Pack a paddleboard! Plymouth’s main campus is less than a mile from the sea where Devon meets Cornwall, and location is a big draw. It first set sail as the School of Navigation in 1862 and the university’s marine-related courses are renowned, supported by the waterfront Marine Station campus on Plymouth Sound.
A university since 1992 and underpinned by an ambition to drive economic innovation and change, Plymouth offers more than 190 undergraduate courses. It is among the small number of modern universities to have both a medical and dental school and Plymouth has schools of nursing in Exeter and Truro — altogether offering the biggest range of healthcare courses in the southwest of England.
New facilities have been coming thick and fast, including the InterCity Place health facility, at the railway station. Students have their pick of seaside pursuits and outdoor adventures on Dartmoor.
What is the University of Plymouth’s reputation?
A 12-place rise up our main academic rankings brings Plymouth into the top 60. The university earned triple gold in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023) — overall and for the student experience and student outcomes. Assessors commended its “wide and readily available range of outstanding quality academic support ensuring a supportive learning environment for students”. Based on our analysis of the latest National Student Survey, Plymouth ranks just outside the top half of UK universities for student satisfaction with teaching quality, and has risen ten places to 87= for their evaluation of the wider undergraduate experience.
The university has won three Queen’s Anniversary awards for its research on microplastics and marine litter, and for widening access. Verified as a carbon neutral university in 2023, the University of Plymouth is pushing towards net zero and its environmental and ethical performance puts it 23= in the 2024-25 People & Planet University League table.
Across all subjects, more than three quarters of its work submitted to the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) was rated world-leading or internationally excellent, and the university ranks 64th in our research quality index.
In May 2025 Plymouth announced job cuts to save costs amid the financial challenges facing UK universities. A spokesperson for the university said: “Plymouth is well placed to weather the storm, but we’ve seen increases to costs that are outside of our control, combined with a 10 per cent drop in income, so we must act now to cut budgets.”
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
New for September 2025 are BSc courses in psychology with early childhood studies and with education; medical sciences; electric and computer engineering; game production and design; and five business management combinations. New BA offerings are graphic design; and a two-year primary education course.
Marine conservation; music and sound production; and acting for screen, stage and future media are planned for 2026.
What are the University of Plymouth’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
Courses require between 144 to 104 Ucas tariff points, excluding medicine and dentistry, where typical offers are as high as 152 points (A*AA). A contextual admissions policy allows “appropriate flexibility” to offer some places with lower tariff points than advertised.
What are the graduate prospects?
Plymouth is in the top 50 (43rd) in our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey, with 79.7 per cent of its graduates in high-skilled jobs or further study within 15 months. The university seeks employers’ input to the curriculum and for careers support, while the Cube aims to inspire student and graduate entrepreneurs.
What is the University of Plymouth’s campus like?
Plymouth has transformed its city campus, adding a new design and engineering building; a moot court and a cold case unit; an updated Bloomberg suite is among resources at the Business School; and a brain research and imaging centre opened in 2021 at Plymouth Science Park.
A £5 million city centre dental clinic opens this autumn to work alongside qualified clinicians to provide care for patients in need who do not have a regular NHS dentist. This will be followed next year with an expanded Centre for Eyecare Excellence.
A campus in Penang, Malaysia, opened in 2022.
When can I visit?
plymouth.ac.uk
Everything you need to know about the University of Plymouth’s student life and wellbeing support
The university has several dedicated arts and performance venues, including the Levinsky Hall, Jill Craigie cinema, gallery space and The House. The students’ union has the city’s biggest nightclub and organises music and comedy gigs, plus the annual summer ball — the biggest university-organised event in the southwest.
On campus there is a sports hall, fitness centre, dance studio and squash courts, while the coastline offers endless opportunities: the Mount Batten Watersports Centre is a ten-minute ferry ride away.
Anyone worried about their mental health, or that of a friend, can seek help at a weekly drop-in session and can refer themselves to the wellbeing team for bespoke support, such as mental health assessments, counselling and workshops.
What do the students say?
“To study at the University of Plymouth is to be part of a compassionate, forward-thinking community. I’ve always felt truly listened to. As a medical student, I’ve benefited from hands-on learning, early patient contact and access to cutting-edge facilities. Plymouth has truly helped me grow in confidence, find my voice and make a real difference.”
Shehany Warnakulasuriya, medical student at the Peninsula Medical School
What about student accommodation at the University of Plymouth?
A place in halls (or an accredited private alternative) is guaranteed to those who make Plymouth their first choice and apply by the deadline.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of Plymouth?
Plymouth is among the top 30 universities for its recruitment of white working-class male students (5.9 per cent), one of the most under-represented groups in higher education. Overall the university slipped slightly from 72nd place to 83rd in our social inclusion index.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Plymouth
There are more than 20 bursaries and scholarships. The Tamar Engineering Project offers £3,000 towards living costs, plus a £1,500-a-year fee waiver. The Mayflower Award for first-year students from households with incomes under £35,000, is worth up to £1,000.
Extra help is extended to students who have left care, are carers themselves, are estranged from their families or are from gypsy, Roma and traveller communities.
