University of Southampton

About University of Southampton

The University of Southampton ranks 87^th in the QS World University Rankings 2026, taking into consideration its research excellence and employability, and places in the top 20 UK universities according to Complete University Guide 2026.

The university offers students numerous study options through over 40 academic schools and departments based on seven campuses. Being a global university with a broad outlook and student-focused attitude, it has over 9,000 international students from more than 130 countries. There are more than 400 courses to choose from, many of which also provide work placements or opportunities to study abroad.

The university invests in its state of the art on-campus facilities, which includes everything for students from a 138m towing tank to a coral reef laboratory. There are also award-winning learning centres and career support services on offer at the institution. 

The university is a founding member of the Russell Group and research-intensive university.

Its researchers are engaged in impactful research work at different on-campus research institutes. Cutting-edge facilities like the RJ Mitchell Wind Tunnel and Tony Davies High-Voltage Laboratory show that the university invests in its people and services that benefit them.

International students can access affordable and comfortable accommodation and 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.

Southampton’s industry connections and career support help prepare students for success on graduation.

Graduate outcomes

Southampton was rated the 3^rd best city to live and work in the UK (PwC’s Good Growth for Cities Index, 2024). With a GBP 3 billion investment in the City Centre Master Plan up to 2026, Southampton is a dynamic and evolving hub of activity.

Internship opportunities

At Southampton, students will have many opportunities to take up internships and work experience with leading companies. Four hundred Excel internships are offered through the university each year.

The university can help students source and apply for internships and work experience. Students have previously been offered placements and internships with prestigious companies including L’Oréal, Ordnance Survey, Hampshire County Council, IBM and Oxfam.

Career support

The University of Southampton offers award-winning careers support and guidance to help students achieve successful careers.

Its dedicated student enterprise team further helps to develop enterprising and entrepreneurial skills. This will provide students with vital skills, whether they want to start their own business or join an existing organization. An on-campus startup accelerator, Future Worlds, helps students develop and launch startups, while the Social Impact Lab supports those looking to create real world change through social enterprise.

Students can also join one of the university’s well-supported student enterprise societies such as their national award winning Enactus Southampton Team.

The University of Southampton also delivers its own placement scheme, the Year in Employment, for eligible programmes which do not have in-built placement year opportunities. Co-ordinated by the Placements team in the Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team, the Year in Employment is a fantastic opportunity to develop the students’ personal and professional skills, providing an excellent foundation for career development. 

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 Sciences

These faculties are spread out over the following University campuses:

Highfield Campus

The Highfield Campus, the oldest and largest at the university, is the vibrant academic heart of the university. Nestled beside Southampton Common, it blends historic architecture with modern vitality, offering lively music venues, sports facilities, and leisure spaces. The Life Sciences Building is also located there, providing a hub for interdisciplinary research that brings together students, staff, scientists, and engineers in a shared pursuit of discovery.

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, engineering sciences, and is the new home of Southampton Business School.

Waterfront Campus

The Waterfront Campus is based at The National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS), on Southampton’s dockside.  It is one of the world's leading research centres for the study of ocean and earth sciences.

Winchester Campus

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

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 (Latest Graduate Outcomes, published 2022).

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, Employability and Student Enterprise team 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.