Who are we? 

The ‘Your Money’ team can help you navigate your finances all the way through your student journey at Chester. Whether you’re managing your money for the first time or returning to education, we’ve got you covered. 

What support do we offer? 

We provide lots of support to help you stay financially fit. 

• Personalised Advice: Receive one-to-one guidance from our Student Money Advisers on budgeting, saving, and many other areas of money management. 
• Extensive Resource Portal: Our Chester Aspire portal is packed with essential advice and guidance to help you throughout your time at Chester.  
• Information on Additional Support: Discover bursaries, get help with student finance, and explore other support options you may be able to access.   

Do we offer any additional financial support? 

Bursaries 

Depending on your situation you may be eligible for one of our bursaries. They’re non-repayable and provide extra financial support to help you during your studies. 

Student Support Fund 

As well as offering advice and working with you to improve your financial situation, if you’re eligible our Student Money Advisers might be able to support you with additional non-repayable funds to help ease unexpected financial pressures. 

We’ll need you to provide some bank statements and a few other documents so we can fully understand your situation and assess how we can help best. 

See the Your Money Portal page for more information. 

Need help or have a question? 

Contact our Student Services Helpdesk: 

Email: studentservices@chester.ac.uk 
Phone: 01244 511550 
Hours: Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-4pm 

Contacting our Finance Department 

Occasionally you may need to contact our Finance Department about your fees, invoices, sponsors, refunds, payments, or payment plans.   

The way you contact the team has now changed – you will now only be able to contact them via the Raise a Query button through your invoice/reminder email, or by email or phone. 

Please note: if you receive funding from the Student Loans Company (SLC) as a tuition fee loan, you will NOT receive an invoice. We will invoice SLC directly – you do not need to do anything. 

The information below mainly relates to international students, students who being sponsored or students who are self-funding. 

Contact information 

The most effective way to contact the Finance Department is to click on the “Raise a Query” button on your invoice/reminder email. 

If you have not received an invoice or reminder message and are not funded through the Student Loans Company (SLC), please email: 

• Tuition Fee Queries fees@chester.ac.uk 
• Accommodation Fee Team accommodation.fees@chester.ac.uk 

If your query is urgent, please call: 

• Tuition Fees Team: 01244 512810 
• Accommodation Fees Team: 01244 512117 
• General Finance Enquiries: 01244 512071 

The opening times are: 

• Monday-Thursday: 9am-5pm 
• Friday: 9am-4pm 

How to pay 

Self-funded students 

All fee-paying students (not funded through the Student Loan Company (SLC) or sponsored students) will receive an email including their invoice and a link to make payment. This email will include three buttons – “Pay Now”, “Query” and “Invoice Summary”. 

– The “Pay Now” button will direct you to our Convera secure payment portal where you can make your payment 

– The “Query” button allows you to contact the Finance Department with any queries about fees, payments or payment plans.  

– The “Invoice Summary” button shows details of your invoice. 

UK self-funding students will be invoiced following enrolment.  On receipt of the invoice, you will be offered the choice of payment plans through the University finance system.  

Students who are being sponsored 

If you are being sponsored, you MUST send a letter of authorisation or a purchase order from your sponsor to the Finance Department fees@chester.ac.uk. Our Finance Department will then invoice your sponsor directly.   

A letter or purchase order is required for each academic year of study. The sponsor will be invoiced for the full amount of their sponsorship for the academic year, and this is payable in full on receipt of invoice. If our Finance Department do not receive confirmation of sponsorship, students will be held personally liable for the fees. 

International students 

• Details of how to make payment and the different payment plans available will be included in your offer letter. 
• The University partner with Convera. Convera GlobalPay for Students offers a simple, secure, and smart way to pay fees online. Convera’s platform is trusted by 800+ institutions worldwide to enable payments in 140+ currencies across 200+ countries and territories. 
• For more details, please visit our dedicated International student payment page or Self-paying student payment page. 

IMPORTANT – Please allow at least two working days for payments to be received and recognised by the University due to the transfer time through the banking network.  

Please do not contact us before this time to enquire if we have received the payment as we will be unable to answer your query. 

Payments made through Convera will provide students with a receipt and their status can be tracked online. 

For your safety we do not under any circumstances accept cash payments. 

Disability & Inclusion are here to support any student who has disclosed a disability during their academic studies at the University of Chester.  

You may not think of yourself as disabled, but it’s worth considering whether you may be entitled to support. 

We support students who: 

• have a Physical Impairment or mobility issue 
• have a Mental Health Condition, such as depression, schizophrenia or anxiety disorder 
• have a Specific Learning Difference e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD 
• have a Social/communication impairment such as Asperger’s Syndrome/other Autistic Spectrum Disorder 
• are Blind or have a serious visual impairment uncorrected by glasses 
• are Deaf or have a serious hearing impairment 
• have a long standing illness or health condition such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, chronic heart disease, or epilepsy 
• have any condition which meets the definition of a disability under the Equality Act 2010 

Our Disability Support Officers offer information, advice and guidance on a range of areas including: 

• Reasonable adjustments and support during your studies 
• Obtaining up to date supporting evidence 
• Suitable university accommodation 
• Exam arrangements 
• Provision of Support Workers 
• Specialist equipment loan 
• Funding applications (Disabled Students Allowance) 
• Liaison with academic departments 
• Accessible Parking 

Our Specific Learning Difference (SpLD) staff offer: 

• Information about the University of Chester’s identification process for specific learning differences such as dyslexia 
• Targeted specialist study skills tutorials and referral to an external agency for specialist one-to-one study skills once DSA is approved. 

Contact 

To find out more, or ask about booking an appointment, please email our Student Services Helpdesk at studentservices@chester.ac.uk or call 01244 511550. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 4pm.  

Alternatively, you can find lots of useful additional information on our Inclusion | University of Chester When contacting the team please include the following information: 

• Your name 
• Your student number (if known) 
• A contact telephone number 
• Email address 
• Your message 
• What site you will be/are studying at 

Chester Students’ Union (CSU) is an independent organisation focused on supporting students to love their student life and have a strong voice during your time at the University. While we’re independent, we work closely with the University and have great knowledge of its policies and processes which means we can provide you with support and representation on a wide range of issues, from social opportunities to academic struggles and disciplinary issues.

We are led by a full-time elected officer team, governed by a Trustee Board, overseen by Student Council, and the services are delivered by our professional staff team.

We serve every single student at the University of Chester, regardless of your campus.

We have 4 key services that drive everything we do:

• Voice – represent your views on student experience
• Opportunities – join a society and run events!
• Democracy – become one of our officers
• Advice – seek free and independent advice

Now you know a bit more about us, come and get involved! Whether it’s joining a society, attending one of our events, or representing your course – there are so many ways to engage with your student community.

Be sure to check out our website for all the information you need and follow us on social media!

Keep Connected

Facebook

Instagram

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Website

The Sustainability Unit at the University of Chester sits within the Estates & Facilities department and aims to ensure that the University leads by example, putting sustainability at the heart of decision making and service delivery. Our goal is to embed sustainability throughout our campuses, curriculum, culture, and community.

Campus

When it comes to sustainability on campus, there are key areas such as energy reduction, waste and recycling, water, transport, and biodiversity. We have a target to reach Net Zero for scope one and two emissions by 2030 (emissions from our electricity, gas and fuel consumption). Whilst on campus, you will see some of the physical changes and technologies needed to achieve this, from solar panels and LED lights to light sensors and improved heating systems. We’re currently looking at our estate to see what actions we can take to improve our spaces and reduce our carbon emissions.

The University also has a recycling target. In addition to aiming to reduce the amount of waste produced in the first place, we aim to increase recycling rates to 65% by 2025 and 75% by 2030. There are many recycling bins around campus, if you’re unsure of what can and cannot be recycled, have a look at this handy A-Z guide!

There are many ways in which waste is being reduced. The University has recently signed up to Warp It, to redistribute unwanted items. Food waste can be a big contributor to carbon emissions, and the catering department work hard to minimise the amount of food waste created by regularly reviewing menus. During term time, the community fridge in the Sustainability Shop on Exton Park is stocked with meals left at the end of service and sold at a reduced price.

The department also work closely with Grounds & Gardens on their ‘Garden 2 Table’ initiative, growing vegetables in their greenhouses, which is then used by chefs to create seasonal meals with very low food milage! We don’t use disposable cups or takeout boxes in our catering outlets. If you want to grab a coffee to take to a lecture, bring along a reusable cup or opt into our Drop n’ Swap scheme; paying a £2 deposit, you can drop off your used cup at any catering outlet rather than having to remember to bring one!

Curriculum

Students graduating from the University will be at the forefront of tackling the climate crisis across a variety of organisations and sectors which is why embedding sustainability in the taught and informal curriculum is important. We are committed to ensuring our students leave with the knowledge and skills needed to become engaged citizens, able to lead change in their professional and personal lives.

In June 2020, the University was awarded Responsible Futures Working Towards Award, after demonstrating commitment and action to embed sustainability in the curriculum. There are case studies from departments across the University that highlight this such as, Chester Business School integrating environmental audits in the final year Tourism Futures module.

In August 2021, we began delivering Carbon Literacy Training to staff and students. The training covers the science behind climate change and provides attendees the practical knowledge to make a positive difference. As we enter the new academic year, we aim to deliver the training to more students and staff, who can go onto to become Carbon Literacy Trainers.

Cultures

We aim to provide regular opportunities for students and staff to get involved with sustainability at the University, whether that’s volunteering at the allotment or joining our Digital Climate Cafes. We are implementing an Environmental Management System (an Environmental Management System is a way for an organisation to manage its impact on the environment in a structured approach, helping to manage environmental performance and identify any risks and impacts). As part of this, we will be working to create a clear reporting system for students and staff to contribute valuable ideas into key areas such as transport, waste, education etc. Alongside volunteering opportunities, we also have a programme called Climate Action. This is designed for staff to improve the sustainability performance of their department. The programme is currently under review as we make changes to ensure that it is achievable for all departments to take part in.

Community

The University can have a positive impact on our local area, whether it’s through events and volunteering or research and teaching. We aim to support and engage with groups within our local communities through our activities. For example, we work closely with Bren Bikes, donating abandoned bikes to them, who then refurbish and sell them on at an affordable price. For many years, we have taken part in British Heart Foundations’ end of term ‘Pack for Good’ campaign, encouraging students to donate unwanted items such as clothes and books. Earlier this summer, a second BHF donation bank was added to Exton Park due to the increase in donations!

The University was a key partner in delivering the Youth Conference at the first Green Expo in Chester earlier in June. The Chester Youth Climate Action Network (Chester Youth CAN) comprised of current students, recent graduates and apprentices from Chester Zoo, who designed and delivered a programme of activities to inspire future generations to consider careers in the sustainability/green sectors. We work with our community partners to share the positive action happening locally and there are often numerous volunteering or work placements available.

Stay in touch

We’re looking forward to the year ahead and are busy planning our Sustainability Festival for early November. For the latest information on events and opportunities to get involved follow us @GreenChester on Facebook and Twitter or @Greenuochester on Instagram!

What are Unacceptable Behaviours?

Unacceptable behaviours include everything from sexual misconduct, harassment, and domestic abuse to hate crime, discrimination and bullying – and is something we’re committed to tackling at the University of Chester.

We believe that all students and staff deserve respect and we’re working to change attitudes through educating students and staff members, raising awareness of options for reporting unacceptable behaviours and getting support at the University.

The University of Chester and Chester Students’ Union are devoted to ensuring we provide a safe and inclusive environment for all. We believe that everyone must work together to eliminate unacceptable behaviours. We do not tolerate any forms of unacceptable behaviour and are dedicated to raising awareness and building on our work in relation to prevention.

Who are the Unacceptable Behaviours Group and what do they do?

The Unacceptable Behaviours Group or UBG (formerly Unacceptable Behaviours Taskforce or UBT) are a group of students, staff members, and members of Chester Students’ Union that are committed to tackling unacceptable behaviours in and around the University. Some of the main aims of the taskforce include:

• supporting survivors/victims
• educating the University community on what exactly Unacceptable Behaviours are
• encouraging change at all levels
• furthering safety at all our sites and in our community.

As a university, we want to show our commitment to keeping these issues visible in a way that will help us all. If you would like to join the UBG meetings, please contact Katie Moore at k.moore@chester.ac.uk.

The University have been working on the UBG for the last year and are continuing to introduce new things, revise new and old processes and essentially make life within the University better for all different types of people regardless of any characteristic.

How do we measure success?

UBG meet monthly to review, evaluate, and guide the work of the University within this area. The work of UBG is monitored using action plans which meet the objectives within this strategy, and link to wider recommendations from the Office for Students (OfS). These will continue to be reviewed and updated by the Student Engagement Project Officer.

We will use the quantitative and qualitative data from our yearly Campus Climate Survey, to inform our work and address our objectives specifically around sexual violence. Other data sources for measuring success are likely to include student surveys, staff pulse surveys, and qualitative data obtained from engagement with those with lived experiences.

We will also consider the impact of our training programmes and awareness raising work, and we will utilise data from our SVLO service, ‘Report a Concern’ tool and Proctor’s Office, to measure impact and to improve service delivery.

UBG will report its progress to the Student Voice and Experience Committee (SVEC), Mission Committee, University Council, and the Equality Forum.

Most recent progress

• Launched a new reporting tool ‘Report a Concern’
• Awarded £550,000 to address violence against women and girls (VAWG).

As part of this we

• Spent over £200,000 on upgrading our CCTV and lighting across our sites
• Worked with partners to create safe spaces across Cheshire
• Introduced ‘Zecure’ – a personal safety app for all students
• Launched our ‘safer taxi’ scheme which ensures you can get to your destination safely and quickly
• Completed accredited training of 20 Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs).
• Trained first responders, who were upskilled to deal with disclosures of sexual misconduct
• Trained our staff to enable them to deliver ‘consent and healthy relationships’ training to students.
• Introduced an online student and staff module – Tackling Harassment: Promoting Cultural Change in Higher Education. This includes both bystander intervention and dealing with disclosures modules

RESPECT campaign

The University of Chester is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for all members of our university community. We value equality and diversity and promote respect.

As part of our RESPECT campaign, we work in partnership with Chester Students’ Union, police, third sector and our local community to promote diversity, inclusivity, and unity.

Being a student at this University is about so much more than getting your degree; it’s about being part of a community where you’ll be encouraged to make the most of your time here and be inspired to reach your potential, gaining the experiences and skills that will benefit you as you progress through your lifelong career journey.

The Careers and Employability team is here to help you to take your next steps towards your future goals. We’re on hand to help you from the moment you arrive and will support you long after you graduate, providing an inclusive and impartial service tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, with a variety of employability-enhancing experiences through the curriculum, employer contact, and advice and guidance.

There are lots of myths about what we do/don’t do and also lots of myths or uncertainty about graduate careers so let’s take a look at what we do and how we can support you.

Careers and Employability is here for everyone at any time – you don’t need to know what you want to do – many students don’t, and this doesn’t matter. Whether you have some ideas for your next steps or none at all, It’s our job to help you. And you don’t need to wait until you’re about to finish your course – you can start your engagement with us from the moment you arrive and our support for you doesn’t end after you graduate!

We don’t always talk about “careers” – we talk about next steps and making the most of your time at university. Thinking about a career after university can seem daunting, or you may be afraid of making a wrong decision and ending up in the wrong career. Well, we don’t like the word “wrong” and we don’t think that “choosing a career” is what you need to do. A career sounds like something you do forever, but all you need to focus on is what you’re going to do next. Graduate careers take off in all directions once you get your first role after university. You need to plan, but not worry about the long term.

We are committed to supporting all students – we love the diverse backgrounds and countries that our students come from and the courses you’re taking. From mature students who may have lots of work experience, to those with none, from those of you taking vocational subjects because you have a clear idea of where you are heading, to those of you choosing a subject because you love it – we’re here for all of you. Our Inspiring Futures programme is available to students from under-represented groups who may need additional support or access to activities. We were very proud to have won an award earlier this year for our commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.

We don’t just offer information, advice and guidance – we have four teams in Careers and Employability, all committed to supporting you every step of the way:

Career Consultant Team

Our expert and professionally qualified Career Consultants provide expert, impartial and confidential guidance tailored to your individual needs. We don’t tell you what to do – we help you to make informed decisions and develop strategies and plans. We can help you with every step of recruitment processes and prepare you for moving from university into employment. There are daily appointments available to help you make decisions about your next steps or for feedback on your CV and applications. You may also see us in person or virtually delivering sessions in academic departments on a range of employability themes, useful for your skills and knowledge development.

Student Success Team

Lots of activities sit in this team. Our Information Point colleagues will be the first people you meet if you visit in person or if you contact us through CareerHub, our careers platform.

Our live and on-demand Careers Workshops help you develop the skills and knowledge graduate employers want. Check out the Events pages for upcoming sessions.

First year undergraduates can apply for a Peer Mentor, trained second year and third year students who can share their experiences of university life, signpost to useful University services, and discuss a range of topics. You can also apply to be a Peer Mentor – we’re always looking for more students to join us. Email peermentoring@chester.ac.uk.

Volunteering is a good way to get to know your local community, meet new people, and learn new skills. Careers & Employability support students to become volunteers and students can gain recognition for volunteering through UCV Awards.

The Venture Programme helps students and graduates to develop the skills, knowledge, confidence and connections to start up a business, to enter self-employment or to build a freelance career.

The Chester Difference Award allows you to showcase your skills and experiences to future employers by giving you recognition for the skills you have demonstrated from all the extra-curricular activities you’ve undertaken during your time at university.

Employer Engagement

Our Employer Engagement team has links with local and national employers, as well as professional bodies, that allow you to network with employers at our events, in the curriculum and in the workplace. We provide you with a range of great opportunities to meet with employers looking to recruit our students and graduates and give insights into their career sector.

We can help you to find a part-time job that fits around your studies, helping you to gain skills and earn extra money. Our UniJob service enables you to apply for part-time jobs at the University, or you can use our CareerHub portal to find part-time work in the local area and elsewhere.

We run a paid Workplace Experiences programme which includes internships and projects for eligible students and graduates and advertise other work experience opportunities to help you gain the skills and experience needed for today’s job market.

We advertise a range of graduate vacancies with local and national employers through our CareerHub portal. When you’re ready to apply, we’ll help you through every stage of the selection process.

Directorate

This team supports all the work that happens in Careers and Employability. From finance to data we make sure that everything in the team runs smoothly, we evaluate everything we do to make sure you are involved in the decisions we make and the activities we run.

Where are we located?

We have a full-time office in Exton Park, and we are also available at our new University Centre Warrington sites at specific times. Our curriculum delivery can take place on any site, and we also visit Queen’s Park and University Centre Shrewsbury for one-to-one support. Many students still find it convenient to access us remotely and we are flexible in how we deliver our services to ensure you can get the support you want in the way that suits you best.

Further info

Don’t forget to follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news and events:

Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

What is the Student Ambassador scheme?

If you’ve heard of the Student Ambassador scheme but have more questions than answers, you’re in the right place. Becoming a Student Ambassador is rewarding, varied and – you might be pleased to hear – paid!

As a Student Ambassador, you represent and promote the University to prospective students showcasing all we have to offer here at Chester. By sharing your knowledge and own experience of life at Chester, you help the next cohort of students to apply to university as prepared as possible.

You can probably remember how choosing the right university can feel overwhelming. This is where Student Ambassadors really step in; by connecting with visitors and answering their queries, you can help make prospective students feel at ease and informed in their university decision making process.

The great thing about the scheme is that not only is it paid, it can also fit flexibly around your studies.

What does a Student Ambassador do?

The role of a Student Ambassador is varied – there’s so much you can get involved in! There are three core aspects: Events, Academic, and Digital.

The main events at the University are Open Days and Applicant Days and during these events Student Ambassadors can lead campus tours, signpost visitors, or provide guided tours of the accommodation options available. There are also smaller events such as campus tour days throughout the year and occasionally even the opportunity to travel to HE fairs across the country!

You could also be supporting academics at these events by acting as a course advocate and sharing your learning experience, taking part in presentations and talks or just generally chatting to prospective students. You can also get involved with our Unibuddy site, where you can answer questions from prospective students from across the world!

If you’re a social media whizz or a dab hand at writing, you can be involved in the digital side of things! From creating informative blogs to TikToks or even Instagram takeovers, there are tonnes of jobs to get involved with from our digital team!

What are the benefits of being a Student Ambassador?

University isn’t just about a degree – it’s about getting involved with new things and building your skills. Being a student ambassador is the perfect opportunity to focus on self-development and employability skills.

Here are some of the superb benefits the role offers:

• Earn while you learn: Getting paid for everything you do means you can have a bit of extra cash to put towards bills, food or social events!
• Work flexibly: Work up to 15 hours a week and choose the events you want to work at so they fit around your course deadlines – no stress!
• Boost your CV: Become instantly more employable by enhancing almost all of your key employability skills including team building, communication and time management. Future employers will see you as reliable and able to handle extra responsibilities on top of your already busy degree, setting you apart from other applicants.
• Skyrocket your confidence: Speaking to new people in small or large groups becomes so much less daunting and really improves your presentation skills. Stepping out of your comfort zone can really amp up your self-esteem.

How to get involved

If you’re eager to embark upon the Student Ambassador scheme and excited to make an impact on prospective students, we’d love to have you on board! Rest assured we provide training before you start so you feel confident and prepared in your new role.

Please note – recruitment for Student Ambassadors only takes place at certain points throughout the year. Keep an eye on CareerHub for the latest vacancies.