Western New England University

• Location: Springfield, Massachusetts, USA,
• Established: 1919,
• Number of students: about 3700,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type: mixed.

Western New England University (WNE) is a private university with several specialized colleges in its composition. The institution was founded in 1919 as a college and only 60 years later received the title of university, while its name has never changed.

Students from all over the world come to the large-scale WNE campus. It offers education in more than 50 undergraduate programs, a dozen master's and doctoral programs. Using a large number of majors, the university can also offer numerous interdisciplinary, combined, and accelerated degrees.

The activities of the university and its campus are truly technological: with the help of the Connect2U student web portal, students can check their grades, communicate with supervisors and even check the condition of laundry items.

The university consists of several specialized colleges:

• Arts and Sciences,
• Business
• Engineering
• Pharmacy and Medical Sciences,
• Right
• Postgraduate and professional education.

Almost all freshmen (76%) live on campus. Newly enrolled students have access to double rooms at The Quad, and in subsequent years they will be able to be accommodated in private rooms, apartments or townhouses.

• The Quad - three residential buildings (Berkshire Hall, Franklin Hall and Hampden Hall) with double occupancy, shared bathrooms on each floor and laundry facilities. All rooms have a living room with a TV and a kitchenette. Men and women have the opportunity to live in the neighborhood or together (if they are registered as a couple),
• Windham Hall provides for shared accommodation with students of the same sex in triple rooms. The building has a central living room with TV, laundry room, recreation and self-study areas,
• Students from the second year of their year of residence live in the Commonwealth Hall. Students have access to double accommodation next door to a student of any gender, semi-private bathrooms, kitchenettes and laundry rooms,
• LaRiviere Center is a luxury accommodation. They live in apartments for four, six and eight people, each room is designed for two. Each apartment is equipped with two bathrooms, a shared living room and a kitchen. The building also houses academic classrooms, a conference room, a computer laboratory,
• Gateway Village is a complex of apartments with different layouts, accommodating from two to six students. Each room has from one to three bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a living room,
• Evergreen Village – two-storey townhouses with a capacity of up to six students in three double bedrooms. There is also a kitchen, a living room, two bathrooms,
• Southwood Hall is the newest addition to residential buildings. The corridor-type residence is adjacent to sports fields and offers two- and four-room apartments, shared bathrooms, kitchens and living rooms.

Living in the heart of the WNE campus allows students to get where they need to go quickly and conveniently: whether it's classes at 9:00 a.m., lunch in the cafeteria with friends, or returning to the residence for a short break. It's also a great way to meet new people and important places on campus as a freshman.  Research shows that living on campus can help students feel more involved in student life, leading to academic success.

Many restaurants and cafes on campus WNE provides a wide variety of dishes and snacks: salad bar, hot lunches, sandwiches, home-cooked meals, vegan and ethnic dishes – just to name a few options from the large menu.

WNE students can develop their interests in one of more than 70 clubs and organizations, participate in trips, video game tournaments and sports competitions. The annual exhibition of student activities will tell new students about the variety of activities and activities that await them throughout the year, as well as allow them to join the club they are interested in.

Some of the student associations are:

• Art Club,
• Campus Choir,
• Dance team,
• Music club: drums, bass guitar and other percussion instruments,
• Concert groups performing at sporting events,
• Improvisational comedy troupe,
• Theatre group,
• Photo club.

Any religion is supported on campus, so associations of Muslims and Christians, a Roman Catholic group and others have been created for students.

Every Friday and Saturday, university staff organizes joint activities: music concerts, watching movies on the lawn of the residence, an evening of games.

• The university is accredited by a variety of commissions and associations, including the New England Commission on Higher Education, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Accreditation Council for Engineering and Technology,
• The institution ranks 11th in the national ranking of the 30 most beautiful campuses of higher education institutions,
• About 48% of full-time students are from other states and about 20 countries,
• More than half of the students live on campus,
• The scholarship fund annually awards about 95% of students,
• Small classes with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13:1.

Since 2011, more than $90,000,000 has been invested in projects for the construction and modernization of new classrooms, laboratories, residential buildings, canteens, and sports facilities. The 215-acre campus includes 28 large buildings and an extensive open-air sports complex, the 1500-seat  Golden Bear Stadium and other facilities.  Campus housing options range from traditional residences to suites, apartments and townhouses.

Academic opportunities are:

• 30 engineering laboratories in Slate Hall, including a biomedical engineering complex that replicates the conditions of the hospital,
• 19 STEM labs,
• Exemplary pharmacy at the Center for Science and Pharmacy,
• Cohen's Trading Floor, Financial Center and Business Intelligence Center,
• State-of-the-art performance labs for occupational therapist students,
• Multimedia Study Hall of the Faculty of Law,
• TV and media studio,
• Art studios,
• WNE MakerSpace for student entrepreneurs.

All educational buildings are equipped with modern classrooms, computer classes, specialized laboratories and recreation areas.

Opened in 2018, the new University Commons restaurant is a popular dining and leisure destination for students living in residences. University Commons has:

• Places for dining together, relaxing or studying,
• Starbucks Café,
• Temporary restaurants,
• Grill area,
• Mini-market,
• Sushi bar,
• Two-storey residential dining room,
• Conference halls,
• Outdoor terrace.

After a major renovation and expansion, the D'Amour Library and Law Library, the only one in western Massachusetts, were redesigned with more open workspaces aimed at collaborative teaching and research, conference rooms, and computer labs.

An active learning process involving the majority of students takes place from late August to mid-June; Some students will have to study in the summer months, if required by the chosen program. Rest is provided on weekends, national and international holidays, vacations.

An approximate list of additional costs:

• Accommodation on campus and meals,
• Health insurance,
• Contributions to student associations,
• Payment for technology,
• Personal expenses.

On average, students spend an additional $ 3000 per semester, not counting the cost of accommodation and meals.

Prospective students need to fill out an online application and submit documents, pay registration fees, and wait for an official letter from the admissions committee. WNE staff will notify applicants about the next steps: entrance examinations, booking accommodation on campus, orientation event. Upon arrival at the campus, candidates will have profile tests and an interview.

WNE already has more than 45,000 graduates, of which more than 8,000 are specialists in the Faculty of Law. Former students live in all 50 states and 48 countries around the world, but maintain strong ties with the institution, donate to the university's Annual Fund, attend and independently conduct thematic seminars for current students. 

Specialists who have graduated from WNE hold a variety of positions, for example, an officer and member of the Virginia House of Delegates, a doctor of medical sciences, a member of the Massachusetts Senate, and a district attorney. Some of the graduates even have an Academy Award!

Applicants for undergraduate programs, while living outside the United States, must provide:

• Official high school or college transcripts, graduation certificate,
• Certificate confirming the level of English proficiency: IELTS (from 6.0), TOEFL iBT (from 79), PTE Academic (from 53) or equivalent,
• Certificate of funding,
• Personal documents: passport, health insurance, visa or residence permit.

Future students of master's and doctoral programs must meet the following criteria:

• Bachelor's / Master's degree depending on the chosen level of education, official transcripts,
• Certificate confirming the level of English proficiency: IELTS (from 6.5), TOEFL iBT (from 79), PTE Academic (from 58) or equivalent,
• Two or three letters of recommendation from supervisors or employers,
• Resume or curriculum vitae,
• Personal statement.

About 95% of students receive financial aid through a merit scholarship program or as needed, grants, loans, or on-campus side hustle.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision