Pathway to Success

Starting Uni this Autumn? Let us help you get money ready. 

Starting university is a big step, and it pays to be prepared. This summer, between 17th August and 3rd October, our 'Your Money' Team is offering one-to-one Teams appointments for incoming students who’ve already enrolled at the University. 

Whether you want to understand student finance, plan your budget, or make the most of your money from day one, we can offer support. Appointments are free, friendly, and designed to help you get a head start on your university journey. Discover more about what Money Hub Team offers.

To book an appointment, please call our Helpdesk on 01244 511550. Let them know you're a new student and you’d like to arrange a pre-arrival money appointment, and they’ll get you booked in. 

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 us from overseas, our online module will walk you through everything you need to know—visas, travelling to the UK, cultural life, and what to expect in your studies. You can access the module before your arrival and revisit it at any time.

Register your interest in the module. The link will also be sent by email and shared through your international induction.

Help us support you from day one. 

As part of settling in, all new Level 3 and Level 4 students are asked to complete the Student Experience Questionnaire (SEQ). 

The SEQ is a short, important research survey (5 minutes) that helps us understand your early experience at university. Your responses will help us offer you the right support at the right time, and they’ll also guide your first 1-2-1 conversation with your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT). 

Complete the Student Experience Questionnaire. 

Participation is voluntary, and your data is kept confidential in line with GDPR. As a thank you for taking part, you'll be entered into a prize draw to win one of four £25 Amazon vouchers. 

Find your People. Find your Place. 

Welcome Week is your introduction to life at Chester, with over 100 events and sessions taking place across the University. Whether you’re outgoing or prefer quieter spaces, there’s something for everyone from lively socials and student fairs to relaxed drop-ins. It’s your chance to meet people, get settled, and feel part of the community your way.  

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 in your studies. More information on your Academic Induction is available on our Academic Inductions page, and after you receive your login details, you’ll be able to access your course module pages. 

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. Whether you’re lost, confused, or just need 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.  

By now, your first assignments may have landed. That’s where Academic Skills (ASk) comes in. 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, learn about support, win stuff. 

We know it can be easy to lose track of what support is available once the term gets going. That’s why we’re bringing our services to you with Pop-Up Points, visible across various sites and centres throughout the first term.  

Look out for stalls, drop-ins, and friendly faces from teams across the university. It’s your chance to ask questions, get support, or say hello, no appointment needed.  

Pop-Up Points will be running throughout weeks 1–4, culminating in a dedicated week of Pop-ups across Exton Park in week 4. Don’t forget every time you visit a Pop-Up Point, you can enter our prize draw (up to ten times!) to win one of four £25 vouchers! You’ll be able to see the full schedule and locations of Pop-up Points on Shoutout as the term progresses.  

Support in the spotlight—stay in the know. 

In addition to Pop-Up Points, around this time, you’ll see reminders across your emails, ShoutOut, and social media about the support teams available to you. From booking a session with various support teams to what’s going on at the University, we’ll help you connect with what’s on offer right when you might need it most. 

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. More information on this will be advertised to students soon. 

Pathway to Success is here to guide you through your first six weeks, 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.