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We recognise that researching universities and courses and preparing your young person for Higher Education is a learning process for you, as parents and supporters, as well as for your child. For your young person, starting university will be one of the biggest and most exciting experiences they have faced so far, and for you, the experience is bound to raise many questions and a certain amount of apprehension. Read on for lots of helpful information, tips and answers to your questions.
What different types of accommodation are there?
Many students live on campus in their first year in one of our residences, either self-catered or catered and all of our campus accommodation is within walking distance of the city centre.
A key aspect of living on campus is safety. We have live-in wardens, residential assistants and 24-hour first-aid trained security staff. Campus is such a convenient place to live, with laundrettes, the gym and catering facilities on site.
At Winchester, we guarantee University-Managed Accommodation to all full-time first year undergraduates who hold Winchester as their firm choice and apply by the deadline published on our website.
Find out more about our range of accommodation and the application process on our housing page.
My young person wants to live at home. Do you have any advice on this?
Winchester has an active community of commuting students who travel in to their classes. They even have their own club, the Commuting Students Network with their own home-from-home facilities and social activities. Have a look at our Commuting Students page for tips and information and read our blog which has lots of advice on how your young person can get the most out of their commute as well as their university experience.
My young person needs extra support. What is available?
We understand that starting university is a big change for both you, as parents and supporters, and your young person. At Winchester, we ensure that your son or daughter’s health, happiness and wellbeing are our top priority. Winchester is a tight-knit community where we get to know our students as individuals providing a friendly and supportive community.
Our Student Support and Success team offers a wide range of support, advice, information and guidance on every aspect of student life. This includes advice and support on Mental Wellbeing (we have a team of professionally trained counsellors and mental health advisors on campus); Disability Support (who ensure the provision of specialist support or facilities to meet the requirements of your young person) and Academic Success (who help and advise on academic skills to ensure your young person realises their full academic potential).
Can I speak to Student Services directly on behalf of my young person?
One of the most significant differences between college and university is that, once your young person turns eighteen, they are adults under the law. Decisions that you may have taken jointly with your child at college are now the responsibility of your young person. This means that all of our interactions must be directly with the student, and they are responsible for their life at university, including what they choose to tell you about. As a parent, carer or guardian, this can feel like quite a big change from life before university.
To understand more and to learn more about the sharing of information, please have a look at the ‘Consent to Share’ section of this page Student Wellbeing.
Does the University offer help with careers or finding part-time work?
At Winchester, we build into our courses the development of the range of skills that employers look for. We offer guest lectures, work placements and other projects with organisations to support our students in gaining experience as part of the curriculum. In our Careers and Opportunities Hub students can get help with finding and applying for part-time work, placements, volunteering opportunities, graduate jobs and even postgraduate study. Your young person can access one-to-one appointments in person or via Teams to explore their career direction and get support with crafting a CV, job applications and preparation for interviews.
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What is Winchester city like?
Winchester is a beautiful cathedral city with a rich heritage and a vibrant contemporary culture. We have two campuses, West Downs and King Alfred Quarter and both are only a 10-15 minute walk from the city centre. Big enough to have a wide variety of things to do and see, but small enough to never feel lost, Winchester combines modern city life with historic roots and plenty of easy access to green spaces.
Travel connections to the city are really good, with Southampton Airport a 10-minute train ride away and London Waterloo only an hour by train. The University is close to the M3, with easy road access to both the M25 and M27. National Express runs a regular coach service from Winchester to a range of destinations. To find out more about the city, flick through our handy A-Z Guide.