The University of Winchester

History

• Founded in 1840.
• Based on an Anglican Foundation.
• First began as a teacher training school to provide training of elementary schoolmasters within the Winchester Diocese.

Location and transport

• One hour away from London Waterloo.
• Winchester is in the county of Hampshire, within a wooded setting overlooking the South Downs.
• The campus is within walking distance of the historic cathedral city centre of Winchester.

Entry standards

• Entry requirements vary depending on the programme of study. Full details can be found on the online prospectus or by downloading a copy of the undergraduate prospectus.

Student mix

• Total student population of around 6,888.
• Male : female ratio 30:70.
• 6% of students international (non-EU).
• 0% of students taken through Clearing.

Course flexibility

• The majority of programmes can be studied full-time and part-time.
• A range of programmes is available and within BA/BSc Combined Honours it is possible to focus on two subjects of interest.
• Students are encouraged to tailor-make their degree programme according to the available modules to suit their interests and ambitions and every student is assigned a personal tutor.

Teaching standards

• The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) undertook an institutional audit in 2008. It concluded 'broad confidence' (the highest level of confidence possible within an audit) in regards to the quality of academic awards and student experience.
• High student satisfaction for Choreography and Dance, Education Studies, History, Sports Studies and Creative Writing.
• Leading reputation for primary teacher training. In 2010 Ofsted recognised Winchester's provision as 'Outstanding'.

Research standards

• All full-time staff are engaged in research and they ensure that it informs and enhances all teaching.
• Winchester has a diverse, dynamic and supportive research community.
• A Research and Knowledge Exchange Centre provides the focus of all research activity at the university.
• In the 2008 RAE (Research Assessment Exercise), 75% of the university's research submitted was considered internationally recognised, with some research achieving the highest grade possible (4*) and a rating of 'quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour'. History performed particularly strongly in the RAE, with 90% of research submitted considered internationally recognised.

Academic strengths

• Winchester has a leading reputation for primary teacher training and is strong in the fields of business, performing arts, psychology, archaeology, history, creative writing and theology and religious studies.

Student facilities, including library and computing

• The University Centre encompasses the Student Union, a Learning Café, Food Hall, a bookshop and mini-mart style Union shop.
• Outdoor sports facilities include a competition standard 8-lane running track and supporting field events, an all-weather astro turf suitable for hockey and football. The site has floodlighting and showers and changing rooms inside a pavilion.
• The main library hosts 300,000 books, DVDs, videos and sound recordings, and receives 550 print journals with electronic access to many thousands more.
• There are over 600 networked PCs for students, located in the library, IT Centre, 24-hour Learning Café, faculty buildings and computer training rooms.

Disability services

• For information on disability services at Winchester, contact: Dr Lesley Black, Head of Wellbeing, telephone 01962 827341 or email disability@winchester.ac.uk.

Students' union

• The Student Union opened in October 2007 and is located inside the University Centre. It includes a club/gig space for 1,200 people, bars, a games room and a cinema. The University Centre has further facilities for students including a Learning Café, food hall, bookshop and mini-mart style Union shop.
• The Student Union offers a wide range of clubs and societies offering activities throughout the year.

Sport

• Indoor sports facilities include a 21-station fitness suite and a multi-use sports hall. There are outside tennis courts on campus.
• The university's Winchester Sports Stadium opened in 2008 and is located close to campus. It offers a competition standard 8-lane running track and supporting field events, an all-weather astro turf suitable for hockey and football. The site has floodlighting and showers and changing rooms inside a pavilion.
• There is a huge array of sports activities, clubs and societies available and all are closely linked to the Student Union.

Recent/prospective new builds

• The new Queen's Road Student Village opened in September 2010 and offers excellent self-catering accommodation for students.
• Further self-catering accommodation is currently under construction: Burma Road Student Village is located close to the King Alfred Campus and is due to open in 2012–13.
• The Learning and Teaching Building is currently under construction and is due to open in 2012. The facility will provide high quality lecture theatres and study spaces, including networked PCs.
• The University Centre, which includes the Student Union, cost £9.5 million to build and forms the focus of the campus providing facilities for the whole university community. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) awarded the University Centre the RIBA Award for the South region in 2008 in recognition of its high architectural standards and make a substantial contribution to the local environment.
• The Winchester Sports Stadium cost £3.5 million and includes a competition standard 8-lane running track and supporting field events, an all-weather astro turf suitable for hockey and football. The project received funding from Sport England, Winchester City Council, Hampshire County Council and Norwich Union.
• Plans are underway to build a Learning and Teaching Centre on campus.
• There is an ongoing strategy for refurbishment and new builds across the campus designed to further enhance the student experience.

Availability of part-time work

• There are plenty of part-time job opportunities available.
• The university has strong relationships with local employers and the JobShop advertises job opportunities either on campus or in the local area. There are also volunteering opportunities and paid work placements available.

Notable alumni

• Sir Terry Pratchett - Author
• Jack Dee - Comedian
• Sir David Frost - Journalist, comedian, writer and media personality
• Jonathon Porritt - Environmentalist and writerMartin Bashir - Television journalist
• Mick Brookes - General Secretary, National Association of Head Teachers
• Mike Bushell - BBC television journalist
• Lauren Cohan - British-American actress
• Adam Pacitti - Professor of Media and Communications, New York University
• Steve Furst - Comedy actor (Little Britain)
• Mark Johnson - Horse racing announcer
• Shappi Khorsandi - Comedian
• Dirk Maggs - Radio producer
• Andrew Norriss - Children's book author and TV sitcom writer
• Don Nutbeam - Vice Chancellor, University of Southampton
• David Prosho - Actor and performer
• Angus Scott - Television journalist (also part-time lecturer in journalism)
• Bob Taylor - Past President of the Rugby Football Union
• Lauren Cohan – Actor

Honorary Alumni

• Mark Byford - Deputy Director General BBC
• Sir John Tavener - British composer
• A. S. Byatt - Postmodern novelist
• Colin Firth - Film and television actor
• Alan Titchmarsh - Broadcaster and novelist
• Sandy Lerner - Entrepreneur and philanthropist                 
• Lord Plant of Highfield - Academic 
• Pie Corbett - Educational writer and poet
• Bevis Hillier - Art historian, author and journalist
• Professor David Crystal - Linguist, academic and author
• David Gower - Cricketer
• Geoff Holt - Sailor
• Shappi Khorsandi - Comedienne and writer
• Michael Scott-Joynt - Bishop of Winchester
• Alastair Stewart - Newscaster
• Philippa Forrester - Television presenter and producer
• Professor Andrew Linzey - Theologian and writer
• Tony Palmer - Documentary filmmaker

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