A huge thank you to all Alumni who has already booked to join us for the Alumni Reunion 2026, taking place from 11th to 13th September 2026 at Exton Park. 

The weekend’s programme is designed to be informal and flexible. Friday (11th September) will feature the main organised activities, while the rest of the reunion offers plenty of time to explore Chester, revisit favourite places and reconnect with fellow Alumni at your own pace. 

With the booking deadline fast approaching and only a limited number of places remaining, now is the time to secure your place! 

Booking Deadline: 11th August 2026 

Find out more and book your place 

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 Appointments! 

As a graduate, you have lifelong access to the Careers and Employability service, including their dedicated platform, CareerHub. Through CareerHub, you can book one-to-one appointments with Careers Consultants.  Whether you're looking for support with applications, interview preparation, job searching tips or planning your next career move, the team is here to help. 

Appointments are available in person or online via Microsoft Teams. 

To get started, please visit the CareerHub login page and sign in as a ‘Graduate up to 2 years’. When accessing the platform for the first time as a graduate, you’ll be asked to reset your password and provide a non-University email address stored on record.   

If you don’t know the email address on record, or no longer have access to it, select ‘Forgotten your details or don’t have access to your email?’. You’ll be asked to provide a few details, and the team will aim to review your request as soon as possible 

If you have any questions about accessing an appointment as a graduate, please contact the team at careers@chester.ac.uk

The Graduate Outcomes Survey is a national survey for recent graduates to share where your course has taken you; whether you’re working, studying further, or something else entirely!   

Your feedback helps current and future students make informed decisions about their future and shapes the way courses at the University are developed.  

Did you complete your course between February 2025 and April 2025? 

You’ll have been emailed the survey link, so please check your emails. Can’t find it? Email us at graduateoutcomes@chester.ac.uk, and we’ll be happy to resend it to you.  

Completing the survey online is the quickest and easiest option, however if we’re unable to contact you by email, you may receive a phone call. The caller will introduce themselves as calling from IFF Research on behalf of the University of Chester. 

Did you complete your course between May 2025 and July 2025? 

Your opportunity to share your voice is just around the corner! Starting next month, you'll receive your Graduate Outcomes survey. Keep an eye on your inbox for its arrival! 

In 1961, the then Chester Diocesan Training College welcomed its first cohort of women students, marking a significant milestone in the institution's history after many years as a male-only college. 

In July, the University of Chester celebrated 65 years of women studying at Chester, by bringing together Alumnae from across the decades to reflect on their experiences and the changing role of women in higher education. 

Attendees shared memories of their time at Chester, highlighting the support they received throughout their studies and discussed the lasting impact their time at Chester has had on their lives.

Calling all Alumni from the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences! 

We're looking for submissions for our Chester Made campaign, which celebrates the achievements and experiences of our Alumni. 

Whether you've just started your career, launched a business, continued your studies or are making a difference in your community, we'd love to hear your story! 

You can get involved in a number of ways: 

• Submit a Chester Made story  
• Write a short blog about your time at Chester  
• Take part in a relaxed recorded interview and we'll turn your story into a blog-style feature 

Interested in getting involved or have any questions? Please get in touch with the Alumni team at: alumni@chester.ac.uk 

We look forward to hearing your Chester story.

In July, as part of the award-winning Festival of Ideas programme, our Alumni Archive team, alongside current History students from the Curious Chester module, hosted an exhibition showcasing 15 key objects from the history of the University and its predecessor institutions. 

The exhibition explored how these objects relate to our history and reflect our longstanding role as an educational leader in the North West. 

We loved hearing from Jonathan and Rosie-Jo (pictured above), who presented their research into their chosen objects. Jonathan explored James Slade's Sermon Preached and Susan Hector's teaching notes, while Rosie-Jo researched the history of Padgate Training College, later known as the Warrington Campus of the University. 

Find out more

Did you know that we have an Alumni blog on our website? 

Alumni have previously written pieces about their time at the University, their standout memories and what they’ve gone on to do after graduating. 

We're always looking for new contributors and would love to hear your story! 

One recent contributor was Mahshid (MSc Food Science and Innovation, Class of 2023), who reflected on how her time at the University of Chester helped shape her career. 

Read Mahshid's story 

If you’re interested in writing for the Alumni blog and would like more information, please email the Alumni Team at alumni@chester.ac.uk 

Find out more the Alumni blog

The University of Chester has officially re-opened the Binks building following the completion of a major refurbishment programme, marking a significant milestone in the continued enhancement of facilities at the Exton Park campus. 

To celebrate the reopening, the University was delighted to welcome members of the Binks family, guests and civic dignitaries for a special ceremony (pictured above). 

As part of the refurbishment, a portrait of Reverend Canon Dr Edmund Vardy Binks, affectionately known as Ned, has been installed in the building’s foyer in recognition of his lasting contribution to the institution. 

Ned served as Principal of Chester College from 1987 to 1998 and played a pivotal role in shaping the foundations of what would become the University of Chester.

Find out more about the ceremony 

Congratulations to all our Alumni who were selected to pitch their business ideas at this year's University of Chester Venture Pitch event. 

This year's competition was split up into two categories: Pre-launch and the Accelerator. 

The Accelerator programme, introduced this year, saw five previous pitchers who have gone on to launch their businesses compete for a range of cash and support prizes. 

Congratulations to Helle, Alex and Shima, who were awarded prizes in the Accelerator programme. 

A further congratulations to Pre-Launch winners Sam and Thomas, who are currently working towards the release of their first RPG (role-playing game), SunTide. 

Find out more

• Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, until 6th September, Grosvenor Park, Chester   
• Moonlight Flicks, 9th August - 31st August, Grosvenor Park, Chester   

Summer has arrived! The city of Chester has a buzz of activities over the summer months.   

Storyhouse’s Storyhouse in the Park features 10 weeks of theatre, film, comedy, and music with al fresco drinks, wood-fired pizza and street food.   

Meanwhile, the Cathedral’s latest exhibition Kiosk by Wolfgang Weileder runs from 11th July to 31st August at Chester Cathedral.

• Wednesday 2nd September 2026 
• 9.15 am – 4pm 
• Wheeler, Chester 

If you've already completed a degree and are considering a career change, our Graduate Entry Medicine Open Day is a great place to start.  

Open to graduates from any discipline, this four-year MBChB course offers a route into Medicine regardless of your undergraduate degree background. Join us to learn about the course, meet staff, and tour our state-of-the-art clinical skills and simulation facilities. 

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: 

• University archaeologists make exciting and unexpected discovery at Chester Castle 
• University-run Chester Festival of Ideas returns with record turnout 
• Has the FIFA World Cup become too expensive for many match-going fans? 
• New University podcast episode focuses on psychology of the World Cup 
• Creative writing talent celebrated at Cheshire Prize for Literature awards 

…and plenty more stories from across our University community.

Spending time connecting with nature, whether by getting outdoors or bringing plants into your home, can have a positive impact on your wellbeing. 

Why not try a colour walk? Choose a colour, such as yellow, and photograph anything that catches your eye during your walk. You may be surprised by the details you notice, from interesting shapes and textures to hidden pops of colour you've never spotted before.  

Not only is it a great way to be mindful and present, but you'll also end up with a collection of unique photographs that could even be displayed at home.