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Student Finance: Check you’re means tested!

Applying for student finance can be complicated. It comes at a time when you’ve got a lot going on, and one thing that can easily be forgotten is sending evidence. This can have a huge impact on the amount of loan you get.

So what is it?

Means testing is where Student Finance use your parent’s, partners, or your own household income to work out how much loan you’re entitled to. Which income they use depends on your age and individual circumstances.

Why is it important?

If you didn’t send any evidence to Student Finance, you’ll get your tuition fee loan and the non-means tested part of the maintenance loan, which is £4524 for students living away from home, and £3597 for students living at home.

When you send evidence, they assess how much extra you’re entitled to based on your household income. This is the means tested element. The maximum maintenance loan is £9706, so if your household income is less than £25,000 and you’re not means tested, you could be missing out on over £5000!

As the household income goes up, the amount of maintenance loan goes down. Most students will receive more than the minimum loan if they’re means tested.

How do I know if I’ve been means tested?

To check if you’ve been means tested, simply log in to your Student Finance account and start a live chat. If you’re not, it’s a straightforward process that could make a big difference to how much you get.

What if I’m with a different Student Finance company?

The information above is based on Student Finance England. All Student Finance companies operate differently, but all have a means tested element. Student Finance Scotland offer certain bursaries based on household income, and in Wales it dictates how much of your loan you pay back. In NI, 25% of the maintenance loan is means tested.

Posted in News/FeaturesTagged

Domestic Abuse – How to support a Friend

Key Event Information

Start Date: 30 March 2023 2:00 pm

Start End: 30 March 2023 2:45 pm

Location: Online

Book Now

Are you a worried about a friend?

Abuse in a​​ relationship can take many forms and people of any gender, and any age, can be abusive partners or victims of abuse. Learn how to recognise the signs and how to support a friend to seek help.

We will share how you can access advice from the University Wellbeing and Mental Health team and further organisations.
wellbeing@chester.ac.uk

Posted in EventsTagged

Art and Design Showcase

Key Event Information

Start Date: 1 April 2023 10:00 am

Start End: 24 April 2023 4:00 pm

Why not join the Department of Art and Design in our celebration of the work of our fantastic 2nd year students in Fashion Communication Marketing, Fashion Design, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Photography and Product Design?

Their showcase is open at Creative Campus Kingsway from Saturday 1 April – Monday 24 April, 10am to 4pm.

Posted in EventsTagged

2023 Spring Carbon Reduction Plan

The University has a net zero target for 2030. We have already reduced our total carbon emissions by 42% since 2014/15. However, as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report warns, in order to keep global warming to below 1.5 C, global greenhouse gas emissions will have to drop 60% by 2035 compared with 2019 levels. We are currently developing our Decarbonisation Plan with experts from the University of Cambridge to ensure our actions align with these ambitions. Each of us, staff and students have a shared responsibility to reduce our energy consumption and associated carbon emissions, to tackle the climate emergency.

As we head into Spring, with the days getting longer and warmer; we are asking all students to be energy champions. That means turning off lights, projectors, computers and other electrical equipment when not in use to help cut our energy consumption and carbon emissions across the University. The Sustainability Team will be monitoring the energy usage across all buildings, and we will compare April 2023 to April 2022 to see how much we save.

In addition, we will be reducing heating provision in teaching and office spaces (non-residential) from 1st April 2023. This will mean that heating systems in non-residential buildings will not operate in April when internal building temperatures are at a comfortable level for the occupants (18-19 degrees Celsius). 

If there is cold snap or a severe drop in external temperatures, which result in internal temperatures dropping below this threshold, the heating systems will operate to bring the internal temperatures back up. If you typically feel cooler, please be prepared with additional layers if you need them. However, these temperatures should be comfortable for the majority of building users.

We appreciate everyone’s support to reduce our carbon emissions. If you have any suggestions please forward to the Sustainability Team by emailing greenchester@chester.ac.uk

We deliver free Carbon Literacy Training to students– which covers the climate emergency, the need for action and the steps we can take both in our personal and professional lives to reduce our carbon emissions. Further details and delivery dates can be found here, https://www1.chester.ac.uk/sustainability/events alternatively email carbonliteracytraining@chester.ac.uk to explore a specific session for your team or department.

Posted in News/Features

Chester Race Company – Employer In the Foyer

Key Event Information

Start Date: 29 March 2023 10:00 am

Start End: 29 March 2023 2:00 pm

Location: Binks Foyer

Chester Race Company will be our Employer in the Foyer on Wednesday 29 March and they have some fantastic opportunities for you! They’re hiring students to flexible, part-time jobs in hospitality to cover their varied programme of events throughout the year. So why not stop by to find out more and get signed up?

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Students in Chester Forum

Key Event Information

Start Date: 20 March 2023 4:00 pm

Start End: 20 March 2023 5:30 pm

Location: Binks CBK013/1&2, Exton Park

All students are invited to join us for our Students in Chester Forum next week

This session gives you the opportunity to meet with Chester Students’ Union (CSU) officers, University staff and Cheshire West and Chester Council to give your feedback on a range of topics that can be improved both on campus and within the city including:

  • The Cost of living
  • Student safety
  • Health and wellbeing whilst at the University.  

University staff and members of the Council will be there to present their expertise within the subject areas and to listen to any feedback and answer any questions students may have.

Refreshments will also be available for those attending.

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Dr Bike Warrington – sign up  

Key Event Information

Start Date: 21 March 2023 11:00 am

Start End: 21 March 2023 2:00 pm

Location: Cycle Parking, Remond House

Book Now

As part of Our Future Festival, Warrington Borough Council are running Dr Bike sessions at Remond House, Warrington. This includes free cycle maintenance checks for bicycles, carried out by Cheshire Cycles. A mechanic will be on hand to look at your bike and do minor repairs and adjustments. Bike marking is also available which provides a security marking on your bike, to help you if your bike is ever stolen.  

  • 21 March  
  • 11 – 2 
  • Cycle Parking, Barbauld St, Warrington WA1 1WA 

Although this is free, please register online beforehand at www.drbike.online, using the password UC210323. This event is for University of Chester students and staff. If you have any questions, please email the Sustainability Team

Posted in Events

Hints and Tips for PWC’s Graduate Recruitment Process

Key Event Information

Start Date: 29 March 2023 1:00 pm

Start End: 29 March 2023 2:00 pm

‘Hints and Tips for PWC’s Graduate Recruitment Process’ is a workshop delivered by PWC, an international professional services firm, who want to help you articulate your skills and strengths and boost your confidence during their application and selection process.

PWC will provide useful hints and tips on how you can confidently prepare for success in their application process, with an opportunity to ask questions to a PwC recruiter.

Whilst this session is delivered by PWC and focuses on their application and selection process, their insight and tips can be applied to other graduate recruitment processes.

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Effective Interview Technique Workshops

Key Event Information

As part of Get a Graduate Job month, our Career Consultants are offering all students the opportunity to get interview ready from the comfort of your own home. These remote workshops run everyday between 12 – 1pm from the 20 – 31 March offering tips to help you shine at in-person, phone, and video interviews. 

There is more to an interview than just talking!  

Find out how you can use your research skills, reflective-thinking skills and a growth mindset to help you become more effective at interviews; and learn from the resources and online mock interview platforms Shortlist.me and Graduates first available to you. 

Let Careers and Employability help you stand out to employers as someone who is well prepared and self-aware. Book on to one of the sessions through CareerHub here

Posted in Events, Support and OpportunitiesTagged

What to include in a pitch deck

Key Event Information

Start Date: 23 March 2023 2:00 pm

Start End: 23 March 2023 3:00 pm

Book Now

You’ve decided to launch or grow your business and now you need investment, but how do you pitch your idea? Mike Skinner connects investors with ambitious entrepreneurs and knows a thing or two about what they are looking for.

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