Arriving in Chester, England, having been accepted to the University of Chester to pursue a master’s degree, Grace Horman found herself struck by how steeped in history the city was. It’s obvious at first glance to most people, even more so to a history student like herself. Dating back 2,000 years, what was once the largest Roman Settlement in Great Britain has now evolved into a well-preserved medieval city that’s as easy to navigate as it is simply beautiful.
“You don’t feel like an outsider,” she says. “Once you live here, you’re a Cestrian.”
Grace is studying a very specific branch of history and archaeology. Literally titled Death and Memory MA, the course unfolds the complex interactions between the living and deceased as seen across cemeteries, memorials, and funerary cultures. Spanning a year of full-time study, the curriculum is cross-period and cross-disciplinary. It’s filled with debates connected to research themes shared across the humanities and social sciences, though always grounded in the real world. Class sizes are small and curriculum can be customised to interests and research dissertations.
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences empowers students to enact change on a global scale. Source: University of Chester
In fact, that’s how you could describe every single master’s course at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences: a welcoming, diverse environment that challenges you to address the world’s most urgent challenges.
“The people here are going to be really helpful and really supportive,” says Grace, who graduated in 2018 and is now a published writer and full-time university professor based in Kyrgyzstan. “They will make you feel like this is — maybe not exactly like home, but almost as good.”
In this (almost) home away from home, you can explore the intricacies of human nature with the guidance of passionate educators who are experts in their fields. Their research span disciplines such as archaeology, languages, international relations, and criminology, giving you direct access to applied projects and professional opportunities. The courses they lead don’t just comprise abstract ideas and detached lectures. It’s informed by active research and designed to develop your subject expertise and transferable skills, like critical thinking and intercultural competence, essential for when you step into your career.
At the University of Chester, you have access to a modern learning and resources library to conduct research. Source: University of Chester
Intellectually rigorous, globally relevant, and professionally applicable postgraduate programmes
If you’re like Grace, you can pursue the History MA, which covers a wide range of topics but offers flexible pathways to explore specific periods, such as Medieval and Early Modern history. Perhaps, you’re far more taken with the discourse surrounding heritage management, cultural preservation, ethics, and sustainability, in which courses like the Museums and Heritage MSc and the Public Archaeology MA would be better suited to your interests.
Find yourself drawn to religion, belief systems, and ethics instead, and how they have influenced culture, politics, and social cohesion? The Theology and Religious Studies MA is an ideal course to critically engage with key texts and traditions in this field.
Or if you’re drawn to questions like “who owns English, and what does it mean to teach it, speak it, learn it?” then pursue the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) MA. You’ll gain everything you need for careers in fields such as teaching English, education management, curriculum development, materials design, or an advisory role in education or research.
“One of my favourite aspects was the discussion-based classes that encouraged shared experiences between lecturers and students,” says Meenakshi Gourisankar, a TESOL MA graduate working as a Learning Experience Developer at the University of Exeter. “The degree helped me gain a strong understanding of pedagogy and learner-focused teaching and learning – both of which are central to my current role.”
In 2025, the University of Chester was named the best for International and Postgraduate students in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards for the second year in a row. The awards are based on many criteria, but what they essentially mean is that students are supported and satisfied.
And that includes those coming from abroad. The Student Experience Team is always present to assist with any concerns you may have before you even arrive in the country, whether that’s applying for a visa or opening a bank account. They’ll guide you through adapting to a new culture, ensuring that your experience at the University of Chester is every bit as enjoyable as it is memorable.
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