Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University is a public institution located in central Southampton. It can trace its beginnings to an art school opened in 1856, which in time joined with Southampton College of Technology and the College of Nautical Studies at Warsash to create Southampton Institute. University status was granted to the institute in 2005. From 2018 it used the name Solent University, before reverting to its full title in 2024.
About 8,500 students are based at the principal campus, located on East Park Terrace. Teaching is practical and geared towards careers, spanning architecture, business, creative industries, digital technologies, engineering, health, law, social science and sport. Maritime education is a particular speciality, delivered through Warsash Maritime School. The school prepares merchant navy officer cadets in purpose-built city-centre facilities, carries out practical safety training at Warsash, and operates a ship handling centre on Timsbury Lake where manned models are used. Its research strengths lie in maritime studies, the visitor economy and sport science, with football a notable focus. Students of more than 100 nationalities have studied at Solent, and Olympic competitors have been members of its sailing team.
Information for International Students
QA Higher Education runs an International Foundation Programme on the Southampton campus for students who require further preparation, and it leads on to undergraduate degrees at Solent. The university also delivers a pre-sessional English course of its own, combining live classes with small group workshops and one-to-one tutorials, to build the academic and language skills needed for undergraduate or postgraduate study.
An applicant receives a CAS only after meeting the conditions of the offer, accepting an unconditional offer, completing the pre-CAS checks, paying the tuition deposit and supplying financial evidence. Visa and immigration guidance is available from international student advisers, and during enrolment the UKVI compliance team runs drop-in sessions. Solent's four residences are all in the city centre, each no more than roughly 20 minutes on foot from the main campus. Room applications are made online ahead of travel, and the university emphasises that students should have accommodation arranged before they arrive. International applicants can apply for bursaries and scholarships, and on completing their degree, graduates are able to apply for the Graduate Route, which allows them to remain and work in the UK.