Emma’s Experience Studying Psychology at the University of Chester

Why Chester?

Chester was one of few universities that offered the combined course that I wanted to do (Psychology and Spanish) and I could tell that it was exactly the right atmosphere for me when I visited for an Open Day. I have been continuously supported through my studies when I have needed it, the campus wasn’t overwhelming when I first visited and overall, I enjoyed the feel of the University and felt that it was a good fit.

How is the learning?

At Chester, there are three main class types in Psychology which includes lectures, seminars and labs. Lectures are classes with the whole cohort where you learn about the theoretical aspect of the course. Seminars are smaller classes where you get to put this theory into practice, and you discuss how theory is applied in real life situations with your classmates and lecturers. Labs are like seminars, but they are all about the statistical side of psychology and they teach you how to conduct research, present findings and more.

I think it’s a good learning structure as it gives you a wide experience of the subject and prepares you well for working after the degree.

What are the staff and learning community like?

The staff in the School of Psychology have all been very friendly and helpful, each one providing their own experiences within lectures. The discussions they inspire give us insight into the reality of working in psychology and they show you how theory is applied in the real world.

In terms of the community, the School has a very large student body, which is great, particularly for our final year and finding participants for studies. There are groups such as CUPS (the Psychology Society) and SAPs (Students as Partners- set up by one of the staff) that really bring the community together. Students from Foundation year right through to Postgraduate take part in these groups all together.

The School also arranges networking events and events to learn more about possible fields of work and jobs that you might not have known or thought about before. They provide a lot of support in choosing your career and figuring out how to follow the path you want to with the “How do I get there?” initiative. This initiative includes workshops and the ability to speak to various psychology professionals to understand more about their field of work, which is something I’ve found incredibly useful!

What are some of the benefits of studying at Chester?

For me, the greatest part of studying at Chester is that you are given many opportunities as a student.

An example of this is the Work Based Learning that everyone completes at the end of their second year. For a lot of students, this includes either a short work placement linked to their degree or an employability module of their choosing. For me, it gave me the opportunity to go to Costa Rica, which was a completely unique and once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Work Based Learning is invaluable and provides students with the chance to get work experience to improve their employability for the future.

What are some key takeaways you have about Chester?

What I want people to take away from this is that Chester is a university which provides its students with many unique opportunities and a lot of support throughout their degree. The University of Chester is a welcoming environment and community to thrive in.

Discover how you can achieve more than you thought possible at the University of Chester on either our Psychology degree or our combined Psychology and Spanish course.