required to complete the “consent matters” course.

A new travel and tech fund helps students to replace old or broken laptops and cover unexpected travel expenses related to their studies. UEA also offers a vice-chancellor’s hardship fund and an interactive budgeting workbook.

What do the students say?

“Norwich has something for everyone: green spaces, entertainment to suit any mood and a warm and diverse community that welcomes all.”
Nathan Wyatt, UEA students' union welfare, community, and diversity officer, and international relations and politics graduate

What about student accommodation at the University of East Anglia?

UEA has 3,488 spaces in its halls and endorses another 170 spaces in privately operated accommodation. Prices start at a budget-friendly £90.30 a week for students sharing a twin room. First-years who apply by the deadline are guaranteed accommodation. 

How diverse and inclusive is the University of East Anglia?

It has fallen ten places in our social inclusion index, to 79th. However, it is in the top 20 for its work to close the black achievement gap (minus 11, 18th). UEA’s outreach programmes work with more than 80 schools and colleges across Norfolk and north Suffolk, and it has opened a second education centre for underprivileged students in Great Yarmouth (as well as Norwich) with its charity partner IntoUniversity.

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of East Anglia?

Bursaries of £800 to £2,500 a year can be received as fee waivers, accommodation discounts or cash, and are automatically considered using household income information from Student Finance England. Merit-based scholarships are available in music, sport, social sciences, medicine, the arts and the sciences. In 2024, 60 anniversary scholarships worth £1,000 were handed out, to be spent on extracurricular activities.