University of Southampton
Encyclopedia
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton
, England, a member of the Russell Group
. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley
. In 1902, the Institution developed into the Hartley University College, with degrees awarded by the University of London
. On 29 April 1952, HM Queen Elizabeth II granted a Royal Charter to give the University of Southampton full university
status. This was the first Royal Charter granted by HM Queen Elizabeth II on her accession to the throne.
The university is a member of the Russell Group
of research universities and the Worldwide Universities Network
. It currently has over 17,000 undergraduate and 7,000 postgraduate students, making it the largest university by higher education students in the South East
region. The main campus is located in the Highfield area of Southampton. Four other campuses are located throughout the city alongside the School of Art
based in nearby Winchester
.
The university has a strong emphasis on research, having one of the highest proportions of income derived from research activities in Britain. Southampton is highly regarded as a centre for educational excellence, ranking nationally as a top 20 university in various tables, and regularly rated in the top 10 of the National Student Survey
.
The University of Southampton has its origin as the Hartley Institution which was formed in 1862 from a benefaction by Henry Robinson Hartley (1777–1850). Hartley had inherited a fortune from two generations of successful wine merchants. At his death in 1850, he bequest £103,000 to the Southampton Corporation for the study and advancement of the sciences in his property on Southampton's High Street, in the city centre.
Hartley was an eccentric straggler, who had little liking of the new age docks and railways in Southampton. He did not desire to create a college for many (as formed at similar time in other English industrial towns and commercial ports) but a cultural centre for Southampton's intellectual elite. After lengthy legal challenges to the Bequest, and a public debate as to how best interpret the language of his Will, the Southampton Coorperation choose to create the Institute (rather than a more widely accessible college, that some public figures had lobbied for).
On 15 October 1862, the Hartley Institute was opened by the Prime Minister Lord Palmerston in a major civic occasion which exceeded in splendor anything that anyone in the town could remember. After initial years of financial struggle, the Hartley Institute became the Hartley College in 1883. This move was followed by increasing numbers of students, teaching staff, an expansion of the facilities and registered lodgings for students.
, a degree awarding branch of the University of London
. This was after inspection of the teaching and finances by the University College Grants Committee, and donations from Council members (including William Darwin
the then Treasurer). An increase in student numbers in the following years motivated fund raising efforts to move the college to greenfield land
around Back Lane (now University Road) in the Highfield area of Southampton. On 20 June 1914, Viscount Haldane opened the new site of the renamed Southampton University College. However, the outbreak of the First World War six weeks later meant no lectures could take place there, as the buildings were handed over by the college authorities for use as a military hospital. In order to cope with the volume of casualties, wooden huts were erected at the rear of the building. These were donated to university by the War Office
after the end of fighting, in time for the transfer from the high street premises in 1920. At this time, Highfield Hall, a former country house and overlooking Southampton Common
, for which a lease had earlier been secured, commenced use as a halls of residence for female students. South Hill, on what is now the Glen Eyre Halls Complex was also acquired, along with South Stoneham House to house male students.
Further expansions through the 1920s and 1930s was made possible through private donors, such as the two daughters of Edward Turner Sims for the construction of the University library
, and from the people of Southampton, enabling new buildings on both sides of University Road. During World War II the university suffered damage in the Southampton Blitz
with bombs landing on the campus and its halls of residence. The college decided against evacuation, instead expanding its Engineering Department, School of Navigation and developing a new School of Radio Telegraphy. Halls of residence were also used to house Polish, French and American troops. After the war, departments such as Electronics grew under the influence of Erich Zepler
and the Institute of Sound and Vibration
was established.
was granted to the University of Southampton, which enabled the institution to award its own degrees. Six faculties were created: Arts, Science, Engineering, Economics, Education and Law. The first University of Southampton degrees were awarded on 4 July 1953, following the appointment of the Duke of Wellington
as Chancellor of the University. Student and staff number grew throughout the next couple of decades as a response to the Robbins Report
. The campus also grew significantly, when in July 1961 the university was given the approval to acquire some 200 houses on or near the campus by the Borough Council. In addition, more faculties and departments were founded, including Medicine and Oceanography (despite the discouragement of Sir John Wolfenden, the chairman of the University Grants Committee). Student accommodation was expanded throughout the 1960s and 1970s with the acquisition of Chilworth manor and new buildings at the Glen Eyre and Montefiore complexes.
In 1987, a crisis developed when the University Grants Committee
announced, as part of nationwide cutbacks, a series of reductions in the funding of the university. In order to eliminate the expected losses, the budgets and deficits subcommittee proposed reducing staff numbers. This proposal was met with demonstrations on campus and was later reworked (to reduce the redundancies and reallocate the reductions in faculties funding) after being rejected by the university Senate
.
By the mid 1980s through to the 1990s, the university looked to expand with new buildings on the Highfield campus, developing the Chilworth Manor site into a science park and conference venue, opening the National Oceanographic Centre at a dockside location and purchasing new land from the City Council for the Arts Faculty and sports fields (at Avenue Campus and Wide Lane, respectively).
the university became more focused in encouraging and investment in more and better quality research. In the mid 1990s, the university gained two new campuses, as the Winchester School of Art
and La Sainte Union College became part of the university. A new school for Nursing and Midwifery was also created and went on to provide training for NHS
professionals in central-southern England. This involved a huge increase in student numbers and the establishment of sub-campuses in Basingstoke
, Winchester
, Portsmouth
and Newport, Isle of Wight
.
In the autumn of 1997, the university experienced Britain's worst outbreak of meningitis
, with the death of three students. The university responded to the crisis by organizing a mass vaccination programme, and later took the ground-breaking decision to offer all new students vaccinations.
The University celebrated its Golden Jubilee on 22 January 2002. By this time, Southampton had research income that represented over half of the total income, which remains one of the highest proportions of income derived from research activities of British Universities. In recent years a number of new landmark buildings have been added as part of the estates development. These have included a new buildings for the School of Electronics and Computer Science
and the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), (whose original building was destroyed in a fire in 2005), a new Sports Hall and Institute of Developmental Sciences (on the Southampton General Hospital
site).
and one in Winchester
. A further campus - the Maritime Centre of Excellence is being developed close to the Highfield Campus.
was commissioned to prepare a masterplan of the campus for the foreseeable future. This included incorporating the University Road, that split the 59 acres (238,764.7 m²) campus in two and the quarry of Sir Sidney Kimber
's brickyard that itself was split by a stream. Unable to remove the road and the private houses along it, Spence designed many of the buildings facing away from it, using contemporary designs working in concrete, glass and mosaic. During recent decades new buildings were added that contravened the master plan of Spence, such as the Synthetic Chemistry Building and Mountbatten Building (the latter of which was destroyed by fire in 2005).
A new masterplan for the Highfield campus was drawn up in 1998 by Rick Mather
who proposed that the University Road should become a tree lined boulevard backed by white-rendered buildings. He also contributed some of the newer buildings such as the Zepler and Gower Buildings. In 1991, the Highfield Planning Group was formed within the university under the chairmanship of Tim Holt
. This led to the development of new buildings such as the Jubilee Sports Hall, Student Services Building and the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research
. In addition, existing buildings, such as the Hartley Library were extensively renovated and extended.
The campus retains an area of parkland in which are scattered 20th-century sculptures by Barbara Hepworth
, Justin Knowles, Nick Pope and John Edwards. It also houses the John Hansard Gallery
, the Nuffield Theatre
and Turner Sims concert hall.
The Avenue Campus site was previously home to the Southampton Tramsheds and Richard Taunton's College. It was purchased by the university in December 1993 from Southampton city council for £2 million. Today it houses most of the Faculty of Humanities including the Centre for Language Study. In 2006, a new purpose-designed building for Archaeology was completed.
The National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS) is a purpose-built, joint venture between the University and the Natural Environment Research Council
(NERC). Opened in 1995, NOCS is a waterfront campus on Southampton's Empress Dock, close to the Ocean Village
development.
The NOCS comprises the University's Ocean and Earth Sciences academic unit which operates alongside four NERC research divisions. The NOCS is also the base for the purpose-built research vessels RRS Discovery
and RRS James Cook
(and formerly RRS Charles Darwin
).
and Leicester
universities) became the first new Schools of Medicine to be founded in the United Kingdom in the twentieth century. As a teaching hospital, it is used by a range of undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, research academics and clinicians. Originally based in the South Academic Block, the university's presence has been expanded to include several other buildings which are home to six different research departments.
or Building 85 (the new Life Sciences Building) on the main campus. The site is now being re-developed as the Maritime Centre of Excellence.
The site, which will be occupied from 2014, will house, amongst others, the Group Technology Centre of Lloyd's Register
who have announced a strategic alliance with the University and the University Maritime Institute.
which moved its premises from Hampton Court Palace
in 1999.
and led at the executive level by the Vice-Chancellor, currently Don Nutbeam. The key bodies in the University governance structure are the Council, Court and Senate.
The Council is the governing body of the University. It is ultimately responsible for the overall planning and management of the University. The Council is also responsible for ensuring that the funding made available to the University by the Higher Education Funding Council for England
is used as prescribed. The Council is composed of members from 5 different classes, namely (1) officers; (2) twelve members appointed by the Council; (3) six members appointed by the Senate; (4) one member of the non-teaching staff; (5) the President of the Students’ Union.
The University Court provides a forum for consultation with the local and regional community, to help promote public awareness of the University and to attract and maintain goodwill. The Court is composed of some 190 members, comprising representatives of the University, which includes members of Council, Deans of the Faculties, Heads of Academic Schools, members of staff, students and graduates; representatives of local authorities and of schools and colleges in the region; members of the UK and European parliaments; and representatives of other local societies and bodies.
The Senate is the University's primary academic authority, with responsibilities which include the direction and regulation of education and examinations, the award of degrees, and the promotion of research. The Senate has approximately 150 members, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellors/Pro Vice-Chancellors, the Deans and Associate Deans of the Faculties, the Heads of the academic Schools and Research Centres, representatives from the academic staff in each School, representatives of the research staff and those administrative groups most closely associated with educational activities, and representatives of the Students' Union. The Senate is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor.
Faculty of Business and Law
Faculty of Engineering and the Environment
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Faculty of Physical and Applied Sciences
Faculty of Social and Human Sciences
The library contains a number of special collections of rare books and manuscripts. In 1983, the university received the correspondence of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
. It also houses the Broadlands Archive, including the Palmerston and Mountbatten papers. The library also contains 4,500 volumes of Claude Montefiore
's library on Theology
and Judaism
, the Ford Parliamentary Papers, Frank Perkins
' collection of books on agriculture, Sir Samual Gurney-Dixons's Dante
collection and the James Parkes Library of Jewish/non-Jewish relations. The library also includes six rare editions of the Divina Commedia; the first of these, the Brescia edition of 1487, is the library's earliest book.
The Hartley library, first built in 1935, has expanded successively to house special collection and to meet the growth in student numbers. The latest of these was in 2005, when 3200 m² were added and much of the existing building renovated.
s for bachelor's
in a variety of degrees and master's
degrees as well as junior doctorate
s and higher doctorates. The postnominal
s awarded are the degree abbreviations
used commonly among British universities. The University is part of the Engineering Doctorate
scheme, for the award of Eng. D. degrees.
Professional qualifications are also awarded, such as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Short courses and professional development courses are run by many of the University's Academic Schools and Research Centres.
The University works closely with members of the Armed Forces
. It provides professional military educators in the British Army
to study for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education
(PGCE). The University also works with the Royal Navy
to provide training and qualifications towards Chartered Engineer
status.
ranked the university 75th overall in the world.
ranked the university at number 1 in the UK for Mechanical Engineering
and Electronic
and Electrical Engineering
in 2011.
The university has produced a number of spin-out companies in a range of fields, including oil and gas exploration, pharmaceuticals, nanotechnology and optoelectronics. Southampton has been particularly noted for its effectiveness in producing spin-out companies in comparison with both its UK and US counterparts.. Since 2000, three of the twelve successful spin-out companies have been floated on London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) with a combined market capitalisation value of £160 million.
Over 150 businesses are associated with the university through the key partner scheme, allowing collaboration in the research and development of business and Southampton academics.
created the first archiving software (EPrints
) to publish its research freely available on the Web. This software is used throughout the university and as an archiving system for many different institutions around the world.
, broadcasts from new studios in the main Union building. The award winning website SUSU.org was created and run by students at the university. A brand new purpose built studio has been constructed for the TV station SUSUtv. The student newspaper, originally Wessex News, is now published once every three weeks as Wessex Scene
following a name change in 1996. Inside the Wessex Scene is an editorially independent entertainment magazine called "The Edge". Events are held in The Cube, the Union's nightclub, The Bridge, the Union's cocktail bar, and in the Stag's Head, the Union pub. National touring bands play in the Garden Court in the West Building.
The university provides accommodation for all first year students who require it and places in residences
are further available for international and MSc
students. Accommodation may be catered, self catered, have ensuite facilities, a sink in the room, or access to communal bathroom facilities. Each of the halls used to have a team of wardens who lived on-site and ensured students' welfare, but not anymore. Each hall also has a JCR committee that is responsible for the running of social events and representing the residents to the students union and the university via the Students union JCR officer. Some of the halls also have bars which are separately run by the students union and are staffed by current and ex residents.
There are three main complexes of halls of residence. The Glen Eyre Halls Complex lies less than half a mile to the north of Highfield Campus. Set in landscaped surroundings, the complexes houses over 2000 students. These are spread though various buildings, designed and constructed throughout the Universities history. The Wessex Lane Halls
complex lies approximately one mile east of the Highfield Campus. Situated next to the gardens of South Stoneham House it houses over 1800 students. Included is Connaught Hall, one of the original halls of residence of the University. The Small Halls accommodate around 1000 students across 7 city locations, within 2 miles (3.2 km) of Highfield Campus. The University also has halls of residence in Winchester
for School of Art students, Portsmouth
and Basingstoke
for School of Nursing and Midwifery students.
Glen Eyre Halls Complex
Wessex Lane Halls
Complex
Archers Road and Small Halls
Non-Southampton Locations
(near Southampton) in 2007. Within the complex includes flood-lit synthetic turf pitches, tennis courts, and pavilion. The university also runs facilities at the Avenue Campus, National Oceanography Centre and the Boat Hard on the River Itchen
.
The university competes in numerous sports in the BUCS South East Conference (after switching from the Western Conference in 2009). A number of elite athletes are supported by the SportsRec through sports bursaries and the UK Government's Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS).
The University Athletic Union was formally established on 29 November 1929, by the University College council. Versions of the union had existed previously to which many clubs such as Cricket, Association Football, Rugby, Boxing, Gymnastics, Tennis and Boat clubs (all formed before the turn of the 20th century) were members.
Throughout its history the university has had a number successful teams in national student championships.
, inventor of the World Wide Web
, Erich Zepler
who made leading contributions to radio receiver development, David Payne who invented EDFA for use in fibre optics cables, Sir Barry Cunliffe
, a pioneer of modern British Archaeology, Albie Sachs
, former Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
and Tim Holt
, former President of the Royal Statistical Society
and Office for National Statistics
; former head of the Metropolitan Police Service
and Current International Security Advisor to the Prime Minister
; Chris Hohn, founder of The Children's Investment Fund Management and Britain's biggest charity donor; Jon Sopel, presenter of The Politics Show
and a lead presenter on BBC News 24 and Sir Adrian Fulford
, Judge in the International Criminal Court
. Other alumni include actor John Nettles
, Technical Director for the Red Bull Racing
Formula One team Adrian Newey
, musician Brian Eno
and Eggheads
quiz-show regular Kevin Ashman
.
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, England, a member of the Russell Group
Russell Group
The Russell Group is a collaboration of twenty UK universities that together receive two-thirds of research grant and contract funding in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1994 to represent their interests to the government, parliament and other similar bodies...
. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley
Henry Robertson Hartley
Henry Robertson Hartley was an eccentric and philanthropist and is the founder of the Hartley Institute which became the University of Southampton.-Early life:...
. In 1902, the Institution developed into the Hartley University College, with degrees awarded by the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. On 29 April 1952, HM Queen Elizabeth II granted a Royal Charter to give the University of Southampton full university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
status. This was the first Royal Charter granted by HM Queen Elizabeth II on her accession to the throne.
The university is a member of the Russell Group
Russell Group
The Russell Group is a collaboration of twenty UK universities that together receive two-thirds of research grant and contract funding in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1994 to represent their interests to the government, parliament and other similar bodies...
of research universities and the Worldwide Universities Network
Worldwide Universities Network
The Worldwide Universities Network is an invitation-only group of research-led universities that have agreed to carry out research and research training on a collaborative basis...
. It currently has over 17,000 undergraduate and 7,000 postgraduate students, making it the largest university by higher education students in the South East
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
region. The main campus is located in the Highfield area of Southampton. Four other campuses are located throughout the city alongside the School of Art
Winchester School of Art
Winchester School of Art is the art school of the University of Southampton, situated 10 miles north of Southampton in the city of Winchester near the south coast of England.- Overview :...
based in nearby Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
.
The university has a strong emphasis on research, having one of the highest proportions of income derived from research activities in Britain. Southampton is highly regarded as a centre for educational excellence, ranking nationally as a top 20 university in various tables, and regularly rated in the top 10 of the National Student Survey
National student survey
The National Student Survey is a survey, launched in 2005, of all final year degree students at institutions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
.
Hartley Institution
Hartley was an eccentric straggler, who had little liking of the new age docks and railways in Southampton. He did not desire to create a college for many (as formed at similar time in other English industrial towns and commercial ports) but a cultural centre for Southampton's intellectual elite. After lengthy legal challenges to the Bequest, and a public debate as to how best interpret the language of his Will, the Southampton Coorperation choose to create the Institute (rather than a more widely accessible college, that some public figures had lobbied for).
On 15 October 1862, the Hartley Institute was opened by the Prime Minister Lord Palmerston in a major civic occasion which exceeded in splendor anything that anyone in the town could remember. After initial years of financial struggle, the Hartley Institute became the Hartley College in 1883. This move was followed by increasing numbers of students, teaching staff, an expansion of the facilities and registered lodgings for students.
University College
In 1902, the Hartley College became the Hartley University CollegeUniversity college
The term "university college" is used in a number of countries to denote college institutions that provide tertiary education but do not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university...
, a degree awarding branch of the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. This was after inspection of the teaching and finances by the University College Grants Committee, and donations from Council members (including William Darwin
William Erasmus Darwin
William Erasmus Darwin was the first-born son of Charles and Emma Darwin, and the subject of psychological studies by his father. He was educated at Rugby School and Christ's College Cambridge, and later became a banker at Grant and Maddison's Union Banking Company in Southampton. In 1877 he...
the then Treasurer). An increase in student numbers in the following years motivated fund raising efforts to move the college to greenfield land
Greenfield land
Greenfield land is a term used to describe undeveloped land in a city or rural area either used for agriculture, landscape design, or left to naturally evolve...
around Back Lane (now University Road) in the Highfield area of Southampton. On 20 June 1914, Viscount Haldane opened the new site of the renamed Southampton University College. However, the outbreak of the First World War six weeks later meant no lectures could take place there, as the buildings were handed over by the college authorities for use as a military hospital. In order to cope with the volume of casualties, wooden huts were erected at the rear of the building. These were donated to university by the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
after the end of fighting, in time for the transfer from the high street premises in 1920. At this time, Highfield Hall, a former country house and overlooking Southampton Common
Southampton Common
Southampton Common is a large open space to the north of the city centre of Southampton, England. It is bounded by the districts of Shirley, Bassett, Highfield and Portswood. The area supports a large variety of wildlife, including the largest recorded population of the internationally rare great...
, for which a lease had earlier been secured, commenced use as a halls of residence for female students. South Hill, on what is now the Glen Eyre Halls Complex was also acquired, along with South Stoneham House to house male students.
Further expansions through the 1920s and 1930s was made possible through private donors, such as the two daughters of Edward Turner Sims for the construction of the University library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, and from the people of Southampton, enabling new buildings on both sides of University Road. During World War II the university suffered damage in the Southampton Blitz
Southampton Blitz
The Southampton Blitz was the heavy bombing of Southampton by the Nazi German Luftwaffe during World War II. It was targeted mainly in the first phase of the Blitz....
with bombs landing on the campus and its halls of residence. The college decided against evacuation, instead expanding its Engineering Department, School of Navigation and developing a new School of Radio Telegraphy. Halls of residence were also used to house Polish, French and American troops. After the war, departments such as Electronics grew under the influence of Erich Zepler
Erich Zepler
Erich Ernest Zepler , later known as Eric, was a German-born electronics expert and chess problem composer....
and the Institute of Sound and Vibration
Institute of Sound and Vibration Research
The Institute of Sound and Vibration Research , is an acoustical research institute which is part of the University of Southampton, England...
was established.
University
On 29 April 1952, in the early weeks of the reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II, a Royal CharterRoyal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
was granted to the University of Southampton, which enabled the institution to award its own degrees. Six faculties were created: Arts, Science, Engineering, Economics, Education and Law. The first University of Southampton degrees were awarded on 4 July 1953, following the appointment of the Duke of Wellington
Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington
Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington, KG , styled Lord Gerald Wellesley between 1900 and 1943, was a British diplomat, soldier, and architect....
as Chancellor of the University. Student and staff number grew throughout the next couple of decades as a response to the Robbins Report
Robbins Report
The Robbins Report was commissioned by the British government and published in 1963. The Committee met from 1961 to 1963...
. The campus also grew significantly, when in July 1961 the university was given the approval to acquire some 200 houses on or near the campus by the Borough Council. In addition, more faculties and departments were founded, including Medicine and Oceanography (despite the discouragement of Sir John Wolfenden, the chairman of the University Grants Committee). Student accommodation was expanded throughout the 1960s and 1970s with the acquisition of Chilworth manor and new buildings at the Glen Eyre and Montefiore complexes.
In 1987, a crisis developed when the University Grants Committee
Higher Education Funding Council for England
The Higher Education Funding Council for England is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the United Kingdom, which has been responsible for the distribution of funding to Universities and Colleges of Higher and Further Education in England since...
announced, as part of nationwide cutbacks, a series of reductions in the funding of the university. In order to eliminate the expected losses, the budgets and deficits subcommittee proposed reducing staff numbers. This proposal was met with demonstrations on campus and was later reworked (to reduce the redundancies and reallocate the reductions in faculties funding) after being rejected by the university Senate
Academic Senate
An Academic Senate is a governing body in some universities and colleges, and is typically the supreme academic authority for the institution.-Scotland:...
.
By the mid 1980s through to the 1990s, the university looked to expand with new buildings on the Highfield campus, developing the Chilworth Manor site into a science park and conference venue, opening the National Oceanographic Centre at a dockside location and purchasing new land from the City Council for the Arts Faculty and sports fields (at Avenue Campus and Wide Lane, respectively).
Research University
Under the leadership of then Vice Chancellor, Sir Howard NewbyHoward Newby
Sir Howard Joseph Newby CBE is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool.-Early life:He grew up in Derbyshire, going to school in Etwall, before attending Atlantic College as a scholarship student.-Career:...
the university became more focused in encouraging and investment in more and better quality research. In the mid 1990s, the university gained two new campuses, as the Winchester School of Art
Winchester School of Art
Winchester School of Art is the art school of the University of Southampton, situated 10 miles north of Southampton in the city of Winchester near the south coast of England.- Overview :...
and La Sainte Union College became part of the university. A new school for Nursing and Midwifery was also created and went on to provide training for NHS
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
professionals in central-southern England. This involved a huge increase in student numbers and the establishment of sub-campuses in Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
, Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
and Newport, Isle of Wight
Newport, Isle of Wight
Newport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census...
.
In the autumn of 1997, the university experienced Britain's worst outbreak of meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
, with the death of three students. The university responded to the crisis by organizing a mass vaccination programme, and later took the ground-breaking decision to offer all new students vaccinations.
The University celebrated its Golden Jubilee on 22 January 2002. By this time, Southampton had research income that represented over half of the total income, which remains one of the highest proportions of income derived from research activities of British Universities. In recent years a number of new landmark buildings have been added as part of the estates development. These have included a new buildings for the School of Electronics and Computer Science
School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton
The School of Electronics and Computer Science , generally abbreviated "ECS", at the University of Southampton was founded in 1946 by Professor Erich Zepler...
and the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), (whose original building was destroyed in a fire in 2005), a new Sports Hall and Institute of Developmental Sciences (on the Southampton General Hospital
Southampton General Hospital
Southampton General Hospital is a large Teaching Hospital in Southampton, England, operated by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust...
site).
Campus
The University has five campi - four in SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and one in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
. A further campus - the Maritime Centre of Excellence is being developed close to the Highfield Campus.
Highfield Campus
The University's main campus is located in the residential area of Highfield. Opened on 20 June 1914, the site was initially used as a military hospital during World War I. The campus grew gradually, mainly consisting of detailed red brick buildings (such as the Hartley library and West building of the Students' Union) designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. In 1956, Sir Basil SpenceBasil Spence
Sir Basil Urwin Spence, OM, OBE, RA was a Scottish architect, most notably associated with Coventry Cathedral in England and the Beehive in New Zealand, but also responsible for numerous other buildings in the Modernist/Brutalist style.-Training:Spence was born in Bombay, India, the son of Urwin...
was commissioned to prepare a masterplan of the campus for the foreseeable future. This included incorporating the University Road, that split the 59 acres (238,764.7 m²) campus in two and the quarry of Sir Sidney Kimber
Sidney Kimber
Sir Sidney Guy Kimber was a British politician.Kimber first became a councillor in 1910. He served as mayor of Southampton for two consecutive terms, from November 1918 to November 1920. After serving as mayor, he became an alderman. He pioneered the building of the Civic Centre and the...
's brickyard that itself was split by a stream. Unable to remove the road and the private houses along it, Spence designed many of the buildings facing away from it, using contemporary designs working in concrete, glass and mosaic. During recent decades new buildings were added that contravened the master plan of Spence, such as the Synthetic Chemistry Building and Mountbatten Building (the latter of which was destroyed by fire in 2005).
A new masterplan for the Highfield campus was drawn up in 1998 by Rick Mather
Rick Mather
Rick Mather is an American-born architect working in England. Born in Portland, Oregon and awarded a B.arch. at the University of Oregon in 1961, he came to London in 1963 where he founded his own practice, Rick Mather Architects, a decade later....
who proposed that the University Road should become a tree lined boulevard backed by white-rendered buildings. He also contributed some of the newer buildings such as the Zepler and Gower Buildings. In 1991, the Highfield Planning Group was formed within the university under the chairmanship of Tim Holt
Tim Holt (statistician)
David Holt CB is a British statistician who is Professor Emeritus of Social Statistics at the University of Southampton...
. This led to the development of new buildings such as the Jubilee Sports Hall, Student Services Building and the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research
Institute of Sound and Vibration Research
The Institute of Sound and Vibration Research , is an acoustical research institute which is part of the University of Southampton, England...
. In addition, existing buildings, such as the Hartley Library were extensively renovated and extended.
The campus retains an area of parkland in which are scattered 20th-century sculptures by Barbara Hepworth
Barbara Hepworth
Dame Barbara Hepworth DBE was an English sculptor. Her work exemplifies Modernism, and with such contemporaries as Ivon Hitchens, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, Naum Gabo she helped to develop modern art in Britain.-Life and work:Jocelyn Barbara Hepworth was born on 10 January 1903 in Wakefield,...
, Justin Knowles, Nick Pope and John Edwards. It also houses the John Hansard Gallery
John hansard gallery
The John Hansard Gallery, based at the University of Southampton’s Highfield campus, is one of Britain’s leading public galleries of contemporary visual art. Proud of its academic situation, the Gallery plays a key role in the cultural life of the campus and the city, drawing a wide local, national...
, the Nuffield Theatre
Nuffield Theatre
Nuffield Theatre may refer to:* The Nuffield Theatre at the Lancaster University* The Nuffield Theatre at the University of Southampton...
and Turner Sims concert hall.
Avenue Campus
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Natural Environment Research Council
The Natural Environment Research Council is a British research council that supports research, training and knowledge transfer activities in the environmental sciences.-History:...
(NERC). Opened in 1995, NOCS is a waterfront campus on Southampton's Empress Dock, close to the Ocean Village
Ocean Village (marina)
Ocean Village is a large, mixed-use marina, residential, business and leisure development on the mouth of the River Itchen in Southampton, on the south coast of England. Ocean Village is currently undergoing a major £70m re-development project and is set to become one of the main leisure...
development.
The NOCS comprises the University's Ocean and Earth Sciences academic unit which operates alongside four NERC research divisions. The NOCS is also the base for the purpose-built research vessels RRS Discovery
RRS Discovery (1962)
RRS Discovery is a British Royal Research Ship operated by NERC.RRS Discovery was built in Aberdeen in 1962 and named after Robert Falcon Scott's 1901 ship, RRS Discovery. Until 2006, she was the largest general purpose oceanographic research vessel in use in the United Kingdom...
and RRS James Cook
RRS James Cook
The RRS James Cook is a British Royal Research Ship operated by the Natural Environment Research Council . She was built in 2006 to replace the ageing RRS Charles Darwin with funds from Britain's NERC and the DTI's Large Scientific Facilities Fund...
(and formerly RRS Charles Darwin
RRS Charles Darwin
The RRS Charles Darwin was a Royal Research Ship belonging to the British Natural Environment Research Council. Since 2006, she has been the geophysical survey vessel, RV Ocean Researcher,-History:...
).
Southampton General Hospital
The university's presence at the general hospital dates to 1971, when Southampton (along with NottinghamUniversity of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
and Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
universities) became the first new Schools of Medicine to be founded in the United Kingdom in the twentieth century. As a teaching hospital, it is used by a range of undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, research academics and clinicians. Originally based in the South Academic Block, the university's presence has been expanded to include several other buildings which are home to six different research departments.
Maritime Centre of Excellence (formerly Boldrewood Campus)
Boldrewood, located a short distance from the Highfield campus, was the Biomedical Sciences campus of the University. Until 2010, it was used as a non-hospital base for the School of Medicine and home to a research facility for the Biological Sciences. Staff were then relocated to either Southampton General HospitalSouthampton General Hospital
Southampton General Hospital is a large Teaching Hospital in Southampton, England, operated by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust...
or Building 85 (the new Life Sciences Building) on the main campus. The site is now being re-developed as the Maritime Centre of Excellence.
The site, which will be occupied from 2014, will house, amongst others, the Group Technology Centre of Lloyd's Register
Lloyd's Register
The Lloyd's Register Group is a maritime classification society and independent risk management organisation providing risk assessment and mitigation services and management systems certification. Historically, as Lloyd's Register of Shipping, it was a specifically maritime organisation...
who have announced a strategic alliance with the University and the University Maritime Institute.
Winchester School of Art
The Winchester School of Art was integrated within the University of Southampton in 1996. This original school premises were purpose build in the 1960s. New buildings have been designed to house the subsequent expansion of student numbers, and new facilities for fashion design, a digital media campus and also to include the internationally respected Textile Conservation CentreTextile Conservation Centre
The Textile Conservation Centre is a specialist centre for research and training at the University of Southampton. It was founded in 1975 by Karen Finch OBE and was based at Hampton Court Palace for nearly 25 years...
which moved its premises from Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London; it has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century. The palace is located south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames...
in 1999.
Uni-link
The Uni-link bus service was created in 1998 by the University. Four routes operate that connect the university campuses and halls of residence located throughout the city for both students at the university and general public.Governance
Responsibility for running the University is held formally by the Chancellor, currently Sir John ParkerSir John Parker
Sir Thomas John Parker FREng is the Chairman of National Grid plc and of Anglo American PLC. He was born in County Down, Northern Ireland.-Early life:...
and led at the executive level by the Vice-Chancellor, currently Don Nutbeam. The key bodies in the University governance structure are the Council, Court and Senate.
The Council is the governing body of the University. It is ultimately responsible for the overall planning and management of the University. The Council is also responsible for ensuring that the funding made available to the University by the Higher Education Funding Council for England
Higher Education Funding Council for England
The Higher Education Funding Council for England is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the United Kingdom, which has been responsible for the distribution of funding to Universities and Colleges of Higher and Further Education in England since...
is used as prescribed. The Council is composed of members from 5 different classes, namely (1) officers; (2) twelve members appointed by the Council; (3) six members appointed by the Senate; (4) one member of the non-teaching staff; (5) the President of the Students’ Union.
The University Court provides a forum for consultation with the local and regional community, to help promote public awareness of the University and to attract and maintain goodwill. The Court is composed of some 190 members, comprising representatives of the University, which includes members of Council, Deans of the Faculties, Heads of Academic Schools, members of staff, students and graduates; representatives of local authorities and of schools and colleges in the region; members of the UK and European parliaments; and representatives of other local societies and bodies.
The Senate is the University's primary academic authority, with responsibilities which include the direction and regulation of education and examinations, the award of degrees, and the promotion of research. The Senate has approximately 150 members, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellors/Pro Vice-Chancellors, the Deans and Associate Deans of the Faculties, the Heads of the academic Schools and Research Centres, representatives from the academic staff in each School, representatives of the research staff and those administrative groups most closely associated with educational activities, and representatives of the Students' Union. The Senate is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor.
Faculties and academic units
The University comprises eight faculties, each with a number of academic units. Previous to the restructure of 2010, the university consisted of 3 faculties.Faculty of Business and Law
- Law
- Management
- Winchester School of Art
Faculty of Engineering and the Environment
- Civil Engineering and the Environment
- Engineering Sciences
- Institute of Sound and Vibration ResearchInstitute of Sound and Vibration ResearchThe Institute of Sound and Vibration Research , is an acoustical research institute which is part of the University of Southampton, England...
Faculty of Health Sciences
- Health Sciences
Faculty of Humanities
- Archaeology
- English
- Film Studies
- History
- Modern Languages
- Music
- Philosophy
Faculty of Medicine
- Medicine
- Complementary Medicine Research Unit
Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry
- Ocean and Earth Science
- National Oceanography CentreNational Oceanography Centre- The National Oceanography Centre :The National Oceanography Centre is a marine science research and technology institution based on two sites in Southampton and Liverpool, United Kingdom...
Faculty of Physical and Applied Sciences
- Electronics and Computer ScienceSchool of Electronics and Computer Science, University of SouthamptonThe School of Electronics and Computer Science , generally abbreviated "ECS", at the University of Southampton was founded in 1946 by Professor Erich Zepler...
- Physics and Astronomy
- Optoelectronics Research Centre
Faculty of Social and Human Sciences
- Education
- Geography and Environment
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Social Sciences (Ageing, Economics, Politics & International Relations, Sociology & Social Policy, Criminology, Social Statistics & Demography and Social Work Studies)
- Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute
- Centre for Contemporary China
- ESRC - Doctoral Training Centre
Libraries and collections
The University of Southampton Library has a presence on each of the university's six campuses, holding more than 1.5 million books and periodicals, some 6,000 in electronic form, besides specialist materials, including more than 6 million manuscripts.The library contains a number of special collections of rare books and manuscripts. In 1983, the university received the correspondence of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
. It also houses the Broadlands Archive, including the Palmerston and Mountbatten papers. The library also contains 4,500 volumes of Claude Montefiore
Claude Montefiore
Claude Joseph Goldsmid Montefiore was son of Nathaniel Montefiore, and the great nephew of Sir Moses Montefiore. Some identify him as a significant figure in the contexts of modern Jewish religious thought, Jewish-Christian relations, and Anglo-Jewish socio-politics.-Education:He was educated at...
's library on Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, the Ford Parliamentary Papers, Frank Perkins
Frank Perkins
Frank Perkins was a British engineer, businessman, creator of the Perkins Diesel Engine, and founder of Perkins Engines Company Limited.-Background and early life:...
' collection of books on agriculture, Sir Samual Gurney-Dixons's Dante
DANTE
Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe is a not-for-profit organisation that plans, builds and operates the international networks that interconnect the various national research and education networks in Europe and surrounding regions...
collection and the James Parkes Library of Jewish/non-Jewish relations. The library also includes six rare editions of the Divina Commedia; the first of these, the Brescia edition of 1487, is the library's earliest book.
The Hartley library, first built in 1935, has expanded successively to house special collection and to meet the growth in student numbers. The latest of these was in 2005, when 3200 m² were added and much of the existing building renovated.
Degrees
Southampton awards a wide range of academic degrees spanning academic degreeAcademic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
s for bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in a variety of degrees and master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
degrees as well as junior doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
s and higher doctorates. The postnominal
Post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...
s awarded are the degree abbreviations
British degree abbreviations
Degree abbreviations are used as an alternative way to specify an academic degree instead of spelling out the title in full, such as in reference books like Who's Who and on business cards...
used commonly among British universities. The University is part of the Engineering Doctorate
Engineering Doctorate
The Engineering Doctorate scheme is a British postgraduate education programme promoted by the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council . The programme is undertaken over four years. Students conduct PhD-equivalent research and undertake taught business and technical courses whilst...
scheme, for the award of Eng. D. degrees.
Professional qualifications are also awarded, such as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Short courses and professional development courses are run by many of the University's Academic Schools and Research Centres.
The University works closely with members of the Armed Forces
Armed Forces
Armed Forces is Elvis Costello's third album, his second with the Attractions, and the first to officially credit the Attractions on the cover. It was released in the UK by Radar Records and in the U.S. by Columbia in 1979...
. It provides professional military educators in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
to study for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
(PGCE). The University also works with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
to provide training and qualifications towards Chartered Engineer
Chartered Engineer (UK)
In the United Kingdom, a Chartered Engineer is an engineer registered with Engineering Council UK . Contemporary Chartered Engineers are master's degree-qualified and have gained professional competencies through training and experience...
status.
League table rankings
In recent years it has been rated as a top 100 university in the world according to the Times Higher Education Table, and in the 2011 QS World University RankingsQS World University Rankings
The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004....
ranked the university 75th overall in the world.
| University of Southampton Ranking in league tables League tables of British universities Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom are published annually by The Guardian, The Independent, The Sunday Times and The Times... |
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Subject rankings
Southampton is the only UK university in which every engineering department has received the top 5* rating for research. It is cited as being the UK's leading university for engineering. The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
ranked the university at number 1 in the UK for Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
and Electronic
Electronic engineering
Electronics engineering, also referred to as electronic engineering, is an engineering discipline where non-linear and active electrical components such as electron tubes, and semiconductor devices, especially transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, are utilized to design electronic...
and Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
in 2011.
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Research
Southampton is a member of the Russell Group, a network of research-led British universities. The university conducts research in most academic disciplines and is home to a number of notable research centres.Research Institutes
Within the university there are a number of research institutes:- Institute of Sound and Vibration ResearchInstitute of Sound and Vibration ResearchThe Institute of Sound and Vibration Research , is an acoustical research institute which is part of the University of Southampton, England...
- Hearing and Balance Centre
- Human Factors Research Unit
- Fluid Dynamics and Acoustics Group
- Signal Processing and Control Group
- Transportation Research Group (TRG)
- Centre for Environmental Sciences
- Southampton Regional e-Science Centre
- Computational Engineering and Design Centre
- Lloyd's Register University Technology Centre
- Luxfer Advanced Technology Centre in Performance of Materials
- GeoData Institute
- Centre for Operational Research, Management Science and Information Systems
- Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute
- EPSRC NanoPhotonics Portfolio Centre
- Optoelectronics Research Centre
- National Oceanography CentreNational Oceanography Centre- The National Oceanography Centre :The National Oceanography Centre is a marine science research and technology institution based on two sites in Southampton and Liverpool, United Kingdom...
- Centre for the Archaeology of Human Origins
- Centre for Applied Archaeological Analyses
- Centre for Maritime Archaeology
- Centre for Antiquity and the Middle Ages
- Centre for Rhetoric and Cultural Poetics
- Parkes InstituteParkes InstituteThe Parkes Institute is a research centre for the study of Jewish and non-Jewish relations, based at the University of Southampton in England. It includes an extensive archive of books, journals, official documents and other resources donated by James Parkes, a Christian theologian who sought to...
for the Study of Jewish/non-Jewish Relations - Centre for Contemporary Art Research
- Institute of Maritime Law
- Institute of Criminal Justice
- Centre for Risk Research
- Centre for Research in Accounting, Accountability and Governance
- Centre for Operational Research, Management Science and Information Systems
- Centre for AIDS Research
- Centre for Human Service Technology
- ESRC Centre for Population Change
- ESRC National Centre for Research Methods
- Centre for Applied Social Surveys
- Centre for Law Ethics and Globalisation
- Centre for Sexual Health Research
- Developmental Brain-Behaviour Unit
- Centre for Research on Self and Identity
- Centre for Behavioural Research, Analysis and Intervention in Developmental Disabilities
- Centre for the Study of Emotion and Motivation
- Institute of Biomolecular Sciences
- Southampton Neurosciences Group
- MRCMedical Research Council (UK)The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
Epidemiology Resource Centre - Southampton Cancer Centre
- Life Sciences Interface Forum
- Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
- The Stroke AssociationThe Stroke AssociationThe Stroke Association is the only British charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages.The charity funds research into prevention, treatment, and better methods of rehabilitation, and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services...
Rehabilitation Research Centre - The Macmillan Research Unit
The University of Southampton Science Park
In 1983, the Chilworth Science Park was established for companies with connections to the University. The park houses over 50 companies and includes a luxury hotel and conference centre, based in Chilworth Manor. The science park was re-named The University of Southampton Science Park in 2006.The university has produced a number of spin-out companies in a range of fields, including oil and gas exploration, pharmaceuticals, nanotechnology and optoelectronics. Southampton has been particularly noted for its effectiveness in producing spin-out companies in comparison with both its UK and US counterparts.. Since 2000, three of the twelve successful spin-out companies have been floated on London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) with a combined market capitalisation value of £160 million.
Over 150 businesses are associated with the university through the key partner scheme, allowing collaboration in the research and development of business and Southampton academics.
EPrints
The School of Electronics and Computer ScienceSchool of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton
The School of Electronics and Computer Science , generally abbreviated "ECS", at the University of Southampton was founded in 1946 by Professor Erich Zepler...
created the first archiving software (EPrints
EPrints
EPrints is a free and open source software package for building open access repositories that are compliant with the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting. It shares many of the features commonly seen in Document Management systems, but is primarily used for institutional...
) to publish its research freely available on the Web. This software is used throughout the university and as an archiving system for many different institutions around the world.
Students' Union
The University of Southampton Students' Union (SUSU), is sited in three buildings opposite the Hartley Library. One, the West Building, dates back to the 1940s in a red brick style, complementing the Hartley Library opposite; the main building was built in the 1960s in the Basil Spence masterplan. This was extended with new nightclub and cinema facilities in 2002. The newest building was built during the mid-1990s which includes the recently refurbished Union shop, on the ground floor, and hairdressers and travel agency, both on the first floor. In May 2002, (after numerous attempts going back several years), it chose to disaffiliate itself from the NUS, believed by SUSU to be too bureaucratic. In December 2010, a referendum was held to decide whether SUSU should re-affiliate with the NUS, with the result being that SUSU should remain outside the NUS. The multiple award winning student radio station, SurgeSURGE 1287AM
Surge is an English student radio station based at the University of Southampton. Founded in 1976 as Radio Heffalump, the station was renamed Radio Glen the following year and originally broadcast from the university's Glen Eyre Halls complex...
, broadcasts from new studios in the main Union building. The award winning website SUSU.org was created and run by students at the university. A brand new purpose built studio has been constructed for the TV station SUSUtv. The student newspaper, originally Wessex News, is now published once every three weeks as Wessex Scene
Wessex Scene
The Wessex Scene is the oldest student news provider at the University of Southampton, and has been in print since 1936. The Wessex Scene has evolved over the years and now takes the forms of an online news site and a monthly magazine publication, available across the campuses and Halls of...
following a name change in 1996. Inside the Wessex Scene is an editorially independent entertainment magazine called "The Edge". Events are held in The Cube, the Union's nightclub, The Bridge, the Union's cocktail bar, and in the Stag's Head, the Union pub. National touring bands play in the Garden Court in the West Building.
Halls of Residence
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
are further available for international and MSc
MSC
- Computers:* Mario Strikers Charged* Microsoft Common Console Document, file for the Microsoft Management Console* Microelectronics Support Centre* Microsoft Corporation* MIDI Show Control* Message Sequence Chart...
students. Accommodation may be catered, self catered, have ensuite facilities, a sink in the room, or access to communal bathroom facilities. Each of the halls used to have a team of wardens who lived on-site and ensured students' welfare, but not anymore. Each hall also has a JCR committee that is responsible for the running of social events and representing the residents to the students union and the university via the Students union JCR officer. Some of the halls also have bars which are separately run by the students union and are staffed by current and ex residents.
There are three main complexes of halls of residence. The Glen Eyre Halls Complex lies less than half a mile to the north of Highfield Campus. Set in landscaped surroundings, the complexes houses over 2000 students. These are spread though various buildings, designed and constructed throughout the Universities history. The Wessex Lane Halls
Wessex Lane Halls
Wessex Lane Halls is a halls of residence complex owned by the University of Southampton. It is situated in the Swaythling district of Southampton, approximately one mile north-east of the University campus in Highfield....
complex lies approximately one mile east of the Highfield Campus. Situated next to the gardens of South Stoneham House it houses over 1800 students. Included is Connaught Hall, one of the original halls of residence of the University. The Small Halls accommodate around 1000 students across 7 city locations, within 2 miles (3.2 km) of Highfield Campus. The University also has halls of residence in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
for School of Art students, Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
and Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
for School of Nursing and Midwifery students.
Glen Eyre Halls Complex
- Chamberlain Hall
- Hartley Grove Courts
- Chancellors' Courts
- New Terrace
- Old Terrace
- South Hill Lodges
- Richard Newitt Courts
- Brunei House
- Beechmount House
- Gower building
- Main Building
Wessex Lane Halls
Wessex Lane Halls
Wessex Lane Halls is a halls of residence complex owned by the University of Southampton. It is situated in the Swaythling district of Southampton, approximately one mile north-east of the University campus in Highfield....
Complex
- Connaught Hall
- Montefiore 1
- Montefiore 2
- Montefiore 3
- Montefiore 4
Archers Road and Small Halls
- Highfield Hall
- Bencraft Court
- Gateley Hall
- Romero Hall
- Shaftesbury Avenue Apartments
- St. Margaret's House
- Tasman Court
Non-Southampton Locations
- Erasmus Park (Winchester School of ArtWinchester School of ArtWinchester School of Art is the art school of the University of Southampton, situated 10 miles north of Southampton in the city of Winchester near the south coast of England.- Overview :...
) - Balmoral House (PortsmouthPortsmouthPortsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
) - Victoria Place (PortsmouthPortsmouthPortsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
) - Basingstoke North Hampshire Hospital Accommodation
Sports
The Sports and Recreation (SportsRec) runs the university sports facilities which are based predominately at two locations. The Jubilee Sports Centre, opened in 2004 at a cost of £8.5 million is located on the Highfield Campus. Included within in the centre are a six-lane, 25-metre swimming pool, full gym and sports hall. In addition to its indoor sports facilities, the University completed a £4.3 million re-development of its 73 acres (295,420.8 m²) outdoor facilities located at Wide Lane, EastleighEastleigh
Eastleigh is a railway town in Hampshire, England, and the main town in the Eastleigh borough which is part of Southampton Urban Area. The town lies between Southampton and Winchester, and is part of the South Hampshire conurbation...
(near Southampton) in 2007. Within the complex includes flood-lit synthetic turf pitches, tennis courts, and pavilion. The university also runs facilities at the Avenue Campus, National Oceanography Centre and the Boat Hard on the River Itchen
River Itchen, Hampshire
The River Itchen is a river in Hampshire, England. It flows from mid-Hampshire to join with Southampton Water below the Itchen Bridge in the city of Southampton. The river has a total length of , and is noted as one of England's - if not one of the World's - premier chalk streams for fly fishing,...
.
The university competes in numerous sports in the BUCS South East Conference (after switching from the Western Conference in 2009). A number of elite athletes are supported by the SportsRec through sports bursaries and the UK Government's Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS).
The University Athletic Union was formally established on 29 November 1929, by the University College council. Versions of the union had existed previously to which many clubs such as Cricket, Association Football, Rugby, Boxing, Gymnastics, Tennis and Boat clubs (all formed before the turn of the 20th century) were members.
Throughout its history the university has had a number successful teams in national student championships.
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Academics
Academics to work at the university include Sir Tim Berners-LeeTim Berners-Lee
Sir Timothy John "Tim" Berners-Lee, , also known as "TimBL", is a British computer scientist, MIT professor and the inventor of the World Wide Web...
, inventor of the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
, Erich Zepler
Erich Zepler
Erich Ernest Zepler , later known as Eric, was a German-born electronics expert and chess problem composer....
who made leading contributions to radio receiver development, David Payne who invented EDFA for use in fibre optics cables, Sir Barry Cunliffe
Barry Cunliffe
Sir Barrington Windsor Cunliffe, CBE, known professionally as Barry Cunliffe is a former Professor of European Archaeology at the University of Oxford, a position held from 1972 to 2007...
, a pioneer of modern British Archaeology, Albie Sachs
Albie Sachs
Albie Sachs was a judge on the Constitutional Court of South Africa. He was appointed to the court by Nelson Mandela in 1994 and retired in October 2009...
, former Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
Constitutional Court of South Africa
The Constitutional Court of South Africa was established in 1994 by South Africa's first democratic constitution: the Interim Constitution of 1993. In terms of the 1996 Constitution the Constitutional Court established in 1994 continues to hold office. The court began its first sessions in February...
and Tim Holt
Tim Holt (statistician)
David Holt CB is a British statistician who is Professor Emeritus of Social Statistics at the University of Southampton...
, former President of the Royal Statistical Society
Royal Statistical Society
The Royal Statistical Society is a learned society for statistics and a professional body for statisticians in the UK.-History:It was founded in 1834 as the Statistical Society of London , though a perhaps unrelated London Statistical Society was in existence at least as early as 1824...
and Office for National Statistics
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
Alumni
Former students of the university include John Denham MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; Sir John StevensJohn Stevens, Baron Stevens of Kirkwhelpington
John Arthur Stevens, Baron Stevens of Kirkwhelpington KStJ QPM DL FRSA was Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from 2000 until 2005. From 1991 to 1996, he was Chief Constable of Northumbria Police before being appointed one of HM Inspectors of Constabulary in September 1996...
; former head of the Metropolitan Police Service
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
and Current International Security Advisor to the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
; Chris Hohn, founder of The Children's Investment Fund Management and Britain's biggest charity donor; Jon Sopel, presenter of The Politics Show
The Politics Show
The Politics Show is an hour long BBC One television political programme broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sundays. The programme usually starts at midday, but is often earlier or later when sporting events clash in the schedules. It was launched in 2003 and was originally presented by Jeremy...
and a lead presenter on BBC News 24 and Sir Adrian Fulford
Adrian Fulford
Sir Adrian Bruce Fulford , styled The Hon. Mr Justice Fulford, is a British judge, and currently a member of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.-Early life:...
, Judge in the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
. Other alumni include actor John Nettles
John Nettles
John Vivian Drummond Nettles, OBE is an English actor, historian and writer who is best known for playing the lead roles in Bergerac and Midsomer Murders.-Early life:...
, Technical Director for the Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing is a Formula One racing team based in Milton Keynes, England which currently holds an Austrian licence. It is, along with Scuderia Toro Rosso, one of two teams owned by beverage company Red Bull GmbH. The team have won two Constructors' Championship titles, in and , becoming the...
Formula One team Adrian Newey
Adrian Newey
Adrian Newey is a notable Formula One engineer and widely regarded one of the great engineers in the sport's history. He is the only designer to have won Constructors Championships with three different Formula One teams...
, musician Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
and Eggheads
Eggheads
Eggheads is a BBC quiz show created by 12 Yard Productions, first broadcast in 2003, and presented by Dermot Murnaghan. For the 2008 series, Jeremy Vine was brought in to present on nights when Murnaghan was hosting the spinoff series Are You an Egghead? This happened again from October 2009 while...
quiz-show regular Kevin Ashman
Kevin Ashman
Kevin Ashman from Winchester, Hampshire in England is one of the world's most successful quiz players and since 2002 a professional quizzer, an Egghead since 2003...
.
Further reading
- Patterson, A. Temple (1962). The University of Southampton : A Centenary History of the Evolution and Development of the University of Southampton, 1862–1962. Southampton: The Camelot Press Ltd.
- Nash, Sally and Martin Sherwood (2002). University of Southampton: An Illustrated History. London: James and James