The University of Winchester: What it's really like

Looking to focus on your studies in a small, friendly learning community in the middle of one of England’s historic cathedral towns? University of Winchester just might be the place for you.

Winchester at a glance:

Tom Lowe, Head of Student Engagement & Employability at Winchester, explains what makes Winchester special - and how to put together a strong application.

What is Winchester?

University of Winchester is a campus-based university founded in 1840 by the Church of England. It is home to around 6400 undergraduate students and 1300 postgraduate students on a full range of courses, including several degree apprenticeships. 

Why apply to Winchester? 

Winchester is a cathedral city that feels a bit more like a town, which means that University of Winchester provides a community-based education experience. All of Winchester sits on a single campus, which means that you can get everything you need all in one place: housing, studying (including in the 24-hour library), eating, even dancing in the student union’s night club! 

And when you do need to venture out, the centre of Winchester is only a five minutes’ walk away. The whole city is extremely walkable, so you can really get to know your new home. There’s beautiful countryside within walking distance as well, so you don’t have to go far to have a wander in some rolling hills as a break from studying. 

Winchester is a values-based university, and its key values are compassion, spirituality, and individuals matter. This last is particularly important to Winchester’s sense of community: as a relatively small university, it means that you’ll be known as a name, not just a number during your time on campus. 

Another important value of Winchester’s is their commitment to the environment. They’re a leader in the campus sustainability movement, and are committed to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and to making Winchester a leader in green university policies. If the environment is an important cause for you, Winchester could be the perfect place to live out your values and contribute to making the campus even more sustainable. 

Who isn’t the right fit for Winchester?

If you’re looking to study hard and party hard, Winchester might not be the right place for you. Though there is a nightclub in the student union, Winchester doesn’t have the kind of raging nightlife where you can hop from club to club until the wee hours. 

If you see university as a chance to try out big city life in general, Winchester’s just not the place you’re going to get that, though it is only a half hour to the larger city of Southampton and an hour to London. 

Any application tips? 

Remember that you’re not just applying to university in general, you’re applying to a specific course. Demonstrate some passion for the course itself in your personal statement. What are career paths you might see it leading you to? How did you become interested in the topic? Was there a trip you took, some work experience you had, or even a film you saw? Basically, sound excited to be studying the topic! Lecturers at Winchester don’t want to feel like they’re dragging you through your degree - they want people who are excited to be studying with them. 

Don’t forget that there’s more to life than school - and Winchester wants to know it! Talk about your life, your experiences, things beyond your schoolwork. Winchester is a small community, and they want to know what you’re going to bring to campus as a person just as much as how well you’re going to do as a scholar. 

Remember, Unifrog’s Personal statement tool can help you make your personality shine through in your applications, while the Subjects library will help you find a topic you’re really passionate about.