Congratulations to all of our final-year students who have received their results and officially completed their studies at the University. We hope you achieved the results you were hoping for! 

We can't wait to celebrate with you at graduation this November and officially welcome you to the University of Chester Alumni community. 

If you'd like to find out more about graduation and what to expect on the day, take a look at our graduation information page on the University's website.

It’s that time of year again! 

As we draw closer to the start of a new academic year, we're preparing to welcome a new cohort of students to the University of Chester later this month as they begin their university journey. 

To mark the occasion, we’re reaching out to our Alumni community and asking how the experience of joining the University has evolved throughout the decades. Whether you graduated a few years ago or several decades ago, we'd love to hear about your experiences and any memories, highlights or photographs from your first days at Chester. 

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

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: The Graduate Outcomes Survey! 

The Graduate Outcomes Survey is a national survey that gives recent graduates the opportunity to share where their course has taken them, whether you're working, studying, travelling, running a business, looking for your next opportunity, or doing something else entirely. 

Did you complete your course between May and July 2025?  What have you been up to since graduating? 

At the beginning of September, you’ll have the opportunity to tell us through the Graduate Outcomes survey. 

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 allows us to improve courses and careers support for future students. It also helps prospective students make informed decisions when choosing a university or course through resources such as Discover Uni, which uses anonymised Graduate Outcomes data.

When the survey arrives: 

Taking part is straightforward. You’ll receive an email with a secure link to the survey, which you can complete online. It takes around 10 minutes to complete. 

If you're working, please tell us a little about what you do in the "job duties" section. The more detail you can provide, the better we can understand the work our graduates are doing. 

If we can’t contact you by email, you may receive a phone call from IFF Research, who carry out the survey on behalf of UK Universities. 

If your contact details have changed recently, please let us know by emailing graduateoutcomes@chester.ac.uk

Our Part-time Evening Language courses are back and now open to our graduates, starting the week commencing 5th October 2026.   

Courses will run for 20 weeks at Exton Park, with weekly classes from 6.30pm to 8.30pm across a range of weekdays. Languages available include French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish and Welsh.

As an Alumni of the University, you are eligible for a £40 discount off the total course fee. Simply send your former student number or a copy of your degree certificate to ahsstudentrecruitment@chester.ac.uk , and the team will provide you with a discount code. 

If you're interested in finding out more, please visit the course pages or book directly onto a course once you've received your Alumni discount.

Two University of Chester Alumni who met while studying on the same degree course have tied the knot in a unique charity shop-themed wedding, with the bride stunning guests in a £2 wedding dress. 

Gina and Jacob Dodds, both graduates of the University's BA Popular Music Performance degree, exchanged vows at Chester's Storyhouse, surrounded by family and friends who embraced the couple's passion for sustainability and charitable giving. 

In keeping with their values, Gina purchased her wedding dress and Jacob bought the engagement ring from a Hope House Children's Hospice charity shop. Guests were also encouraged to wear outfits sourced from charity shops or second-hand retailers, helping to raise money for a range of charitable causes while reducing waste. 

Congratulations to Gina and Jacob on their special day. We wish them every happiness for the future! 

Find out more about their wedding

A University of Chester Alumnus was recently reunited with his former lecturer as students helped prepare Chester Football Club players for their new season. 

Health and wellbeing coach Ash Armstrong, who studied Sport and Exercise Sciences and later completed a Master's in Sports Sciences (Strength and Conditioning) at the University, now runs the OPH Performance Centre at the Deva Community Stadium, home of Chester FC. 

Ash recently welcomed Professor Jamie Highton and students from the Sport and Exercise Sciences programme as they carried out strength testing with first-team players ahead of their National League North campaign. 

Find out more about the session

We're delighted to share that the University-run Chester Festival of Ideas has received international recognition, earning a Silver 2026 CASE Circle of Excellence Award. 

The CASE Circle of Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in educational advancement, recognising institutions that demonstrate creativity, innovation and impact in strengthening communities and transforming lives. 

The Festival was recognised in the Special Events (In-Person, Multi-Day Events) category, standing alongside institutions from across the world. 

Read more about our award success

We're delighted to share that two University of Chester sustainability initiatives have been shortlisted for the Green Gown Awards 2026. 

Build Back Together: Reaching the Last Mile has been recognised in the Creating Impact category for its work supporting the Aston Ingham community to improve flood resilience through community-led action and academic collaboration. 

Additionally, Transforming Campus Catering Through Sustainability, Inclusion and Student Partnership has been shortlisted in the Campus Health, Food and Drink category. The initiative has helped to reduce food waste, strengthen sustainable practices and create a more inclusive dining experience for students across the University. 

The winners of the Green Gown Awards 2026 will be announced on 16th November. 

Find out more the award shortlist

• Wednesday 14th October 2026 
• 7pm – 8.15pm 
• Online

Join us for a virtual introduction to our MA Clinical Counselling course. Discover how the programme combines counselling and psychological theory with practical skills development and personal growth, helping prepare students for professional practice. 

You'll also have the opportunity to meet the course team and have your questions answered during a live Q&A session. 

Book your place

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: 

• Partnerships across University push new boundaries in dance 
• Humour and human nature explored by psychologists in University of Chester podcast 
• Archaeological dig returns to site of Roman villa in North Wales 
• University of Chester to welcome charity runner on 100-mile challenge in memory of student Aaron Mills 
• New study finds international students bring £100 million economic benefit to Chester area 

…and plenty more stories from across our university community.

Check out your local Farmers’ Market! 

Did you know that by supporting your local farmers you’re protecting your local green spaces because you’re helping them to practice sustainable farming practices. Lots of areas now host their own Farmers’ Market, and with these markets come more seasonable and nutritious foods, less packaging, a reduced need to travel and a boost in community spirit! 

Finishing university means some big changes and uncertainty ahead.

There are many things in life which are not certain and there are things which happen to us, that we cannot always control. We often worry and then become very anxious, and this can spoil our enjoyment of the present and affect our sleep. The  NHS Every Mind Matters website outlines some really great, practical things that you can do to help you to deal with change and uncertainty.