University of Chester

The University of Chester is one of the oldest higher education providers in the United Kingdom having recently celebrated its 185^th year of teaching. The university was established in 1839 as a teacher training college and was originally based on a single campus in Chester. Today, the university 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. The university recently placed 1^st for International, Postgraduate, and Student Support, and 2^nd for University of the Year in the 2024 WhatUni Student Choice Awards. In December 2024, the university celebrated winning Business School of the Year in this year's Times Higher Education Awards.

Chester's courses emphasise practical learning, encouraging students to build transferable skills and enhance career prospects via industry placements or overseas opportunities. The university prides itself on its high graduate employment rate, with 91.5 per cent 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, including a generous programme of international and merit-based scholarships.

The city of Chester blends modern standards of living with a rich and vibrant cultural history. One of eight world-famous British Heritage cities, Chester 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 attractions.

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.

Funding options

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

Scholarships available to international students include:

• International scholarships: international and merit-based scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate study provide significant reductions to tuition fees.
• International Alumni Scholarship: current 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 1^st place in the UK for student support (WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2024) 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 also 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.

Teaching Quality

The University of Chester has been recognised for its high quality in teaching, with particular areas of excellence including the appointment, development, and promotion of teaching staff.

The university currently occupies an overall Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework, with its highly qualified staff boasting extensive industry experience in their subject areas. Many have taught overseas and are able to communicate effectively with students from all backgrounds.

Additionally, the university achieved top ten subject rankings in nutrition, food science, theology, religious studies, and children's nursing, as well as placing in the top 20 per cent for the ‘value-added' for students (Guardian, 2025).

Department Structure

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

• 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.

The university currently boasts four city-centre campuses in Chester, with an additional site nearby in Warrington.

Chester sites

• Exton Park: The historic Exton Park campus hosts the majority of central facilities at the university. This includes the students' 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

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

Courses 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 12-month industrial work placement.

Careers service

The University of Chester offers its students extensive 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

The university's Chester Difference Award (CDA) provides students who have chosen to participate in extra-curricular activities alongside their studies with additional employability prospects.

University of Chester graduates can access most careers and employability services for up to two years after graduation. Furthermore, they are also able to access the CareersHub, a platform designed to assist students in their search for employment and find competitive roles in their chosen field.

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:

• 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. For more information, prospective students can visit the university website.

While entry criteria vary between courses and levels of study, applicants generally require:

• 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)