Overview

The University of Southampton ranks 78 in the QS World University Rankings 2023, and it is in the top 15 universities in the UK (The Complete University Guide 2023). The University of Southampton is one of the founding members of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities.

　　Over 300 degree courses are available for students at Southampton. It also offers some 400 internship opportunities each year to help students gain adequate practical exposure. The university employs outstanding lecturers who are often leaders in their specialist field, ensuring that students are aware of the latest research developments.

　　Being a global university with a broad outlook and student-focused attitude, over 10,000 international students from more than 130 countries study at the university. As per the National Student Survey 2022, 82% of students are satisfied with the teaching on their course.

　　The university invests in its on-campus facilities. There are also award-winning learning centres and career support services on offer at the institution.

　　Southampton researchers are engaged in impactful research work at different on-campus research institutes. Cutting-edge facilities like the RJ Mitchell wind tunnel and high-voltage laboratories show that the University invests in its people and services that benefit them.

　　International students can access affordable and comfortable accommodation and also benefit from other services, catering to their safety and wellbeing, such as 24 hour security and an included UniLink bus pass for university accommodation in Southampton.

　　There are over 300 different student groups available at the University of Southampton representing a hugely diverse range of interests. This includes 40 different performing arts groups and over 90 sports clubs, with the opportunity for the best students to represent Southampton in inter-university competition.

　　

What's new

Ranked in the world's top 110 institutions for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022), the University of Southampton's employment rate for graduates is 96 per cent. (Higher Education Statistics Agency Graduate Outcomes).

　　The university has launched an online career support platform to support students into employment and help reach their goals. All international students have full access to the Careers & Employability resources which include the UoS Career Hub. MyCareer offers extensive and varied work experience programmes, jobs board, employer events, careers fairs and skills workshops to students.

　　In addition to this, the university's award-winning careers and employability team provides a variety of services. This includes over 400 internships a year, placements, volunteering opportunities, work experience support, and mentoring programmes.

　　The careers department has also won several accolades including multiple Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) Awards.

　　The university also helps to develop its doctoral candidates. The University of Southampton's Doctoral College trains and develops doctoral researchers across the university. It provides an inspiring and vibrant environment for students' research and equips them with the skills required to join the next generation of research leaders.

　　

Teaching quality

The University of Southampton provides excellent teaching quality to its students.

　　A founding member of the Russell Group, The University of Southampton is ranked eighth in the UK for research intensity (Research Excellence Framework).

　　Its Russell Group membership is recognised worldwide by academics and employers. This attracts top faculty to work at the university on innovative projects and share their expert knowledge. Students are taught and supervised by world-renowned academics who are leaders in their fields. Its wide-ranging and world-leading research projects inform the university's teaching, and students will benefit from academic staff who are engaged in current research topics.

　　The university's global standing creates strong relationships within the business sector. This enables course content to remain relevant, as well as providing students with suitable internships and apprenticeship opportunities from business leaders.

　　Working in partnership with other Russell Group universities, Southampton has also contributed to impressive research projects, including a GBP 25 million state-of-the-art Cancer Immunology Centre.

　　Southampton is working hard with its European partners to ensure opportunities remain after 2021 – 2022 and will share information of the new UK Turing Scheme when possible. It remains committed to student mobility and European partnerships and are working hard to ensure minimum impact to student experience and partners. Southampton provides mostly undergraduate students with the opportunity to study abroad. For all levels, there are also summer school opportunities around the world.

　　

Study options

The university's faculties are:

　　Faculty of Arts and Humanities Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Social SciencesThese faculties are spread out over the following university campuses:

　　

Avenue Campus

A historic campus which faces out onto Southampton Common Park, this is home to several humanities subjects. Its on-campus library boasts an extensive course collection, including over 4,000 films, many in modern languages.

　　

Boldrewood Innovation Campus

This campus is home to the university's centre for innovation, business, and education in maritime engineering and engineering sciences. Combining the world-class expertise of the University of Southampton and Lloyd's Register, the £122m Southampton Boldrewood Innovation Campus is the UK's largest University-business partnership.

　　

Highfield Campus

Innovative buildings, lively music venues as well as sports and leisure facilities can be found on the Highfield campus, the oldest and largest campus of the University, located close to Southampton Common. Its Life Sciences building is also located here, providing an integrated research base for life sciences students, staff, scientists and engineers.

　　

Waterfront Campus

The Waterfront Campus is home to The National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS). This centre is one of the world's leading research centres for the study of ocean and earth sciences.

　　

Winchester Campus

Home to the Winchester School of Art (WSA), its modern facilities include the Creative Services Centre with large-scale printers. This includes a flatbed printer and a Mimaki wallpaper printer.

　　

University Hospital Southampton

Medical students at the University of Southampton are based at the University Hospital Southampton. Its up-to-date facilities include a clinical skills area, histology and wet labs in the Centre for Learning Anatomical Sciences, as well as lecture theatres.

　　

Entry requirements

English Language Proficiency

All programmes at the University of Southampton are taught and assessed in the medium of English (other than those in modern languages). All applicants must demonstrate a minimum standard of English language proficiency - for most of the courses, it's IELTS score of 6.5 on average (or equivalent), for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Individual course requirements may vary, so check before applying.

　　In addition to the university's own English language proficiency requirements, the UK Home Office sets its own minimum standards for applicants requiring a visa to study in the UK. Students studying below degree level and those applicants who are required to study the University's pre-sessional English programme must obtain a UKVI approved SELT such as IELTS. Students who are studying above degree level, such as at Bachelor's level or higher, and those who are not required to pass the University's pre-sessional English programme for entry on their substantive programme may take any of the tests or qualifications listed below.

　　

Approved tests and providers

Applicants not required to study the university's pre-sessional English programmes can take any of the tests or qualifications listed below.

　　The University of Southampton accepts the following English Language Tests:

　　International English Language Testing System IELTS (Academic) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Pearson PTE (Academic) Cambridge English: Proficiency and Advanced Cambridge English First (FCE) – only acceptable to applicants applying for foundation year programmes Trinity College London ISE (Integrated Skills in English)

　　

Facilities

Campus learning facilities

Award-winning facilities at the university include:

　　Creative Services Centre at the Winchester School of Art offering specialist printing facilities Electronic and Computer Science Mountbatten Building home to three clean rooms totalling 810m² combined Five libraries across the university campuses Multi-use Research Aquarium at the Waterfront Campus World-class wind tunnel complex

Accommodation

The university offers several student accommodations options, including:

　　Room type

　　There are a number of different rooms type options available to suit every student's needs and budget. Individual students can choose standard rooms with shared kitchen facilities, rooms with private bathrooms and self-contained studio flats.

　　Halls of residence

　　The university provides a total of ten halls of residence complexes. Students need to consider a number of factors when choosing their halls and will be required to make either two or three choices for their application, depending on their level of study.

　　

Transport

A UniLink bus pass is included in Southampton-based hall fees.

　　

Sports facilities

The university's state-of-the-art sports facilities help students to learn a new sport, train, compete, or just have fun. The Students' Union (Union Southampton) has over 80 sports clubs and students can use a range of facilities belonging to the university and wider community. This includes indoor and outdoor pitches and courts, water sports facilities, gyms in certain halls of residence and the Southampton Alpine Snow sports centre.

　　

Societies, clubs and fitness

Students can make new friends and learn a new skill with over 300 clubs and societies supported and funded through the Students' Union. From taekwondo to tap dancing, there are clubs catered for sports, social and cultural interests.

　　

Scholarships & funding

There are numerous scholarships and methods of funding available to international students. Check the corresponding website for updates and details.

　　

Southampton International Merit Scholarships

The Southampton International Merit Scholarships awards up to GBP 3,000 to international students (non-EU) on its undergraduate (bachelor's) and up to GBP 9,000 on postgraduate taught (master's) courses. Southampton also offers GBP 5,000 scholarships to undergraduate or postgraduate taught programmes to EU students (2021-2022).

　　

Undergraduate students

International undergraduate students can also apply for a subject-based scholarship through the university.

　　Students may also be eligible for specific funding from their country, including through the university's international partnerships with external companies.

　　The following are the Faculties, amount and eligibility:

　　Arts and Humanities – GBP 1,000 per A or A* at A-Level or 6 or 7 in HL International Baccalaureate or equivalent. Electronics and Computer Science, Engineering, Physics and Astronomy - GBP 1,000 per A* at A-Level or equivalent (e.g., 7 in HL International Baccalaureate). Chemistry – GBP 1,000 per A or A* at A-Level or 6 or 7 in HL International Baccalaureate or equivalent. Biological Sciences, Geography and Social Science, Ocean and Earth Science, Psychology, Economic, Political and Social Sciences, Education and Mathematical Sciences - GBP 1,000 per A or A* at A-Level or 6 or 7 in HL International Baccalaureate or equivalent. Southampton Business School, Southampton Law School -GBP 1,000 per A* at A-Level or 7 in HL International Baccalaureate or equivalent.

Postgraduate students

Applicants applying to study in Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Chemistry, Faculty of Environmental & Life Sciences except MSc Physiotherapy (pre-registration), Medicine need to have an eligibility of a 1st or equivalent and will receive GBP 3,000.

　　Southampton Business School offers GBP 3,000-9,000 scholarships to its postgraduate students. The rest of the Faculty of Social Sciences offer GBP 3,000 to a 1st or equivalent.