University of Southampton
A Russell Group founder on the south coast, strongest in engineering, computing, ocean science and research spin-outs.
- Students
- 24,355
- Student–faculty
- 14.3:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £28,300
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1862
About Southampton
The University of Southampton began as the Hartley Institution in 1862, funded by a bequest from Henry Robinson Hartley, and received its royal charter as a university in 1952. It is a founding member of the Russell Group, with its main Highfield Campus in the north of the city and further sites including Avenue Campus for the humanities, Boldrewood for maritime engineering, the National Oceanography Centre on the docks, Southampton General Hospital for medicine, and the Winchester School of Art.
Teaching is organised into five faculties: Arts and Humanities; Engineering and Physical Sciences; Environmental and Life Sciences; Medicine; and Social Sciences. Southampton is especially known for engineering, electronics and computer science, oceanography and medicine. In REF 2021, 92% of its research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent, and it is seventh in the UK for the total value of EPSRC grants.
The university is a founding partner of SETsquared, which UBI Global ranks as the world's top university business incubator, and its Futureworlds start-up service is open to every student. It suits students who want a research-heavy, technically strong university in a mid-sized port city, with a year in employment option on many courses.
Strenuis Ardua Cedunt
“The Heights Yield to Endeavour” — university motto
Why students choose Southampton
Southampton is a founding member of the Russell Group and ranked 111th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 129th in the THE World University Rankings 2026.
Ocean and earth science students study at the National Oceanography Centre on Southampton's waterfront.
Many degrees offer a year in employment option, and 96% of BSc Economics graduates are in employment 15 months after graduating (Graduate Outcomes).
International undergraduates who beat their offer grades can get up to £3,000 or £4,500 off first-year fees through merit scholarships, depending on the school (2026-entry scheme).
Admissions
2027 entry (September 2027)
Selectivity
Southampton does not publish an overall offer rate. Typical offers for 2027 entry range from ABB (Oceanography) and AAB (Economics, Computer Science) to AAA (Law, Medicine) and A*AA (Aeronautics and Astronautics), with lower contextual offers for eligible applicants.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Course-specific for 2027 entry: ABB with two sciences (Oceanography BSc), AAB including Mathematics (Economics BSc), AAB with an A in Mathematics (Computer Science BSc), AAA (Law LLB), AAA with Biology and another science (Medicine BM5), A*AA with A in Mathematics and Physics (Aeronautics and Astronautics MEng); an EPQ can lower some offers, e.g. ABB plus A in the EPQ for Economics |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | 32 points with 16 at HL (Oceanography); 34 with 17 at HL including HL Maths (Economics, Computer Science); 36 with 18 at HL (Law, Medicine with 6 in Biology and another science); 38 with 19 at HL including 6 in HL Physics and Maths (Aeronautics and Astronautics) |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 92 Most courses, e.g. Economics: IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component (band C; TOEFL iBT 92 with L21 R22 W21 S23 for tests before 21 January 2026). Medicine BM5 requires IELTS 7.0 overall. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Medicine BM5 and other courses with the 15 October deadline; the UCAT must be taken before this date.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Most undergraduate courses.
- UCAS final deadline before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applications after this go into Clearing; check course vacancies before applying late.
UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry are confirmed on ucas.com. To be covered by the accommodation guarantee, 2026 undergraduates had to apply for halls by 1 July; the 2027 date will be published by the university.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS with a personal statement, predicted grades and a reference. Medicine BM5 applicants who meet the grade requirements are ranked by UCAT score for invitation to a selection day, and offers are made on selection day performance. Contextual offers are made to eligible applicants.
What admissions looks for
- Predicted or achieved grades at the typical offer, including required subjects such as A-level Mathematics for Economics and Mathematics and Physics for Aeronautics.
- GCSE English Language (and usually Mathematics) at grade 4/C or above.
- For Medicine, AAA including Biology and another science, a strong UCAT score to reach selection day, and performance at selection day.
- Contextual data: applicants flagged by contextual indicators receive offers below the typical offer.
Tips for applying to Southampton
- 1 If you are taking an EPQ, check your course page: Southampton makes alternative offers such as ABB plus an A in the EPQ for Economics.
- 2 For Medicine BM5, sit the UCAT in summer 2026; applicants meeting the grades are ranked by UCAT score for selection day invitations.
- 3 International applicants: merit scholarships reward grades above your offer with £1,000 or £1,500 per qualifying grade (depending on the school), up to £3,000 or £4,500 off first-year fees under the 2026-entry scheme, so aim above the typical offer.
- 4 Look for courses with a year in employment option: Southampton says it is recommended by 100% of students who have taken part.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
UK students who started in or after September 2025 with household income up to £23,200 receive a £2,000 University of Southampton bursary, and £1,000 for £23,201 to £36,200, assessed through Student Finance. International undergraduates can receive merit scholarships of up to £3,000 or £4,500 (depending on the school) off first-year fees for exceeding their offer, and School of Engineering students may be eligible for Engineering Excellence Scholarships of £2,000 a year for three years.
- £2,000 per year
- University bursary (household income up to £23,200)
- £1,000 per year
- University bursary (household income £23,201 to £36,200)
- £1,000 or £1,500 per grade above the offer, depending on the school; up to £3,000 or £4,500 off first-year fees
- International merit scholarship (2026-entry scheme)
- £2,000 a year for the first 3 years
- Engineering Excellence Scholarship (2026-entry round)
Academics
Aeronautics and Astronautics (MEng)
A*AA with A grades in Maths and Physics; one of Southampton's flagship engineering degrees.
Computer Science (BSc)
Taught by Electronics and Computer Science, the school where Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Dame Wendy Hall have been professors; AAB with an A in Maths.
Oceanography (BSc)
Based at the National Oceanography Centre on Southampton's waterfront.
Medicine (BM5, BMBS)
Five-year course with UCAT-based selection days; clinical training at Southampton General Hospital.
Economics (BSc)
AAB including Maths, a year in employment option and 96% graduate employment 15 months after graduating.
Law (LLB)
AAA or 36 IB points; UK fee £10,050 and international fee £28,400 for 2027 entry.
Research
- 92% of research rated world-leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021, and 4th in the Russell Group for research impact.
- Seventh in the UK for the total value of EPSRC (engineering and physical sciences) research grants.
- Founding partner of SETsquared, ranked the world's top university business incubator by UBI Global.
- Home to the National Oceanography Centre campus and the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Social Sciences
For BSc Economics, 96% of graduates are employed and 92% are in a skilled profession or further study 15 months after graduating, with an average professional salary of £36k (Graduate Outcomes Survey, via the course page). NSS 2026: 87.9% of surveyed students were happy with teaching on their course.
Student life
Most students live and study around Highfield Campus, a green campus whose western gardens were landscaped by Basil Spence and include sculptures by Barbara Hepworth. The campus has its own arts venues, including the Turner Sims concert hall and the Nuffield Theatre building, and the Students' Union (SUSU) is based there. The university-run Unilink buses connect the campuses, halls, city centre and Southampton Airport. First-years who meet the conditions are guaranteed a room in halls.
- Unilink bus routes link Highfield, the National Oceanography Centre, the city centre, halls and the airport.
- Turner Sims concert hall and the Nuffield Theatre building on Highfield Campus.
- Barbara Hepworth sculptures and Basil Spence-designed gardens on the west side of campus.
- In NSS 2026, 89.3% of surveyed students were positive about academic support.
Housing. Full-time students who make Southampton their firm or insurance choice and apply by the deadline (1 July in 2026) are guaranteed a single room in halls; halls cost about £155 to £236 a week.
Location
Southampton is a port city on England's south coast. The university spreads across several sites in the city, with Highfield Campus in a residential area north of the centre and the National Oceanography Centre on the docks. Private rent averages around £115 a week, cheaper than university halls. The university's own Unilink buses connect the campuses, halls and city centre.
Nearest airport: Southampton Airport (SOU)
Notable alumni
- GB George BuckleyFormer chairman, president and CEO of 3M
- CP Chris PackhamNaturalist and television presenter
- JS Jon SopelBBC journalist and presenter
- RB Roger Black400m athlete; European, Commonwealth and world championship gold medallist
- JS John StevensFormer Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
- AF Astrid Fischel VolioFormer Vice-President of Costa Rica
- EE Evan EnweremFormer President of the Senate of Nigeria
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for Southampton?
It depends on the course. For 2027 entry, typical offers include ABB for Oceanography, AAB including Maths for Economics and Computer Science, AAA for Law and Medicine, and A*AA for Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Is Southampton a Russell Group university?
Yes, it is a founding member of the Russell Group. It is ranked joint 111th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 129th in the THE World University Rankings 2026.
How much are Southampton's fees for international students?
For 2027 entry, international fees on course pages range from £28,300 (Economics) to £35,900 for the first two years of Medicine, rising to £64,900 a year for its clinical years.
Does Southampton Medicine require the UCAT?
Yes. All BM5 applicants must sit the UCAT in the year they apply, before the 15 October UCAS deadline, and those meeting the grade requirements are ranked by UCAT score for selection days.
Does Southampton guarantee accommodation for first-years?
Yes. Full-time students who make Southampton their firm or insurance choice and apply for accommodation by the deadline are guaranteed an offer of a single room in halls.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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