University of Chester

University ranked second-best for international students in the UK

Record number of international students

In September 2019, The University of Chester welcomed its highest ever intake of international students, confirming its reputation as a top institution for overseas students. This eclipsed the previous record set in September 2018.

University of Chester's postgraduate research recognised

The University of Chester was named as one of the best places in the UK for postgraduate research. For the second year in a row, the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) named Chester as one of its top ten universities.

The senior pro-vice chancellor of the university praised the institution's research saying, ''Our research activities make a positive difference to the life and work of the communities we serve and the experience we offer our research students is really excellent."

The University of Chester has been recognised for its high quality in teaching. The university's appointment, development and promotion of teaching staff was one of the areas which was praised.

Lectures are taught at specialist sites which boast state-of-the-art facilities with the university continuing to invest heavily in its infrastructure. Academics have extensive experience in their industry and in The Times Good University Guide 2020, nine university subject areas were ranked top ten in the UK for teaching quality.

The university is divided into seven faculties, each one specialising in providing quality teaching in a variety of academic disciplines. The seven faculties are:

• Faculty of Arts and Humanities
• Chester Business School
• Education and Children's Services
• Health and Social Care
• Medicine, Dentistry and Life Sciences
• Science and Engineering
• Social Science

The University of Chester has a strong commitment to ensuring that students feel safe whilst studying at the university. The university has numerous services, procedures and interventions in place in order to ensure the safety of the university community.

In 2019, the university was ranked as the safest city-based university in the North West of England by the Complete University Guide. This ranking further adds to its reputation as a safe and welcoming city which is committed to providing a secure environment for visitors, residents and students alike.

A dedicated team of Porters provide 24-hour security service every day of the year along with CCTV on all campuses.

Student voice:

Faith, Master of Public Health:

''Having come from a busy and hyperactive city, Chester provided me with a safe, calm and peaceful home.''

An impressive 95.6 per cent of the university's full-time, first degree students are found to be in employment or progress to further study on graduation and it's not hard to see why.

Courses at University of Chester have an emphasis on practical learning to enhance prospects via industry placements or overseas opportunities, ranging from five-weeks to one-year.

Most undergraduate degrees include a Work Based Learning module in the second year. This module offers students the opportunity to complete a five-week work placement at a professional organisation in the UK or overseas.

Students on selected business programmes will have the opportunity to register for a four-year course, which includes a 12-month professional work placement.

Students at the University of Chester have access to Careers and Employability services to help them get a job after graduating. Services include:

• One-to-one career planning sessions
• Help with CV writing
• Application assistance
• Interview practice
• Careers workshops
• Employer Masterclasses delivered by employers

The university also runs the Chester Difference Award (CDA). This is an employability award which recognises students who participate in extra-curricular activities whilst they study and improves their chances of employment.

Careers support does not end after students graduate from Chester. All graduates can access most careers and employability services for up to two years after graduation. Graduates are also able to access the CareersHub which is an excellent way to search for jobs.

Studying in the UK as an international student can be a difficult adjustment. Fortunately, students at the University of Chester have access to outstanding student support services.

The International Arrivals team provides support right from the moment a student arrives in the UK by offering an airport pickup service. They also arrange specific International Welcome programmes to help students get settled in the UK. This includes information on setting up a UK bank account, registering with a doctor, Tier 4 visas and much more.

The university's Student Futures Support and Development team is an award-winning provider of student support. Services include counselling, disability support and peer mentoring.

The University of Chester's Students' Union (CSU) plays a key role in supporting students and was ranked as one of the Top Ten Students' Unions in the UK in the 2019 WhatUni Student Choice Awards. CSU carries out its role of representing all students very seriously and works closely with university staff to make sure that the student voice is heard.

The union also has a range of sports clubs and societies, everything from debating and drama to gaming and Star Wars. These provide a great chance to make friends and to feel more at home at the university.

The annual tuition fees for international students (non-EU) vary depending on the level of study. Fees for entry in September 2020 include:

• International Foundation programme – GBP 9,250
• Undergraduate course – GBP 12,450
• Postgraduate course – GBP 12,450
• MBA – GBP 12,700
• Research Degrees (Classroom based) - GBP 13,031
• Research Degrees (Lab based) – GBP 16,786

To help with fees and additional costs, the University of Chester has several scholarships available to international students, including:

• International Scholarships: International and merit based scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate study, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fees.
• International Alumni Scholarship: Current University of Chester international students are eligible for an alumni scholarship up to GBP 5,455 when continuing from undergraduate bachelor's programmes to postgraduate taught master's degrees. Terms and conditions apply.
• GBP 250 early payment award: Self-funded students who pay the full fees prior to their enrolment will receive this discount.