University of Winchester, UK

Currently celebrating its 175th anniversary, University of Winchester, UK, which was founded as a teacher training school, has evolved into a top-rated multi-disciplinary varsity with an aggregrate enrolment of 6,878 students:  SUMMIYA YASMEEN

Founded in 1840 as a teacher training school, the University of Winchester (UoW) has evolved into a top-rated multi-disciplinary varsity offering undergraduate, postgrad and research degrees to 6,878 students. Currently celebrating its 175th anniversary, UoW is ranked #57 in the Sunday Times University Guide 2014 and #69 in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2014. The university also received the British Quality Foundation’s Excellence 600 certification for performing to an exceptionally high standard in 2014.

Sited in the scenic town of Winchester (pop.45,000), which also hosts Winchester College (estb.1384) routinely numbered among Britain’s top public (i.e, exclusive private) schools, UoW’s four faculties — arts; business, law and sport; education, health and social care; humanities and social sciences — offer a wide menu of study programmes. In particular, the university has established an excellent reputation for teacher training — the latest Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) inspection rated its teacher training programmes as ‘outstanding’ — in addition to offering business, performing arts, psychology, archaeology, history, creative writing, modern liberal arts, theology and religious studies education.

Winchester. An hour by rail from London, this well-preserved medieval town combines the best of urban life with medieval history and scenic countryside. The city is packed with historic buildings and monuments, prominent among them being the Castle Great Hall which houses the famous Round Table of King Arthur, and the world-famous Winchester Cathedral which has the longest medieval nave in Europe and is the resting place of Jane Austen, Izzak Walton and several early English kings. The town also hosts several theatres, cinema, cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs. Shopping options include an array of unique, independent shops and boutiques as well as traditional and nationally-known stores.

Winchester has excellent transport links including a direct train service to London’s Waterloo station. Travelling to and from Heathrow and Gatwick airports is easy by road and train and Southampton airport is a mere 15 minutes by rail.

As elsewhere in Britain, winters are cold, wet and at times frosty, and spring is crisp. Average summer temperatures range between 14º-22ºC and winter 1º-7ºC.

Campus facilities. UoW is spread across two campuses — King Alfred and West Downs — in the eponymous town. The main King Alfred campus is within walking distance of Winchester Cathedral and hosts contemporary academic and sports facilities and residence halls. For instance, the newly-built £6.5 million St. Alphege Building features ten lecture rooms and a mezzanine floor with open access computers. The three-storey Martial Rose Library houses a collection of more than 300,000 volumes and a range of online resources, including journals, e-books and databases. Open 24/7 during term, the library offers study spaces for 450 readers. Moreover 600 networked personal computers are available to students across the campus, including the library, faculty buildings, social learning spaces, the Learning Cafe and Kenneth Kettle Building.

West Downs is a short walk from the King Alfred campus and hosts the university’s self-catering accommodation (West Downs Student Village), Link Gallery, Research and Knowledge Exchange Centre and Winchester Business School.

Sports facilities include the university gym; a sports hall featuring badminton, tennis and basketball courts; Winchester Sports Stadium including an eight-lane athletics track and all-weather ground suitable for hockey and football. Moreover, the Student Union conducts a variety of social and cultural events year round, and offers membership to over 90 student clubs and associations.

Admission. All undergraduate admission applications to Winchester University must be routed through the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS, http://www.ucas.com/apply codeW76). The completed application form should be supported with evidence of previous academic transcripts and certificates, proof of English Language ability (IELTS test score), academic references and passport copy. Students must submit their applications before January 15 for admission into the term beginning September. All applications for postgraduate admissions should be made directly to the university.

The minimum eligibility requirements for admission into the university’s undergraduate programmes are successful completion of Plus Two (average 70 percent plus) and English language proficiency. For postgrad entry, the minimum eligibility requirement is a first class bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.

For further information, contact International Student Recruitment Team, University of Winchester, Winchester, England SO22 4NRl. Tel: +44 1962 827023; Fax: +44 1962 827288; email: [email protected]; website: www.winchester.ac.uk.

Accommodation. A range of student accommodation is available on campus and varsity-managed housing in the town.

On-campus options include catered and self-catered accommodation. Catered is a traditional hall of residence with shared bathrooms and kitchenettes. Self-catered accommodation comprises flats with en suite rooms and shared kitchens. In addition, the university rents/manages houses/flats off-campus which it sub-lets to students.

Degree programmes. The university’s four faculties offer a wide range of bachelor’s and Masters degree programmes (see box).