Prerequisites: None

Intersecting Quests: The College of Winterhold Quest: Under Saarthal, Main Quest: Elder Knowledge

Locations: College of Winterhold, Hall of Attainment, Hall of Countenance, Hall of the Elements, Winterhold

Characters: Brelyna Maryon, Faralda, J’Zargo, Mirabelle Ervine, Onmund, Tolfdir

Enemies: None

Objectives: Visit the College of Winterhold, Cast a [chosen] spell, Report to Mirabelle Ervine, Tour the College of Winterhold, Listen to Tolfdir

A Cold to a Warm Reception

During your adventuring, you soon learn of a great college to the north, adjacent to the Hold City of Winterhold. You can speak to various folk across Skyrim and receive the following objective. Denizens include:

Innkeepers or barkeeps in each of the Hold’s inns or taverns
Court wizards in the Jarl’s service in each Hold City, where available
Ambarys Rendar in Windhelm
Corpulus Vinius in Solitude
Dagur in Winterhold
Dravynea in Kynesgrove
Elda in Windhelm
Faida in Dragon Bridge
Frabbi in Markarth
Hadring in Nightgate Inn
Haelga in Riften
Hulda in Whiterun
Iddra in Kynesgrove
Jonna in Morthal
Keerava in Riften
Kleppr in Markarth
Madena in Dawnstar
Melaran in Solitude
Mralki in Rorikstead
Orgnar in Riverwood
Skuli in Old Hroldan Inn
Sybille Stentor in Solitude
Valga Vinicia in Falkreath
Vilod in Helgen
Wilhelm in Ivarstead
Wylandriah in Riften

Objective: Visit the College of Winterhold

Alternatively, you can simply journey to Winterhold and approach the bridge spanning from the city to the College.

Please click to enlarge

At the near end of the bridge that links Winterhold to the College, a High Elf wizard guards the entrance.

She stops you (and warns you to stop if you ignore her or try to gain entry into the sealed College without her approval). Although she has some complaints about the College (which you can ask her about), your real reason for being here is to enter the College...