University of Winchester

Overview

The University of Winchester is located close to the south coast of the UK in the scenic South Downs. A cathedral city, Winchester achieved university status in 2008 and currently has around 7,500 students enrolled.

Following the National Student Survey, Winchester ranked 4th in England for overall satisfaction. Rated by final year undergraduate students, there is 100% overall satisfaction in University of Winchester courses in American Studies, Archaeology, Business Management, Choreography and Dance, Digital Media Design, Digital Media Development, Education Studies (Early Childhood), Event Management, Health Community and Social Care Studies, History and the Medieval World, History and the Modern World, Media Production, Media Studies, and Politics and Global Studies.

The culture of the University is informal, with an emphasis on providing a supportive community for students through the promotion of start-up businesses and social entrepreneurship, as well as personal support in student study and life. Winchester has had a significant amount of development in recent years, with work on brand-new accommodation and an award-winning student union, which achieved one of the best rankings in the National Student Survey.

The University of Winchester acceptance rate is 45%, and critical University of Winchester rankings include Silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Services for International Students

International students at the University of Winchester have access to special services which include pre-arrival advice and an international induction programme, including an airport pickup service and workshops on life, study and culture in the UK. Student support advisers can be seen at any time for help with academic and related personal issues. The University also runs an organisation through the Student Union which aims to help integrate international students into life at Winchester.

Ranking

• 103rd in the Times University Guide 2025
• 115th in the Guardian University Guide 2025

In REF 2021, Winchester research rated 4* or world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour has increased threefold since the last REF in 2014. The volume of staff submitted also increased by 126 per cent.

There was a significant increase in institutional research power and the University is now placed at 98 for research power, compared with 107 in 2014. This represents the 17th biggest increase nationally.

Accommodation

The University of Winchester guarantees international students a place in University accommodation for the duration of their studies. Winchester offers accommodation both on and off campus, with private rented housing also available. There are almost 1,500 beds in total, many of which are en suite, with self-catering options also available. The former are generally arranged as student villages or small flats of about six students to a kitchen, while the latter are more traditional halls of residence with corridors containing shared bathrooms and kitchenettes.

Location

The University of Winchester campus is located within walking distance of the centre of the city of Winchester, one hour from London. It is an ancient cathedral city and was chosen by Alfred the Great to be the capital of the kingdom of Wessex. It is also steeped in Arthurian myth, with the castle containing the legendary Round Table of King Arthur. In the present day, the city has a strong cultural scene, particularly stemming from a literary heritage. There are also numerous pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes, leading to a lively social scene at all hours.