University Centre Birkenhead, Preparing for University Guide 2024

Welcome

Now that you’ve accepted your offer to study with us, you can get excited about starting university, meeting new people, and getting stuck into Welcome Week when you arrive!

No matter what you choose to study or how you love to spend your time, you’ll fit right into our diverse and welcoming community. With a range of societies, sports, volunteering and social events, you’ll easily find people who share your interests.

This guide will make sure that you have all the information you need before starting, and if you have any more questions, there are contact details throughout, connecting you with people who understand.

You could also get a head start and make connections on our online community now! Use the QR code on page 5 to join.

in the North West for

Get Prepared

Before you embark on student life here at the University of Chester, you’ll need to prepare a few things in advance of September, including completing an online enrolment and uploading your photo. You don’t have to do anything right now – we’ll send you an email in the coming weeks with more information regarding enrolment and what to do next.

chester.ac.uk/welcome

Get Connected

If you’re keen to find out about being a student at the University Centre Birkenhead, you can chat online with our friendly student ambassadors and academic staff.

chester.ac.uk/ask

You can also follow our student communications channel Student Shout Out, which will keep you up to date with the latest news and events at the University.

@uocshoutout

Get Involved

The UoChester app is an essential download for your time at the University. You’ll need it to check into lectures, access your timetable, discover the latest events and much more. Once you’ve received your University login details, don’t forget to download the app before Welcome Week.

m.chester.ac.uk

Join our online community and meet other offer holders.

Welcome

to UoC

There’s so much for you to look forward to and we’re here every step of the way. Our aim is to support you to feel right at home as soon as you arrive.

Our Student Experience Team have developed a timetable of Welcome Week events ready for September. We want to give every student the opportunity to interact, connect with new friends, and get stuck in with academic and non-academic activities. You’ll hear more about everything we have planned nearer the time. In the meantime, check out our video from last year!

For more information about Welcome Week, please visit our website:

chester.ac.uk/welcome

T: 01244 511550

E: studentexperience@chester.ac.uk

“This week holds some of my favourite memories from university – signing up for societies, meeting new people and trying new things; it was the perfect start!”

Settling In

From before you arrive, to those busy first few weeks of term and far beyond, our aim is to make your transition to university as smooth as possible. Here’s a flavour of what you can expect.

Support for Mature and Commuting Students

If you’re a mature student or will be commuting from home, you’ll receive information before the start of term about special events during Welcome Week, which are designed to help you get orientated and meet other people with similar circumstances.

Peer Mentors

Signing up to our Peer Mentoring scheme allows you to connect with a 2nd or 3rd year student as soon as you start! Our Mentors are here to welcome you to the University community, answer your questions and share their experiences, giving you guidance on a range of topics, such as accommodation; student loans; workload management; and clubs and societies. They’ll also know about the services that we offer, so if they can’t help you directly, they know someone who can! Once your place is confirmed, you’ll receive an email where you can sign up in just a few minutes, and we can match you with your Peer Mentor, ready for the start of your university journey.

Learning Resources

The University is committed to providing access to selected e-textbooks during your first year of study, working closely with our academic schools to offer these alongside a wide range of academic journals and other resources throughout your studies. You will receive a full induction to our Learning and Information Services at the start of term.

Personal Academic Tutor (PAT)

You will be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) before starting in September, who will be there to support your personal development to ensure you reach your potential. Not only that, they’ll be there to help you with the transition into university, giving you a head start, as well as being a friendly face that you’ll recognise when you arrive.

“Beginning university is such a big change and can be really scary. Fortunately there’s lots of support from wellbeing staff, and your PAT, with 24/7 support available if you have any worries. You are not alone - you can do this!”

Ashi

World Ready Get

World Ready Students

By choosing to study at the University of Chester, you’ll be joining a university with a real focus on making you not just ‘work ready’, but ‘World Ready’. But what do we mean by ‘World Ready’, and how do we do this? Well, this ethos and approach to your education is embedded in pretty much everything we do. With built-in work placements and industry links, our courses are closely linked to the real world. Outside the classroom, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive support package to help you gain self-confidence and resilience.

Real-world Experience

Our aim is to equip students with the skills and connections to contribute to their community. You could also do this by learning a language for free or taking up volunteering – whether for just a few hours – or a longer commitment –this is another way we can connect you into the real world.

Study Abroad

This is a unique opportunity to gain credit towards your degree by participating in various short-term placements around the world. This includes engaging with issues from business to social justice, poverty, development and the environment.

Studying abroad is also a great way of broadening your horizons. It provides opportunities to explore new interests and challenges, all whilst enhancing your academic experience.

Want to stay active whilst studying at University Centre Birkenhead?

Students studying at University Centre Birkenhead have access to an active zone to help keep you moving during your day. The active zone can be found on the ground floor and includes free weights, kettlebells, static bikes and rowers.

Plus, you can make use of the excellent Sports and Active Lifestyle facilities at Exton Park, Chester.

“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and get involved! You never know who you might meet or what hobbies you might discover.”

Dallas

at Chester Sustainability

The Sustainability Team at the University of Chester run a number of initiatives, enabling sustainability to become part of the student experience.

Opportunities for our students to get involved include:

l Taking part in the University’s annual Sustainability Week

l Volunteering and gaining experience in environmental and wildlife conservation

l Participating in monthly social sessions and meeting like-minded people

l Becoming certified Carbon Literate by completing the free training course

chester.ac.uk/sustainability

Getting About

University Centre Birkenhead is well connected to public transport routes across the North West, with train stations and bus stops located nearby. Active travel (walking, running, cycling, and wheeling) is encouraged for those living nearby, with cycle storage and changing facilities available at each site. Those aged 16-25 can purchase a young person’s railcard, saving 1/3 on rail travel. Some mature students can also access this discount by purchasing a 26-30 railcard.

Find out more about commuting and travelling to and from the University of Chester:

chester.ac.uk/commuting-students

Confirming Your Place

So, you’ve chosen University Centre Birkenhead as either your Firm or Insurance choice, now what? Well, what happens next depends on whether you’ve already got your Level 3 qualifications (A Levels, BTEC etc). If you’ve already got these, please scan the original copies or evidence from examining boards and email them to our Admissions team referencing your UCAS personal ID number.

If you’ve accepted a conditional offer and are awaiting your results, the process of confirming your place will depend on the type of qualification you’re taking. If you’ve got any questions or concerns about confirming your place, please contact our Admissions team.

What if Birkenhead is Your Insurance Choice?

The university you selected as your Firm choice might have just pipped us to the post when you replied to your offers, but as your Insurance choice we will be here for you if things change.

If your results come through and you decide that University Centre Birkenhead is the place for you (even if you meet the requirements of your Firm choice), don’t worry! Just get in contact with our Admissions experts who will talk you through the easy process of what you need to do next.

If you don’t get into your Firm choice once you get your results, this doesn’t mean you won’t be going to a university you really wanted to go to (that’s why you selected your top two). Your place at Birkenhead will be subject to meeting the conditions of your offer from us. You’ll need to check UCAS Hub to see if your place has been confirmed:

Things Change We Know

Every year students join us after making a last-minute change of course, so don’t worry if you’re having second thoughts about the course you applied for – it happens! We’re used to dealing with this and are well equipped to ensure a smooth transition. Get in touch and our Admissions experts will advise you on your options.

We’ve got a range of quality Single and Combined Honours courses to choose from, so we’re pretty confident that you’ll find something to suit your interests. If you haven’t changed your mind about the course you applied for but don’t quite achieve the grades you were expecting, don’t panic! First, give us a call to find out if we’re still holding your place.

If you are unsuccessful in gaining a place on this course, we may be able to offer you an alternative. At University Centre Birkenhead, we offer a Foundation Year on many of our courses which are designed for students who do not have the necessary academic qualifications required to enter directly onto the first year of a degree, but who have the ability and commitment to do so.

Visit the Clearing pages on our website for more information about the Clearing process and to find out about some of our students’ experiences of applying through Clearing.

chester.ac.uk/clearing

Let’s Talk Money

Taking an interest in your finances before you arrive will put you in the strongest position to successfully manage your money as a student.

First of all, if you haven’t already done so, you’ll need to apply for student finance as soon as you can. Visit our website or the government website for more information.

chester.ac.uk/finance

gov.uk/studentfinance

How Can We Support You?

At University of Chester, we know studying is a life-changing experience, so we have a lot of support available to help you succeed. We have Student Money Advisers on hand to offer tailored support to help you tackle any money worries you have. This includes help with budgeting and cutting down on spending, offering financial support to eligible students through our Student Support Fund, and they can also refer you for further support from a range of internal and external teams.

If you have any questions about student finance or your financial wellbeing at university, get in touch with our Student Services Team.

Studying Working Whilst

We recognise that many students work alongside their studies and our Careers and Employability Team can support you with:

l Advice on finding part-time work

l Access to part-time jobs on CareerHub

l Access to jobs on campus through UniJob

l Access to paid internships and placements

l Advice on your CV, applications and going to interviews.

Make sure to pack your current, in-date passport and/or birth certificate and to make a note of your National Insurance (NI) number if you are seeking work once you get here, so that the required Right to Work checks can be conducted.

For more information about part-time work whilst at the University of Chester, visit:

chester.ac.uk/earn-while-you-learn

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“Studying here has helped me to prepare for my working life. I also built up my CV by becoming part of the UniJob scheme, where I got a paid role assisting around campus, among other tasks.”

Things to Note

Nursing

Unlike other undergraduate courses, Nursing and Midwifery courses run for a calendar year rather than an academic year. For further information, please contact:

E: hmsstudentrecruitment@chester.ac.uk

Mature Students

If you are worried about returning to education, our Wellbeing Advisers are on hand to help:

T: 01244 511550

E: studentservices@chester.ac.uk

Disability and Inclusion

If you need to know more about Disability and Inclusion support, contact us now to discuss how we can help:

T: 01244 511550

E: studentservices@chester.ac.uk

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

For courses that involve regulated activity, you will receive instructions on completing your DBS check following your Unconditional Firm offer. Further information can be found at: chester.ac.uk/dbs

Checklist

Apply to Student Finance

Download the University app

Apply for student accommodation

Provide proof of qualification(s) (if applicable)

Submit photograph online for student identification card

Sign up for a Peer Mentor

Remember NI number and proof of ID for term-time employment opportunities

Special Circumstances

Complete Declaration of Health questionnaire*

Complete DBS Disclosure**

Apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance

Disclose to Disability and Inclusion Support

*Sent out following confirmation of place to all Nursing applicants.

**Further information to follow subsequent to confirmation of place for all Nursing applicants.

University Centre Birkenhead

Across social media @uochester

Student Shout Out is your dedicated student communications channel. They’ll keep you up to date with the latest news, events and opportunities at the University via a weekly newsletter and across their social channels. Follow them now to get connected: @uocshoutout on Instagram, Facebook and X.