A University of Winchester Law student really made a mark during her study abroad in Winchester USA.
Clara Wood was the first student from the Faculty of Law Crime and Justice to take part in study abroad at Shenandoah University in Virginia.
The 20-year-old achieved a Grade Point Average of 4.0 (the highest possible) earning her a place on the President’s List of high achievers during her four-month stay.
She was also made Captain of Shenandoah’s Trial Advocacy Team which took part in the American Mock Trial Association’s annual tournament for the first time.
Some aspects of the US law, such as contract, are very similar to the UK other aspects, said Clara, but other parts of the course were totally new to her.
“I had to take a course in Investment and Portfolio Management, which I knew nothing about,” she said. “That will be a great help to me in the future as I want to specialise in corporate law.”
Clara was very keen to study in the USA but her trip to Shenandoah was arranged at short notice after she had transferred to Winchester from another university in September 2023.
Shenandoah is a small university, with approximately 4,000 students, located in the northernmost corner of the state.
“I didn’t really know much about Shenandoah,” said Clara. “It was such a relief to find it was such a beautiful campus.
“Everyone was lovely, and they loved my English accent. I’ve made friends who I hope to go out and visit next year. I would definitely recommend study abroad.”
Sitting in the Shenandoah Valley, between the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Mountains, the campus is about 90 minutes’ drive from Washington DC and Clara made a number of trips to the capital to see the sights.
Clara in New York's Central Park
She also visited New York and travelled to Pennsylvania to witness the total solar eclipse from the shores of Lake Erie.
In addition to her law studies, Clara took a course in yoga and tried snow tubing – when she arrived in Virginia in January the campus was buried beneath several inches of snow which delayed the start of the semester by a few days.
Dr Emma Nottingham, Head of the Law Department at the University of Winchester said: “We are delighted to offer our students the opportunity to study abroad. We are very proud of Clara.”
The other Winchester...
Winchester Virginia was founded in 1744 by Colonel James Wood, from Winchester, UK on landed granted to him by Lord Fairfax.
Winchester was the site of several major military engagements during the American Civil War, including one on the site of one of Shenandoah’s campuses, known as Cool Spring Battlefield.
About Study Abroad
Winchester already has partnerships with several universities in the US and Canada and earlier this year announced a new links with Leiden University in The Netherlands and Southern Utah University in the USA. To find out more visit Studying abroad as part of your degree - University of Winchester.
Pictured top: Clara Wood (front row far right) with Shenadoah University's team for the American Mock Trial Association’s annual tournament.
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