Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
The University of Chester is a mid-sized university in one of England's most historic cities. Its main campus, Exton Park, is a 10-minute walk from the Roman walls, the Rows and the city centre, and other teaching sites are dotted around town. Founded in 1839, it's one of the oldest higher education institutions in England.
Chester suits students who want a safe, walkable, friendly city rather than a big-city scene. Halls are affordable compared with many places, starting at about £113 a week, and most are on or near campus. Nightlife is smaller-scale, though Liverpool and Manchester are close by train.
Known for
The University of Chester is 90th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 43.9, below the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 88 | Birmingham City University | 44 |
| 89 | University of Huddersfield | 44 |
| 90 | University of Chester | 43.9 |
| 91 | University of Stirling | 43.5 |
| 92 | Anglia Ruskin University | 42.9 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
16th of 124 · Safety Score 62.9
18th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 65.1
33rd of 124 · Affordability Score 61.6
35th of 123 · Happiness Score 52.6
39th of 124 · Freshers Score 60.6
48th of 124 · Societies Score 54
59th of 124 · Value Score 47.6
70th of 124 · Balance Score 40.8
82nd of 124 · Inclusion Score 51.1
81st of 122 · Careers Score 27.3
84th of 124 · Employability Score 26
89th of 124 · Social Score 43.2
98th of 124 · Nightlife Score 38.3
105th of 124 · Innovation Score 42.6
114th of 124 · Sustainability Score 28.1
Chester as a student city
Ranked 31st of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 54.2.
The University of Chester appears in 42 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Design | 1st | of 36 | 102 |
| Midwifery | 3rd | of 54 | 135 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 5th | of 66 | 126 |
| Photography | 11th | of 44 | 95 |
| Archaeology | 8th | of 28 | 85 |
| Law | 31st | of 97 | 150 |
| Criminology | 31st | of 94 | 158 |
| Computer Science | 34th | of 102 | 161 |
| Sports Science | 28th | of 78 | 134 |
| Product Design | 17th | of 43 | 98 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 35th | of 88 | 142 |
| Psychology | 47th | of 108 | 137 |
| Data Science | 22nd | of 50 | 98 |
| Creative Writing | 15th | of 34 | 73 |
| Geography | 28th | of 63 | 118 |
| Fashion Design | 22nd | of 49 | 98 |
| Biology | 23rd | of 51 | 93 |
| Chemical Engineering | 14th | of 30 | 72 |
| Nursing | 42nd | of 85 | 122 |
| Social Work | 34th | of 67 | 125 |
| Software Engineering | 30th | of 58 | 97 |
| Philosophy | 28th | of 54 | 96 |
| Media and Communication | 42nd | of 79 | 119 |
| Teaching | 42nd | of 79 | 115 |
| Fine Art | 31st | of 58 | 111 |
| Biomedical Science | 50th | of 93 | 106 |
| Performing Arts | 20th | of 37 | 77 |
| Journalism | 32nd | of 59 | 92 |
| Business and Management | 62nd | of 114 | 135 |
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 33rd | of 60 | 91 |
| International Relations | 40th | of 71 | 97 |
| History | 43rd | of 76 | 103 |
| Music | 32nd | of 56 | 90 |
| Graphic Design | 39th | of 68 | 108 |
| English Language and Literature | 31st | of 54 | 87 |
| Film Production | 50th | of 87 | 126 |
| Primary Education | 34th | of 59 | 105 |
| Politics | 46th | of 78 | 105 |
| Zoology | 23rd | of 37 | 67 |
| Sociology | 56th | of 86 | 106 |
| Chemistry | 30th | of 44 | 67 |
| Marine Biology | 13th | of 17 | 41 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Chester Students' Union (CSU) is based at Exton Park and runs the societies, while the Athletics' Union and sportCHESTER run around 40 sports clubs, many in BUCS leagues. Exton Park has a swimming pool, a sports hall, a floodlit 3G pitch, hockey astroturf, tennis and squash courts. The Varsity Bar is next door to the SU. Off campus, the compact city centre has plenty of pubs, cafés and the Storyhouse arts centre, and Liverpool and Manchester are an easy train ride away.
University halls cost £113.40–£207.81 per week (university and partner accommodation; university-owned rooms up to £199.50) (2026/27 (assumed: the price listing isn't explicitly dated, but sits alongside 2026 application dates and a 2026-27 residents' handbook) prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
The university says first-year students are guaranteed a room in university or partnership accommodation if they make Chester their firm choice and apply by the advised deadline in the spring. For 2026 entry, applications opened on 2 February 2026 and the priority allocation deadline was 8 May 2026 (deadlines can vary by cohort). Allocation isn't first come, first served, and most allocations happen after A-level results day. Insurance-choice and Clearing applicants don't get the same priority.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Douglas Court | Exton Park (edge of campus) | shared bathroom | £113.40/wk | The cheapest option. Four blocks of flats shared by two to five students, a few minutes' walk from Exton Park. |
| Powys Court | City centre | self-catered houses | £129.85/wk | 72 students split across 12 houses, right in the city centre. |
| John Milton Hall | Near Exton Park | en-suite | £149.10/wk | Refurbished for 2025, with over 60 en-suite rooms a short walk from campus. |
| Sumner House Catered | Near Exton Park / city centre | en-suite (catered or self-catered) | £157.15/wk | All rooms en-suite, with a choice of full board or self-catered (£157.15–£199.50 a week). Five minutes' walk from Exton Park and close to the city centre. |
| Grosvenor House | Exton Park (on campus) | studio | £188.30/wk | 202 self-contained studios with their own en-suite and kitchenette, in the middle of Exton Park. |
| Astbury House Catered | Exton Park (on campus) | en-suite (full board) | £194.95/wk | Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner in term time) for up to 85 students, seconds from the dining hall. Fisher House and Gladstone House are similar on-campus catered halls. |
| Granary Studios (Collegiate AC, partner) | City centre | studio | £197.10/wk | Privately run partner accommodation in central Chester (£197.10–£207.81 a week). The most expensive option listed. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Terraced streets between Exton Park and the city centre: very handy for campus.
A popular, slightly more residential area near the station, with its own cafés and bars.
East of the centre along the river, with plenty of shared houses and a quick walk into town.
Top tip
Put Chester as your firm choice and apply for accommodation before the spring priority deadline (8 May in 2026). You choose your preferred board type (catered or self-catered) rather than a specific hall, so think about budget and cooking first. A £250 deposit secures your room and comes off your final rent instalment. Self-catered contracts are about 40 weeks and full board 38 weeks.
Chester's halls are good value: self-catered rooms start at £113.40 a week, en-suites from about £149 and full-board rooms are around £195 a week including meals. Contracts run 38–40 weeks, and a £250 deposit secures your room. Because the city is so walkable, many students spend little on transport. We couldn't find an official university estimate of total living costs.
Getting around
Chester is compact and most students walk. Exton Park is about 10 minutes on foot from the city centre, and most halls are on or near campus. Chester station has direct trains to Liverpool, Manchester and North Wales. Bus singles in England are capped at £3 until at least March 2027.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Chester is 90th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 43.9. Its strongest results are for safety (16th), student wellbeing (18th), affordability (33rd).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Chester places highest for Interior Design (1st of 36), Midwifery (3rd of 54). Across our awards, it also stands out for safety.
Yes, for first years who make Chester their firm choice and apply by the spring priority deadline (8 May in 2026). The guarantee covers university or partnership accommodation. Insurance-choice and Clearing applicants get rooms only if they're still available.
Rooms range from £113.40 a week for a shared-bathroom room at John Douglas Court to about £208 a week for a partner studio in the city centre. On-campus full-board en-suites are around £195 a week including meals. Self-catered contracts are about 40 weeks; full board is 38 weeks.
The main Exton Park campus on Parkgate Road is about a 10-minute walk from the city centre. Some courses are taught at other sites in Chester, such as the Kingsway Creative Campus and Queen's Park, so check where your course is based.
Yes. Chester has several full-board halls on Exton Park, including Astbury, Fisher and Gladstone House, plus catered rooms at Sumner House. Meals are breakfast, lunch and dinner in term time. When you apply, you pick your board type rather than a specific building.
It was founded by the Church of England in 1839 and is a member of the Cathedrals Group of church-founded universities. It has a chapel that's still used for services. You don't need to be religious to study there.
Around 40 sports clubs run through sportCHESTER and the Athletics' Union, many competing in BUCS leagues. Exton Park has a swimming pool, a sports hall, a floodlit 3G pitch, hockey astroturf, tennis and squash courts.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
