The University of Chester is one of the United Kingdom's longest-established higher education institutions, founded in 1839 by pioneering British statesmen including future Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone and the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury as the nation's first purpose-built teacher training college. Attaining full university status in 2005, Chester is situated in the Roman and medieval cathedral city of Chester in Cheshire, North West England, along the scenic banks of the River Dee. Chester delivers outstanding education across five faculties: Chester Business School, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Society, School of Law and Social Justice, Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise, and Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Renowned for its unique Work Based Learning module—giving undergraduate students professional industry placements across the UK and internationally—Chester combines historic collegiate architecture at Exton Park with modern facilities including the £30 million Queen's Park Business School campus, the riverside Wheeler Building for health and legal studies, and the specialist Marriss House clinical training site. With a supportive student-first ethos, silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), and excellent graduate employability, Chester provides students from over 130 nations with an inspiring and culturally rich university experience.