Southampton Solent University

Summary

University Environment

The University's main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city centre and the maritime hub of Southampton. The University's Warsash Maritime Academy and Watersports Centre are ideally located at located at the mouth of the River Hamble. A world-class ship handling centre, one of only five in the world, operates from a 10-acre lake at Timsbury, near Romsey. 

History

Solent has been a university since July 2005, but it has a long and complex educational history. Incorporated as an independent higher education institution in 1989, the University's origins can be traced back to a private School of Art founded in 1856. Mergers between Southampton College of Art, the College of Technology and the College of Nautical Studies at Warsash laid the foundations for what is now Southampton Solent University.  

Since becoming a university, Southampton Solent has helped nearly fifty thousand students from all walks of life to make the most of their potential. Guided by three Vice-Chancellors in turn, the University has changed dramatically over the past ten years – from campus improvements to the latest state-of-the-art facilities, including the Spark building in 2016.

Academics

Schools

• School of Art, Design & Fashion
• School of Sport, Health & Social Sciences
• School of Maritime Science & Engineering
• School of Business, Law & Communications
• School of Media Arts & Technology

Research

Research at Solent is firmly rooted in real-world application and industry practice. The University has four research and innovation hubs - creative and digital industries; business and society; sport, health and wellbeing; and maritime, technology and environment - which bring together the strengths of the University providing researchers to work in an enabling and multi-disciplinary environment. 

Research-informed teaching is at the heart of the University’s approach to teaching and learning. 

International & Industrial Opportunities

Solent has agreements to study abroad with universities in Europe and Canada, the majority of which teach in English. They also offer work placements under the Erasmus programme so you can gain first-hand work experience in an international environment.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships

For household incomes below £25,000 students will automatically be given a £500 scholarship.

Facilities

Learning Facilities

The Mountbatten Library is open 24/7 and staffed by dedicated information librarians. It has a huge range of books, journals and other materials to help you with your studies. With over 800 places to study, including group and individual study rooms, and silent study areas, the library is a thriving academic hub.

Cadets and students studying at Warsash have access to one of the most extensive nautical libraries in the country, with a vast collection of books, journals and multimedia archives to assist with maritime study programmes. Warsash students also have access to the University's Mountbatten Library.

There are three IT resource centres at the city centre campus: Sir James Matthews Building, Michael Andrews Building, and Mountbatten Library. There is also one at Warsash Maritime Academy. The centres have a number of PCs and Apple Macs with high-speed internet connection. There are open plan study areas, plus smaller rooms that can be booked out. You can also hire laptops and digital cameras from here.

There are also specialist facilities. For example, Media Arts and Technology students have access to the computing and usability lab which allows you to discover how users interact with websites, online advertising and other digital media; an outside broadcast vehicle; and Solent Productions, their in-house production company.

Sport, Health Science and Social Science students have access to a physiology lab, biomechanics lab, and a health and exercise lab.

Maritime Science and Engineering students have access to a survey vessel for marine surveying, environment science work and navigation training; bridge simulators to train deck officers in the use of radar; an engine room simulator set up to replicate a real ship's engine room using touch screen technology; a scaled model ship handling centre which provides  training for pilots, masters and senior ship's officers; real-time simulation of the process control system used in the storage and transfer of hazardous bulk liquid cargoes; a radio communications centre for radio operations training for deck officers on large ships and superyachts; and a purpose-built fire school where seafarers can learn the vital techniques of fighting fires at sea. 

Sporting Facilities

Solent are committed to providing the best sporting opportunities for students as well as staff and the local community. They offer a range of activities from recreational sport to competitive sport to coach education courses and support for talented athletes through the High Performance Academy.

Their facilities include the Sports Centre St Mary’s and East Park Terrace Sports Hall where you can get involved in many different activities from weights to fitness classes, squash, basketball, and even climbing. The facilities can be used as part of a membership, or on a pay as you go basis.

Test Park Sports Ground is a purpose-built outdoor sports ground that’s home to Team Solent’s football, rugby and American football teams. Test Park has a full-size 3G multi-purpose all-weather pitch, floodlit stadium, and smaller grass pitches and rugby pitches.

Those studying at Warsash can use the gym and weights room, located on the ground floor of the Whalley Wakeford Building, but also have access to all of the sport facilities at the city centre campus.

The Watersports Centre is located on the Warsash Maritime Academy campus at the mouth of the River Hamble, and is an RYA-accredited training centre. You can take sailing and kayaking lessons or for the adrenaline junkies, why not have a go at jetskiing or powerboating.

Scholarships are awarded to athletes competing in a variety of sports at national level and above, including - but not exclusively - basketball, cricket, football and sailing. As a scholar, you'll receive financial assistance towards academic fees and be able to take advantage of a support package worth up to £2,500. Academic fees are covered at 100% or 50% by the University for each successful applicant.

The support package is delivered by a dedicated team of individuals who are fully committed to your development and sporting success. It includes: lifestyle support and personal mentoring; discount on halls accommodation for selected members; one-to-one strength and conditioning training sessions; physiotherapy treatments; free use of Solent Sport facilities; free club membership; high performance workshops (i.e., nutrition, media, training, time management); additional funding to compete at international events (where applicable); and sport science support (i.e., fitness testing).

Students' Union

Students' Union

The Dock Restaurant is the main food area and offers a great variety of dishes, ranging from hearty breakfasts and home-cooked meals at Originals, American-style food at Swanky Franks, tasty chicken burgers and wraps at Yardbird, or a healthy salad at Natural. 

Adjacent to the University's new building The Spark, East Park Deli serves a range of hot drinks, including Starbucks Coffee, and hot and cold food choices that can be eaten in or taken away. Breakfast is also served here, including porridge pots, bagels and sausage baguettes. 

You'll find Artisan at the Sir James Matthews building, a short walk across the park from the main East Park Terrace campus. Artisan offers a range of home-made dishes including breakfasts, soups, salads, and sandwiches. 

The on-campus convenience store and newsagent, C-Store, has a great range of newspapers and magazines, confectionery, snacks and stationery. There's also an ATM machine and the facility to top-up your mobile phone. 

The SU Kitchen serves a range of breakfasts, all day meals, sandwiches, snacks, drinks and more.

The Bar is where it all happens; entertainment, student-held events, comedy nights and more. It offer great prices and regular drinks offers.

The Shop stocks a wide range of food, snacks, stationery, Solent-branded clothing and gifts. The shop also offers a dry cleaning service, binding facilities, and is where you need to go to claim tickets purchased online. 

The Students’ Union offers a myriad of activities during your time at the University. Whether you are looking to pick up some new skills, gain experience to add to your CV, meet new people or just have some fun, there is always something on offer. 

Solent is the only University to offer the Duke of Edinburgh Award, while if it’s volunteering you’re looking for there’s also Raise and Give Solent. Throughout the year, the society puts on a number of fundraising events from Big events, RAG raiding, volunteering abroad, cake sales, sports matches and skydives. 

Sonar Media offer opportunities in radio, TV, film and print. 

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

The Chaplaincy provides support to students in an inclusive and non-judgmental environment, regardless of which, if any, faith you hold. Advisers from the major world faiths work alongside the Christian chaplains to provide the greatest access to all.

They offer confidential support in a comfortable environment to tackle any concerns you may have; whether it's about your personal life or your university studies. If you are new to the city, they can also offer assistance with finding an appropriate worship centre.

The Chaplaincy maintains a faith room and a prayer room on the East Park Terrace campus. These are open to all students and staff for private prayer or just somewhere to be quiet. The Prayer Room has curtains which allow it to be divided into separate prayer areas. There are washing facilities available.

Health & Wellbeing

Counselling 

The University’s trained counsellors offer confidential support to students on any matters that are causing them concern. Students are encouraged to talk through issues such as bereavement, relationships, anxiety, stress or problems related to their work.  

The team are trained to listen and can offer you the space and time to reflect on what is happening in your life, whether it is causing you distress or whether you would like a chance to work on your own personal development.

Throughout the academic year, the counselling service runs a variety of free workshops and groups to help students with specific issues such as improving self esteem, managing anxiety and improving relaxation.

The counselling service also offers free hypnotherapy sessions for students for help with anxiety, stress, presentations, exams, relaxation and panic attacks.

Disability support

Access Solent is a targeted advice and support service, working to support disabled students so they can achieve their academic potential. In applying for Solent, you are encouraged to declare any specific learning difficulty, chronic or long term medical or mental health condition, physical or sensory impairment, or if you are on the autistic spectrum. This aids their planning, should the offer of a place be made.

Once at Solent, you may benefit from additional funding to help with any additional costs that may occur as a result of disability.

Southampton City Council offers a number of services to disabled people. Southampton Shopmobility is a service that provides wheelchairs and scooters to people with walking difficulties, enabling them to access the city centre independently. Manual wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs and electric scooters are available to hire Monday - Saturday between the hours of 9.15am and 4.45pm. Other services available include shopping companions and extended hire of manual chairs (up to 14 days).

WestQuay also offer a shopmobility service, limited to the WestQuay centre only, open seven days a week. 

Mature students

The Gateway Programme is designed to help mature students settle into Solent University life prior to arrival of other undergraduate students. Participants will have the opportunity to meet other mature students in a friendly and relaxed environment. The Gateway team will also help students to feel comfortable with the core skills required for higher education. This includes the management of group work, reflective thinking, and presentation skills.

Solent host many social events that are inclusive of all students. There are also a lot of clubs and societies you can join - it all depends on how much time you have free, what you enjoy doing and how much you want to get involved. A great place to start is the Students' Union's Mature Student Society, which organise coffee mornings, themed film nights and other activities which are perfect for networking with other mature students.

One in every five students at Southampton Solent University fall into this category, and the University prides itself on being a diverse and welcoming community.

Care leavers

Southampton Solent University has been awarded the Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark for care leavers. This is in recognition of their commitment to supporting students who have been in local authority care.

They work in partnership with local councils, schools, colleges and other universities regionally through the 'We Care' Partnership and have dedicated members of staff who will arrange visits and give talks to groups.  

If you are a young person in care who would like to know what support we can offer throughout your degree then you can get in touch with the University. You can even have a look around and meet other care leavers who are already studying towards their degree. 

The University also offers a support package to care leavers, which includes: £1,500 bursary per year, for the duration of your course; an extended halls contract, to provide accommodation all year round; potential for entry through the University's compact scheme, providing alternative entry criteria; a designated member of staff for additional support; inclusion on the 'on-track' scheme and an optional personal support key worker; financial health check to ensure you are receiving all the funding you are entitled to, and an eligibility check for further financial support from the University's Access Fund. 

Career Facilities

The University offers a range of expert advice and support to help you develop advanced academic skills and reach your full potential. All students at Solent can access Succeed@Solent, the University's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical online tutorials on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations. Students can also book meetings with the Succeed@Solent team, who will provide face-to-face support and encouragement.

Enterprise and entrepreneurship are both deeply embedded in the University's culture. Right from the start of your time at Solent, you will be able to enter competitions, pitch your business idea, join our student enterprise societies (Sparks and Enactus) and speak to dedicated enterprise advisors.

Students in years two and three can take credit-bearing entrepreneurial units, access office space for start up businesses and apply for funding from the University through the Solent entrepreneurs' scheme. Graduates are entitled to business support and career advice for up to three years after graduation.

Students studying at Southampton Solent University have access to a dedicated careers advice and employability service. They offer a range of support services and can help put you in the best possible position to pursue your dream career. Career advice and support will continue throughout your time here and for three years after you graduate. 

The employability service work with course teams to make sure employability is embedded in your curriculum, create great online resources and offer workshops on popular employability subjects throughout the year, all to ensure that you are fully prepared to secure employment after graduation.

All Solent students are encouraged to pursue work experience throughout their studies. In some courses this work experience will be an essential part of the curriculum. In others, it may be entirely optional. The employability and enterprise service can help you to find and apply for relevant placements, offering practical advice and drawing on their national network of employers.

The employability and enterprise service can also support you as you look for part-time work, helping with CVs and application forms or advise you on where to look for opportunities.

The University also offer a range of support services to those who are nearing graduation including: linking employers advertising graduate vacancies to targeted courses; a mentoring scheme where students are matched with employers in their industry sector; jobs database (Solent Graduate Jobs) which is exclusive to current Solent students; and traditional one-to-one careers guidance.

Accommodation

Solent’s six student residences cater to a range of personal requirements and are great places to work, relax, and meet new friends. The majority of University-owned accommodation is reserved for first-year students, but there are also provisions for returning, postgraduate and summer students.

There are more than 2,300 single study-bedrooms providing a mix of en-suite and non en-suite accommodation. 

The student residences are located in close proximity to each other, which gives the area a real student community feel. Many of the residences are in a flat layout with their own front door or access-only entry. All the residences are self-catered and have fully equipped kitchens with storage areas, fridges, freezers, electric hobs, conventional and microwave ovens kettles and vacuum cleaners. They also have common rooms with Sky TV, a DVD player, and free pool and table football tables. There are also vending machines and laundry rooms, while all study-bedrooms are fitted with WiFi. Some accommodation has designated quieter areas and there are some study-bedrooms designed for wheelchair access. 

Located within walking distance of the campus and the city centre, there is no real need to bring a car - although there is parking available at each residence.

Single study-bedrooms have their own washbasin, while there are separate individual toilet and shower facilities on each corridor.

Some students prefer a bit more independence and choose to rent in the private sector - either renting a property with friends or lodging with a resident landlord. In partnership with the University of Southampton and Southampton City Council, the University have compiled an accredited directory of private student accommodation in Southampton and the surrounding area for you to use. 

International

English Language Requirements

To apply for a Bachelor’s degree you’ll need an IELTS minimum 6.0 (5.5 in all four components).

International Support

Southampton Solent University welcomes students from right across the globe. Over 14% of their student population have come from overseas and more than 100 different nationalities are represented on campus.

Solent’s international advisers can offer you support with immigration, visas, Home Office regulations and all other aspects of study in the UK.

You can also enlist the help of an international buddy, an experience student that focuses on helping you settle and integrate into University life. This includes the social side as well as sign posting you to academic services.

International Scholarships

The merit scholarship of up to £2,000 is awarded to Overseas, EEA and EU students studying a full-time course at Solent who exceed the entry criteria for their course. The scholarship is a financial deduction taken off your tuition fees. 

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