The University of Essex in the UK will lay off 400 people, affected by factors such as a sudden decrease in international students.

The University of Essex in the UK announced on December 2nd that they plan to cut 200 academic positions in the current academic year, and to cut approximately 200 professional service positions in the next two years. The Southend campus will be closed starting from the summer of 2026, where the school's business school and health and social care school are located. The university attributes this decision to a 52% decrease in international student numbers at the campus since the 2021-2022 academic year.