Skyrim's academy of magic, standing on a sea cliff connected to Winterhold by a crumbling bridge. It hosts the mage questline, all spell trainers, the Arcanaeum library and the Midden below.
College of Winterhold is in Winterhold, about 0.2 km north-east of Winterhold. The nearest hold capital is Winterhold, which carriages from the other major cities can reach. From there, head north-east for 0.2 km to reach College of Winterhold.
Type
Guild hall
Group
Settlements
World
Skyrim
Where the College of Winterhold is and how to get in
The College of Winterhold stands on a pillar of rock off the coast of Winterhold, in the far northeast of Skyrim. A long stone bridge, badly damaged in the Great Collapse, is the only way across from the town. Faralda waits at the near end of the bridge and will not let you pass until you prove you can use magic.
Her test is simple: cast the spell she names. She picks from Fear, Firebolt, Magelight, Healing Hands or Conjure Flame Atronach. If you do not know the spell, she sells the tome for 30 gold, so bring a little money. Two shortcuts exist. If you are on the main quest Elder Knowledge you can demonstrate a shout instead, and a high enough Speech skill lets you talk your way in.
Inside the College: halls, the Arcanaeum and the Midden
The College is three buildings around a central courtyard, plus an underground level. The Hall of the Elements is the lecture hall where Tolfdir teaches and where the questline ends. The Hall of Attainment holds the student rooms, including the bed you get on joining. The Hall of Countenance is where the senior mages live.
Above the Hall of the Elements sits the Arcanaeum, the library run by Urag gro-Shub, and above that the Arch-Mage's Quarters. One of the Stones of Barenziah sits in those quarters, so grab it for the No Stone Unturned collection. Below the College lies the Midden and the Midden Dark, a frozen tunnel system with the Atronach Forge and the Augur of Dunlain.
The grounds hold four alchemy labs and two arcane enchanters, a strong crafting base for any mage.
The College of Winterhold questline
Joining starts First Lessons, a short tutorial with Tolfdir. The main line then runs through Under Saarthal (the excavation at Saarthal where the Eye of Magnus is found), Hitting the Books, Good Intentions, Revealing the Unseen (a trip to Mzulft), Containment, The Staff of Magnus (the long crawl through Labyrinthian against the dragon priest Morokei) and finally The Eye of Magnus.
In the final quest the Thalmor advisor Ancano has tapped the Eye's power inside the Hall of the Elements. You open the Eye with the Staff of Magnus to make him vulnerable, defeat him, and the Psijic monk Quaranir names you Arch-Mage. You receive the Archmage's Robes, the key to the Arch-Mage's Quarters and free run of everything inside.
Trainers, merchants and followers
Every school of magic has a trainer here. Tolfdir teaches Alteration and Drevis Neloren teaches Illusion, both at master level. Faralda is the master Destruction trainer. Phinis Gestor (Conjuration) and Colette Marence (Restoration) train to expert level, and Sergius Turrianus teaches Enchanting. Enthir in the Hall of Attainment sells spell tomes and ingredients. See the full list of Skyrim trainers.
Three fellow students can become followers once you finish First Lessons and their small personal quests: J'zargo, Onmund and Brelyna Maryon.
Tips for the College of Winterhold
Bring 30 gold or a cheap spell such as Flames so Faralda's test is no obstacle.
Do not attack anyone or steal openly. The College counts as a faction and you can be expelled until you pay a fine to Tolfdir.
The Midden Dark holds the Atronach Forge, so bring a light spell and some daedra hearts.
College of Winterhold: FAQ
Where is the College of Winterhold on the map?
It is on the northeast coast of Skyrim, directly north of the town of Winterhold, connected to it by a long stone bridge. Winterhold hold is the smallest region of the map and the College is its main landmark.
How do I get into the College of Winterhold?
Cast the spell Faralda asks for at the bridge. She sells the tome for 30 gold if you lack it. Speech checks and, during Elder Knowledge, a dragon shout also work.
Do I need to be a mage to join the College of Winterhold in Skyrim?
No. Any character can join after casting one spell. Warriors and thieves often join just for the trainers, the enchanters and the main quest step in Elder Knowledge.
How many quests are in the College of Winterhold questline?
Eight main quests: First Lessons, Under Saarthal, Hitting the Books, Good Intentions, Revealing the Unseen, Containment, The Staff of Magnus and The Eye of Magnus. Radiant quests continue afterwards.
What do you get for becoming Arch-Mage?
The Archmage's Robes, the Arch-Mage's Quarters as a home with its own alchemy lab and enchanter, and the right to take anything inside.
