Discover Winchester Scheme

Through the scheme we offer eligible applicants: 

• Additional support during the application process.
• A guaranteed interview to an interviewing course (subject to studying relevant subjects – e.g. sciences for Physiotherapy, etc.,).
• A contextualised offer at -8 points (1 grade) below the advertised tariff range.
• A Travel Bursary to help with the cost of travelling to an Experience Winchester Day. 

The Discover Winchester Scheme is available to applicants who meet one of the following criteria: 

• Applicants whose parents have no previous experience of study in Higher Education (i.e., first-in-family to attend University) 
• Applicants who are estranged from their family.  
• Applicants who are considered mature (aged 21 or over). 
• Applicants living with Disabilities, Learning differences and Mental Health Needs. 
• Applicants who have caring responsibilities. 
• Applicants who have been in local authority care. 
• Applicants who are from a military service family or who have served in the armed forces. 
• Applicants who are a refugee or asylum-seeker, including Ukrainian nationals fleeing conflict. 
• Applicants who have previously been in receipt of free school meals (FSM). 

* Applicants will need to self-identify upon their UCAS application to be considered eligible. 

Other mitigating circumstances  

In addition to the 9 criteria above, we also offer an additional category to cater for significant extenuating circumstances and/or disrupted pattern of education not covered by the above categories. This may be provided to the University in a personal statement, reference or separately by the apply centre and allows the University to apply a level of discretion to cater for less common complex circumstances. 

Examples include, but are not limited to: 

• Bereavement - loss of close relative/significant other; 
• Serious, acute or chronic illness affecting the student’s most recent education; 
• Serious illness affecting a close family member, or significant caring duties; 
• Significant adverse personal/family circumstances; 
• Significant caring duties for a family member/significant other affecting recent education; 
• Serious procedural/technical issues with the provision of the education or test (such as a significant teaching shortage for a prolonged period). 

Applicants to courses with an integrated foundation year will be able to access additional support and the travel bursary but are excluded from the contextualised offer due to the lower entry requirements already in operation.

We are currently finalising the support package and application process for the scheme. 

We kindly ask that anyone interested in the scheme, either for themselves or on behalf of a student at their school or college, complete our Discover Winchester Expression of Interest form. 

The University of Winchester finds it beneficial to work in partnership with schools and colleges in order to ensure that the Discover Winchester scheme offers the most appropriate support for applicants.  We therefore invite staff to join our Discover Winchester Advocates scheme. This will ensure you receive termly newsletters and an invitation to our annual forum where we brief on updates and also invite feedback on the scheme.  If you would like to join the Discover Winchester Advocates scheme please email us via discover@winchester.ac.uk.