CHESTER has been ranked among the best UK cities for university students according to a new study.

With many soon-to-be college and sixth-form graduates now in the process of choosing where they go to university in September, a new study has uncovered the best cities in the UK for students, finding Chester to be the fourth best.

The analysis, conducted by student accommodation provider, Now Students ranked every UK city with a University campus on the average price of a beer, average standard taxi fare, safety index score, monthly cost of groceries, and academic ranking of the institution, giving each an overall index score.

Chester performed impressively, with an overall Index Score of 17, with the pick of its stats being the comparatively low taxi and beer prices and high safety index score.

(Image: Now Students)

Bath was ranked at number one, boasting relatively strong figures across the five metrics, including one of the highest safety index scores, a top 10 university (according to the academic rankings), and low prices for taxis and beers.

In second place is Cambridge, which ranks top of the academic league table, but ranks behind Bath thanks to higher monthly grocery costs, lower safety rating, and higher prices for beer and a taxi.

Warwick follows in third, also having an institution in the top 10 of the academic league table and the lowest monthly grocery outlay of any city analysed in the research. 

Durham is next, ranking top for safety and having a low standard taxi fare of just £2.50. The university also ranks as one of the in the country, ranking ninth in the latest league table.

The city of Oxford places sixth, having the second-best academic institution in the country and a respectable safety score. However, it was let down by its relatively high food, taxi, and beer costs.

Following is Hull, with the East Yorkshire-based city boasting cheap monthly grocery and taxi prices. A comparatively low safety score and the university ranking in 73rd place means it has to settle for seventh place.

Lincoln ranks next boasting a low taxi price, solid safety index score, and respectable ranking in the academic league table, with the University of Lincoln placing in the top 50.

In ninth place is Middlesbrough despite having a high price for beer and a safety score in the lower echelons of the list. However, this was made up for by lower taxi costs and monthly food prices.

York rounds out the top 10, with strong stats across the board particularly in the safety, cost of taxi, and academic rankings categories.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for Now Students said: 

“This research has certainly provided some interesting findings, particularly seeing how the average prices for groceries, beers, and taxis vary quite significantly across UK cities.

“Likewise with safety scores, varying from just under 25 in Chichester to near 80 in Durham. In some cases, neighbouring cities recorded vastly different scores on this metric – Bradford and York for example, where the latter ranks in the bottom three while the former places towards the top of the list having a score of over double its fellow Yorkshire city.

“We hope this study provides those going into higher education this September with some insights about the cities where their perspective universities are located and potentially help with any decision they may have to make about which to choose.”

For more information about Now Students, visit: https://nowstudents.co.uk/.