Chester University College - In Depth

Founded: 1839 by Church of England; merged in 2002 with Warrington Institute.

Site: Main 32-acre campus 10 mins' walk from Chester city centre plus off-site departments all 5-10 mins' walk from campus. Also campus at Warrington, close to town centre.

How to get there: Bus and coach service from Delamere Street bus depot. 5 mins from campus; Chester railway station 20 mins; 10 mins from M56, 30 mins from M6.

Academic features: Modular structure for all first degrees allows subject combinations, named pathways and single subject degrees; includes work-based learning modules with range of employers.

Awarding body: Chester University College (from 2005).

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BSc, BEd, BTh. Length of courses: 3 or 4 years.

Library & information services: Libraries at both campuses: total of 248,500 volumes, 3200 periodicals (500 printed, 2700 electronic), 500+ study places, electronic resources and internet access. Annual expenditure on information provision. £67 per (FTE) student. Currently borrowing rights to Liverpool University libraries. Introductory literature, web information, tours etc of college and university libraries. Workshops on information retrieval and internet searching. Seven hospital nursing and midwifery libraries. Separate IT service, access 68+ hours pw. 450 open access (with access to learning resources and internet), plus 250 in departments; ratio workstations to students 1:11. IT support from 20 staff, both central and departmental; IT training suite.

Other learning facilities: Human performance laboratory; satellite remote-sensing suite; seminar/group study rooms for student use. digital video edit suite. TV and sound studios; commercial music production suite; darkroom: integrated live arts building (art, design and technology), drama studio; fully equipped theatre.

Study abroad: Opportunities for students to study in Europe and USA (some open to non-language specialists).

Careers: Individual guidance available.

Student advice & services: Chaplaincy; student counsellor, student guidance and support services; student development programme (including mentoring); personal tutorial system, learning support unit.

Sporting facilities: Fitness suite, swimming pool, sports hall, squash courts, sauna/solarium, all-weather floodlit pitch, tennis courts.

Accommodation: 80% of first years in college accommodation. 930 places available at Chester for first years (260 with ensuite facilities; all with internet access points): 355 full-board places from £70-£98 per week (mainly term-time only); 437 self-catering places at £46-£63 pw, and 139 semi-catering places at £57-£80 pw (40 week contracts). At Warrington, 490 self-catering places at £43-£58 pw, most term-time only. Students live in privately owned accommodation for 2+ years: rent £40-£75 pw self-catering. 35% of first degree students live at home.

Living expenses budget: No college-recommended minimum.

Term-time work: College allows term-time work for full-time students; 45% believed to work. Some work available on campus in learning resources, bar, schools liaison, fitness centre and as campus guides.

Financial help: Total available £240,000 government funds, 270 students helped. Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees. International students pay £6336-£7392 pa.