Information for parents and carers

We understand that starting university is a big change for both parents and students and can be an upheaval for both of you. At Winchester, we ensure that your son or daughter’s health, happiness and wellbeing are our top priority.

Winchester is a small university where we get to know our students as individuals providing a friendly and supportive community for them.

Our Student Services team offer a wide range of support, advice, information and guidance on every aspect of student life, both personal and study-related. This includes:

Student Life

A team of approachable student life advisers are available to offer information, advice and guidance on students’ university life and their general wellbeing. More information is available on our Wellbeing page.

Mental Wellbeing

A team of professional trained counsellors and mental health advisers are available during weekdays to support students’ mental wellbeing. More information is available on our Wellbeing page.

Disability support

There is a dedicated Disability Support team who ensure the provision of specialist support or facilities to meet students’ requirements.

Academic skills

The Academic Skills team provides one-to-one consultations and group workshops for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Students can book by emailing academicskills@winchester.ac.uk

English Language Teaching and Support

The ELTSU team provides high-quality programmes to prepare and equip international students with the necessary skills to enable them to study at higher education.  For students already studying at the University, and for whom English is not a first language, the team also offers additional academic guidance and skills to help them achieve their academic and language goals.

For more information on the range of support available please visit our student support section

Going to university is a real investment for your son or daughter’s future and there may be financial support available to them for both tuition fees and living expenses.

Below is an outline of the key fees and financial support available.

Tuition fees

We set our tuition fees at a level that ensures a degree experience that is high quality and distinctive, with first-rate facilities. We are committed to continual development of the student experience.

Most full-time UK and EU undergraduate students are eligible to apply for a Government loan to cover your tuition fees.

The costs for 2018 entry for BA/BSc/LLB (Hons) degree:

• £9,250 per year (full-time)
• £1,156 per 15 credit module (part-time) – the maximum part-time fee charged in a given year will not exceed the Government permitted rate of £6,750 (maximum 90 credits)
• £700 for placement year (where applicable)

Maintenance loans and grants for living costs

Support is provided by the government for eligible full-time home students to help with living costs and provide additional support. As with the tuition fee loan, full-time UK and EU undergraduate students only start to repay these loans after they have graduated and are earning £21,000 or more.

Scholarships, awards and bursaries

To help fund your son or daughter’s studies, as well as recognising their achievements, Winchester offers a comprehensive range of scholarships, bursaries and other awards. There are no repayments and the awards are cumulative so they could be eligible for more than one.

Find the most up-to-date information, including costs and a support calculator, on our Students and Money pages.

We understand that it’s important to know where your son or daughter will be living when they come to university. Their accommodation is more than just a place to live, and that is why we have invested heavily to offer high-quality catered and self-catered accommodation on the King Alfred Campus at West Downs.

All campus accommodation is located within walking distance of the city centre. We do all we can to help your son or daughter secure quality housing, not just in their first year, but throughout their time at Winchester. Most students live on campus in their first year in one of our residences – either self-catered or catered. To help them cope with the transition to university and to make the most of their time, self-catered students can choose catering packages that offer approximately 10, 14 or 21 meals per week.

A key aspect of living on campus is safety – there are live-in wardens, residential assistants and 24-hour first-aid trained security as well as police liaison. It’s a convenient place to be, too, with mini-mart shops, launderettes, the University Gym and catering facilities on hand.

At Winchester, we aim to provide on-campus or University Managed Housing to all first year full-time undergraduates who hold Winchester as their firm choice. Application deadlines and other restrictions may apply

In addition, we endeavour to provide students from non-EU countries and students with disabilities a room on campus, not just for their first year but for the duration of their course. Depending on demand, in any one year, restrictions may need to apply.

After the first year, many students move into either University Managed Housing in the city or rent with a private landlord.

Find out more about our range of accommodation and the application process on our housing pages.

At Winchester we work hard to ensure that your son or daughter develops excellent employability skills, has access to first-rate support and is fully prepared to embark on his or her chosen career.

Courses at Winchester are designed with industry in mind and often in association with leading employers to equip your son or daughter with the skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive job market. Guest lecturers, work placements and projects set with employers are just some of the ways they gain access to the best possible knowledge and experience for developing their career.

The Careers Service provides professional and impartial advice and guidance to help your son or daughter secure a job after they graduate or help them to move on to a relevant postgraduate course. The team have the resources, skills and experience to assist your son or daughter in their career planning from the very start of their degree. This could include one-to-one or group sessions on, for example, CV preparation, applying for further study and effective interview techniques.

We recognise the importance of adding value beyond academic qualifications, and there are number of initiatives in place to enhance your son or daughter’s CV. These include the Winchester Passport, an optional non-credit bearing certificate that recognises their activities outside of study. There is also an emphasis placed on student volunteering, with a range of options available, including an accredited volunteering module that can be taken as part of their studies.

For more information on all the support and options available, visit the Careers pages.

Winchester is a charming cathedral city with a rich heritage and a vibrant contemporary culture. There is a lot on offer for your son or daughter to explore – right here on the doorstep!

The award-winning and beautifully sited University campus is located just 10 minutes from the ancient city centre. Big enough to have a wide variety of things to do and see, but small enough to never feel lost, Winchester combines lively modern city life with historic roots and unspoilt countryside.

There are plenty of independent cafes and restaurants, lively bars and cosy pubs – including celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage restaurant in Abbey Mills Garden and one of the oldest bars in England. Winchester also holds the national Purple Flag status, which recognises cities that are safe and enjoyable places for a night out.

There are a range of unique independent shops and boutiques as well as traditional and nationally-known stores and one of the country’s largest and best loved farmers’ markets. The city is steeped in history, packed with monuments and historic buildings, including Winchester Cathedral, which provides a focal point for the city, Winchester College and the Great Hall with its legendary Round Table. Arts and culture are a vital part of the fabric of city life, with two theatres, a boutique Everyman Cinema, a venue for shows and concerts, and a range of distinctive festivals and events, from food and drink fairs to a summer carnival known as the Hat Fair.

Winchester sits on the Western edge of the South Downs National Park and is surrounded by beautiful countryside and market towns. It is close to the New Forest, prehistoric Stonehenge and the Isle of Wight – home of music festivals and sailing events.

Travel connections to the city are excellent, with Southampton Airport close by and London Waterloo only an hour away by train. The University is close to the M3, with easy road access to the M25 and M27. National Express runs a regular coach service from Winchester to a range of destinations.

To find out more about different aspects of Winchester, visit our City Life pages.