University of Southampton

Summary

History

Southampton’s origins lie in the Hartley Institution (1862), built out of a donation from Henry Robinson Hartley, a wine merchant, developed for the study and advancement of science.

By 1914, it had been renamed as Southampton University College, a degree awarding branch of the University of London and moved to its current location due to an increasing number of students. The First World War broke out soon after and the University was used as a military hospital, with lectures cancelled.

In 1952 it was granted a Royal Charter with the 7^th Duke of Wellington as Chancellor, and the University has continued to grow significantly. The University celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2002 and by this time Southampton had research income that represented over half of the total income, which remains one of the highest proportions of income derived from research activities of British Universities.

University Environment

The University is based around five campuses in Southampton, one in Winchester and one in Malaysia.

Highfield Campus

- It's the main campus and caters for most academic courses, incorporating state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities, whilst being home to the University Students’ Union, and the Jubilee Sports Centre. It houses a plethora of cafes and restaurants, a bookshop, banks, a weekly outdoor market, and the healthcare services. The Campus is surrounded by spacious landscaped gardens, near Southampton Common and The Hawthorns Wildlife Centre. The campus is also home to three internationally renowned arts venues: The John Hansard Gallery, The Turner Sims concert hall, and The Nuffield Theatre.

Highfield is a 10-minute walk from the vibrant Portswood area of Southampton, with its wide range of shops, cafés and restaurants, plus a large superstore.

Avenue Campus

- Just a few minutes walk from Highfield, Avenue Campus is the home to many of the University humanities subjects, and has its own library, lecture theatres and catering facilities, as well as the state-of-the-art £3m Archaeology building. The building also houses the UK Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies.

Boldrewood Innovation Campus

- The new £116m Boldrewood Innovation Campus is home to some of our most up-to-date buildings and facilities. It houses The University centre for innovation, business, and education in maritime engineering and engineering sciences. The campus is only a short walk from Highfield Campus.

Waterfront Campus

- Waterfront Campus is in the south of the city, on the dockside. It is home to The National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS), one of the world's leading research centres for the study of ocean and earth sciences. The centre unique facilities including: three research vessels; 200m of access to the waterfront, an ideal operational base for the UK’s fleet of deep-sea research vessels and associated equipment; over 150 laboratories, ranging from large teaching labs to dedicated technical and research facilities; and the UK’s most extensive collection of oceanographic literature and one of the largest marine science libraries in Europe.

Southampton General Hospital

- One of the UK's leading teaching hospitals, Southampton General Hospital is the base for the study of medicine. As well as lecture theatres, facilities include the Centre for Learning Anatomical Sciences, with both histology and wet labs, and a Clinical Skills area. The well-stocked Health Service Library is based on site.

On site, there are shops and cafes, as well as a student common room with computer workstations. You can easily travel around the city and to other University of Southampton campuses using the regular Unilink bus service.

Winchester Campus

- Winchester Campus is home to the Winchester School of Art (WSA). WSA, founded in 1863, is based 12 miles north of Southampton in the historic city of Winchester. Its purpose-designed buildings include specialist art and design studios, workshops, a library with special collections and Students’ Union facilities.

University of Southampton Malaysian Campus (UoSM)

- Located within the educational hub of EduCity Iskandar in southern Johor, minutes away from Singapore, the Malaysia Campus offers courses in engineering. As a student at UoSM, you can enjoy the world-class EduCity sports facilities. The International Student Village offers modern accommodation in a safe and secure environment only a few minutes' walk from campus. You'll find lots of opportunities to socialise with fellow students in the cafes and restaurants on campus.

Academics

Faculties

• Faculty of Arts and Humanities
• Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Social Sciences

Research

The University of Southampton is one of the top 15 research universities in the UK. In the 2014 REF over 97% of the University's research environment was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent while nearly 90% of its research was rated as having world-leading or internationally excellent impact. It performed especially well in Music, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and General Engineering, coming top in the UK on the basis of the quality of its research. It also ranked top five nationally in Ocean and Earth Science; Nursing and Allied Health Professions; History; Modern Languages; and Social Policy.

International & Industrial Opportunities

Southampton currently has Erasmus+ links across 24 countries, and can offer students studying in 36 different academic disciplines the opportunity to spend a period of study in Europe as part of their undergraduate degree.

Students are also able to go abroad internationally as part of their University of Southampton degree. Countries where students can study include Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the USA.

Some of the degree programmes offer work placements abroad as part of the course. Often, these placements take the form of a research project within a University, teaching placement or internship at a company overseas.

Summer school programmes give students the chance to complete a shorter period of study abroad, normally four weeks over the summer break.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships & Bursaries

A range of scholarships is offered to students by the University or a partner organisation, and are designed to support your studies, and they do not have to be repaid.

A means tested cash bursary of up to £2,000 is available from the University if you are a UK/EU student paying full undergraduate tuition fees, applying for a means-tested student loan from Student Finance and under the assessed household income threshold of £30,000.

Facilities

Learning Facilities

Southampton has five libraries located across their campuses and they hold approximately 3 million books and journals, as well as approximately 50,000 e-books. The Hartley Library, located on the Highfield campus is the main library also home to the University Archives & Special Collections. It has a number of study areas and bookable study rooms equipped with computers and whiteboards. The National Oceanographic Library is the UK’s most extensive collection of oceanographic literature and one of the largest marine science libraries in Europe. There are also a number of other specialist libraries. There are around 2,000 computer workstations around the campus.

There is a wide range of on-line learning resources, including specialised materials to complement lectures and seminars, and forums where students can speak to experts or their classmates. The University’s Academic Skills guides provide access to material that aids students’ transition to university study, and topics include research, essay writing, and exams. You can also 'drop in' at the Academic Skills Hub in the Hartley Library for guidance and advice about planning and writing dissertations and essays, referencing, study skills and research questions. There are Learning and Skills advisors and Academic Engagement Librarians available to assist you.

The Centre for Language Study based at Avenue Campus, provides language learning for staff and students across the University, and has an extensive selection of publications, self-access materials, tutorials, audio-visual learning resources, reference materials and the latest multimedia software.

Sports Facilities

The Jubilee Sports Centre is the University’s state-of-the-art £8.5 million complex located on the Highfield Campus. It includes a swimming pool, 150 fitness station gym, and sports hall for badminton, netball, volleyball and basketball. Other indoor sports facilities on the Highfield Campus include four squash courts, a martial arts studio, indoor cycling studio and bouldering walls.

The University’s outdoor facilities are located in the Wide Lane Sports Ground and consist of a £4.3 million redeveloped 76-acre site just outside Southampton. The facilities include two floodlit synthetic turf pitches for hockey and football, eight floodlit tennis and netball courts, and grass pitches for a variety of sports.

The University also runs watersports and sailing courses from the University boatyard on the River Itchen.

As well as the sports facilities on-campus and at Wide Lane, the University also has fitness suites and gyms at several of its larger halls of residence.

The Southampton Sports Bursary Scheme allows students who excel in sports, the ability to develop their sporting potential. Students can also get involved in the Government’s Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, which provides funding to elite athletes aged 19-25 who study at a UK university.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

The Southampton University Students Union (SUSU) has around 300 societies and groups, and over 90 sport clubs - including everything from Archaeology to Yoga and Aikido to Windsurfing. Facilities on the Highfield Campus include: The Cafe, which serves hot and cold food, drinks and snacks throughout the day; The Cube, a 1,7000 capacity nightclub; The Shop, stocking groceries and stationary; a bistro bar, The Bridge; a student pub, The Stag’s which shows live sport and hosts karaoke and live music events; and Union Films, a 330-seat cinema. Some halls also have their own bars, while there is also a Students’ Union at Winchester School of Art.

Media opportunities include an entertainment magazine, student radio, student TV, an on-line news site and monthly publications.

The SUSU Advice Centre provides free, confidential and independent advice for all its members. The Centre has four trained and experienced advisors to support you. There is also the peer support service where you can meet with a trained peer supporter on a one-to-one basis at a time and place that works for you. All peer supporters are students who will listen to your problems without judging.

The Union's own recruitment agency can help students looking for paid casual work.

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

All students and staff are welcome to use the Faith and Reflection Centre, and the Muslim prayer room at Highfield campus, whatever beliefs they hold. The chaplains offer a listening ear to people of all faiths and none. They  organise a programme of events, regular meetings and occasional weekend conferences, as well as provide opportunities for voluntary work. The chaplains also can provide you information about places of local worship for all faiths.

The Faith and Reflection Centre has a quiet room for reflection and prayer, and a meeting room that can be booked for appropriate University group events.

Health & Wellbeing

The University has two health practices based at the Highfield Campus which provide a full range of health care services. There is also a dental surgery on the Highfield Campus. All new students should join a doctor’s practice when they arrive at the University.

Enabling Services, a part of the Student Support Services, provides a wide variety of support for students who have disabilities, mental health conditions and/or specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. The expert team can provide advice and support relating to your studies, both while you are preparing for University and throughout your time there. They offer a range of appointment options: face to face, telephone, and Skype (with exception of Counselling appointments).

The University Counselling Service offers individual counselling; group work with a programme of topics including ‘Settling in to University Life,’ ‘Feeling Blue’ and ‘Self-Esteem'; training and talks with subjects including stress management and communication skills; and consultancy to students who might be concerned about the well-being of another member of the University.

Disability Support provides support, information and advice tailored to meet individual needs. The Disability Support Team provides support for students who have a disability or health condition, including a sensory impairment, mental health difficulty, mobility impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder, and any other condition which has a long-term and adverse effect on studying.

When you join the University you will be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor, who is normally a member of academic staff in your own or a closely related subject area. Your Personal Academic Tutor will offer one-to-one support and advice throughout your time at the University, and will support you in your studies or with other issues you may have.

Career Facilities

The Careers and Employability Service helps students in a number of ways. The Drop-in Service provides an opportunity for you to have a conversation with one of the advisers to assess how the service can best meet your present needs. They may refer you to appropriate resources, activities or information, including small and large group sessions, talks, campus events and individual help sessions.

The Careers and Employability Service organises many career events throughout the year and many of their workshops and presentations involve graduate recruiters which provide an excellent opportunity to find out what employers really want from university graduates.

MyCareer is the University online careers site, which allows all University of Southampton students and graduates to easily find out about everything on career that the University is offering, including: MyCareer job board, careers fairs, employer-led events, and workshops and presentations and much more.

There are a number of volunteering opportunities from a few days to a regular weekly commitment. There are also opportunities to volunteer abroad or set up your own volunteering project.

Student Enterprise aims to encourage, foster and build capability in innovation and entrepreneurial thinking through presentations, workshops and events.

Accommodation

Southampton is one of the largest providers of university accommodation with over 6,300 rooms in 10 halls of residence, where there is something to suit everyone. You can choose from either self-catered halls which offer well-equipped communal kitchens, or part-catered accommodation where you can enjoy breakfast in the morning and a main meal later in the day.

Accommodation prices include utility bills, internet, contents insurance and a unilink bus pass which connects you to all Southampton halls and campuses. Facilities include common rooms, bars, laundrettes, study and social space and barbecue areas. There is also 24-hour advice and support on hand from residence staff and 24-hour security.

After the first year, you will also have the opportunity to apply for continuing years in halls, although this cannot always be guaranteed.

International

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to show that you can speak, write and understand English well enough to benefit from your university studies.

Typically, the Univesity asks for:

However, please note that some courses may have higher English language entry requirements. It is essential for the student to contact the International Office or the relevant Faculty for guidance.

International Scholarships

The University is committed to attracting bright, ambitious students onto their courses. There are a number of scholarships offered depending on the student's department. Please see the University International Student page for more details.

International Support

Over 6,500 international students from more than 135 countries choose to study at the University of Southampton each year. The University provides a range of support services to help you during your time at university. This support includes help with your English language skills, settling in, and day-to-day life.

Southampton runs a Meet and Greet Service from London Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. They also run a Welcome Programme put together by the International Office, Students’ Union and Student Services to help new international students settle into university and UK life. Events include: talks on British culture, banking in the UK, things to see and do in the area, information about English language support, and more.

Media