Winchester, England

Student Life

All students at the University are automatically members of the Students Union, which has its own Council and is represented on the University’s main decision- Celebrating Guy Fawkes Day making bodies. The SU elects an Overseas Student Welfare Officer each year who arranges 3-4 day trips for international students each term.

GETTING INVOLVED
Early in the fall semester there will be an event like the Blugold Organizations Bash (BOB), where you can check out opportunities to get involved both on campus and in the community. Past students recommend joining (and being active in) at least one campus club or a community organization as a great way to get involved.

TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
Winchester is a great starting point for more adventures. Stonehenge, Bath, London and the southern English coast are easy day trips. Or head to London, hop the Eurostar (chunnel train) in the morning and be in Paris by afternoon!

STUDENT COMMENTS
My time in England was probably the best semester I had in Eau Claire. I met so many new friends and people I would have not been exposed to otherwise. I am taking with me some of the best memories of my life, and would not trade this experience for anything. – Kate

Winchester has been the experience of a lifetime! The city is brilliantly charming and is always going to hold a special place in my heart. Although the university is quite different from Eau Claire, it has been great to have the opportunity to sample an educational system different from what I know. I think the amount of differences between England and the U.S. would surprise people; they are not as similar as many people seem to think. I would not have traded the opportunity to personally experience these differences for anything in the world, despite any difficulties or frustrations I may have had while abroad. I always knew I would like England, but thanks to Winchester, I love England! - Joy

My experience of England was very culturally encompassing. I spent little time travelling so as to better understand the system of schooling here, which is what I wanted from the program. I did travel a bit in the UK to see what it was like and get a feel for the atmosphere. I found it to be quite informative in getting to know where friends lived and the kind of area they grew up in. As a whole, I would refer to my experience in England as “Cultural immersion” because I really did get a feel for the university culture as well as other aspects of British life. – Jill

Studying in Winchester gave me a wider perspective and understanding of the global economy. Living with English students has been “wicked” (=great. I loved picking up their lingo)! I learned in a way I could have never learned in a textbook. I truly believe that studying abroad is one of the best things UW-Eau Claire has to offer! -Melissa

The Winchester program allowed me to learn about the culture and history of England by experiencing it around me every day. I became immersed in the British culture because I lived with and went to classes with British students. Not only was the interaction with students great, bu the city of Winchester is also amazing—very picturesque and full of history and heritage. -Jessica

Studying abroad pushed me to learn, not just about another culture but about myself and my own culture as well. Being in England gave me the opportunity to look at America from an outside perspective, and pushed me to think outside of conventional thought. All of the circumstances and challenges I faced allowed me to discover more of myself, and I feel it really gave me a heightened sense of self-awareness. -Erica

My time in England was probably the best time of my life. The only bad parts were that it had to end and that I may never top the experience—but I am going to try.-Erik