My name is Alyssa, and I’m from the state of New Jersey in America. I’m a first-year mature student who is studying here at Winchester.

I have previously studied Musical Theatre, after graduation I worked full time but decided to go back to school. A big part of me has always wanted to travel as well so, with the support of friends and family, I chose to kill two birds with one stone and continue my studies across the pond. I knew the UK education system is held to a higher standard so studying here was a no-brainer. The tricky decision was choosing a university. Once I gathered a list of universities, I was faced with the options of London or Winchester. It’s any tourist's dream to visit the great big city of London, but I wasn’t going to be a tourist, I was going to be living there. So, when looking into Winchester and the university, I found that it was a very welcoming place, and much smaller than London. The campus looked beautiful, and the town seemed like something out of a fairy tale. How could I say no? I’m glad to say that it didn’t disappoint.

For the application process, I received help from an organization called Across the Pond, who made everything go very smoothly for me. Aside from them, I was in constant contact with the University's International Student Advisor. He answered all my questions, and really helped ease any anxiety I was feeling. The university even offered an airport pickup for all international students flying into Heathrow, which was a true blessing in disguise and saved me a big headache. From the start of this process the school has been nothing but helpful and informative.

When starting the semester, I was a bit nervous for my lectures because of the difference in teaching styles, but my tutors were very helpful. Each class I took was led by upbeat people, who were obviously passionate about the subject they were teaching. Any questions or concerns I had were always answered and solved. Outside of the study life, there are so many clubs and events happening weekly that it’s difficult to be bored. During Fresher’s Week a fair is held where club representatives talk about their clubs and societies and what they have to offer. It’s a great way to sign up for clubs and events and easy way to make friends. I’m quite partial to quiz nights held on Tuesday! Even if students don’t want to join anything, the town centre is a lively, bustling place that can fill one’s day with things to do. I absolutely love walking into town just for the pure beauty of the architecture. I try my best to do it all when I’m not busy with my assignments!

I’ve found the University of Winchester and the city to be a wonderful place, filled with wonderful people. Everything is easy to navigate, whether I’m walking, taking a bus, or a train (which is all new to me since I drive everywhere in the U.S.). I’m very happy with my life here, the people I’ve met, the things I’ve learned, and the experiences I’ve had. I truly can’t wait to see what the rest of my time here will bring me.

By Alyssa our BA (Hons) Business Management student from the United States of America.