It's officially less than a month until our November graduation ceremonies, and we can't wait to welcome you into our Alumni community at the historic Chester Cathedral. 

If you're graduating this November, be sure to visit our graduation page, where you'll find everything you need to know ahead of the big day. 

Find out more about Graduation 2026

Last month, the Alumni Team welcomed graduates spanning more than six decades back to the University of Chester for the 2026 Alumni Reunion Weekend, marking the event's return after a one-year break. The weekend offered Alumni the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, revisit familiar places and celebrate the lasting impact the University has had on their lives. 

Friday's programme featured a range of activities organised by the Alumni Team, including an Archives exhibition showcasing historic objects and memorabilia from the University's past. Alumni also heard from Vice-Chancellor Professor Eunice Simmons, who shared insights into the University's current achievements and future ambitions, before enjoying a variety of social activities throughout the weekend, providing opportunities to reconnect with old friends in a relaxed and welcoming environment. 

Photographs from the Friday programme will be available in the coming weeks. The Alumni Team will share details through future Alumni newsletters and on our social media channels once they are available.

One of the many benefits available to our Alumni community at the University of Chester is free External Borrower Membership at any of our on-site libraries. This allows you to borrow up to four physical items at a time. 

As part of the University's new visitor policy, Alumni wishing to access any University library should first sign in with the Reception Team based at that site. For visits to Seaborne Library at Exton Park, please sign in at the Reception Desk in the Binks Building. You will then receive a visitor badge and lanyard, allowing access through the library security gates. Please note that your existing Alumni library card will still be required to borrow books. 

At the end of your visit, please return your visitor badge and lanyard and sign out with the Reception Team before leaving the site. 

If you have any questions about this process, please contact the Alumni Team at alumni@chester.ac.uk. We'd be happy to help.

Earlier this year, we began highlighting the various ways the Careers and Employability Team continues to support our graduates and Alumni beyond their time at the University.  

This month, we are focusing on our next key theme: Graduate Traineeships! 

From 2nd November 2026, the Careers and Employability Team will be advertising a range of paid Graduate Traineeships, available exclusively to eligible University of Chester graduates. 

Who are these for? Graduate Traineeships are available to 2026 UK graduates, who have recently completed an undergraduate degree. 

When do these run? Graduate Traineeship opportunities will be advertised from November 2026. 

How much will I be paid? Graduate Traineeships are paid at £14.30 per hour for 180 hours, totalling £2,574. Pay will be processed through the employer's PAYE system. 

How many hours per week will I work? Graduate Traineeships are typically full-time, at 36 hours per week. However, there may be flexibility to undertake a traineeship on a part-time basis, subject to agreement with the employer. 

Whether you're looking to develop your skills, enhance your CV, gain valuable experience, or simply try something new, these opportunities could be the perfect next step in your career.  

If you have any questions, please contact the team at internships@chester.ac.uk for more information.

Looking for your next opportunity? CareerHub is the University of Chester's online careers platform, giving graduates access to a wide range of job vacancies. You can browse the latest vacancies and explore opportunities that match your skills and interests. 

If you're looking for a graduate-level role, CareerHub features a variety of opportunities from employers across different sectors. Here's an example of a role currently being advertised: 

Job Title: Placement Assistant  

Organisation: University of Chester, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Society   

Location: Chester City Centre (hybrid work) 

Hours: 18.25 per week (part-time, fixed term)  

Pay: £25,249 to £25,804 per year pro rata 

Find out more and apply here

The Graduate Outcomes Survey is now open for graduates who completed their course between May and July 2025. 

If you haven't completed your survey yet, please look out for an email from survey@graduateoutcomes.ac.uk. The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete and asks what you've been doing since graduating. If you don't complete the survey online, you may also receive a phone call from IFF Research, which carries out the survey on behalf of UK universities. 

There is no single "right" answer. Whatever you're doing, your experience matters. 

Your response helps the University understand how graduates are progressing after university and enables us to improve courses and careers support for future students. It also helps prospective students make informed decisions about their future through resources such as Discover Uni, which uses anonymised Graduate Outcomes data. 

If you haven’t completed your survey yet, please take a few minutes to have your say. 

Already completed your survey? Thank you! Your response is greatly appreciated and makes a valuable contribution to understanding the experiences of our graduates. 

Can't find the email? Please contact graduateoutcomes@chester.ac.uk and we'll arrange for it to be resent.

Find out more about Graduate Outcomes 

Enterprise Mobility offers a range of opportunities to help you develop your skills and gain valuable experience. 

Mali Griffith is a current final-year Business Management and Marketing student who is now working for Enterprise Mobility as a Campus and Brand Manager. Mali wanted to introduce herself to our Alumni community and outline how Enterprise Mobility can support recent graduates: 

A little while ago, I was in the same position as many of you, wondering where my next opportunity might take me. 

Following an internship with Enterprise Mobility and experiencing the application process first-hand, I understand that taking the first step can feel both exciting and daunting. 

That's why I'm passionate about helping students and recent graduates explore their options and feel more confident about their next career move. 

Whether you're interested in: 

• Graduate opportunities 
• Placements 
• Early careers opportunities 

If you have any questions about the application process, internships, or what it's like to work with Enterprise Mobility, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. I'd be happy to share my experience and have a chat. 

Sometimes, all it takes is that one first step.

Connect with Mali on LinkedIn 

Do you have an inspiring career story to share? We'd love to hear from you. 

We're looking for contributions from Alumni who would like to share their career journey and achievements since graduating from the University of Chester. 

• Do you have your dream job and want to share your career path so far? 
• Have you recently reached a special milestone or achievement? 
• How did studying at the University help shape your career journey? 

If you'd like to share your story or find out more, please contact the Alumni Team at alumni@chester.ac.uk

We’re pleased to announce that a range of subjects at the University of Chester have been placed in the UK’s top 20 in the Guardian University Guide 2027, while the institution has climbed the overall rankings and made the top 20% in the Value Added category (this score compares students’ degrees results with their entry qualifications, to show how effectively they are taught). 

Subjects from across a range of disciplines were recognised in the rankings, with Geography and Social Work both placed in the top 10 nationally. Several subjects were also ranked among the best in the North West. 

The University is now ranked 61st in the UK, rising from 70th place last year. This continued improvement reflects the University's commitment to delivering an excellent student experience, high-quality teaching and strong graduate outcomes. 

Find out more about the University's rise in the rankings

A new independent report has revealed that the University of Chester generated an estimated £893 million for the UK economy in a single academic year. 

The Socio-Economic Impact of the University of Chester report found that the University's total contribution amounted to £893 million in Gross Value Added (GVA), taking into account both its current economic impact and the long-term contribution of its graduates. 

The analysis also found that for every £1 spent by the University, £6.30 of economic value was generated. Overall, the University's economic impact has increased by 10% since the previous assessment two years ago. 

Find out more about the University's economic impact

• Saturday 14th November 2026 
• 2pm – 4pm 
• Chester locations

Thinking about returning to Chester for postgraduate study? Join us at our Postgraduate Open Day to explore your options, meet academic staff and discover how a postgraduate qualification could support your career ambitions.

Each month the University shares a wide range of news updates which you can follow on the website’s ‘News Page’.  

This month’s highlights include: 

• University of Chester Business School students earn awards for excellence 

• University of Chester Press celebrates 25 years of publishing success 

• Psychology team ready to analyse twists and turns of Celebrity Traitors in new podcast series 

• Academic ‘incredibly honoured’ to win Chester Zoo conservation education award 

• Visiting Professor elected President Elect of British Geriatrics Society 

…and plenty more stories from across our University community.