January 2026 Intake

If you are moving to Winchester, here are some key pieces of information and tips. 

University-managed accommodation  

Apply for housing as soon as possible as we allocate on a ‘first applied, first allocated’ basis. You can apply online here: Housing application. You can explore what is on offer with videos and virtual tours to help you get a flavour of residential life.   

When you receive a housing offer, make sure you accept the offer by the offer expiry date which will show on the Housing Portal – you will then receive further guidance from our Housing Team on what to bring, when to arrive and how to pay for your accommodation. Arrival dates will depend on what course you are studying. For example, students whose course starts on Monday 12 January 2026 will move in on Saturday 10 January 2026. Your arrival date will be confirmed upon acceptance of your accommodation. 

If you are unsure of your arrival date, you can contact the Housing Team to confirm, either by email (Housing@winchester.ac.uk) or by phone (01962 827533). 

Off campus 

If you’re not planning to live on campus, Winchester Students’ Union have some resources on finding private accommodation, as well as general guidance and tips on their Housing Advice pages. They also have a guide for those who will be commuting. 

Managing your money  
You are responsible for arranging your funding and paying your tuition fees, ensuring you have enough to pay your expenses and to be able to enjoy student life.  We currently estimate that you will need about £13,000* per academic year to help you manage the costs of living and studying. You might want to think about finding a part time job before you arrive.  
 
*Save the Student 2024 Survey 
 
Student Finance funding for Home students  
 As a UK student you should have already applied for Student Finance funding to help cover your tuition fees and a contribution towards your living costs.  
 
If you have not applied already, you can find out more information on how to apply for your funding. Please select the Student Finance website based on which UK country you normally reside:  
England  
Wales  
Scotland  
Northern Ireland  
 
Please note that your funding may not be ready in time for when you start your course as it can take at least 2 months for a standard application to be processed by Student Finance.   
 
Make sure you have sufficient funds to support you until you receive your funding.  
Please note that the earliest funds can be paid is the first day of study, not the day you arrive.  
 
Other funding for Home students  
 •    Check if you are eligible for any of our Widening Participation Bursaries by going to our Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards website.  
•    Students studying pre-registration healthcare courses such as Nursing, Midwifery, Nutrition and Dietetics or Physiotherapy can apply for additional funding from the NHS.   
o    Only apply once you have had your Student Finance funding approval as you need this to prove you are eligible.  
o    For more information and how to apply: NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF) | NHSBSA    
•    Students studying a Social Work course may be eligible for a Social Work Bursary from the NHS during years 2 and 3 only.  
•    Speak with supporting adults to see if they will be helping to contribute towards your funds.  
•    If you are considering part time work in Winchester alongside your studies, now is a great time to start looking, so you can secure something to start as soon as you arrive.  
 
International students  
As a newly enrolling student, you will receive a direct link in your offer letter directing you to the correct payment method for your deposit. We work with Oxford International Education Group to process the majority of our payments. 

Following payment of your tuition fee deposit you should be aware of whether your application was via OXFORD INTERNATIONAL or direct to The UNIVERSITY Of WINCHESTER but if you remain unsure, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR AGENT or with the University of Winchester. Please see our International Financial Information website and click on How to Pay, to find out information on paying the balance of your tuition fees.

Make sure you have enough money to cover your expenses while waiting to open a UK bank account.    
 
Please note: A requirement of your Student Visa is to have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course.  
 
When you are living in the UK there is no financial support for international students. You only have the following options available if you find yourself in unexpected financial difficulties:  
•    Part-time work, as allowed by the conditions of your Student Visa  
•    Seek support from family  
•    Private companies from your home country  
•    Student funding opportunities from your home country  
•    Banks  
•    Additional scholarships, grants and bursaries information can be found on https://www.iefa.org/scholarships  
 
For more information on International Student Finances visit International financial information - University of Winchester  
 
Bank accounts  
 
Which one is for me?  
Look into the various student bank accounts that are available. Think about which one will support your circumstances, has the best interest rates, comes with an overdraft, and what the Terms and Conditions are about accessing your funds. Look at your current bank as they may be able to just upgrade an existing account you have. Remember you still need to save as a student so you can fall back on the funds for any emergency.   
 
How many accounts do you need?  
Generally, a main student account and a savings account OR just an account that allows you to save in pots.  
 
How do I open a bank account?  
You can open a student bank account using your UCAS status codes once your place has been confirmed. For those banks not using UCAS you will need to use your confirmation letter from the University. International students – once you have enrolled you will be provided with more information about how to access a bank account.   
  
Planning your budgets  
One way to manage your money is to plan or budget the money you have coming in and going out, so that you know how much you have left over, to avoid overspending.  
  
For more information on funding and managing your money please access our links on our LinkTree site: https://linktr.ee/uowstudentsandmoney  or discuss this with our Students and Money team on studentsandmoney@winchester.ac.uk.  

Managing your money 
 As you transition into postgraduate study, now is an important time to review and update your budgets.  Your income, living expenses and study costs may be changing and a clear, realistic budget will help to support effective money management.    
 
Student Finance funding for Masters courses  
 A Postgraduate Masters Loan is available to eligible UK nationals (and individuals with settled status in the UK) for postgraduate Masters study. The difference is that you are awarded an amount that is to cover your tuition fees and the remainder is a contribution towards living costs.  
 
The details of the Postgraduate Masters Loan will differ depending upon where you normally reside in the UK. For more information on how and when to apply for your loan, please visit the following websites:  
England  
Wales   
Scotland   
Northern Ireland    
 
Student Finance funding for PhD/Research courses  
 A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to £30,301 is available through Student Finance to help with the cost of fees and living expenses for eligible students starting in 2025/26. For more information on eligibility and how and when to apply for your loan, please visit the following websites (Doctoral Loans are currently not available for students from Scotland or Northern Ireland):  
England 
Wales   
 
Other funding for Home students  
 
•    Check if you are eligible for any of our postgraduate bursaries or scholarships.  
•    In case your funding is delayed, make sure you have enough money to cover your expenses whilst your application is being processed.  
 
International students   

As a newly enrolling student, you will receive a direct link in your offer letter directing you to the correct payment method for your deposit. We work with Oxford International Education Group to process the majority of our payments. 

Following payment of your tuition fee deposit you should be aware of whether your application was via OXFORD INTERNATIONAL or direct to The UNIVERSITY Of WINCHESTER but if you remain unsure, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR AGENT or with the University of Winchester. Please see our International Financial Information website and click on How to Pay, to find out information on paying the balance of your tuition fees.
Make sure you have enough money to cover your expenses while waiting to open a UK bank account.  Once you have enrolled you will be provided with more information about how to access a UK bank account. 
  
Please note: A requirement of your Student Visa is to have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course.  
 
When you are living in the UK, there is no financial support for international students. You only have the following options available if you find yourself in unexpected financial difficulties:   
•    Part-time work, as allowed by the conditions of your Student Visa  
•    Seek support from family  
•    Private companies from your home country  
•    Student funding opportunities from your home country  
•    Banks 
•    Additional scholarships, grants & bursaries information can be found on https://www.iefa.org/scholarships  
  
For more information on International Student Finances visit International financial information - University of Winchester  
 
For more information on funding and managing your money, please access our links on our LinkTree site: https://linktr.ee/uowstudentsandmoney or discuss this with our Students and Money team on studentsandmoney@winchester.ac.uk.  

As you embark on this new stage of your journey, it is important to be able to manage your money and equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to navigate the financial aspects of apprenticeship life at university.   
 
Managing your money  
 
Doing an apprenticeship, may mean that you are not new to managing your money for your own everyday needs, but it is always worth refreshing your financial plans.   
 
Your income may be considerably lower and you will have to consider additional costs associated with your course and/or potential additional childcare, plus travel and possibly placement costs to incorporate into your financial plans. All on top of essential bills like rent/mortgage, groceries and travel to work. 
 
Planning your budgets  
 
One way to manage your money is to plan or budget the money you have coming in and going out, so that you know how much you have left over, to avoid overspending.  
  
For more information on funding and managing your money please access our links on our LinkTree site: https://linktr.ee/uowstudentsandmoney  or discuss this with our Students and Money team on studentsandmoney@winchester.ac.uk.  

Undergraduate and postgraduate students with a declared disability   
If you have disclosed a disability via UCAS or your application, please complete the Additional Requirements Questionnaire (ARQ) form, which will have been emailed to you by the admissions team. If you haven’t received this email or need to discuss your requirements further, please email disability@winchester.ac.uk.  
 
You may be eligible for support from the Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) which can provide 1-to-1 support and assistive technology to help you access your studies. Postgraduate students must reapply for DSA for every year of study. 
 
If you are a UK full-time student, please look at the NHS HC1 form to be assessed for free or reduced health costs like NHS prescriptions. More information can be found on the NHS Low Income Scheme webpages.  
 
We also encourage students with physical disabilities to visit the campus before 'Arrivals Weekend' to assess how suitable different access routes may be for them. Please email disability@winchester.ac.uk to discuss further.  

Apprentice learners with a declared disability    
Apprenticeship applicants will complete a different onboarding process from undergraduate and postgraduate students. This will include a screening to identify areas of need or additional support. This information will be shared with the Disability and Inclusion Team, who can support learners to draw up Learning Agreements and access funded support via the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). This could include 1 to 1 Study Skills and assistive technology.  

For more information, please speak to the apprenticeship team.

Short course students with a declared disability  
If you have disclosed a disability via UCAS or your application, please complete the additional requirements form, which will have been emailed to you by the admissions team. If you haven’t received this email or need to discuss your requirements further, please email disability@winchester.ac.uk.  
 
You can access support during your course through the Student Support and Success team, including the Academic Success, Mental Wellbeing, Student Journey and Disability and Inclusion teams.  

Student Support and Success   
 Our dedicated Student Support and Success team provides information, advice and guidance on many aspects of student life to all students. We are available to support you pre-arrival, on arrival and throughout your time at the University.  Please see our website and get in touch at any stage: Student support - University of Winchester   
   
International students   
 
For information and guidance on elements including the visa process, please visit our International Student Support pages: International student support - University of Winchester or contact international.support@winchester.ac.uk. 

All on-campus students are required to have a physical University card. Please ensure that you have uploaded a passport-style photo for your student card before 5 January – there is a link on My Record where you can do this. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to issue you with a card if you haven’t uploaded a photo, so please complete this step in plenty of time before the start of your course.

It is important that you complete online enrolment so that you can start your programme. From the week commencing 8 December 2025, we will be emailing all new students with their login details for My Record and further instructions about what to do. Online enrolment is open from 8 December 2025.

One of your first steps of enrolment is to complete the online orientation course to help you prepare for life and study at the University of Winchester. There are four short, mini units to complete which will provide you with key information about areas such as:   

• our university community and how to get involved  
• how to prepare for studying at this next level  
• how to engage with our online platforms and stay safe online, and   
• how to manage your money.  

You can access the units via Canvas, which is our virtual learning environment. The online orientation course will be available from 8 December 2025.   

Welcome Week timetable
Your Welcome Week timetable will be available in My Record once you complete the online part of enrolment. It includes details of your mandatory in-person ID check* as well as a variety of welcome talks for your first week. 

University teaching timetable  
Your University timetable will become available once your enrolment ID check has been completed. For postgraduate courses, any optional modules will be added during Welcome Week once you have made your selection.

*Students studying on the following programmes are not required to enrol in person or attend Welcome Week sessions unless advised by your programme team: Medical Education (GP Trainers), Practice Education (all routes), Postgraduate Short Courses and Social Work: Step Up (PG Diploma). Once online enrolment (including ID document upload) is complete, then your ID will be checked and verified within 3-5 days by a member of University staff and you will then be able to view your timetable and course materials.

The Student Charter sets out the expectations and commitments shared by the University's staff, Students' Union and students. This Charter sets out how we will work in partnership together to create a collaborative, respectful and supportive environment. You can read this via the link below.

Student Charter

If you are moving into university accommodation, you will be asked to select an arrival slot during the room acceptance process. Most students arrive by car and will be given clear instructions on the arrivals process, including where to park and where to collect your key. If you are unsure of your arrival date, you can contact the Housing Team to confirm, either by email (Housing@winchester.ac.uk) or by phone (01962 827533). During your arrival, you will be greeted by our Housing team to collect your keys and be assisted in moving into your accommodation by our Housing Helpers.

During Welcome Week (week commencing Monday 12 January 2026), you will meet staff and course mates and find out more about the University through your Faculty Welcome and Uni Essentials talk. You will also complete your in-person enrolment, collect your University card and get access to your IT account *. Student Support and Success will also be hosting a Welcome Reception on Thursday 15 January 2026, from 5-6.30pm. Keep an eye on your emails for further information – we would love to see you there.

*Students studying on the following programmes are not required to enrol in person or attend Welcome Week sessions unless advised by your programme team: Medical Education (GP Trainers), Practice Education (all routes), Postgraduate Short Courses and Social Work: Step Up (PG Diploma).