University of Plymouth

About University of Plymouth

The University of Plymouth is based in the biggest city in the Southwest of England, providing international students with all the best aspects of British life. With a campus in the centre of a vibrant coastal city, the university is located a short drive from the local beaches and Dartmoor National Park. Plymouth is one of the cheapest cities in the UK to live as a student, with living costs around 51 percent cheaper than London (livingcost.org/cost, 2026).

Ranked as a top two modern UK university in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024, the university has 195,000 alumni across 158 countries and 3,500 current international students, approximately 14 per cent of the student body.

The university has high-quality facilities that help students make the most of their time in the UK. Over GBP 155 million has been invested in the campus, from a new performing arts centre to a marine building with wave tanks and ship simulators, and a 24-hour library.

Research conducted by the University of Plymouth is internationally respected. More than three quarters of research was ranked either world-leading or internationally excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Plymouth has also been ranked among the world’s top 100 universities – and the top 15 in the UK – in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

Every year, nearly 4,500 students benefit from Plymouth’s work-based learning and placement opportunities.  It has won the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education three times.

The teaching and learning support team at Plymouth supports every teaching member of staff to gain a recognised higher education teaching qualification. All degree programmes have incorporated internships, work-based learning or work experience. With this unique combination of teaching excellence and real-life job skills, Plymouth graduates gain more than just a degree.

Graduate outcomes

The University of Plymouth’s dedicated Careers & Employability Service is open to all students at any stage of their studies, as well as to graduates for three years after leaving the institution. The careers hub is based on campus and offers support and guidance to help students achieve their aspirations. Services include career planning advice, postgraduate study options, job searching, placement and work-based learning opportunities, job application support, interview practice and assessment.

Plymouth Compass helps students navigate their way through their whole university experience, in both their taught curriculum and extra-curricular activities. What students learn at university prepares them for more than a career, so Compass helps students develop key skills in academic, civic, professional, and personal areas, so that they graduate as a well-rounded individual.

The university encourages all students to complete the Plymouth Award which recognises student achievement outside the curriculum such as volunteering. This subsequently feeds into their Higher Education Achievement Report.

What’s new

The University of Plymouth is a modern, dynamic university with an educational history dating back to 1862. The institution is renowned for high-quality, internationally leading education, research and innovation. Plymouth was one of the highest performing cities in the 2025 PwC Good Growth for Cities Index, scoring particularly highly across income distribution, work-life balance, jobs and skills.

With a mission to advance knowledge and transform lives, Plymouth is a top 2 UK modern university (Times Higher Education, Young University Rankings 2024). The university has clusters of world-class research across a wide range of disciplines, including marine science and engineering, medicine, cybersecurity and psychology.

The university is thrilled to offer a Welcome to Plymouth Scholarship for undergraduate and postgraduate students starting in September 2026. This scholarship is worth up to GBP 6,000 for undergraduate students and up to GBP 4,000 for postgraduate students.

Award-winning

The university has garnered significant recognition for its commitment to sustainability, research, and student experience. Notably, it has consistently achieved high rankings in the People & Planet University League, including ranked as a 1st class university (or top 20 university) for sustainability, reflecting its dedication to environmental and ethical performance.

The University of Plymouth has also been ranked among the world’s top 100 universities – and the top 15 in the UK – in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. The university's pioneering research in marine science and engineering has also earned numerous accolades, contributing to its reputation as a leading institution in these fields.

Furthermore, Plymouth's focus on providing a supportive and enriching learning environment has been recognised through various awards and high student satisfaction scores, solidifying its position as a modern, forward-thinking university with a strong focus on real-world impact.