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University of Southampton
Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ
Aerial View
Telephone: 023 8059 5000 Website: http://www.soton.ac.uk/
Fax: 023 8059 3037 E-mail: -
Applications: UCAS Students: Total full-time 15,093. Male/female ratio 1:1. First degree students 12,803 (388 from overseas; 1856 mature on entry). Postgraduates 2290 full-time, 921 part-time.
Staff: 870 Student enquiries: Prospectus & Enquiries Office, tel 023 8059 2379, fax 023 8059 3037, E-mail prospenq@soton.ac.uk.
Broad study areas: Arts, sciences, engineering & applied science, law, mathematical studies, medicine, health & biological sciences, social sciences. Accommodation: All first years housed unless local.
In brief: A top UK research-led university. Location: South coast of England. UCAS points on entry: 21.7.
Background: Founded: 1862; received Royal Charter 1952. Structural features: Merged with Winchester School of Art (you can look it up separately). Site: Campus 2 miles from city centre. Awarding body: Southampton University. Main undergraduate awards: BA, BEng, BM, BMid, BN, BSc, LLB, MEng. Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years for courses with languages or social work, MEng, double honours courses, midwifery, nursing; 5 years medicine. Library & information services: Main library with 6 subsidiary specialist libraries; over 1 million volumes, 1500 study places; short-loan collection, computerised catalogue on network; CD-ROMs and on-line information. Specialist collections: Agriculture to 1900, local history, parliamentary papers, history of relations between Jewish and non-Jewish peoples, Wellington papers, Mountbatten papers. Annual expenditure on information provision, £121 per (FTE) student. Separate IT service (open 24 hours/day at some sites); 1000+ computers with access to library and internet (ratio workstations to students 1:17). Personal and telephone IT helpline during working day; joint library and information services programme for all new undergraduates. Other learning facilities: Language centre. Study abroad: Most faculties have exchange links with European institutions. Careers: Information, advice and placement service, and weekly newsletter. 75% of final year students had career-related work experience. Student support: Student advice and health centres on campus; doctor, psychiatrist, 3 chaplains, counsellors, legal advice centre; adviser for students with disabilities. Residential facilities for married and disabled students. 78-place nursery (must apply early). Amenities: SU shop, bookshop, travel agency, launderette, banks, concert hall, theatre and art gallery. Sporting facilities: Playing fields, 6 squash courts and sports hall, multi-gym, table-tennis room, fitness studio, martial arts, and rifle range. Water facilities include rowing tanks, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, diving, and rowing.
Accommodation: University accommodation guaranteed for all first years unless they live locally, 35-40% of all students housed. 5200 places: 3900 self-catering £40.60-£65.60 per week, Sept-June or longer; 1300 half-board, £75.50-£100.50 per week, term time only. Students usually live in private rented accommodation for 1-2 years: £47 pw (excluding bills) self-catering house share; c £47-£78.50 in lodgings depending on level of meals and services provided.
Hardship funds: SU/university hardship fund can give short-term loans. Also access fund for disabled, single parents, etc. Jobs: SU has info on part-time work available; Job Shop in careers centre. Seasonal work, eg boat show in summer; bar and shop work always available.
Tuition fees: Home students up to £1075 pa for first degrees; overseas students £7100 (classroom), £9300 (lab/studio), £18,060 (clinical).
Student view: Grassy and attractive campus contains a mixture of traditional red brick buildings and modernistic high-rise boxes. Medical sciences and arts are about 8 minutes walk from the main campus; oceanography and geology on a waterside campus in the city centre; also Winchester School of Arts and New College. Halls are all off campus but in walking distance (or a short bus trip on the uni-link service); most are high quality, single study bedrooms, with shared cooking and bath facilities (though some are ensuite). Nearly all first years with unconditional offers are offered a place in halls, with a choice of self or fully catered. Students are represented on all faculty boards and most university committees. The SU provides an excellent range of services including the travel centre, sports shop, information service and retail centre; also catering and bar facilities. Student advice and information centre provides representation and advice for all students. Excellent entertainments including live bands, comedy and cabaret. Politics pushing towards right of centre - but not overwhelming.
Student life: Housing: 1st years in halls; specialised accommodation for disabled students; some married quarters. Private housing reasonable (accommodation office helps). Drink: 2 SU bars, incl games bar. Numerous hall bars (members only); good prices for the south (£1.35 Fosters, £1.75 Caffreys). Also pubs in Portswood; town getting better. Eats: Wide range of food at SU coffee bar (meal £1.50-£2), university Piazza and Garden Court. Many takeaways near campus and halls; good food in pubs; plenty of good restaurants to take the parents to. Nightlife: Excellent SU ents: discos, balls, comedy, films, quiz nights, karaoke and bands (small, local to large, well-known eg Catatonia). Town variable; seems quiet to those from big cities. Ikon and The Academy good student clubs. Locals: Okay. Students best avoid the Flowers Estate. Sports: SU has use of good sports grounds; also 6 squash courts, sports hall and multi-gym. Swimming pool on New College site. Loads of sports clubs. Hardship funds: SU/university hardship fund can give short-term loans. Also access fund for disabled, single parents, etc. Jobs: SU has info on part-time work available; Job Shop in careers centre. Seasonal work, eg boat show in summer; bar and shop work always available.
Alumni: Jon Potter, T G Thomas, John Nettles, Baroness Hooper, Lord Tonypandy, Jenny Murray, Chris Packham, Kathy Tayler, John Sopel, John Denham MP, Alan Whitehead, Roger Black, Stuart Maister.