How to Apply

To apply to the University of Winchester for an undergraduate programme you can apply via either method below:

UCAS

The University of Winchester UCAS institution code is W76 and you can find the relevant course code on the page of the course you are applying to.

Once you have submitted your application you will be given a UCAS ID number. Please email the following documents (if available at the time of application) to international@winchester.ac.uk  quoting your name and ID number to complete your application:

• Evidence of previous academic transcripts and certificates (translated by a verified translator if they are not in English)
• Evidence of your English Language ability (e.g IELTS – click here for a full list of all accepted tests)
• An academic reference preferably from your last place of study
• A copy of your passport and any previous UK visa stamps

Direct Entry Application

Our direct entry application form is available to download here: Undergraduate direct entry form

This form should be downloaded and completed in full and then returned via email to international@winchester.ac.uk with copies of the following documents:

• Evidence of previous academic transcripts and certificates (translated by a verified translator if they are not in English)
• Evidence of your English Language ability (e.g IELTS – click here for a full list of all accepted tests)
• An academic reference preferably from your last place of study
• A copy of your passport and any previous UK visa stamps

Note: For some courses additional information may be required (e.g a Skills Test for teaching courses). If you are unsure please see the entry requirements for the programme you are applying to or contact us.

To apply to the University of Winchester for a postgraduate programme you can apply via either method below:

UKPASS

The University of Winchester UCAS institution code is W76 and you can find the relevant course code on the page of the course you are applying for.

Once you have submitted your application you will be given a UKPASS ID number. Please email the flowing documents (if available at the time of application) to international@winchester.ac.uk  quoting your ID number to complete your application:

• Evidence of previous academic transcripts and certificates (translated by a verified translator if they are not in English)
• Evidence of your English Language ability (e.g IELTS – click here for a full list of all accepted tests)
• An academic reference preferably from your last place of study
• A copy of your passport and any previous UK visa stamps

Direct Entry Application

The application form is available to download here: Masters Direct Entry Application Form

This form should be downloaded and completed and then returned via email to international@winchester.ac.uk  with copies of the following documents:

• Evidence of previous academic transcripts and certificates (translated by a verified translator if they are not in English)
• Evidence of your English Language ability (e.g IELTS – click here​ for a full list of all accepted tests)
• An academic reference preferably from your last place of study
• A copy of your passport and any previous UK visa stamps

Note: For some courses then additional information may be required (e.g a Skills Test for teaching). If you are unsure please see the entry requirements for the programme you are applying to or contact us.

Everything you need to know to apply for a research degree at the University of Winchester.

The application process

To apply for a research degree at the University of Winchester, you need to make sure that we can supervise your proposed research project. Please check the lists of Research Supervisors and contact academic members of staff for advice. Once you have established that you can be supervised, you will need to complete an application form. Download Masters Direct Entry Application Form

Please email us if you are:

• Transferring from another institution,
• Applying for a PhD by Works in the Public Domain or
• Applying for a DProf. by Contribution to Practice

Return your completed form, electronically, together with 2 passport photos, to the PGR Admin team at the Research and Knowledge Exchange Centre.

Apply Direct (Professional Doctorates ONLY)

Applicants may apply online at UKPASS - the UCAS online applications system for postgraduate programmes in the UK. Applicants need to complete the registration process before creating their application online. Full details are on the website located at UKPASS

Preparation for Research

Some applicants who would like to study for a research degree (MPhil/PhD) may need some help in preparing their research proposal. For these students we offer a Preparation for Research Pathway. For a one-off fee of £500 (not eligible for any bursary), students may register as a Preparation for Research student.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL, formerly known as AP[E]L)

Applicants who wish to apply for advanced standing (exemption from part of a programme) based on previous study and/or experiential learning may apply for RPL. Please note that any credits or marks gained from previous study shall not be counted in your final result as your award is calculated solely on the credits and marks accumulated while registered at the University of Winchester.

An application for RPL to exempt the postgraduate research student from part of the research skills programme, or from a module on the pre-thesis stage of a professional doctorate programme, should normally be submitted at the application stage. Please note RPL cannot can not be used in relation to the thesis for a Professional Doctorate, MPhil or PhD qualifications. Please read the RPL Policy or email us for further details.

Regular start dates

Please note that there are two start dates in the academic year:

• 1 October start: deadline for applications is 31 May for home/EU students and 30 April for international students.
• 1 April start: deadline for applications is 31 December for home/EU students and 30 November for international students.

To apply to study on our International Foundation Programme then you must apply through our direct entry application route by following the steps below:

Direct Entry Application

The application form is available to download here: Undergraduate direct entry form

This form should be downloaded and completed in full and then returned via email to international@winchester.ac.uk  with copies of the following documents:

• Evidence of previous academic transcripts and certificates (translated by a verified translator if they are not in English)
• Evidence of your English Language ability (e.g IELTS)
• An academic reference preferably from your last place of study
• A copy of your passport and any previous UK visa stamps

Certificate in English Language for International Students (CEIS)

To apply to study on our CEIS programme then you must apply through our direct entry application form. Instructions on how to do this are below:

Direct Entry Application

The application form is available to download here: Undergraduate direct entry form

This form should be downloaded and completed in full and then returned via email to international@winchester.ac.uk with copies of the following documents:

• Evidence of previous academic transcripts and certificates (translated by a verified translator if they are not in English)
• Evidence of your English Language ability (e.g IELTS – click here for a full list of all accepted tests)
• An academic reference preferably from your last place of study
• A copy of your passport and any previous UK visa stamps
• 6 or 12 Week Pre Sessional English Programme

6 or 12 Week Pre Sessional English Programme

To apply to study on our 6 or 12 week English Language programmes then you must apply through our direct entry application form. Instructions on how to do this are below:

Direct Entry Application

To be eligible for either of the pre sessional English programmes then you must already hold an offer for a full time undergraduate or postgraduate course at the University of Winchester. If you do not yet have this then please submit an application for that first.

The application form is available to download by clicking below:

• 6 Week Pre-Sessional Application Form 
• 12 Week Pre-Sessional Application Form

The relevant form should be downloaded and completed in full and then returned via email to international@winchester.ac.uk  with a copy of the following document:

• Your University of Winchester Offer Letter

If you are interested in studying abroad at the University of Winchester please see our Study Abroad and Exchange area. 

We accept International applications through UCAS, UKPASS or through our direct entry form. The direct entry form can be downloaded from our website and is a PDF document. Please send the application via email to international@winchester.ac.uk or course.enquiries@winchester.ac.uk 

The Official UCAS deadline for International applicants is 30th June, however we can accept applications after this date. Direct applicants can apply up until the end of August but, again, we can accept applications after this date. We suggest that to apply for a visa in time for a programme that starts in September you should apply for your visa by the end of July at the latest so we are able to process your application and provide you with appropriate visa support. If your English Language level is not at the required level you should have applied by 31st May for a pre sessional course.

If you have applied to us through UCAS or UKPASS then you will need to accept us as your firm choice on your UCAS account. To do this simply log on to the UCAS website and follow the instructions. Otherwise you can simply email us to let us know.

Conditional offer: This is where we have made you an offer of a place on the programme at the University of Winchester but for you to confirm your place we require you to send us some further information or results once you have them available. Providing you send us the required documents by the date listed on your offer letter then your place at the University is guaranteed. Usually, the conditions are related to obtaining a certain grade or score on your current programme or achieving a certain IELTS score but can differ so please check your offer letter. If you are required to send us further documents please send them to us as soon as you have them. You must have sent us everything required to be able to start at the University and if applicable, apply for your visa.

Unconditional offer: This is where you have met all of our entry requirements and have sent us everything required to confirm your place at the University. You must have an unconditional offer to start at the University and if applicable, apply for your visa.

We guarantee all International students a room in our halls of residence for each year you are studying with us, so long as you apply in good time. There are various types of rooms available, the majority of which are on campus and have en suite facilities. You can apply for accommodation once you have accepted our offer of a study place and we advise you apply for accommodation as soon as possible to give you the best opportunity of securing your room of choice. When you apply for accommodation you can select up to three options and you should list them in your order of preference. Whilst we can't guarantee that you will get your first choice, the earlier you apply the better your chance of getting your first choice room. Applications for housing should be made before 1st August wherever possible. You will receive a confirmation email to acknowledge that we have received your application for accommodation and then in early September the Housing team will email you with your room allocation and a contract which you must read and then accept if you are happy with the information.

Once you have accepted your offer you will then be expected to pay a deposit of £2000 if you require a visa to study in the UK. Instructions on how to pay this can be found here

Government Sponsored Students or students who are being paid to study the course by their company or another body should send us a letter (usually a financial guarantee letter) confirming what is being paid.

It is possible to pay over the phone using a credit or debit card or you can pay via bank transfer. Please note that payments can sometimes take several days to clear into the University bank account. You should always provide your name and your student reference number (found on your offer letter) when paying and always ask for a receipt.

A Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) request form is required if you need a visa to study at the University of Winchester. If you are not sure if you require a visa then please contact us and we can let you know.

The form asks for information about your immigration/visa history. Download the CAS Request Form it should be completed in full and then returned to international@winchester.ac.uk 

Once we have your deposit payment and CAS request form, and you have met any/all the conditions of your offer then we should be able to issue you with your CAS statement. This will be unique to you and will be sent via email to the address you provided on your application form. You must check that the information is correct and let us know you have any questions.

Once you have your CAS statement you can apply for your visa. You can do this up to 3 months before the start date of your programme. We encourage you to apply for your visa as early as possible so that you will have your visa in good time. You can then start to make your travel arrangements.

We have staff available to help you with your application, and these staff are also available to answer any questions and check your documents. 

We provide a free airport pick up service from London Heathrow airport (as well as other airports such as London Gatwick and Southampton, if there is sufficient demand) on selected dates before the start of academic programmes. This free service is available to all our International students. International Student buddies will be waiting in the terminal to meet you and will direct you to the coach.

If you would like to reserve a place on a free pick- up service then you should complete and return the Airport Pick Up Form. Alternatively, if you have already booked your flights, then simply send us the flight details and we will reserve a place for you.

If you cannot arrive on the date of the airport pick up, Winchester is very easy to reach from Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton airports. National Express Coaches operate from each terminal at Heathrow as well as Gatwick airport and they run coaches to Winchester City centre for a reasonable price. From Southampton airport a direct train runs from outside the terminal to Winchester and takes 10 minutes.

The Tuition Fee you will have to pay will be indicated on your offer letter. In addition you can click here to find a full list of the tuition fees for all programmes at the University. If you cannot find your programme or are unsure of the correct fee then please contact us.

Our Accommodation fees for housing vary depending on the type of accommodation, the length of time you wish to stay in the accommodation (some a contracts allow you to stay in your room during the holidays) and if you have decided to take a meal option or to cook for yourself. More information on the costs and options available can be found by clicking here. The average room cost at the University is around £4,500 for the year. Some students choose to live in privately rented accommodation (off-campus) either for the whole duration of their studies or just in their second and third years of an undergraduate programme. Costs differ for this but you would usually have to pay water, gas and electric bills separately on top of any stated accommodation fees. The University provides advice sessions on off-campus accommodation, and managing your money . In addition the University Housing Office can also help you to find accommodation off-campus

Living Costs are another important factor to consider. The amount you will need for this depends on your lifestyle (eating habits, what you like to do in your spare time etc). On average most international students spend around £2000 to £3000 per year on living costs. This includes things like books and stationary, food, socialising (cinema, drinks, attending events etc) and also travel as many of our students like to visit different parts of the UK and Europe whilst they are with us.

This is only possible if you are being sponsored by your Government or, in the case of Norwegian students, if they are receiving support from Laneskassen. In addition, students who already hold a UK bank account may be able to pay in instalments but they must have secured approval from our finance team for instalment payments prior to arriving at the University

The University of Winchester has a number of International Student Scholarships of £1000 each. If you are successful in your scholarship application then this amount will be deducted from the tuition fees you are expected to pay.

The International Scholarships are open to all International Student applicants from non - EU countries. The application process starts in October each year and the deadline is the 30th June each year. It is a competitive scholarship so there are a limited number of awards available and the scholarship committee will meet in July to assess all applications.

Scholarships are most commonly awarded to students who can demonstrate how it would be useful for them when studying their course and how they intend to use their study experience to benefit their home country once they have completed their programme at the University of Winchester.

To be eligible for an International Scholarship you should:

• Be from a non-EU country
• Have been made a Conditional/Unconditional offer to study at the University of Winchester
• Have accepted your offer
• Submit an application form before the 30th June in the year you will join the University

If you wish to apply then please contact us for a copy of the application form.

We accept all UK Border Agency approved tests on the list available on their website. These include IELTS, Pearson's PTE, Cambridge ESOL etc. A full list of all tests we accept can be found by clicking here

What if I don't have the required IELTS/ English Language scores?

We have pre sessional English courses which can help to increase your English Language ability to the level required to join an undergraduate or postgraduate programme. They start in either July (the 10 week course is designed to increase your score by 1.0) or in August (the 5 week course which is designed to increase your score by 0.5).

In addition to those we have a one year foundation course, and a one year English Language course.

For information on our English Language programmes, please click here