Solent University (Southampton)

A few more reasons to study in Solent…

• Solent University was four-star rated overall, with five stars for employability, facilities, inclusiveness, internationalisation and teaching (QS World University Rankings, 2019)
• It is home to world-leading research in communication, cultural and media studies, and art and design.
• The university houses one of the world’s leading maritime training academies.
•  Southampton is the university’s home – a vibrant and modern city. It’s big enough to have something for every student, yet small enough to put everything within easy reach- with the university in the middle of it.
• Solent's students learn from practising professionals, hear from leading experts, get hands-on experience, and develop fantastic industry connections.
• Ranked sixth in the sector for graduate start-ups – the university’s third consecutive year in the top ten, according to the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey, 2017/18

At Solent, students can choose study options from 16 subject areas including:

• Architecture and construction
• Art and design
• Business and finance
• Computing and games
• Engineering
• English and journalism
• Fashion
• Health, psychology, and sociology
• Law and criminology
• International studies
• Maritime
• Marketing, communications, and public relations
• Music and performance
• Sport and fitness
• Travel and tourism
• TV, film, media production and technology

Visit the Solent University website for program and admissions details.

Cutting edge campus

Over the last few years, Solent has made a GBP100m investment in its campus, introducing state-of-the-art facilities to enhance student learning.

The Spark building

Its award-winning teaching and learning building, the Spark, is a centrepiece of its campus – and everything about it is centred around students and their learning. The Spark is a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rated building for its sustainability credentials.

GBP 43m investment

Together with brand-new high-tech campuses for deck and engineering education– and one of the world’s leading manned model ship-handling centres, the university’s unrivalled new maritime simulator centre ensures the very highest standards of professional ship and port training.

GBP 1.3m sports science laboratories

Some of the university’s latest science facilities include purpose-built labs for biomechanics, nutrition and psychology, and a BASES-accredited physiology lab, along with all the tools students need to monitor their subjects: data collection software, motion capture, eye-tracking, reaction timers, force transducers and more.

Solent Sports Complex

Opened in 2019, the state-of-the-art GBP28m sport complex offers sport and physical activity facilities for all students at Solent – and superb teaching spaces for sports-focused students. Facilities include two sports halls, two fitness studios, general purpose gym, high-performance gym, sport and exercise therapy clinical space.

For more information, visit the Solent facilities page and explore the virtual tours.

With five halls of residence and established links with the private rental sector, the university’s dedicated accommodation service ensures that every Solent student is happy and safe within their home.

Solent’s student residences cater to a range of requirements and are great places to work, relax and meet new friends. The majority of university-owned accommodation is reserved for first-year students. 

Residences are all located within easy distance of each other and are within walking distance of the campus and the city centre. Parking is available at each residence. Rent always includes bills and internet, and kitchen facilities are shared.

Those who would be more comfortable renting in the private sector are encouraged to use the Southampton Accreditation Scheme for Student Housing (SASSH). This scheme, a collaboration between the two local universities, helps ensure that any property students rent is safe and secure.

Visit the university website for more accommodation details…

The university’s city-centre campus gives students access to all the benefits of the south coast’s biggest city –Southampton, whether that’s shopping, culture, diversity, sport or career opportunities.

Strong ties throughout the city – in art, in sport, in government, in business – mean students have all the chances they could ever need to get professional experience in their industry.

There is a variety of ways to make a difference in the local community – from volunteering at Southampton Pride to raising funds through the ABP Southampton Marathon.

The university also plays an active role in key city celebrations and festivals, working with community partners every year to host cultural exhibitions, public speakers and sporting events.

Read more about life in Southampton and on campus.

All of the university’s courses are designed with employability in mind, which makes industry-based learning a priority.

Solent makes the most of its partnerships with local businesses and organisations to offer students the most relevant experience that will provide the necessary skills for their future career. Notable partners include Southampton FC, ABP Southampton Marathon, B&Q and Carnival.

Solent Creatives

Solent's very own creative agency gives students the chance to work on live briefs and get paid for their work. Acting as freelancers, students are offered a wide range of briefs that match their skill sets. Solent Creatives has more than 1,000 clients, including M&S, the NHS, Mencap and Bear Grylls.

Student speak

“During my time at Solent I was able to work in different groups of classmates, and really enjoyed the fact we were all different ages, races, religions, cultures and experiences. All of the lecturers are extremely friendly, and have a deep passion for sharing their knowledge – they support each student to achieve their best academic performance, and help to create a career development plan with CVs and portfolios. University is not just about studying and surviving the exams, but about learning with fun, connecting with people coming from all over the world and achieving your own personal growth and development. Success is achieved step-by-step, so do the best that you can and work hard, as the rewarding and satisfying day of graduation is closer than you might think.” - Nichole Tumbaga BA (Hons) Architectural Design and Technology, 2019