Overview

Western New England (WNE) University began in 1919 as a campus of Northeastern University, but since its inception into full university status in 1951, it has constantly developed into an internationally-renowned private institution that was ranked among the top 50 of the ‘Best Value Colleges' in the USA by the Economist in 2015.

　　Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, the WNE campus is spread across a spectacular 215-acre area and was voted number 11 on a list of the 30 most beautiful campuses to visit in the fall.

　　Students will have access to stunning, state-of-the-art facilities around campus, too. USD 40 million has been invested in the Center for Sciences and Pharmacy, meaning that it includes a simulated pharmacy and innovative scientific labs and classrooms. On the other side of the campus stands the College of Arts and Sciences, which houses high-tech multimedia labs and classrooms.

　　Small class sizes and expert faculty mean that students get the personalized attention they need to succeed in a university environment, as well as the confidence to immerse themselves in the WNE community – which holds more than 70 clubs and organizations for students to get involved in.

　　Almost 98% of those studying at the institution receive some form of financial support, for international students this is usually through WNE's Merit Scholarship program.

　　WNE does everything it can to support students in achieving their career goals, and provides over 1,000 internship sites through its various industry links around the world.

　　

What's new

Covid-19 Update

Western New England University is committed to ensuring the safety of all faculty, staff, students and visitors. Measures and plans are in place to mitigate the risk posed by the pandemic, including regularly updated health and safety advice, campus safety procedures and comprehensive planning, including an opening plan for the autumn semester. The plan covers information on academic calendar changes and information for students traveling to campus.

　　The university intends to offer as many in person classes in September 2020 as is possible, with adapted learning environments and campus facilities. An emphasis is placed on the need for flexibility and consideration of government regulations and developments. Students are encouraged to review the latest plans and updates related to coronavirus on the university's website.

　　

Department structure

The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs all across the colleges listed below:

　　

College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences gives students the opportunity to explore human biology and cultures, history and performing arts. Academic areas of study include Communication, Economics, History and Political Science, and Physical and Biological Sciences.

　　

College of Business

The College of Business is accredited by AACSB International, which is the highest accreditation that a business school can achieve across the world. Only about 5% of business schools have this recognition. Departments of study within this college include Accounting and Finance, Business Information Systems, Marketing, Management and Sport Management.

　　

College of Engineering

The College of Engineering prides itself on a ''hands-on'' method of teaching that places students in real world situations, educating them to think like an engineer. The departments in this college include Biomedical, Civil and Environmental, Electrical and Computer, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering.

　　

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

To prepare students to enter the practices of Pharmacy and Occupational Health, the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences combines theoretical and practical teaching to demonstrate optimal patient care to diverse populations. The teaching staff is made up of learned specialists, considerate and compassionate practitioners, and mentors to support students on their academic journey.

　　

School of Law

The School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. International students are able to pursue WNE's Juris Doctorate (JD).

　　

Entry requirements

All international students need to complete an application for admission and submit it along with the application fee. The university also requires international applicants to submit proof of English proficiency through a standardized test like TOEFL or IELTS or through one of its English language partner schools. The minimum requirement for TOEFL is 79 on the IBT. For the IELTS, the university requires undergraduate students to obtain at least a 6.0 and postgraduate students a 6.5.

　　

Undergraduates

Undergraduate students must submit official high school transcripts and have a GPA of at least a 2.5. SAT is optional, so that examination is not required.

　　

Postgraduates

Postgraduate students need to submit all official university transcripts and have a GPA of at least a 3.0. Students with GPAs below a 3.0 will be considered on a case by case basis. Each program has additional requirements such as letters of recommendations, essays, GRE or GMAT scores, etc.

　　

Scholarships & funding

Dependent on academic profile, the university offers students a number of different merit scholarships and grants that range from USD 10,000 to USD 22,000. SAT scores are not required to qualify for the scholarships. When a student applies to the university, they will automatically be reviewed for admission as well as for available scholarships.

　　In addition to the merit scholarship, there is a Leadership Grant which provides up to USD 3,000 for students as well as a You Are Welcome Here Scholarship which can provide between USD 3,000 to USD 10,000. There is a separate application for both of these that is typically due in the middle of February for students enrolling in the August.

　　The university charges postgraduate students per credit rate so students are only charged as they take courses, and not on yearly tuition.

　　

Student safety

Western New England University makes every effort to make sure that all students feel safe and welcome on campus. As a small campus community, WNE emphasizes respect and civility towards all members.

　　The university has public safety officers available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as well as 57 surveillance cameras, 33 emergency phones, medical first responders, and six emergency medical technicians on campus to ensure that student safety needs are met at all times.

　　University police is staffed with personnel, trained and qualified by the Massachusetts State Police. This includes a Director, two Lieutenants, four Sergeants, eleven Police Officers, and five Emergency Dispatchers. Each Officer is certified under Massachusetts General Law and has full police powers. The Department also employs security, student patrol, and administrative support staff, all working cooperatively to enhance the quality of life at Western New England University.

　　

Graduate outcomes

Western New England University was ranked number one in Massachusetts, and sits within the top five nationwide in preparing graduates for the job market. In an analysis carried out by Zippia, Western New England University's student employment rates were identified as being 95.6 percent.

　　The U.S. News and World Report 2019 also ranked Western New England in the ‘Best Value Schools' and ‘Best Undergraduate Engineering' categories. This can be seen through the success of its graduates, 90 percent of whom had jobs or were in further study within six months of finishing their degree. Students of WNE have gone on to gain employment with companies such as IBM, the NFL, Samsung, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and Microsoft.

　　The Career Development Center is made available to students from day one of their time at the university. The Career Development Center helps students build outstanding CVs, job search skills and helps to develop skills for job interviews and assessment days. The center also helps students find and apply for internships at over 1,000 different partnership sites.