The first hotel school of its kind in the UK, Edge Hotel School offers students the unique opportunity to earn their degree whilst gaining invaluable experience within the fully commercial 4* Wivenhoe House Hotel.  Alongside gaining integrated practical experience, students receive exceptional, industry-led teaching from academics with decades of hospitality and events experience from the UK and around the world.
 

STUDY AT edge hotel school

Studying at Edge Hotel School is unlike any other student experience. Students gain real hospitality and events experience and hands-on skills in a 4* hotel based on the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus, whilst studying for their degree. Learning is complemented by experience in Wivenhoe House Hotel where students put their knowledge into practice.

They offer a both undergraduate and postgraduate course options including three-year (or four including a Year Abroad) degrees – all of which will allow you to gain a full BA degree result. They also offer Top Up programmes, designed for those with previous vocational or academic experience seeking to boost their employability and a master’s course.

Students at Edge Hotel School are given endless opportunities to connect and network with hospitality and events professionals, from hotel managers to industry experts, all who can help students to get ahead in their careers. By the end of their course, students will become confident, leading graduates who have both the degree and experience that employers are looking for.

Conveniently located on the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus, Edge Hotel School is all about engaging in experiential learning, so alongside their studies students are required to work and learn within Wivenhoe House Hotel. Wivenhoe House is a 4* country house hotel with a brasserie restaurant and a busy conference and events function. Here students spend a period of their course working real shift patterns alongside a team of expert staff.

Through hands-on practical experience and industry-engaged learning, students at the Edge Hotel School are well-equipped for entering the hospitality and events industry after they graduate. Graduates of the Edge Hotel School often go on to work in high-profile organisations within a wide range of sectors and countries. Many industry experts deliver master classes to support students’ development during your course and the school organises its own careers fair which will provide the opportunity to meet a range of hospitality organisations so that students can network and engage with future employers.
 

HISTORY of edge hotel school

The first hotel school of its kind in the UK, the Edge Hotel School was founded in 2012 by the Edge Foundation in partnership with the University of Essex. The initiative aimed to create a new generation of hospitality leaders equipped with hands on experience within the industry and is widely supported by industry leaders. Undergraduates at Edge Hotel School learn by doing and graduate with both the knowledge and experience to excel in their careers.
 

Edge hotel school FACILITIES 

Edge Hotel School boasts a fully commercial 4* country house hotel named Wivenhoe House Hotel, within which students gain invaluable practical experience as part of their degrees.

Wivenhoe House Hotel hosts over 300 events, including approximately 50 weddings annually and has around 40 rooms spread across its main house and garden suite. This gives students an immediate connection with the hospitality and events industry from day dot.

The hotel is conveniently located directly on the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus, giving students the perfect combination of academic and industry experience all without leaving campus.
 

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS

Edge Hotel School offers a unique learning experience to its students, by ensuring their learning is embedded in industry right from the start.

Over the years, Edge Hotel School has developed strong relationships with professionals across the hospitality and events industry, including big brand names like the Savoy, EDITION Hotels, Exclusive Collection, Dorchester Collection, The Landmark London and many others.

From guest lectures taking place throughout the academic year, to masterclasses and student consultancy projects, students from both hospitality and events courses are given the opportunity to learn from and connect with industry specialists.

Additionally, during their degree, students will have frequent interaction with external industry partners. With an annual Edge Hotel School careers fair providing ample opportunity for students to network with future employers and consultancy/events projects in the final level of their course.
 

STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERNSHIPS

The Edge Hotel School ethos is to deliver industry-engaged education so that their graduates can be at the forefront of shaping the hospitality industry. One way that they achieve this is by offerings students the chance to engage with innovative organisations through internships and work experience.

Students at Edge Hotel School get the opportunity to work with current hospitality leaders during their student holidays to gain essential industry led work experience for when they graduate.
 

EMPLOYABILITY AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Edge Hotel School boasts alumni that are enjoying successful careers across the globe. From Operations Directors to Senior Events Managers of top rated 5* luxury hotels, graduates from Edge Hotel School have gone onto many exciting things. Students at Edge Hotel School are given frequent opportunities to engage with industry and network with other professionals in order to prepare for their future careers. The annual Edge Hotel School Careers Fair and Student Conference allow students to explore future career prospects and bolster their skills.

To further boost the employability of Edge Hotel School students one way that students are assessed throughout their course is the Professional Performance Assessment. This takes the form of a formal interview and is used throughout students’ courses to allow them to reflect, practise and improve interview skills before embarking on interviews for their first graduate roles.
 

Why STUDY AT Edge hotel school

Studying at Edge Hotel School is unlike any other student experience. As the first hotel school of its kind in the UK, students are given the perfect balance of industry focused teaching from exceptional academic staff alongside varied work experience within a real commercial hotel.

As a relatively small department of the University of Essex, Edge Hotel School allows students to be closely involved in two communities. Not only are they students at the University of Essex, they are professional members of the Edge Hotel School, where you are treated not just as students, but as future industry leaders.

Read more about the University of Essex!
 

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?

The information on this page has been submitted by the higher education institution itself, and it varies how frequently they update it. If you want to know more, get in touch and one of our student advisors will answer all your questions!

Across the Pond is the official representative for this teaching institution for selected countries around the world which means we can help you apply to their courses and help with all the documents needed to submit an application. We can help answer questions about their courses and the institution itself as they do not necessarily have the capacity to deal with student enquiries from all around the world on a daily basis. This also means that they can ask us questions about your application and we can help explain if they are not familiar with your grades, academic background or the educational system in your home country. They also appreciate that students who apply through Across the Pond get the help they need, not only in terms of submitting the application and supporting documents, but also with everything needed before arrival in the UK, such as student accommodation, visa information, funding information and well as preparing for departure to the UK.