Open Day Guide
What’s on and Where
Attend a Welcome Talk
Have a warm welcome from our Vice-Chancellor, and hear more about what you can expect as a student at Chester.
See page 4 for times
Visit the Information Fair
If you have any burning questions for one of our support services, you can ask them at our Information Fair! This is your one-stop shop for information and one-to-one advice. See page 5 for more details.
Attend a Subject Session
It’s so important that you choose the right course for you. So, make sure you don’t miss your subject session by planning your day around when this is happening.
See your Subject Session guide
Take a Campus Tour
Take a closer look at Exton Park on a student-led campus tour. Tours depart regularly from Seaborne Library (map reference ).
Library tours are also available throughout the day from the Seaborne Library helpdesk. Tours every half hour from 9:30 until 15:00
With talks, tours and drop-in sessions taking place throughout our Open Day, there's plenty to do! Explore our campus, tour our facilities and view our accommodation. You can also meet our support teams and visit the Students’ Union, Library and Sports Centre. If you need a pit stop, head to one of our restaurants or cafés. The day is yours, but here are some key things to do to make the most of your visit to Chester!
Visit Academic Departments
We also recommend that you visit your academic department today. Every department will have staff available to speak to throughout the day. Please refer to your Open Day Subject Sessions booklet for locations.
Open throughout the day until 15:00
Attend Information Talks
Throughout the day, we offer information and guidance talks on Accommodation, Finance, Making Your Application, Apprenticeships and Managing Your Money at University.
See page 12 for times
Talks last 15 - 25 minutes per subject
View Accommodation
Stop by our range of accommodation options for a glimpse inside your future home. To view our accommodation, please refer to the Exton Park Map on page 15 for locations.
Open on a drop-in basis from 9:30 until 15:00
Explore Chester
Take the time to explore our vibrant city centre, packed with history with lots of unique cafés and shops. A 15-minute walk from Exton Park
Information Talks
Binks Building, Room CBK011 Welcome Talk 09:30 - 10:00 11:30 - 12:00 13:00 - 13:30
Seaborne Library, Room CLR013 Accommodation Talk
11:00 - 11:25 12:30- 12:55 13:30 - 13:55
Seaborne Library, Room CLR009 Making your Application 10:50 - 11:05 13:35 - 13:50 14:30 - 14:45
Seaborne Library, Room CLR009 Managing your Money at University 10:15 - 10:40 12:40 - 13:05 14:00 - 14:25
Seaborne Library, Room CLR013 Student Finance Talks
11:30 - 11:45 13:00 - 13:15 14:00 - 14:15
Seaborne Library, Room CLR009 Let’s Talk Apprenticeships 10:30 - 10:45 12:00 - 12:15 14:10 - 14:25
Careers and Employability
Festival of Ideas (available until 1pm)
Finance
Language Evening Classes
Student Services
Work Based Learning
If you would like to speak with our Students’ Union or Atheletics Union, they will be available in their respective buildings. Next to the Bar for the Athletics Union ( on the map) and Chester Students’ Union for the Students’ Union ( on the map).
Accommodation to View
We have the following residences available to view on a drop-in basis at the Exton Park* site and in the city centre**.
For more information on your accommodation options, as well as details on how and when to apply, visit our Information Fair in Seaborne Library.
*For University owned accommodation see page 15.
**For Partnership accommodation see back cover.
Grosvenor House
Astbury House / Fisher House
Parkgate Road Houses
Be sure to visit the city centre if you can, and discover what makes Chester one of the UK’s top 20 student cities*. Vibrant, unique and welcoming, Chester is bursting with character and brimming with culture. Take a look at our top picks for your Open Day and see why Chester is a place you could one day call home. *Student Crowd, Best Student Cities 2023.
Food and Drink
Chester’s streets are lined with cuisines from around the globe, mixing well-known favourites in with independent eateries. There are hidden foodie gems down side streets and in the new Chester Market on Northgate Street (see map on back page).
Historic Sights
Chester is steeped in history, and you’ll find historical treasures throughout the city – the impressive Cathedral, the iconic Eastgate Clock, the black and white Rows and the Roman Gardens. Walking the Roman walls is a great way to explore and get some incredible views over the city.
Shopping
High street favourites, designer boutiques, independent gems – Chester has everything you need when it comes to shopping. As well as the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, a stroll through some of Chester’s hidden streets uncovers a host of unexpected independent shops, music venues and galleries.
The Festival of Ideas is a programme of free, inclusive and accessible public events on a wide range of themes in and around Chester, co-created by the University of Chester, external stakeholders and city partners.
These events include speakers, discussion panels, theatre, pop-up exhibitions, interactive events, music, readings, guided walks and more!
For more information about the events running this weekend, please visit: https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/ or pop by the stand at the information fair in Seaborne Library ( on the campus map). 7
Learning Locations
Please refer to your Open Day Subject Sessions booklet(s) to view today's information talks and drop-in sessions for each subject areas. Within each subject area you will find out more about the courses we offer within each discipline.
Exton Park is home to the following subject areas:
l Biological Sciences
l Centre for Foundation Studies
l Chemistry
l Chemical Engineering
l Computer Science
l Counselling
l Criminology
l Education
l English
l Geography and Environment
l History and Archaeology
l Languages and Cultures
l Mathematics
l Medical and Life Sciences
l Nutrition and Dietetics
l Politics and International Relations
l Psychology
l Sociology
l Sport
l Theology and Religious Studies
l Zoology and Animal Sciences
l Journalism Gateway House is home to the following subject areas:
l Creative Writing and English
Creative Campus, Kingsway is home to the following subject areas:
l Design and Innovation
l Media
l Music
l Performing Arts
l Visual Arts Practice
Wheeler is home to the following subject areas:
l Graduate Entry Medicine
l Nursing and Midwifery
l Law
l Policing
Queen’s Park is home to the following subject areas:
l Accounting and Finance
l Business and Management
l Events Management
l Marketing
l Tourism
Exton Park Map
Academic Buildings (open to view throughout the day until 16:00)
Downes Building (Sports Hall)
Westminster Building
Chritchley Building
Best Building
NoWFOOD Centre
Molloy Building
Seaborne Library
Longfield House (Chaplaincy)
Small Hall
Careers and Employability
Anna Sutton Building
Anna Sutton Building (Annexe)
Hollybank Building
Thomas Building
Fitness Centre
Cloisters
Price Tower
Chester Students’ Union
The Bar
Dining Hall
Old College
Chapel
The Vicarage
Costcutter
University Accomodation (open to view throughout the day until 16:00)
Grosvenor House
Parkgate Road Houses
Astbury House / Fisher House
Sumner House
A shuttle bus service will be running between Exton Park and each of our other sites (Creative Campus, Kingsway; Queen's Park; and Wheeler) throughout the day. Please refer to your Subject Sessions handout for details of bus times. For further information, visit www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk Long Stay Parking Short Stay Parking Reserved Disabled Parking Exton Park: CH1 4BJ, Creative Campus, Kingsway: CH2 2LB, Queen’s Park: CH1 1SL, Wheeler: CH4 7AD
** Please note that these are partnership residences for 2024/25 and that partnership agreements for 2025/26 are yet to be confirmed.
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