Studying Essex : coursework

The amount of coursework you'll have to do will vary depending on your degree. Some courses, such as Psychology, give you the choice to opt out of coursework and just do exams, whereas others will require a bit of both. So if writing 3000-word essays isn’t your thing, then have a good look at the individual options your course provides.

In the third (or final) year, some courses offer an Independent Writing Project or Dissertation in place of an actual module. For budding essayists out there, this is the chance for you to write about a specific subject instead of taking a structured exam and writing three essays. However, bear in mind that because this replaces a module, you'll need a certain amount of self-discipline to write 10,000-12,000 words on just one subject. It also has to relate to your actual degree in some way so don’t think you will get away with writing a lengthy discussion on something completely irrelevant to your course, for example, the latest celebrity gossip or who's at the top of the Premier League!

Writing degree level essays is completely different to writing essays at A-level, you have to do much more reading and use several different books (all available from the library) to create your argument and support your opinion. But don’t worry – all of the departments will provide a handbook, and many will hold essay-writing sessions. If you want to find out more, visit your department's website.