We’ve heard from students who are studying abroad, have been on amazing field trips, and who have got stuck in with clubs and societies and gained a raft of new skills to boast their CVs. Here's our round up of just a few.
It can be daunting starting university and moving away from home for the first time. But we like to think that the University is a welcoming environment, and Elouise agrees with us. She says Chester feels like a home away from home and there’s always lots going on in the city.
Georgia made the move and has made some amazing memories and made some great friends in the process too. She enjoyed studying Religious Studies and loves Chester so much that she is staying on to do a postgraduate course.
It’s great to hear how much our students enjoy their studies and some of the amazing experiences they’ve had as part of their course.
Aria is studying Archaeology and enjoys the hands-on experiences such as artefact lab analysis. The courses offers a real mix of learning styles, from lectures and seminars to practical fieldwork and workshops. Aria has also had the opportunity to dig trenches and explore the ruins of the nearby Beeston Castle.
Meanwhile, Sports Journalism student Peter has recently completed his studies and will soon be graduating. Having supportive lecturers can also make a big difference during your studies - that’s part of the reason why at Chester we have personal academic tutors (PATs) for all our students throughout their studies. Peter says that especially during his final year, they really supported and motivated him to achieve his goals. He credits the opportunity to work on a project with a football club as key to helping him to learn and develop the skills needed to secure a graduate role.
Your studies can help to shape your future career goals and aspirations. As part of Kyra’s Drama and Theatre Studies degree, she explored anxiety through red nose clowning. She now is looking forward to in the future helping others through performance.
It isn’t all work and no play; Chester Students’ Union have over 100 sports and societies that students can join. We have everything from a Disney to video gaming. There’s plenty of sport to get involved with too - we’ve got American Football, equestrian and rowing to name just a few.
During the first few weeks of term many of the sports and societies offer taster sessions, so you can see what it’s like before you sign up. We’d definitely recommend giving a few of them a go. Leah did just that and tried Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) for the first time - she hasn’t looked back since.
If that’s not for you, how about Quidditch? Lucy joined Quidditch and ended up becoming the club captain. In addition to meeting new people, being club captain helped Lucy to boost her confidence and CV.
Another way of boosting your CV is taking part in the Work Based Learning module in second year, where students do a five week work placement to enhance their skills and test out future jobs.
Lauren is studying Broadcast Production and Presenting and managed to secure a placement with STV in Scotland. The placement allowed Lauren to gain lots of hands on experience, including generating story ideas, assisting behind the scenes in the gallery and studio. Her hard work and determination paid off as she was allowed to read a live bulletin for the lunchtime news.
Some students do a year in industry as part of their degree. Charlotte managed to secure a placement at BMW. She would definitely recommend a placement year, as it's given her the opportunity to work on a number of marketing campaigns and large scale events including the BMW PGA Championship and Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Another popular option is to study abroad for a year. Caitlin choose to do her year abroad in Australia at Federation University. A year abroad is a great opportunity to experience different cultures and to broaden your horizons.
After spending three or potentially four years studying, it’s important to celebrate! Graduation is a chance to celebrate your achievements with friends and family. Chester Cathedral is a great venue for the momentous occasion. You never know, you could be just like Freia and you won’t be able to stay away from Chester. This could be you in a few years' time!
