Clearing FAQs

• Yes, all being well, you should plan to be at the University of Chester in person from the start of the autumn term.
• In line with the advice from the UK government’s Chief Medical Officer, all of our academic departments are making plans for in person, socially distanced teaching from September onwards.
• If your course involves work-place based placements, such as nursing, midwifery, physician associates, medicine and teacher-training, you will be able to continue to attend these placements in accordance with the current guidelines.
• Like many universities across the UK, we are closely following Government updates and guidance on social distancing. We are also working closely with higher education governing bodies such as the Office for Students, UCAS and Universities UK as well as our own Students’ Union to ensure we are putting our students’ needs first.
• There is nothing more important to us than making sure that we are delivering a high-quality student experience, and the University has proven itself to be very adaptable during the pandemic with teaching being successfully delivered online via ‘The Chester Blend’ and our students reporting that they have felt very well supported by their academic departments and their Personal Academic Tutors (PATs).

• Please visit our Term Dates page. For any course specific queries, please contact your academic department.
• Welcome Week (Freshers' Week) is from Sunday 18th September 2022 until Friday 23rd September 2022.

• We appreciate that you may be concerned about your grades due to the pandemic, and as a result you may be worried that you will not be accepted onto your chosen course.
• If you fail to meet the conditions of your offer, this doesn’t mean your application will necessarily be unsuccessful. It may be that we can confirm your place but this is dependent on a number of factors. These include:
  • Information contained within your original application;
  • Performance at audition/interview (where applicable).
• The important thing to remember is that we don’t automatically reject an application if grades haven’t been met. We cannot lower the conditions of any offer made, but on results day you should call us, as our admissions team may be able to help you

• Colleagues from across the University, alongside the Students’ Union, have been working hard to create new and innovative ways for students to be able to engage with each other.
• A wide range of activities are being planned in line with government guidance.

• Yes. We are planning to open all accommodation and will be able to guarantee either our own or partnership accommodation.
• Our student accommodation houses will be classed as households and will therefore follow the guidance of a normal household. All properties will receive a deep clean and process of sanitisation pre-arrival.
• For larger properties such as Halls of Residence, all properties will receive a deep clean and process of sanitisation pre- arrival.
• We will continue to sanitise all communal areas and high touch points on a regular basis throughout the year.

• All of our undergraduate students are assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) who can offer advice and guidance relating to your course, whenever you need it.
• We’ve also got Study Skills Advisers who are there to help you reach your academic potential. They provide advice on everything from grammar and referencing to critical thinking, and offer a range of ways to help you to develop your academic skills, including a provision of online resources, seminars on a range of topics and one-to-one appointments.
• All of this support is currently being provided to our students, following social distancing guidelines.

• We’re committed to supporting your development throughout your academic journey and offer a range of support tailored to you, from help and advice on financial issues to study skills support.
• We also have a Wellbeing and Mental Health team that spans across all our campuses ensuring that students get the most out of their university experience and feel safe and at home in Chester. Our teams provide students with practical information, support and guidance about any issues that may be affecting their experience.
• All of this support is currently being provided to our students, following social distancing guidelines.

• Welcome Week is a very exciting time at university; with new starters arriving and our second and third-year students returning, there is a real buzz in the city. It’s a chance for students to meet the new people they’re going to live with or study alongside and find out what university has to offer, and it’s also a great opportunity to build up some confidence in a new environment and adjust to living away from home. We may have to amend our schedule to meet social distancing requirements, but our aim is that a full programme of events is available for students to get to know their new friends.
• To keep up-to-date with what’s being planned, follow us on Instagram at uoc_induction

• Try not to worry! Moving away from home is a big step for anyone, even if it is a city that you know really well. It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous. Remember that a lot of people around you at university will be in exactly the same position.
• You’ll find very quickly that you will make friends through halls, lectures, clubs and sporting events.
• In terms of what to bring to university accommodation, it varies depending on which accommodation you’ve been allocated (self-catered, full-board, and so on). Decorating your room with personal items can help make your room feel a bit more like home in those first few weeks of settling in. The Student Room have also made a handy 'What to take to university' checklist: this includes a good pillow, an alarm clock, lamp, mug, and a laundry basket amongst other things.

• You can apply for a student parking permit if your return commute to the learning site is more than 10 miles, although spaces are not guaranteed. Chester is well served for public transport and the train station is a short walk away. All Chester learning sites are within walking distance. University Centre Warrington currently offers parking on the learning site itself, and following the relocation of this learning site late 2022, will then be within the town centre with access to larger multi-storey car parks. University Centre Shrewsbury is located in the centre of the town with a large car park next door. Unfortunately, due to restrictions on parking spaces we’re unable to extend parking facilities to students living on, or close to, the University, except in the case of extenuating circumstances.
• We do allow car parking at the beginning of term and end of term for the purpose of delivering/collecting personal belongings. If you have any queries about this, please contact The Estates and Facilities Department at: parking@chester.ac.uk

• University has always had a reputation for drinking, whether it’s stories you’ve heard or what you’ve seen on TV. But once you’re at university, you will find that there are quite a few people who don’t drink. Whether it’s for religious reasons, medical reasons, health reasons or just because they don’t enjoy it, there will be lots of people like you.
• The Students' Union Freshers’Week activities are usually alcohol-free to include as many people as possible in the fun.
• There are lots of different activities you can get involved with at university that don’t involve drinking, such as our Sports and Societies that have a little something for everyone (from American football and fencing, to Disney and a Dog Walkers society).

• There are plenty of part-time work opportunities that are flexible around your studies. We have a range of vacancies with local and national employers through our central online CareerHub access point, as well as offering an on-campus job bank called Unijob run by the Careers and Employability team at Chester. Chester’s learning sites in Chester, Shrewsbury and Warrington are well placed for students to get part-time jobs in restaurants, shops and bars.
• If you’re interested in building up new skills for your CV whilst at university, we also have a wide range of extracurricular activities you can get involved with.

• At Chester, we're a mix – our Residential Exton Park site has everything you need, such as sports facilities, a large library with computer facilities accessible 24 hours a day (temporary restrictions are in place currently due to COVID 19), and the Students’ Union.
• We've also got specialist teaching campuses, all located near to the city.
• Our University Centre Warrington has a close-knit community feel and has everything you need on site, including accommodation. Following the relocation of this learning site in late 2022, teaching and accommodation will then be conveniently based within the town centre.
• Our Shrewsbury site is located in the town centre just a stone’s throw from the accommodation.

• The University's various Chester sites are all within a short walking distance of the city centre, whilst University Centre Warrington is just a short distance from Warrington town centre and is well connected with public transport. However, following the relocation of this learning site in late 2022, students will then be within the heart of Warrington town centre.
• Warrington blends the activity of city life with the calmness of rural living and is well connected with public transport.
• The Shrewsbury site is located in the town centre.

• Our accommodation is conveniently situated to ensure that students can really get the most out of their University of Chester experience. Most University-owned and partnership accommodation is located either on or very close to our Exton Park (Chester), Warrington or Shrewsbury sites, meaning you’re never far from your new friends.
• Our welcoming community is the perfect introduction to your new home from home, allowing you to adapt and make new friends as soon as you arrive. We offer a range of accommodation types, from self-catered through to full board, and in different styles, from small self-contained houses, to large, traditional halls of residence.
• For those interested in private sector accommodation, we work closely with private providers and can advise you on a range of accredited accommodation.
• A breakdown of prices is available on the Accommodation options page.

• Yes - there are a range of bursaries and scholarships available to eligible students. From the Chester Bursary to a Foundation Year Bursary, Care Leavers Bursary and many more.
• The University also sets out to provide equal opportunities for under-represented groups in higher education with an exclusive Inspiring Futures Programme.
• There is also financial support for eligible Nursing and Midwifery students.
• To find out more information and how you can apply for a bursary, check out our finance pages.

• According to the National Student Survey (NSS) 2020, we are second in the North West for Student Experience and 1st for Student Voice – it means we listen to our students to make sure they are happy. Chester Students’ Union (CSU) offers a great selection of on-campus entertainment and activities designed to enhance your university experience.
• The CSU has over 80 societies which include Film, Barbershop, RuPaul’s Drag Race and Music.
• If you want to get involved in playing sport, our Athletics’ Union offers a wide range of opportunities with everything from Football and Badminton, to Yoga and Quidditch. With all of our sporting facilities conveniently located on our central Parkgate Road Campus it makes being part of a sports team even easier. Since social distancing has been introduced, the University has developed it’s Chester Rules programme of activity including adapted versions of team sports and range of healthy activities designed to help students get and stay fit.
• CSU represents its members, giving a voice to the whole student body, and its aim is to exceed your expectations of university life and to enjoy your time in Chester as much as possible.
• With the city centre only a short walk from Exton Park, you will have plenty of time to explore all this beautiful city has to offer. And as the nightlife continues to start up, you can discover bands and DJs playing across the city every night of the week. Up and coming artists can be found at venues such as Telford’s Warehouse, The Live Rooms or Alexander’s Live, which also hosts a regular comedy night and big names at the city’s cultural hub, Storyhouse. Home to traditional pubs, quirky cocktail bars and clubs with a range of music and themes, Chester’s nightlife offers variety and atmosphere – it won’t take you and your friends long to find your favourites.
• Enjoying yourself outside of your studies can also improve your graduate prospects too, with a range of University-wide volunteering and UniJob opportunities available. Check out our website to learn all about student life at Chester.

• The University has built its facilities with the students in mind. After all, there is more to student life than studying.
• Our various learning sites across Chester, as well as University Centres’ in Warrington and Shrewsbury, offer offer a range of facilities that will allow you plenty of opportunities to socialise and make new friends.
• From modern library facilities, to an on-campus bar, catering facilities and sports and societies, there is something to make sure that every student’s experience is one they’ll never forget.

• Entry requirements can vary slightly from year to year, depending on the subjects you choose. Each course has its own entry requirements, which can be found in more detail on the individual course pages.
• Our general entry policy requires applicants to have:
  • A good level of literacy and numeracy (GCSE grade C or above in Maths and English Language or suitable equivalent);
  • Experience or interest relevant to the course(s) for which you have applied.
• We recognise:
  • A mixture of study modes (e.g. mixes of A Level, Pearson BTEC qualifications, Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications);
  • Points and grades achieved in A Level General Studies.
• If your qualifications were completed some time ago and you are not sure whether they are appropriate for your chosen subject(s) of study, please contact Undergraduate Admissions (enquiries@chester.ac.uk) and we will be happy to discuss your options with you.

• We understand these are unprecedented times and you may want to defer your place. Please be reassured that you will receive a quality student experience at Chester this year, whatever the future holds. You can contact our Admissions team who will be able to help with your application, including deferrals, if you have any questions. Their email address is admissions@chester.ac.uk

Yes but *subject to travel restrictions being lifted.

• Work Placements
  • There are plenty of opportunities for you to go on work placements and you can choose to stay in the UK or work abroad*.
  • Our nationally renowned Work Based Learning module allows you to undertake a work placement anywhere in the UK over five weeks in your second year*. The module means you can explore different career options, develop key skills and crucial ‘on-the-job’ work experience, and completion of the module means you gain credits towards your degree.
  • Or you can travel overseas on our Experiential Learning module which acts as an overseas alternative to Work Based Learning*. Current placement opportunities include the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.
• Study Abroad
  • A range of our courses offer the opportunity to study abroad which means you could have a chance for a full academic year abroad. Our dedicated Study Abroad team offers incredible pastoral support and will be there to help you from the moment you apply. With links to over 300 institutions across the world, there is an incredible range of places for you to choose from and explore.*

• In the past, students have tended to have around 15 hours of contact time with their tutors per week, which is split into lectures and seminar sessions. We have also been delivering our unique blended learning ‘Chester Blend’ - a combination of virtual and in-person teaching - since before the pandemic, and will continue to operate this way so we can offer students the best of both worlds. However, before you begin to schedule in those daily socials with friends, a lot of your work at university will be done independently, meaning you should plan in your own additional time to study each week.

• Before Covid-19, around 50% of our students commuted at least some of the time.