A team from the University of Winchester has been recognised for the outstanding support they give student applicants from abroad in navigating the often-complicated visa and immigration processes.
Winchester’s Visa Compliance and International Student Journey Team has been shortlisted for the 2026 UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) Outstanding Student Support Award (Visas and immigration).
This award recognises “a team or teams within an education provider or a students’ union that offer timely, accurate, and consistent information on immigration-related issues, ensuring that students are well-informed about their application, arrival, entitlements, and responsibilities”.
While not having as large an international student contingent as some universities, Winchester still has around 600 international students from 79 different nations from Australia to Zimbabwe
Winchester’s small team – Amy Bird, Panashe Nyamayevhu and Geoff Titchener – dealt with more than 1,000 individual cases last year.
They must keep abreast of evolving situations around the world and changes in UK government guidance relating to different countries.
Providing effective and proactive communication strategies to address immigration concerns, especially during periods of change or crisis is key and the team always try to speak to applicants in person to find out about their individual situations.
Dr Lesley Black, Director of Student Support and Success, said: “Visa Compliance and International Journey colleagues have to collaborate with a wide range of external sources and organisations to give our applicants and current students the most accurate and accessible support and advice possible.
“They have to support students through often challenging situations, and I am always impressed by the skills with which the team support students and enable them to succeed in their studies. This nomination is very well deserved and I am delighted that their hard work and care is recognised by UKCISA in this way.”
Importantly, the award recognises the quality of service supplied even if the applicant does not gain a visa.
Once the students have arrived in the UK, the job is not over.
The Home Office requires the University to undertake a range of duties to sponsor students for Student Route Visas including keeping records of their passports, visas, evidence of entry date, contact details and attendance data.
This can involve reminding students of their responsibilities and to supporting them to meet their leave to remain requirements by keeping up their attendance, engaging with their course and abiding by any work restrictions.
Dr Angus Paddison, Interim Vice-Chancellor said of the nomination: “This nomination is a well-deserved external mark of recognition of the hard work and personal care that colleagues in the Visa Compliance and International Student Journey put in, day in, day out.”
The awards ceremony will take place at the Bloomsbury Ballroom in London on 18 November.
