The Program

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and University of Winchester have been exchanging students each fall since 1981.  Over 200 students from each institution have participated.

The University of Winchester is located on West Hill, a 12-minute walk away from the city center. It has 5,500 students in education, the humanities and the social sciences. At Winchester you will be immersed in the life of a British university student. You will take classes from British professors with British classmates. You will live in on-campus housing with British roommates. When you have finished your semester you will be able to say that you truly experienced life in another culture.

International students live in dormitories or apartment-style campus housing.  You generally have single rooms and share common space with British or international roommates.  Meals are eaten at the campus food service.

Location

The ancient capital of England,  Winchester is centrally located in the South of England, not far from the coast. It is a beautiful city with a population of 60,000.  Winchester boasts many fine, old buildings, which remind students of its ancient past, yet it has a thriving modern cultural and commercial life.  London is 65 miles away by train or bus.

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Courses

You will take four courses from Winchester offerings.  Subjects include American Studies, Archaeology, Business, Dance, Drama, Education, English, History, Media & Film Studies, Performing Arts, Psychology, Screen Production, Social Care Studies, and Theology & Religious Studies.

You can get more specific course information in the Center for International Education, 111 Schofield or by visiting UW's website at http://www.winchester.ac.uk.

Academic Calendar

The Winchester program runs both fall and spring semesters.  Fall term runs September-December; Spring runs February to mid-June. Students accepted to the fall exchange have the option of staying the full academic year. Exact dates will be available the semester prior to the exchange.

Expenses

The estimated Fall 2008 Wisconsin resident fee is $3,635. For Spring 2009 is $5,790. This includes full-time UW-Eau Claire tuition, CISI insurance, and administrative fees. Minnesota residents may apply for reciprocity, while non-residents should add non-resident fees.

Additional costs: passport, books, room and board, personal expenses, local transportation, and airfare. Estimate another $6,000 for these expenses in the fall; $7,700 in the spring.

Total Wisconsin resident cost estimate: $9,635 fall; $13,490 spring. Cost estimates may change at any time.

Financial Aid/Scholarships

If you qualify for financial aid, you can apply your aid to program costs. Your financial aid package will be based on actual costs in England, including the cost of round-trip airfare.   You can learn about additional options, including a study abroad grant through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation; this application will be included with orientation materials; a Wisconsin Grant for Study Abroad and scholarships for specific majors and national study abroad scholarships at http://uwec.edu/CIE/sac/finaid.htm.

Eligibility

To apply you must be a currently-enrolled, degree-seeking, undergraduate UW-Eau Claire student. You need to be in good academic standing and have a cumulative resident GPA of 3.0.  You may apply as a freshman but must have sophomore standing by the time the program begins.

Application Deadline

Applications for Fall 2008/Academic Year 2008-09 are accepted beginning September 4, 2007. The priority application deadline for Fall/Academic Year 2008-09 is November 1, 2007.

Applications for Spring 2009 are accepted beginning January 15, 2008. The priority application deadline for Spring 2009 is April 1, 2008.

Complete applications will be reviewed after the dates.  Late applications will be considered if space on the program is still available. Please contact the Center for International Education to find out if space is available before submitting a late application. No applications will be accepted after January 15, 2008 for Fall 2008/Academic Year 2008-09, or after May 1, 2008 for Spring 2009.

You can download an application at online applications, or stop by to pick up an application in the Center for International Education.

Comments

"Going to school in Winchester has been the greatest experience of my life so far. My eyes have been opened like I never thought they could be and I've learned so much about life. I couldn't recommend this program more, I met the most wonderful people, saw amazing sights, experienced new things, and will have memories for the rest of my life." -Liz, past participant

"England was one of the greatest and most fulfilling experiences in my life. I learned things here that weren't taught in textbooks." -Brandon, past participant

"Winchester is an adorable, quaint town. I met so many wonderful British students, who took me home to their families. I was able to learn about the local places-not just the touristy places."
-Amanda, past participant

"Studying at Winchester is a fantastic way to become immersed in a thriving British community. Being at a university also provides many options as far as classes to take and activities to get involved in. And the fact that London is easily accessible is simply a cherry on top of the whole ice cream sundae experience."
-Katie, past participant

"Study Abroad in England was probably the best semester I had in college. I met so many new friends and people I would have not been exposed to otherwise. It also helped me to become a more flexible student as I Iearned to adapt in many ways to a new system."
-Kate, past participant

"My experience of England was very culturally encompassing. I spent little time traveling so as to better understand the educational system here, which is what I wanted from the program. 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, past participant

"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, past participant

"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, but the city of Winchester is also amazing--very picturesque and full of history and heritage."
-Jessica, past participant

"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, past participant

Additional Information

For more information and an application, contact:

Center for International Education
Schofield 111
UW-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI  54702-4004

Phone: (715) 836-4411
Fax: (715) 836-4948
Email: studyabroad@uwec.edu