Support at Chester – A Mature Student’s Perspective

Starting the next stage of your life never happens without setbacks, and university is no different. As exciting as it is, moving away from home and taking the first steps on your new journey is rarely straightforward. As a 26-year-old first-year undergraduate student, I know this very well. However, many students from different walks of life congregate here at Chester, and the University is aware of this; it has set up many services and systems to support students in any way they might need.

Societies

Not only am I a mature student, but I came to Chester from London. Being so far away from home and different to many other first-year students was challenging initially. Of all the things I did to overcome this obstacle, I feel the most fun and effective one was joining societies. Currently, I’m a member of the Mature Students', and Music and Indie societies. They’re excellent for many things, one of which is allowing students with similar interests to meet and establish friendships. As of March 2025, there are 72 societies here at the University, so I’m certain there’ll be one that interests you.

Personal Academic Tutor 

Upon arrival, every student here is assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT). They’ll be here to support you as and when needed; you can organise 1-2-1 tutorials with them or reach out whenever you feel as though you need any assistance. I had an appointment with my PAT in December 2024; I’ve been working on a poetry collection since April 2024, and my PAT was happy to sit down with me and read over my work. The personal feedback meant a lot to me, especially as my poetry collection is primarily based on my previous mental health struggles.

Wellbeing and Mental Health Services

I’m lucky enough to have not needed to rely on this team yet, but the Wellbeing and Mental Health team here at the University is able to help with any issues or challenges you may be facing inside or outside your degree. That said, all the staff here are extremely helpful and willing to do what they can to support you. Reaching out to them has never been easier either. If you approach a member of staff regarding an issue and they can’t assist, they’ll promptly guide you to someone who can.

Socialising

As simple as it sounds, my honest advice would be to simply get out and socialise. There’s always something going on at the student bar on the Exton Park campus, and there’s plenty more pubs, bars and the like within Chester. If you’re up for it, you should consider travelling into Liverpool or Manchester too. You’ll surprise yourself by who you meet and who you befriend. We all know how good friends are for support. In Chester, my personal recommendation would be to head to Alexander’s, especially on the Open Mic Nights. The karaoke nights at Millie’s on Exton Park are also great fun.

My final word would be to simply enjoy the experience. As difficult as it can be at times, don’t rush anything and let things happen as they come. Everyone is here for the same reason and there’s no shame in needing a helping hand sometimes.