College of Winterhold

The College of Winterhold is the only school of magic in Skyrim. Its towers stand alone on a rocky island off the cliffs of Winterhold, connected to the mainland by a long, crumbling stone bridge. Most of the old city of Winterhold fell into the sea during the Great Collapse – and many Nords quietly blame the mages for it.

Inside the College

• The Hall of the Elements – the main hall, where lessons and important gatherings take place.
• The Arcanaeum – the college library, guarded by the gruff Orc librarian Urag gro-Shub.
• The Hall of Attainment and Hall of Countenance – the living quarters of apprentices and masters.
• The Arch-Mage’s Quarters, at the top of the main tower.

Getting in

At the bridge, the mage Faralda stops visitors. To get in, you can show some magical ability, persuade her, or – if you are on the main quest – prove that you are Dragonborn.

Role in the story

In Elder Knowledge you come here looking for information about the Elder Scrolls. Urag gro-Shub gives you two books and points you to the strange scholar Septimus Signus. The college is also the home of the mage questline, one of Skyrim’s major faction stories.