Both journalists and press officers are warned of the pitfalls of categorical statements that something is "first" or "unique". Much wiser to point to less tightly defined concepts - a lesson they have clearly learnt at the University of Essex which this week claimed to be the "most international" British university. Counter-bids are sought from institutions who think they can point to more than 104 different nationalities (new arrivals this year include Bulgaria, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan) or 30.8 per cent overseas (including EU) students.