The university, on a wooded hillside overlooking the cathedral city of Winchester, began as a Church of England teacher training college in 1840. Since gaining its charter in 2005, it has broadened its academic focus, expanding 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.

Winchester is still a small university of about 8,000 students, but it’s big on community spirit. The new chancellor is the actor and comedian Hugh Dennis — star of the BBC’s Outnumbered and Mock the Week — who succeeds the TV gardener and writer Alan Titchmarsh in the role.

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]” and commended the “clearly articulated range of educational gains [Winchester] intends its students to achieve, that are highly relevant to its students’ ambitions”.

Education courses remain a significant strength at the institution, known as King Alfred College until 2004.

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 107th in our research quality index against bigger gains elsewhere. Theology was among the strongest subjects. 

Dramatically lower rates of student satisfaction have contributed to a fall of 18 places in our main academic league table (103rd). Winchester tumbled 20 places in our latest analysis of National Student Survey feedback on teaching quality (82=) and 44 for satisfaction with the wider undergraduate experience (101=). The university also fares much less strongly in the latest graduate employment figures (down 18 places to 108=).Winchester has not avoided the current 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 2024, six education programmes are being replaced by degrees in education and early years education, with or without a foundation year. 

What are the University of Winchester’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?

Degree courses demand between 88 and 128 Ucas tariff  points. Foundation year entry, available on selected degrees, requires a more accessible 48 Ucas points. Contextual offers lower than standard only apply to entrants through the Compact scheme, run in partnership with target schools. After five years of increasing applications, demand cooled by 8 per cent in 2023. The number of students starting courses declined by around 8 per cent as well with just over 2,000 undergraduate enrolments.

What are the graduate prospects?

Winchester has fallen 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 latest Graduate Outcomes survey. The decline comes after three years of improvements in our graduate prospects index.

What is the University of Winchester’s  campus like?

A ten-minute walk from the cathedral city, the King Alfred and West Downs campuses have specialist facilities including 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 begun to bring 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. 

Everything you need to know about the University of Winchester’s student life and wellbeing support

Students can get to know each other relatively quickly in compact, peaceful Winchester. The cathedral city has a lively number of student-friendly pubs and bars while the students’ union organises events too.  There are more than 100 societies and sports teams. Students who want to make music have at least 17 performance groups: the King Alfred Singers, concert and jazz bands, the Chapel Music Group and others.

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?

“The University of Winchester feels like home. There are a range of extracurricular opportunities, support services and rewards. The city's not massive; it is perfectly placed to visit neighbouring cities and has great connections to London and Southampton.”
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 1,949 residential spaces.

How diverse and inclusive is the University of Winchester?

Winchester has gained 12 places in our social inclusion index for England and Wales (47th), boosted by a relatively high proportion of disabled students (11.1 per cent, 12th). Most of the intake (92.5 per cent) is drawn from non-selective state schools (61st).

The university has links with more than 30 primary and secondary schools in north and mid-Hampshire, running initiatives to raise attainment in literacy and English language. Targeted support packages are offered to a range of disadvantaged groups including care-leavers.

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, including income-based bursaries of £200 per year and the Become Scholarship for UK-based students from ethnic minority backgrounds, worth £500 each year of study and £500 on graduation. Sanctuary Scholarships waive fees and support the living costs of two students who are seeking asylum each year. Talented musicians and students who excel in sports may qualify for payments of up to £1,500. 

A new Unite Foundation Scholarship awards free accommodation in halls year-round for up to three years for estranged and care-experienced undergraduates.