On the edge of the historic cathedral city, this small institution of about 6,000 undergraduates is known for being big on community spirit — which its well-equipped compact campus on a wooded hillside helps to foster. Known as King Alfred College until 2004, its university charter was granted in 2005. Winchester has since expanded into a multi-faculty, modern institution encompassing humanities and social sciences; education and the arts; business and digital technology; law, crime and justice; and health and wellbeing.
Musical students are well catered for, with about 17 music groups such as the King Alfred Singers Choir and Chapel Music Group — and students can access group or individual tuition through the music school. There’s a students’ union venue on campus and the city has the eighth highest ratio of pubs to people in the UK, reportedly, with one watering hole per 1,040 residents. It’s also well placed for exploring the rest of Hampshire, and beyond.
What is the University of Winchester’s reputation?
Awarding Winchester triple silver — overall, for student experience and student outcomes — in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), assessors were impressed by the “excellent academic practice embedded across the [university]”.
Teacher training remains a significant strength at Winchester, which is rated “outstanding” by Ofsted for its primary and secondary provision in all areas.
In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), Winchester tripled its proportion of world-leading work compared with the previous assessment in 2014 but fell 24 places to 106th in our research quality index against bigger gains elsewhere. Theology was among the strongest subjects.
However, dramatically lower rates of student satisfaction have contributed to a fall of three places in our main academic league table this year, compounding an 18-place tumble in our last edition to leave Winchester ranked 106th. Our analysis of the latest National Student Survey suggests growing discontent on campus: feedback on teaching quality places Winchester 92= (down ten places) and for satisfaction with the wider undergraduate experience 113rd (12 places lower).
Winchester has not avoided the present wave of financial troubles sweeping through British campuses. Staff walked out on strike in June 2024 to protest about threatened job cuts and increased workloads.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
From September 2025, two new courses with foundation years will be offered, in cybersecurity and software engineering. The year abroad options will no longer be offered for history, medieval history and modern history.
What are the University of Winchester’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
Degree courses demand between 128 and 88 Ucas tariff points. Foundation year entry, available on selected degrees, requires a more accessible 48 Ucas points. New for 2025, the Discover Winchester scheme will provide contextual offers one grade (8 points) below standard entry requirements. Winchester saw applications fall by 10 per cent for 2025 entry compared with 2024.
What are the graduate prospects?
Winchester fosters links with employers such as Southern Health and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts. At the university’s Winchester Health Clinic on campus physiotherapy students work alongside qualified practitioners in a public-facing setting. Creative courses benefit from partnerships with organisations that include Play to the Crowd, Arts Council England and Hampshire Culture Trust.
Live briefs encompass forensic investigations students working on dormant cases with a cold case unit. However, Winchester is outside the top 100 for graduate prospects — 69 per cent of graduates were in high-skilled jobs or postgraduate study 15 months after finishing their degree, according to the Graduate Outcomes survey.
What is the University of Winchester’s campus like?
A ten-minute walk from the cathedral city, the campus is divided into the King Alfred and the West Downs quarters. The majority of students live and work on the King Alfred quarter. Specialist facilities include psychology and sports labs, a performing arts studio and recording suite. The flagship West Downs Centre won an architecture prize at the Civic Trust awards in 2022. Extensive renovations have brought the Martial Rose Library on the King Alfred campus up to the standard of the newer West Downs Library. The West Downs Gallery on campus hosts exhibitions by students and alumni.
When can I visit?
winchester.ac.uk
Everything you need to know about the University of Winchester’s student life and wellbeing support
Winchester is compact and peaceful. There are more than 100 societies and sports teams. Free fitness classes are a perk at the university gym on the King Alfred campus. There is also a fitness studio, sports hall and multi-use games area. The nearby Winchester Sports Stadium, which is open to the public, has an athletics track and a floodlit all-weather pitch.
Freshers week has workshops on mental fitness and throughout the year there are sessions on how to manage stress and anxiety and “Look After Your Mate”. Students have access to counselling, mental health mentors and therapeutic groups that include bereavement support. All staff are offered training in suicide first aid and there is out-of-hours support from outreach workers, housing and security services.
What do the students say?
“Each course makes you feel like a part of a family and there’s a range of extracurricular opportunities, plus support services, a wellbeing focus and activity groups.”
Charlotte Baker, students’ union president (2022-24) and drama graduate
What about student accommodation at the University of Winchester?
First-years who apply by the June deadline are “usually guaranteed” one of 1,589 residential spaces. About 80 per cent live on campus.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of Winchester?
Winchester is 53rd in our social inclusion index for England and Wales, its overall rank boosted by a relatively high proportion of disabled students (28.7 per cent, 12th). Most of the intake (94.1 per cent) is drawn from non-selective state schools (43=). A new scheme, Discover Winchester, helps applicants who otherwise might struggle to access higher education by providing support with applying, a guaranteed interview (where relevant), a travel bursary to a taster day and a contextualised offer that shaves eight Ucas points off the standard requirements.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Winchester
About 40 per cent of entrants qualify for some form of financial support. Winchester has reviewed its bursaries and now offers a new Widening Participation Bursary, worth £1,000 a year, to up to 50 new students from under-represented backgrounds such as care-experienced or estranged students, carers or those from gypsy, Roma or traveller communities.
