Pathway to Success

Starting Uni Soon? Let us help you get money ready.

Starting university is a big step, and it pays to be prepared. Our Your Money Team provides one-to-one support for new students who want to feel confident about their finances as they begin university life.

Whether you’d like to understand student finance, plan your budget, or learn how to make the most of your money from day one, the team can help. Support is free, friendly, and designed to give you a strong financial foundation as you start your studies. You can also explore more about what the Money Hub Team offers.

To arrange an appointment, please call the Student Services Helpdesk on 01244 511550. Let them know you’re a new student seeking money advice, and they’ll guide you through booking a suitable time.

Important note: If your query relates to tuition fees, please email fees@chester.ac.uk

Know what to do, and when.

The essentials checklist breaks down the key things you need to complete before you arrive, like confirming accommodation, setting up your student account, registering with a GP, and more. You’ll be able to tick things off as you go, helping you feel organised and ready. If you’ve not already had a look through the checklist, access it here or via the Welcome to the University of Chester.

Grow your confidence with guidance from a fellow student. 

Our Peer Mentoring scheme helps you settle into university life with the guidance of a trained second- or third-year student. From making friends to managing your time, your Peer Mentor is here to share their own experiences and make sure you feel supported from day one. They can help you navigate your studies and explore opportunities like clubs, societies, and volunteering. 

Find out more and get involved in the Peer Mentoring scheme via CareerHub. 

Open to all International students—your introduction to life in the UK. 

If you’re joining the University of Chester from overseas—whether in January, April, or later in the Academic Year—our online module is designed especially for you. It guides you through everything you need to know before you arrive, including visas, travelling to the UK, cultural expectations, daily life, and what to expect in your studies.

You can explore the module before you travel and return to it whenever you need a refresher, helping you feel informed, confident, and ready for the start of your university journey.

Register your interest to receive access to the module. The link will also be sent directly to you by email and shared during your international induction.

Help us support you from day one

The Student Experience Questionnaire (SEQ) is an important part of how we support new Level 3 and Level 4 students as they settle into university life. It’s a short, five-minute preparedness survey that helps us understand your early experience at the University of Chester so we can offer the right support at the right time. Your responses also help shape your first 1-2-1 conversation with your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT).

The SEQ is now closed for this academic year and will reopen in 2026 for the next intake of new students.

Find your People. Find your Place. 

Welcome Week for our October Cohorts is our big introduction to life at Chester, with over 100 events and activities designed to help new students settle in, meet people, and feel part of the community. Although Welcome Week has now passed, you can still explore our Shoutout platform to get a sense of the types of events we run and to find useful tips for getting involved on campus throughout the year. There will also be welcome events for students joining us throughout the year in January and April 2026.

Browsing past events is a great way to see what interests you, understand what to expect when you arrive, and start thinking about how you might want to connect with others once you join us.

View the full list of Welcome Week events on our Shoutout Platform. 

Where your academic adventure begins

Alongside Welcome Week, you’ll also take part in academic induction sessions organised by your academic faculties. These sessions will introduce you to your lecturers, your Connect Team, course content, and what’s expected from you during your studies. After you have enrolled, you’ll be able to access your academic induction materials on the University of Chester Learning Environment (Moodle).

Lost on campus? We’ve got the map

Throughout Orientation, our outdoor visible drop-in point at Exton Park can help answer any questions you have in person. Speak to a friendly staff member in the red gazebo if you’re lost, confused, or just want to know what’s happening next. We’re here to help. Explore our campuses while you're here — they'll help you get your bearings and feel confident moving around from day one.

Sharpen your skills, boost your confidence.  

When your first assignments land, support is on hand from our Academic Skills (ASk) team. From planning to referencing, ASk helps you feel confident with assessments and feedback. Specialist support, including help with maths and statistical analysis, is available year-round—but this is the perfect time to jump in.  

You can make use of a range of online resources we’ve developed with students, go to workshops and webinars, get feedback via email, or book a 1-2-1 appointment. More information on how ASk can support your studying can be found on our Moodle pages for Academic Skills and Maths & Statistics.  

Drop by and learn about support.

We know it can be easy to lose track of what support is available once the term gets going. That’s why, during the first term in 2025, we ran Pop-Up Points across our sites and centres—bringing key university services directly to students.

These Pop-Up Points offered stalls, drop-ins, and friendly faces from teams across the University, allowing students to ask questions, receive support, or simply say hello with no appointment necessary.

Although this year’s Pop-Up Points have now finished, the same teams remain available to support you throughout your studies. You can still explore Shoutout to see the types of pop-ups we’ve run and to stay up to date with other events, activities, and opportunities to connect.

Support in the spotlight—stay in the know. 

During the early weeks of the term, we highlight key support services across email, ShoutOut, and social media to ensure new students are aware of what is available and how to access help.

Although that campaign has now finished, the support itself hasn’t gone anywhere. You can still book sessions with our support teams, explore what’s happening across the University, and stay connected with the services designed to help you throughout your studies. Have a read through the Support, in Focus blog for more information.

A conversation that keeps you on course. 

This is your moment to reflect on how things are going with your studies. Around this time, your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) will invite you to a 1:1 or small group meeting, giving you space to talk about what’s working, what’s not, and how you’re settling in. These meetings will draw on your Student Experience Questionnaire (SEQ) responses, helping us personalise our support and advice.  

You can find more information about the Personal Academic Tutor system on the University of Chester website. 

Money Tips, Life Tricks. 

Whether you’re learning how to budget, cook a meal, or just figure out where to start. Money and Life Skills Week is here to help you feel more confident and capable, on and off campus. 

Across the week, you’ll find practical workshops, pop-up sessions, challenges, and support from teams across the University, all focused on helping you build essential life skills and take control of your finances. 

Expect everything from money tips and cooking demos to fun competitions like the Battle of the Halls, and yes, there are prizes up for grabs. 

Money and Life Skills week will return in 2026.

Pathway to Success is here to guide students through the first six weeks of term, but our support doesn’t stop there. You can browse Student Support and your Academic Teams - help is available all year round, whenever you need it. The teams you’ve seen throughout your welcome journey remain part of your university experience. If you need some support but are unsure of who to ask, contact Student Services via 01244 511550, or email us via studentservices@chester.ac.uk.  

You can find all of the events that take place throughout the year in one place, through ShoutOut. Get accustomed to checking this regularly, as new events and opportunities are always being added.  

Towards the end of the first term, you’ll have an opportunity to provide feedback anonymously on your time with us so far – tell us what has worked and what hasn’t. Your feedback directly shapes how we improve the student experience, so every comment counts.  

Welcome to UoC—support doesn’t end, it just grows with you.