University of Chester

• Location: Chester, England,
• Founded in: 1839,
• Number of students: about 15,000,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

The University of Chester is a public university, offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs. Also there are preparatory courses for international students.

It is one of the oldest institutions in the country - its history began in 1839, when the first teacher preparation college in Great Britain was founded. Over the years, the university has developed and expanded, trying to follow modern trends in education and provide the best conditions for obtaining higher education qualifications. Today, the University of Chester has five campuses in Chester, another in Warrington and a university centre in Shrewsbury. The infrastructure of the study areas meets all the standards of higher education, providing students not only with a variety of academic facilities, but also with access to research laboratories and centers.

The total number of students of the University of Chester is about 15,000, some of them are representatives of different countries and nationalities. The multinational student community is under guidance of qualified teaching staff, personal mentors, and administrative staff. Teachers comprehensively support each student, giving him the opportunity to reveal his strengths and focus on the development of talents, outline a career path and achieve his goals. A wide range of support services include additional subject classes, tutoring, mentoring, career workshops and more.

The University of Chester provides not only excellent quality education, but also opportunities for individual development: after school hours, students will be able to take part in one of dozens of thematic clubs, compete in team and individual sports, be part of creative teams or focus on social activities. These and many other areas of extracurricular student life are actively supported by the administration, offering new leisure options every year.

Students benefit from a wide range of additional services, with the help of which they achieve excellent results in both study and personal development. Specialized departments with qualified staff provide support such as:

• Well-being, mental health,
• Academic skills,
• Disability, inclusivity.

The academic department provides not only additional classes in disciplines, mentoring and tutoring services, but also career support. At individual meetings, students will be able to outline a professional plan, gradually analyze the steps to achieve the goal and enlist the help of specialized specialists already working in organizations of the studied scientific field.

The University of Chester has several specialized faculties:

• Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences,
• Healthcare, medicine, society,
• Science, Business, Entrepreneurship.

The University of Chester's portfolio of research centres includes both subject work and research that brings about changes in policy, practice and services, benefiting the economic, social and cultural well-being of the region and the wider community.

Research is carried out on the basis of three institutes:

• Culture, society,
• Sustainable development, environment,
• Health, well-being.

The university cooperates with local and foreign organizations to exchange knowledge, conduct joint project and research work.

The University of Chester has over 20 residences located in Chester both within and between learning areas. Thanks to cooperation with local housing agencies, there are even more options for living during the study - students have access to renting apartments.

The most common type of housing in university residences are apartments with several bedrooms, shared bathrooms and fully furnished kitchens. Some residences, in which accommodation is organized in private rooms with bathrooms, provide accommodation on a full board basis - students receive three meals a day.

Meal plans, which are served in dining rooms on campus, are available to most students, with the exception of those who rent accommodation outside the university. The meal plan saves a lot of money, helping students to make a budget and provide themselves with healthy food. The plan also includes a wide range of meals, including freshly made sandwiches, a salad bar, snacks, and business lunches. For students with special dietary needs, alternative menus are offered with meat-free, gluten-free and non-allergen-free meals.

The Student Union engages in all areas of the University of Chester, organizing most of the events, leading themed clubs. There are several dozen communities of interest on campuses, and each student can create their own:

• African Student Society,
• Anime, cosplay,
• Archaeology
• Literature, books,
• British Sign Language,
• Catholic Society,
• Chess
• Role-playing games,
• Christian Union,
• Criminology
• Discussion
• Fashion
• Computer games,
• Horticulture
• Proper nutrition and much more.

The Union of Athletics is part of the department, manages all sports competitions and the training schedule of sports teams. Under its leadership there are about 40 sports clubs, which can be joined at a competitive or amateur level. Some of the available sports are:

• Cricket
• American football
• Archery,
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Dancing
• Cycling
• Equestrian
• Soccer
• Golf
• Historical European martial arts,
• Hockey
• Lacrosse
• Swimming.

Many of the university's teams compete in the BUCS leagues with other institutions in the region, winning medals and receiving individual awards for portfolios.

The Active Campus Activity program allows students not to participate in sports teams, but to maintain an active lifestyle. Thematic events are organized for them, whether it is outdoor fitness, yoga in specialized studios, dance or martial arts master classes.

In addition to a variety of extracurricular activities on campus, students can expect a variety of activities outside the study areas. In Chester, there are restaurants of national and international cuisine, various cafes and shops, inviting attractions, entertainment and cultural centers. Thanks to transport links, students will be able to reach nearby cities, walk through the natural beauty of the countryside.

• The University of Chester is a member of AACSB, the Associations of Commonwealth Universities, the North West and the UK,
• Overall Silver Award from the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023,
• The best university in supporting local and international students in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024,
• The institution is among the top five in such nominations as "Student Life", "Modern Material and Technical Base", "Career Prospects", "Quality of Teaching",
• No5 among the oldest higher education institutions in England,
• The teaching staff includes more than 1700 qualified teachers who are actively involved in research and specialized activities,
• The university's research is recognized by the Reseach Assessment Exercise as the world's leading research,
• Outstanding results in teacher preparation according to Ofsted,
• More than 200 bachelor's, master's and doctoral courses,
• A wide range of extracurricular activities: from sports to charity,
• Several large-scale international scholarships.

The University of Chester has several study areas located throughout the historic city, collaborating with a number of university centers in the region dedicated to the development of professional skills.

• Exton Park – Located just a 10-minute walk from downtown Chester, the campus includes academic buildings, residences and an extensive range of sports, entertainment facilities,
• Creative Campus, Kingsway is a studying area prepared for classes in design, art, performance. On an area of 6,920 square meters, there is an industrial fashion design workshop, a television studio, a music production studio, photo studios, an outdoor amphitheater and much more,
• Queen's Park is a business school at the University of Chester, which is equipped with modern computer labs, a special business library with rooms for group classes and study modules for quiet learning, a lecture hall with 200 seats, classrooms equipped with the latest audiovisual equipment,
• Wheeler – This area is home to the School of Medicine, the Faculty of Law and Equity, and the School of Nursing and Midwifery. The educational process takes place in specialized laboratories, general lecture halls, modeling studios and other premises,
• Bache Hall is a campus bordered by the grounds of the Countess of Chester Hospital and is home to the research centres of Chester Medical School. Thanks to cooperation with the hospital and medical school, university students have access to modern research facilities and equipment, seminar rooms, computer classrooms,
• Gateway House – Creative writing and journalism courses are held here. The premises include an Apple Mac with creative software and large viewing screens, a Media Studio with HD cameras and a green screen, podcast rooms, and an extensive range of equipment, including cameras, audio recorders and microphones, mobile camera kits, and portable lighting.
• The Hammond is located on the Exton Park campus and is the main theater of the university: dance and drama studios, a music center with a recording studio, rehearsal rooms and a theater hall with 420 seats have been prepared here.

Three university centers - Warrington, Birkenhead and Reaseheath - specialize in teaching advanced studying courses in various areas. They are equipped with lecture and practical rooms, recreation areas, cafeterias.

The University of Chester is home to Thornton Science Park, one of the largest research centers in the Northwest. The 66-acre site includes state-of-the-art laboratories and industrial facilities, high-quality professional engineering software, a specialized scientific and technical library, computer labs with fully licensed engineering, design, and design software, Windows and Mac computer packages, a dedicated play area, and more.

The sports infrastructure of the University of Chester is a large fitness center with cardio and weight training equipment, a swimming pool and areas for individual training, outdoor areas for team sports, a full-scale stadium, and multifunctional gyms.

The academic calendar includes three semesters:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-April,
• Summer: April-June.

The duration of studying, the dates of exams may vary depending on the level of education. For all students, rest is provided on weekends, days of international and national holidays, during seasonal vacations. Classes are held on weekdays: from Monday to Friday.

Approximate list of additional costs includes:

• Registration fee,
• Accommodation, meals and related expenses,
• Some extracurricular activities, contributions to student activities,
• Additional academic opportunities not included in the curriculum,
• Internships, project activities,
• Personal educational materials,
• Personal expenses.

Applicants will have to fill out a detailed application form, provide the required documents and pay the registration fee. The Admissions Committee reviews applications and invites candidates for an interview, possible entrance tests, based on the results of which it sends official letters of admission. At each entrance stage, applicants are accompanied by the staff of the commission to help in solving any issues.

The alumni community of the University of Chester has more than 100,000 qualified professionals in various fields. Many students continue their studies at the university, participate in research even after completing one program, in another case, they enter leading institutions in England and other countries, find employment in international and national companies in their specialty.

The general requirements for admission of international applicants to the University of Chester programs concern submitting of personal documents: a valid passport, health insurance, student visa or residence permit. To enroll in preparatory courses and bachelor's programs, you will need to provide

• Certificate of completion of secondary education, grade cards,
• Language test results: IELTS (from 6.0), PTE Academic (from 61) or other university-recognized testing.

Admission criteria for master's and doctoral programs include:

• Bachelor's and master's degrees, respectively,
• Language test results: IELTS (from 6.5), PTE Academic (from 65) or other recognized language exam,
• Two years of professional experience,
• Individual achievements.

First-year students who come from abroad are automatically considered for an international scholarship. The award is given on the basis of existing academic achievements, paid within one academic year. Foreign students can also apply for one of the following scholarship programs:

• International scholarship for graduates who have already completed a degree at the University of Chester and wish to continue their studies,
• The Chevening Scholarships is a global scholarship program run by the UK Government funded by the Foreign Office. The awards are designed for talented students who achieve excellent results in the study of business, politics, media, religion and related fields,
• DIKTI Scholarships – Awards for teachers of Indonesian universities wishing to pursue a PhD program,
• Snowden Master's Scholarship – covering the cost of tuition for students with disabilities,
• Commonwealth Scholarships for Refugees.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision