Hands-on, real-world teaching is to the fore at Solent University, formed in 2005 through mergers between Southampton College of Art, the College of Technology and the College of Nautical Studies. Based at sites across the centre of Southampton, the university has invested in immersive learning settings for its diverse courses. These range from the UK’s largest ship and port simulation centre at its Warsash Maritime School, a new Human Health Lab replicating a medical ward and an Anatomage table, and virtual production stage equipment for courses across CGI, computer gaming and the digital arts.

Students learn on campus through group work and problem-solving, co-creation and discussion. 

The university’s approach was resoundingly endorsed by a gold rating overall in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), underpinned by golds for the student experience and student outcome — making Solent one of a small group of universities to gain the prestigious TEF “triple gold”.

What is Solent University, Southampton’s reputation? 

Solent has risen an impressive 16 places in our main league table in the past two years, ranking at 98th. Among its specialisms, the university provides tuition for Merchant Navy senior officers, yacht certification as well as maritime safety management, leadership and security courses. Most cadets are sponsored by shipping companies such as Maersk, Carnival, Princess and Aramco. It also hosts an industry-leading superyacht academy.

Elsewhere, courses are arranged under departments of sport and health; film and media; science and engineering; social sciences and nursing; business and law; and art and music.

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), 34 per cent of the work submitted for assessment by Solent achieved the top ratings of world-leading or internationally excellent. Though modest, the scores prompted an improvement for Solent in our research quality index, where it has moved off the foot of the ranking to fourth-from-bottom. The Centre for Maritime Sustainability and the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships research centre strengthen the university’s commitment to building its research profile. 

Solent does well on student satisfaction, especially in relation to students’ evaluation of their teaching quality, which puts it at 26= (up 11 places) in our analysis of the National Student Survey. Students gave more positive feedback on the broad experience too, prompting a 16-place improvement to 51=.

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?

New from September 2024 are LLB law with business; LLB law with criminology; quantity surveying; and a degree apprenticeship in construction quantity surveying. At the time of writing, no courses were due to end in September 2024 or 2025.

What are Solent University, Southampton’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in? 

Entry to a foundation year requires 48 Ucas tariff points and degrees require from 104 Ucas points up to 128 points. Ten per cent of students entering Solent in September 2023 received contextual offers, which reduce tariff requirements by 16 to more than 32 points. New student enrolments have fallen, the 1,630 first-years accepted onto courses in 2023 representing the smallest cohort of new starters for the past decade.

What is Solent University, Southampton’s campus like?

Solent’s main East Park Terrace campus is close to the city centre, with the £33 million Spark building at its heart with space for 1,500 students. Recent developments on campus have added an attractive new quad with outdoor space and a replica law court. The maritime simulation facility is at East Park Terrace, and the St Mary's dedicated maritime training centre is nearby. The Warsash campus is about ten miles away, overlooking Southampton Water. Here, cadets and senior seafarers have access to practical maritime safety training facilities such as an open water rescue boat and survival craft, fire school, helicopter underwater escape training and medical facilities. Solent has its own 11-strong fleet of model ships on Timsbury Lake.

Everything you need to know about Solent University, Southampton’s student life and wellbeing support

Along with student-friendly pubs and clubs in the East Park area, Southampton offers sea air, beaches and the nearby New Forest. The sports complex on the main campus is a recent addition and offers facilities for performance athletes as well as for general use. At Test Park, a few miles away, there are outdoor pitches for football (and American football) and rugby union. Students have access to the Coalporters rowing club and the Spinnaker Sailing Club. Team Solent Sailing teams compete successfully in national competitions. 

There are no waiting lists for counselling and mental health appointments, which are provided by Solent’s therapy and mental health service, and students get a same-day response. Therapeutic options include single-session brief therapy, blocks of counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy.

What do the students say?

“There is an active student nightlife from live-music venues such as the O2 Guildhall, to shows and events at the Mayflower Theatre on top of a wide range of bars and clubs. The Students’ Union is also an amazing place for getting involved on campus, with societies and student events. Studying at Solent means gaining real-world practical experiences that will prove invaluable in careers.”
Winston Alla, Solent students’ union president, and a popular music performance and production graduate

What about student accommodation at Solent University, Southampton?

First-year full-time students who apply by the end of June are guaranteed a room.

How diverse and inclusive is Solent University, Southampton? 

Joint 41st in our social inclusion index overall, Solent excels in its recruitment of under-represented white working-class male students, which at 8.2 per cent of entrants is among the top 11 proportions in England and Wales. Almost a fifth of students are drawn from deprived areas, and Solent’s low dropout rate among these students is in the top 20. More than a third of students are aged over-21 when they enrol. Its outreach work includes offering mentoring, shadowing and subject specific workshops to secondary school pupils.

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at Solent University, Southampton

Bursaries (up to £1,500 and paid in instalments) target students who have left care, are local to the university, estranged from their families or who are carers. Sports scholarships are worth up to £5,000 for platinum-level students, while a £1,000 scholarship for black, Asian or ethnic minority students is paid as a reduction in tuition fees or the Solent catering app account.