- Location
- Southampton
- Founded
- 1862 (Hartley Institution); university status 1952
- Students
- about 25,800
- Type
- Public research university
- Main intakes
- September (January for some postgraduate and online courses)
- Study levels
- Undergraduate, Postgraduate taught, Postgraduate research
The University of Southampton is a public research university in Southampton on England's south coast. It began as the Hartley Institution in 1862 and received its royal charter in 1952. It is a founding member of the Russell Group and enrols about 25,800 students across campuses in Southampton and Winchester, with further campuses in Malaysia and India.
Why study at University of Southampton
The university is known for engineering and technology subjects, oceanography through the National Oceanography Centre Southampton, and the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, alongside medicine, computer science and the arts at Winchester School of Art. In 2025 it was placed 115th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and in the 151-200 band of the Academic Ranking of World Universities. Teaching and research span five faculties, from arts and humanities to environmental and life sciences.
Location and student life
The main Highfield Campus sits in a green setting next to Southampton Common, a short bus ride from the city centre. Nearby Avenue Campus houses humanities, Boldrewood focuses on engineering, and the Waterfront Campus is based at the National Oceanography Centre. Winchester School of Art is in the historic city of Winchester.
Unilink buses connect the campuses, halls of residence, the city centre and Southampton Airport. Southampton offers shops, restaurants and evening life around WestQuay and the waterfront, and the students' union supports more than 200 societies and 80 sports clubs.
Courses and subjects
The university has five faculties: Arts and Humanities; Engineering and Physical Sciences; Environmental and Life Sciences; Medicine; and Social Sciences. Well-established areas include aeronautical and maritime engineering, electronics and computer science, oceanography, and art and design at Winchester School of Art.
International students can also enter through foundation year programmes linked to undergraduate degrees, pre-masters programmes for postgraduate study, and pre-sessional English courses that lead into degree-level English bands. Course content and options vary by programme, so applicants should check the relevant course page.
Entry requirements for international students
Entry requirements vary by course and by country, so international applicants should check the course page and their country's qualification equivalencies. Degree courses set English language bands, for example one common band is IELTS 6.5 with no component below 6.0. Applicants who narrowly miss their band can take a pre-sessional English course before starting their degree. Foundation years and pre-masters routes are available for students who need further academic preparation.
Accommodation
The university guarantees an offer of a single-occupancy hall room to new full-time undergraduates and postgraduates who meet set conditions, including holding a firm or insurance offer, holding a 38-week or longer contract and meeting offer conditions by 31 August. Undergraduate applications for 2026 entry must be submitted by 1 July and postgraduate applications by 1 August, with a separate guarantee for Clearing applicants. Halls are spread across Southampton, with further rooms at Erasmus Park in Winchester.
Scholarships and funding
Verified international awards include the Presidential International Scholarship, the Biological Sciences Undergraduate International Scholarship, 75th Anniversary Undergraduate Excellence Scholarships and GREAT Scholarships for students from selected countries. Full details, values and eligibility are published on the university's official scholarships pages and vary by level, subject and domicile. Awards change each year, so applicants should confirm what is available for their intake before applying.