🛡️University of Chester

Chester, UK

One of the most affordable UK universities, with a clear, transparent fee structure.

About Chester

University of Chester is based in the historic cathedral city of Chester, north-west England, with additional sites at Warrington and Shrewsbury for selected programmes. Its 2026/27 undergraduate international fee of £14,950 is among the lowest of any mainstream UK university, and it has recognised strength in nursing and health, education and teacher training, business, sport and exercise science, and arts and performing arts. Chester also runs an International Scholarship Award for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students, further reducing net costs, and the historic, walkable city keeps day-to-day living costs low.

Why students choose it

  • Among the lowest published international tuition fees of any mainstream UK university
  • A dedicated International Scholarship Award that can reduce costs further for eligible students
  • A safe, historic cathedral city with low living costs and good rail links to Liverpool and Manchester

🎓 Free application support for Chester

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to Chester — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

BBB (A Level)  ·  IB 26

Solid tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

<£20,000/yr

low tier for UK — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

city campus, Chester

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or Chester's financial aid office.

Beyond government-level awards, most UK universities offer their own merit-based international scholarships — commonly a partial tuition reduction for strong A-Level/IB/IGCSE results, sometimes auto-considered from your application and sometimes requiring a short separate form.

  • Chevening Scholarships: UK government-funded, fully-funded, for one-year Master's study — highly competitive, open to students from eligible countries with leadership potential.
  • Commonwealth Scholarships: For citizens of Commonwealth countries, mainly postgraduate, funded by the UK government.
  • University international merit scholarships: Widely offered across Russell Group and other universities — typically a tuition-fee reduction for high entry grades, often renewable each year of study.

Chevening and Commonwealth are postgraduate-only. For undergraduate applicants, the university-specific merit scholarships are usually the more relevant route.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Nursing and Health

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Biology recommended

Education and Teacher Training

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Business Management

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Sport and Exercise Science

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Performing Arts

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Portfolio / audition

Durations are typical for UK — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September
Typical deadline
Late January (equal consideration deadline)
Note
Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

Read the full Tutopiya guide

A deeper walkthrough of applying to Chester for international IGCSE / A Level / IB students.

Read the guide →

See where Chester ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free UK University Shortlist Builder to see whether Chester is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other UK university that matches.

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More UK universities

Chester FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to Chester as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into Chester?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, Chester expects around BBB at A Level or 26 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Chester's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on Chester's own admissions page before applying.

How much does Chester cost for international students?

International tuition at Chester typically falls in the <£20,000/yr range (low tier for UK). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Chester's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for Chester?

Chester follows UK's typical intake calendar: September, with applications generally due late january (equal consideration deadline). Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry. Always verify the exact date on Chester's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for Chester?

UK universities, including Chester, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is Chester known for?

One of the most affordable UK universities, with a clear, transparent fee structure. University of Chester is based in the historic cathedral city of Chester, north-west England, with additional sites at Warrington and Shrewsbury for selected programmes. Its 2026/27 undergraduate international fee of £14,950 is among the lowest of any mainstream UK university, and it has recognised strength in nursing and health, education and teacher training, business, sport and exercise science, and arts and performing arts. Chester also runs an International Scholarship Award for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students, further reducing net costs, and the historic, walkable city keeps day-to-day living costs low.

Can I apply to Chester with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — Chester accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free UK University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against Chester and every other UK university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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