The city itself is incredibly charming
My name is Inda, and I am 22 years old. This year, I started my first year of a bachelor's degree in Forensic Science in Winchester.
When I visited Winchester (before starting here), I met Marie, a fellow Norwegian student at the university. She showed me around and told me about student life here. I believe the warm welcome I received played a significant role in my decision to choose Winchester. Everything felt very personal, and I liked that the city is not too big. Additionally, both the campus and the city itself is incredibly charming—especially when they start decorating for Christmas! It's also worth mentioning that Winchester is one of the safest cities to live in here in England, and as a girl, this is, of course, an important factor.
The university is relatively small but intimate. Something special about studying in England, especially in Winchester, is that lecturers and students interact on a more personal level. We use first names when talking to teachers, and they remember who we are. There are also various support services available to help with anything you may need. As an international student, it's particularly reassuring to know they offer academic assistance for both the subjects themselves and academic English writing.
Winchester is an ancient city with many charming activities. You can visit the cathedral where, among others, Jane Austen is buried, and where you can find the Christmas market closer to December. There's also a shopping street and a very pleasant cinema set in an old church.
After being picked up from the airport in September, I was taken to my student accommodation in West Downs student village. Here, I share an apartment with 6 others, but it varies depending on where you live. The advantage of being a first-year student is that you are guaranteed accommodation and are placed with people you don't know. I think it's common for all student accommodations that it's easy to get to know others since you live so close to each other. There are also many other ways to meet people here, especially through various student societies. I play football for the student team, which is a great way to make new friends and meet people from other courses. There are also many other societies, and the likelihood of finding something you're interested in is very high. Perhaps the most social day for the societies is Wednesday, or sports day. Many sports teams have matches on this day, and all lectures finish at 12 o'clock. In the evening, the various societies often gather before heading to BOP, which is a party held by the student union.
I am extremely satisfied with the university and life here so far, and I look forward to spending more years here in the future.
- Inda