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University of Chester

Flag_GB icon United Kingdom
Overview

Overview

The University of Chester is one of the longest-established higher education providers in the UK, having recently celebrated its 184th year of teaching. Originally based on one campus in Chester, it now offers more than 200 single and combined honours programmes across several specialist sites.

Over the years, the University of Chester has built a vibrant, diverse, and supportive student community, with 14,000 students originating from over 100 countries worldwide. In 2023, it ranked in the top 10 UK universities for international students (WhatUni Student Choice Awards), with reviews highlighting the university's dedication to providing its international cohort with life-changing learning and cultural experiences.

Courses place an emphasis on practical learning, encouraging students to build transferable skills and enhancing career prospects via industry placements or overseas opportunities. The University of Chester prides itself on its high graduate employment rate of 91.5 percent, with a large number of students finding employment or progressing to further education within six months of graduation.

Students are offered a range of financial support at all levels of study. This includes generous international and merit-based scholarships, which provide a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fees.

The city of Chester blends modern standards of living with a rich and vibrant history and culture. One of eight world-famous British Heritage cities, the city welcomes over eight million tourists each year. Boasting the largest Roman amphitheatre in Britain, the most complete city walls, and a 1,000-year-old cathedral, it is packed full of 'must see' beauty and heritage.

Chester is well connected to the rest of the UK, with Liverpool and Manchester less than an hour away and London only two hours by train.

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What's new

What's new

Following exceptional student reviews, in July 2023, the University of Chester was ranked in the top 10 UK universities for international students at the WhatUni Student Choice Awards.

The university also received high rankings in the following categories:

  • Postgraduate: 2nd place
  • Lecturers and teaching quality: 3rd place
  • University of the Year: top five

International Student Barometer Survey

The university ranked first in seven categories overall in 2022, including employment and careers advice, employment, and social facilities. It also ranked in the top ten across a number of other categories.

The City of Chester

Chester has ranked in the UK's top 20 student cities, as voted by students (StudentCrowd, 2022). With more than 70 student cities in the UK, this recognition was based on student feedback and examined cost of living, restaurants, night life, shopping, and public transport options within the city.

Chester is consistently ranked as one of the most picturesque cities globally. In 2023, an article from The Independent ranked Chester as the prettiest city in the world, beating cities such as Venice, Italy.

New Programmes and Two-Year Master's

As of 2024, the university now offers two-year master's programmes with a professional placement or project, giving students the chance to get the stand-out experience that future employers are looking for.

Fees for the placement/project year are an additional £2650 on top of the original course fee and eligible programmes include business and management programmes law, tourism and hospitality, computer science, engineering and biological science.

The 2024/5 academic year also introduces lots of new programmes including:

  • LLM Law
  • LLM International Business and Commercial Law
  • MSc Financial Technology (FinTech) and Business Analytics
  • MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • MSc Management of Information Systems & Digital Innovation
  • MSc Applied Artificial Intelligence
  • MSc International Fashion Retail Marketing
  • MSc International Tourism and Hospitality Management
  • MSc Innovation and Entrepreneurship

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Scholarships & Student Support

Scholarships & Student Support

Funding options

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships to students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Scholarships available to international students at the university include:

  • International scholarships: international and merit-based scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate study provide significant reductions to tuition fees.

  • International Alumni Scholarship: current University of Chester international undergraduate students are eligible for the International Merit Alumni Scholarship when progressing on to a postgraduate programme at the university.

Student Services

The University of Chester ranks in the top 10 in the UK for student support (WhatUni Student Choice Awards, 2023) and its dedicated student services team is on hand to offer a wealth of information and advice. A variety of services are on offer, including wellbeing and mental health support, disability and inclusion provision, and financial advice.

All international students are provided with an induction programme from the international student experience team. This pack contains pre-arrival information, a welcome week timetable including welcome events, and specific guidance for settling in the UK, such as setting up a bank account, organising visas, registering with a doctor, and more.

Chester Students' Union and Athletics' Union

The Chester Students' Union (CSU) plays a key role in supporting students. CSU represents the student body and works closely with university staff to make sure that the student voice is heard.

CSU also has a range of student societies, including a great selection of international student societies.

Students can become a member of a range of societies that the CSU offer, including a great selection of international student societies, or join one of the many sports clubs through the Athletics' Union. These groups provide opportunities to make friends and to feel more at home whilst studying.

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Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements

International applicants must meet both the English language and the academic entry requirements for their chosen course.

Entry requirements may differ between courses, so it's recommended that applicants check the requirements for their specific course before applying.

International students can also check the requirements for qualifications obtained in their home country.

English language requirements

To study at the University of Chester, students must demonstrate their English language proficiency as follows:

  • International Foundation Programme: IELTS for UKVI, overall score of 4.5 (minimum 4.0 in each sub-skill)
  • Integrated Foundation/Undergraduate: IELTS Academic overall score of 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each sub-skill)
  • Postgraduate: IELTS Academic overall score of 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each sub-skill)

Equivalent qualifications, such as country-specific qualifications, are also accepted. The university offers its own University of Chester English Language Test to students.

While entry criteria vary, generally, applicants require:

  • International Foundation Programme: a school-leaving qualification equivalent to British GCSEs, and English proficiency equivalent to IELTS 4.5 overall (minimum 4.0 in each sub-category)
  • Integrated Foundation Year with a Bachelor's Degree: a school-leaving qualification equivalent to British GCSEs, and English proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each sub-category)
  • Undergraduate/Bachelor's Degree: a school-leaving qualification equivalent to British A-level/International Baccalaureate is typically required, and English proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each sub-category)
  • Postgraduate Taught/Masters' Degree: an undergraduate/bachelor's degree of equivalent standard to the British undergraduate/bachelor's degree is required, and English proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in each sub-category)

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Department and Faculties

Department and Faculties

Teaching Quality

The University of Chester has been recognised for its high quality in teaching, with particular areas of excellence including its appointment, development, and promotion of teaching staff. In 2023, the university received an overall Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

The university's teaching staff are highly qualified with extensive industry experience in their subject areas. Many have taught overseas and are able to communicate effectively with students from all backgrounds.

In the 2024 Complete University Guide's subject league tables, the University of Chester ranked in the top 10 universities in the UK for tourism, transport, travel, and heritage studies, and in the top 50 for accounting and finance.

The university also ranked 1st in the North West for career prospects, 4th in Hospitality, Event Management and Tourism and top 10 for social work, and theology and religious studies, in the Guardian University Guide 2024.

Department Structure

The university is divided into three faculties, with each one specialising in the provision of high-quality teaching across a variety of academic disciplines. The faculties are:

  • Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences 
  • Faculty of Health, Medicine and Society
  • Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise 

These faculties enable the university to benefit from the connections that exist between subjects and disciplines. This provides collaboration opportunities between departments and helps develop new areas of teaching and research expertise.

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Campus and Facilities

Campus and Facilities

The University of Chester currently boasts four city-centre campuses in Chester, with additional sites in nearby Warrington and Shrewsbury.

Chester sites

  • Exton Park: The historic Exton Park campus hosts the majority of central facilities at the university. This includes the student union bar, a wide range of indoor and outdoor leisure and fitness facilities, and the Seaborne Library. It is also home to a variety of catering outlets and university accommodation.
  • Queen's Park: Queen's Park is home to the award-winning Chester Business School, alongside a specialised business library, group and private study spaces, and cutting-edge computer suites.
  • Kingsway: The modern Kingsway campus, also known as the ‘creative campus', offers a variety of workshops, rehearsal spaces, and bespoke studios for rehearsal and performance. All of these provide excellent equipment, a range of cutting-edge creative technologies, and study spots.
  • Wheeler: The Wheeler Building hosts a wide range of facilities for students of various disciplines, ranging from cutting-edge simulation suites to science labs, art spaces and state-of-the-art virtual reality technology. All in addition to a wealth of computer and multimedia rooms, study spaces and the Wheeler campus library, with its extensive collection of resources.

Warrington

The University Centre Warrington provides students with excellent access to its facilities in a convenient town-centre location. Students can make use of a range of quality study and learning spaces, as well as being a short way from the city's services, transport connections, and shops.

Shrewsbury

Home to the University Centre, Shrewsbury provides access to a number of high tech computer suites, a modern library, well-equipped laboratories, and a range of fitness, social, and study spaces. It also offers musical theatre students' easy access to the nearby, prestigious Theatre Severn.

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Graduate Employment Rate

Graduate Employment Rate

An impressive 91.5 percent of the University of Chester's full-time students are found to be in employment or progress in to further study soon after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2020/21).

Courses at the University of Chester place an emphasis on practical learning and enhance students' employment prospects through industry placements and overseas opportunities, which can range in duration from five weeks to one year.

The majority of the university's undergraduate degrees have been designed to incorporate a work-based learning module in their second year. This usually takes place in the form of a five-week placement at a professional workplace and may occur in the UK or abroad.

Furthermore, many business students take the opportunity to study a four-year programme at the university, which includes a desirable 12-month industrial work placement.

Careers service

The University of Chester offers its students extensive careers support through its careers and employability service.

Students benefit from a full range of services, including:

  • One-to-one career planning sessions
  • Help with CV writing
  • Assistance with job applications
  • Interview practice
  • Careers workshops
  • Employer masterclasses, delivered by employers

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1333
International students

Average cost of living in United Kingdom

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1201st  / 1250

THE World ranking

How to Apply
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