College of Winterhold ( Skyrim ) The College of Winterhold is a guild of mages centered in Skyrim . It is a faction of magic - users similar to the Mages Guild of Cyrodiil and Morrowind . When the Dragonborn appears , the current Arch - Mage is Savos Aren , with Mirabelle Ervine serving as the Master Wizard . During the faction ' s main quest , Tolfdir replaces her as Master Wizard . The College is located in the northern section of the city of Winterhold , in northern Skyrim . Instructors of each magical discipline reside within , offering training and various magical wares to members . Admittance . Upon visiting the College , it can be joined by passing a test of merit which requires the casting of a spell . The College must be joined during " Elder Knowledge " in order to progress the main quest . However , this can be avoided if the Dragonborn travels directly to Septimus Signus ' Outpost to pick up the next part of the quest there . Before entering the College , the gatekeeper , Faralda , will wish to see a demonstration of the Dragonborn ' s magical powers . She requests to see a spell appropriate for the Dragonborn ' s level before gaining passage . These spells include : Several of the spells require more than the starting 100 Magicka so perks , leveling , or enchanted equipment may be necessary . Although she does not state it explicitly , some spells ( e . g . Fear ) must be cast at the emblem on the ground or she ignores it . If the spell she requests has not yet been learned , she offers to sell it for 30 . The gate beyond the bridge does not open until the proper spell has been demonstrated for Faralda . Bypassing . A high - level persuasion check bypasses this test . Additionally , revealing one ' s identity as the Dragonborn causes Faralda to ask for a demonstration of the Thu ' um . Successfully using it bypasses the spell - casting test . This option can only be used during the quest " Elder Knowledge . " Rules and expulsion . Killing a student causes other College members to refuse speaking with the killer , starting the quest " Rejoining the College . " Stealing items from college members is also considered a crime if caught . Architectural design . The College of Winterhold is located just north of Winterhold , on a large cliff . A narrow bridge in a state of disrepair connects the city to the College . The central courtyard is dominated by a statue of the first Arch - Mage of the College , Shalidor , who is also the supposed founder of the city ; this is the hub of the facility , offering access back out to the bridge and into the three Halls . The exterior windows offer exceptional views of the coastline . The courtyard branches off to the three halls of the College . The Hall of Attainment , the living quarters for mage apprentices , is off to the left upon entering the College , while the Hall of Countenance , the living quarters for more advanced mages , is off to the right . Straight ahead lies the Hall of the Elements , the lecture hall of the College . From the Hall of the Elements , the Arch - Mage ' s Quarters branches off on the left while The Arcanaeum , the College ' s library , branches off on the right . The Midden , a prison or storage area beneath the College , houses the Atronach Forge , the Augur of Dunlain , and a Daedric Relic encountered in the quest " Forgotten Names . " Ice Wraiths , Draugr , and Frostbite Spiders inhabit the halls of The Midden . A tunnel here leads to the outside just outside of the College . History . Winterhold was once a great , powerful and wealthy hold , and its relationship with the College of Winterhold was good . In 4E 122 , an unprecedented , cataclysmic event struck Winterhold and most of the areas along the coastline . A massive storm came in from the Sea of Ghosts , which brought huge waves which crashed into Winterhold . Most of the city fell into the sea , leaving the city in ruins both physically in terms of the destruction of the city itself , and the emotional and psychological damage to Winterhold ' s people . This event would eventually be referred to as " The Great Collapse . " The disaster left Winterhold in ruins , and some had said that things would never be the same again , including Winterhold ' s relationship with the College . The people of Winterhold would eventually begin to blame the College for causing the Great Collapse . Winterhold has yet to recover from the Great Collapse . Historical documents . Papers kept in the College ' s library are meant to prove its age , reportedly dating back 700 years . However , dialogue with Serana in the add - on reveals it to be much older , as she recalls the College from before she was entombed in the First or perhaps even Merethic Era . Mirabelle Ervine also states in her tour of the grounds that the College has been a " fixture " of Skyrim for thousands of years . The first recorded evidence of the College ' s existence is " " . Arguably , the documents in the College are not meant to date the institution ' s age , as noted in the " Pocket Guide to the Empire " that the College became home to an older library of documents , the " Ysmir Collective " . Relation to the Mages Guild . As the College was independent from the Mages Guild , Necromancy was never made illegal by the College , unlike the Mages Guild in Cyrodiil . For the College of Winterhold , the practice was generally regarded as a tool , not a weapon , although practicing it outside of the College was , and is , not advised . Like Cyrodiil , there were still wandering groups of Necromancers that did not function alongside the College . Since the College was independent of the jurisdiction of the Mages Guild , it was unaffected by the Necromancy Ban of 3E 431 and the subsequent eradication of that ban which led to battles against Mannimarco . Distrust . The College is often blamed for the Great Collapse of 4E 122 and is therefore widely distrusted . It is often believed that it was activities at the College that caused the disaster ; the only evidence supporting this is that only the College remained almost untouched . The College has since been cautious as to avoid provoking the population of Skyrim . Many nationalistic Nords also do not trust the College because of the fact that the immigrant Dunmer make up the majority of the members within the faction . Additionally , most Nords view magic and its practitioners as spineless and weak . The only positive relation the people of Skyrim have to the College of Winterhold are requests for various items to be enchanted for them . Sergius Turrianus explains that enchanting services are the one of the few connections between the College and the people of Skyrim . Occasionally , he will have his students travel to a specific location in Skyrim to pick up an item from a person who made a request to the College to have the item enchanted . Lectures . Lectures are held in the Hall of the Elements during the day . These cover a wide range of subjects and the Dragonborn is welcome to listen , provided they have joined the College . Quests . Joining the College opens a questline consisting of eight main quests and eight side quests , one of which is radiant . There are three potential followers associated with the guild , becoming available once their three personal quests are completed . Three unique achievements can be unlocked by completing tasks for the College : Gatekeeper - Join the College of Winterhold ; Revealing the Unseen - Complete " Revealing the Unseen " ; and " The Eye of Magnus " - Complete " The Eye of Magnus . "