University of Chester

Following exceptional student reviews, in July 2023, the University of Chester was ranked in the top 10 UK universities for international students at the WhatUni Student Choice Awards.

The university also received high rankings in the following categories:

• Postgraduate: 2nd place
• Lecturers and teaching quality: 3rd place
• University of the Year: top five

International Student Barometer Survey

The university ranked first in seven categories overall in 2022, including employment and careers advice, employment, and social facilities. It also ranked in the top ten across a number of other categories.

The City of Chester

Chester has ranked in the UK's top 20 student cities, as voted by students (StudentCrowd, 2022). With more than 70 student cities in the UK, this recognition was based on student feedback and examined cost of living, restaurants, night life, shopping, and public transport options within the city.

Chester is consistently ranked as one of the most picturesque cities globally. In 2023, an article from The Independent ranked Chester as the prettiest city in the world, beating cities such as Venice, Italy.

New Programmes and Two-Year Master's

As of 2024, the university now offers two-year master's programmes with a professional placement or project, giving students the chance to get the stand-out experience that future employers are looking for.

Fees for the placement/project year are an additional £2650 on top of the original course fee and eligible programmes include business and management programmes law, tourism and hospitality, computer science, engineering and biological science.

The 2024/5 academic year also introduces lots of new programmes including:

• LLM Law
• LLM International Business and Commercial Law
• MSc Financial Technology (FinTech) and Business Analytics
• MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• MSc Management of Information Systems & Digital Innovation
• MSc Applied Artificial Intelligence
• MSc International Fashion Retail Marketing
• MSc International Tourism and Hospitality Management
• MSc Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Funding options

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

Scholarships available to international students at the university include:

• International scholarships: international and merit-based scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate study provide significant reductions to tuition fees.

• International Alumni Scholarship: current University of Chester international undergraduate students are eligible for the International Merit Alumni Scholarship when progressing on to a postgraduate programme at the university.

Student Services

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:

• International Foundation Programme: IELTS for UKVI, overall score of 4.5 (minimum 4.0 in each sub-skill)
• 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. The university offers its own University of Chester English Language Test to students.

While entry criteria vary, generally, applicants require:

• International Foundation Programme: a school-leaving qualification equivalent to British GCSEs, and English proficiency equivalent to IELTS 4.5 overall (minimum 4.0 in each sub-category)
• 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)

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

• 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.

Courses at the University of Chester 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 desirable 12-month industrial work placement.

Careers service

The University of Chester offers its students extensive careers 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