University of Chichester

About University of Chichester

The institution’s history began in 1839 with a college established in memory of Bishop William Otter to train schoolmasters. The present Bishop Otter Campus incorporates the historic site to which that college moved in 1850. A separate Bognor Regis College of Education opened in 1946; the two colleges combined in 1977 as the West Sussex Institute of Higher Education. The institution obtained degree-awarding powers in 1999, became University College Chichester, and received approval for the University of Chichester title in October 2005. Today the university operates two principal campuses. Bishop Otter Campus is in Chichester, while the Bognor Regis Campus is on Upper Bognor Road in the nearby seaside town. Prospective students should check individual course pages because the subject studied determines where most teaching and specialist facilities are located. The Bognor Regis Tech Park, for example, houses engineering and creative-industries facilities, including engineering workshops, laboratories, recording spaces, sound stages, and post-production suites. The official course catalogue showed active courses with September 2026 starts when reviewed in August 2026. The institution offers undergraduate and postgraduate study and administers MPhil and PhD awards. Its official quality page also identifies it as registered with the Office for Students. This combination of current recruitment, regulated-provider status, and documented authority to admit and graduate research-degree candidates supports treating it as an operating, independent, degree-granting university.

Most applicants to full-time undergraduate degrees and foundation degrees apply through UCAS using the university code C58. The university assesses applications individually and may consider qualifications, predicted grades, the personal statement, reference, and an interview where relevant. Typical offers are published on individual course pages and are guidance rather than a universal institutional threshold. Some performance or professional courses may require an audition, interview, portfolio, written work, or other evidence, so applicants must follow the instructions for their chosen course. Postgraduate applicants generally apply directly through the relevant university course page. Research-degree applicants should examine the available research areas and supervision before submitting an application; the university’s MPhil and PhD process includes assessment of the proposal and an interview. Requirements and start dates vary by programme. International undergraduate applicants normally use UCAS, while international postgraduate applicants can apply directly. Supporting documents are used to assess academic preparation and English proficiency. The university publishes country-specific qualification guidance and course-level English requirements; applicants should not treat a single IELTS score as applying to every programme. International students requiring sponsorship must also meet deposit, Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, and Student visa requirements. As of August 2026, the international admissions page stated that the usual tuition deposit was 50% of first-year fees, with an exemption for applicants fully funded by a documented government scholarship.

The university’s published subject portfolio covers business, childhood, computing, creative industries, criminology, dance, education, engineering, English and creative writing, health, history, law, music, nursing, politics and international relations, psychology and counselling, social work, sociology, sport, stage and screen, and teaching. Available awards and entry routes differ by subject, so applicants should use the course catalogue rather than assume that every field is offered at every academic level. Undergraduate provision includes bachelor’s degrees and selected integrated or foundation-year routes. The 2026/27 fee schedule also identifies integrated master’s awards in relevant fields. Taught postgraduate courses are available through the postgraduate catalogue, while research students can pursue MPhil or PhD study in supported areas. The research-degree process involves a formal application, identification of suitable supervision, interview, registration, progression monitoring, examination, and graduation under the university’s regulations. Teaching methods and assessment are course-specific. Published course information may include lectures, seminars, workshops, laboratory or studio work, independent study, placements, performances, portfolios, presentations, practical examinations, and written coursework. Specialist provision is split across the campuses. The Bognor Regis Tech Park supports engineering and creative-industries teaching with workshops, electronics and mechanics laboratories, computer-aided-design and 3D-printing resources, sound stages, recording studios, edit suites, and a screening theatre. Applicants in regulated professional fields or performance subjects should check for placements, fitness-to-practise requirements, interviews, portfolios, or auditions on the relevant course page before applying.

Key Highlights

• Origins traced to a teacher-training college established in 1839
• Own degree-awarding powers obtained in 1999 and university title approved in 2005
• Two principal campuses in Chichester and Bognor Regis
• Official catalogue was recruiting for courses beginning in September 2026

Student Life & Environment

Student life is distributed across the Bishop Otter and Bognor Regis campuses. The university advertises more than 50 student-led groups, including competitive and recreational sports, subject societies, LGBTQ+, esports, environmental, faith, and entertainment groups. Many sports clubs participate in British Universities and Colleges Sport leagues. Because activities and teaching occur on both sites, students should consider their main campus and travel needs when choosing accommodation. For 2026/27, first-year, full-time undergraduates who make Chichester their firm choice can qualify for guaranteed university-managed accommodation if they meet the published application conditions and deadline. Allocation is randomized after the application window rather than conducted on a first-come, first-served basis, and neither a preferred room type nor preferred campus is guaranteed. Accommodation includes catered and self-catered choices, shared and en-suite facilities, and both campus and off-campus properties. A free student bus service connects the two campuses. Student Support Services provides confidential assistance with wellbeing, disability and learning differences, health, student finance, budgeting, and cost-of-living concerns. International advice and academic-language support are also available. Students with disability-related accommodation needs are advised to contact the Disability Team early because suitable rooms or adaptations require individual assessment.

Location & Surroundings

Bishop Otter Campus is on College Lane in Chichester, a compact cathedral city in West Sussex. The official campus information places the South Downs National Park about 1.5 miles away and the beaches at East and West Wittering roughly 20 minutes from campus. The city’s cathedral, walls, museums, galleries, and Chichester Festival Theatre provide cultural options close to the university. The second campus is on Upper Bognor Road in Bognor Regis, a coastal town southeast of Chichester. It combines Regency-era buildings with the university’s Tech Park and is within walking distance of the sea. The two-campus structure offers access to both a historic city and a seaside setting, but it also makes course location an important practical consideration. Students can travel between campuses using the university-supported bus connection. Most university-managed residences do not offer student parking, although limited permits may be available at specified locations. Applicants planning to commute or live privately should compare the timetable, campus address, transport costs, and late-evening travel options for their particular course.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026/27, the official undergraduate fee schedule lists an annual home fee of £9,790 for most full-time undergraduate courses and an annual international fee of £16,800. Exceptions include international physiotherapy at £18,180, some top-up routes, and differently priced foundation or professional programmes. Fees are course- and residency-dependent, and the university says they are reviewed annually; applicants should therefore confirm the precise amount on the course page and offer letter. Part-time charges are generally calculated from the credits taken. The 2026/27 accommodation comparison lists multiple room types with different licence periods and catering arrangements. Because costs vary by property, applicants should budget from the room-specific table rather than use a single room-and-board estimate. The published international cost-of-attendance guidance also treats books, personal expenses, local transport, computing equipment, visa charges, and the immigration health surcharge as costs beyond tuition. These estimates are planning figures, not guaranteed personal expenditure. Funding options depend on residency, level, and subject. UK students should check current Student Finance eligibility, while international applicants should review scholarships, loans, deposit rules, and visa-related costs. The university’s Careers Service offers appointments, online resources, employer events, and assistance finding work or placements from both campuses. No verified institution-wide graduate salary or employment-rate figure was found, so applicants should use course-level outcomes and placement information when comparing career prospects.