Chichester
12 Reviews by Students #102 out of 216 University locations
Study in Chichester
The University of Chichester has two campuses: Bishop Otter campus in the city centre and Bognor Regis campus which is 20 minutes away.
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University of Chichester
The University of Chichester has two campuses in Chichester and nearby Bognor Regis. The reputation for teaching has been recognised with a Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework. Around 5,500 students are enrolled at the University of Chichester, making it one of the smallest universities in the UK.
Study in Chichester? Review your location
Chichester Student Life
Chichester, also known as ‘Chi’ to locals, is a small historical city with plenty to offer students. Thanks to it being situated in between the beautiful beaches and the rolling South Downs, it’s especially suited to those that love the outdoors.
Cost of Living
Accommodation
Student accommodation costs range from £118 - £177 per week; the average is £161 per week.
Compare the average elsewhere: Canterbury: £166/week, Portsmouth: £183/week, London: £287/week.
(prices are for all purpose-built student accommodation (both private and university-owned) over the last 12 months, as listed on StudentCrowd)
The average price for:
A cheap meal at a restaurant: £16
A pint of beer: £4.50
A regular takeout coffee: £2.50
1L of milk: £0.80
A loaf of white bread: £0.40
(Source: Numbeo)
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Nights Out
Chichester is ideal for those that prefer hanging out with friends in bars and pubs rather than clubs. A few favourite bars in the city centre are The Vestry, La Havana and Wetherspoons. However, to keep to your student budget and for your nightclub fix, the UCSU (Students' Union) Zee Bar at the Bishop Otter campus offers great nights out that certainly make up for the lack of clubs. Known particularly for its big party on Wednesday nights, throw on your fancy dress and get involved!
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Public Transport
Thanks to the size of Chichester, everything you need is within walking distance and is suitable for bikes if you are keen to cycle. There’s a regular and good local Stagecoach bus service and new environmentally friendly inter-campus buses that link Chichester with Bognor Regis. To get out of the city, you have a well-connected train service which sees you in Portsmouth within 30 minutes. The direct service to London that takes 90 minutes also stops at Gatwick Airport en-route.
Eating Out
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High street staples
Chichester has all the high street restaurants you could want! From Wagamama and Pizza Express to Nando’s and Bills, you will never be short of places to go. Many of the chain restaurants offer student discounts, so make sure to check before you go.
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For some nourishing home-cooked food, head to Luckes on North Street. This independent cafe and deli serve delicious soups, salads, sandwiches, smoothies and most importantly great coffee. So when you are looking to treat yourself or have the parents coming to visit, it's a good one to remember!
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Take the bus 20 minutes out of the city down to the seaside village of Bracklesham and you will find Billy’s On The Beach, which is open from breakfast to dinner. It’s the perfect spot for a laid-back evening of fish & chips whilst enjoying the sunset over the sea.
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Shopping
Chichester city centre is split into four cobbled pedestrianised streets, North, South, East and West, that meet together in the middle at the market cross. These four streets are filled with all types of shops: your big brand favourites, independent boutiques and plenty of cafes and restaurants for when you need a refuel!
Days Out
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Take a break from the books and get a blast of fresh sea air at the stunning sandy beach of West Wittering. Just a 20-minute bus ride from Chichester city centre, it's ideal for a walk in the winter months and in the summer take a picnic and enjoy a day in the sun and sea.
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North of the city are the rolling hills of the South Downs National Park. There are plenty of walking or cycling trails, some of which take you to incredible viewpoints where on a clear day you can see over to the Isle of Wight. There are lots of traditional country pubs in quaint English villages to try too.
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Chichester and the surrounding area is a fantastic place to try out watersports or to carry on pursuing if it’s already your thing! There’s Chichester lake, canal, estuary and beach where you can sail, surf, kitesurf, windsurf, wakeboard, kayak and so much more!
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Goodwood Estate is 10 minutes outside of Chichester and it puts on a range of events over the year which are always a fun day out, such as Glorious Goodwood (a week of horse racing), the Festival of Speed (if fast cars are your thing) and Goodwood Revival (for all things vintage).
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If you are up for a bigger city vibe, both Portsmouth and Brighton are within easy reach. You can get to both by train: Portsmouth is a 30-minute journey and Brighton is 50 minutes away. Both cities have the classic English coastal charm and offer great shopping, culture, food and nightlife spots.
Top 10 Chichester Accommodation
Read Chichester Reviews
Lovely small comm...
Lovely small community feel to Chichester, and feel safe. Great for going out for food, but if you like to go out on nights out, you would have to go to Brighton or Portsmouth as there is only wetherspoons and one club in Chi read more
Overall the city...
Overall the city seems quite safe, i’m not much of a partying person but from what i’ve seen there’s not much nightlife. it’s pretty expensive in terms of both shopping and restaurants etc. but there’s a pretty good student discount at some places read more
Chichester has SO...
Chichester has SO many places to eat out, some on the more expensive side but so many affordable restaurants between a scale of Wetherspoons to The Ivy. Not the best for a big night on the town but has loads of nice bars and close to Pompey for a later night. read more
Chichester City C...
Chichester City Centre has majority of the shops that you want in the high street, With also restaurants and pubs in the city centre its very ideal. read more
Chichester as a w...
Chichester as a whole is a beautiful and historic city full of things to do and see. With the cathedral, lots of bars and pubs, restaurants, charity shops etc there is always something to do or see. Right next door to the university is the Chichester Festival Theatre which has a variety of shows performing every so often at a very affordable price for students! read more
There are a multi...
There are a multitude of things to do in Chichester whether that’s going out to eat, for fun, shopping or whatever your in to. Not too big, so not too hard to find where you need to go read more
While the cost of...
While the cost of living in Chichester is pretty high it is not hard for Students to find bargains and live pretty comfortably. There are dozens food places in the city ranging from fast food to formal dining venues so you're never out of options. Night outs can be a bit more complicated but there are locations like the Vestry in Chichester and Sheiks which is in Bognor Regis, you can also grab a cheap train to Portsmouth or Brighton. read more
chichester is a s...
chichester is a small town which is reflected by what’s available, it has plenty of places to eat out as well as pubs and bars and some shops around town - there aren’t any clubs but there are places that do club night and it’s a short distance from portsmouth and brighton read more
Bit more expensiv...
Bit more expensive than some places but lots of chain shops and restaurants that have standardised prices. More limited on nights out but still has a spoons and a few pubs that run weekly student nights. Really pretty city, with lots of green space and shops and cafes. Also regular buses and trains which are easy to access. Students get free buses between the two campuses which also stop in the town centre read more
Chichester is a v...
Chichester is a vibrant town in west Sussex with a lot of tourist attractions, fun things to do like bowling,mini golf, musicals to attend and has very many places to grab something to eat at reasonable prices read more
Good transport li...
Good transport links but apart from pubs and restaurants there is no night life. read more
Not a club but lo...
Not a club but lots of pubs and Bars! theres a club in Bognor though. Quite classy but fairly small. read more