Pathway to Success

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

Starting university is a big step, and feeling confident about your finances can make the transition much easier. 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 have questions about student finance, want help planning your budget, or would like to 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.

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 appointment. 

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

Know what to do before you arrive.

The Pre-Arrival Checklist brings together the key things you need to do to get ready for university, from arranging your accommodation and completing enrolment to uploading your Student ID photo, setting up your student email and Multi-factor Authentication and downloading the UoC App. You can also use it to find out when your timetable and academic resources will be available, register with a GP and start exploring Welcome events

Get help and support from a student Peer Mentor

Whether you are looking for study tips, want to get more involved in social activities, or just need someone to talk to, your Mentor is here for you. Peer Mentors are trained student volunteers in Level 5 (second year) or above; having already been at the University for at least one year, they are ready to share their need-to-know tips and insights from their own experiences. It’s relaxed, supportive, and designed to help you feel more at home from day one. After you have enrolled, you can learn more about the programme or complete the registration form to sign up.

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

If you are joining the University of Chester from overseas, 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 straight after you have enrolled via our Moodle platform, helping you to feel informed, confident, and ready for the start of your university journey.

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.

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 of 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 points at Exton Park can help answer any questions you have in person. Speak to a friendly staff member in the red gazebos if you’re lost, confused, or just want to know what’s happening next. We’re here to help. Explore our campuses while you are here — they will 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 discover your support.

As part of your welcome to the University, Support Week in week 3 brings together a range of pop-ups, drop-ins, activities and a central Support Fair on campus. It is your chance to meet support staff, ask questions, discover the services available to you and get practical advice as you settle into university life.

Whether you know exactly what support you’re looking for or simply want to find out what’s available, drop by, have a chat and discover how the University can support you.

A conversation that keeps you on course.

This is your moment to reflect on how things are going with your studies. Around this time, you may be invited to a 1:1 or small group meeting with an academic member of staff from your School or Faculty, or through your Faculty Connect Hub. This gives you space to talk about what’s working, what isn't, and how you’re settling in.

Your academic advisors will monitor your academic progress and can provide subject-specific guidance throughout your course. They can also help direct you to the right support services if you are experiencing any challenges that may affect your studies or attendance.

You will receive information before you arrive, and during Welcome Week, about where to access academic advice and support for your course.

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.

Pathway to Success is here to guide students through the first month, but our support doesn’t stop there. You can browse through our Student Support - 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 our Events page. Get accustomed to checking this regularly, as new events and opportunities are always being added.  

Throughout your time with us, you’ll have opportunities 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.