We appreciate that things don't always go according to plan, you may be concerned about your grades, 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 put together a full programme of fun events for students to get to know each other. The programme will be available nearer Welcome Week.
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.
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.
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. 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 is located 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 K-Pop and a Gaming 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, 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 is 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. University Centre Warrington is 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) or Shrewsbury sites, meaning you’re never far from your new friends. Please contact our Accommodation team if you are looking for accommodation in Warrington.
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.
Yes - there are a range of bursaries and scholarships available to eligible students. From the Chester Bursary to a Foundation Year Bursary, Care Experienced 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.
Chester Students’ Union (CSU) offers a great selection of on-campus entertainment and activities designed to enhance your university experience.
The CSU has a range of societies including Anime, Gaming, Marvel, Photography and more.
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 Dance and MMA. With all of our sporting facilities conveniently located on our central Exton Park Campus it makes being part of a sports team even easier.
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, 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 things change and you may want to defer your place. 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
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. 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. 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.
