International Office

Student Support

The University of Portsmouth is dedicated to making your experience rewarding and memorable.  We offer a range of both academic and personal support tailored to your needs, as well as services specifically for international students. Click on the links below for more information.

  • Computing Facilities

    Practical computing plays a central role in most of our courses at Portsmouth and the University helps to develop students' skills as an integrated part of their study. We have invested heavily to provide the best computer facilities and places to study between lectures.  We have open access areas around the campus with the latest equipment and excellent support, a free and extensive wireless network and 24 hour IT support.  Our Student IT Support Centre offer free help with any IT issue, large or small.

    We also have a dedicated student site online where you can find news updates, links to student services and details of your timetables, exam grades, library loans etc. When you arrive you will be given your own Google email account and 5GB of ultra fast storage. Your Google account means you can keep in touch with your fellow students, share your work online and access our virtual learning enviroment, where you will find resources and activities for your course. For more information visit Information Services.

  • Careers Service

    To ensure you are prepared for the world of work when you graduate, we offer an extensive range of career planning guidance and resources.  Not only will you graduate with a good degree, you will be ready for a rewarding career with the skills and attributes needed in todays competitive job market.

    Purple Door Careers and Recruitment run our Graduate Employability Programme. They provide online resources, a graduate summer programme and events/seminars tailored to the needs of EU and international students.  These include CV workshops, job interview preparation and sessions on developing job seeking strategies.  Purple Door Careers and Recruitment is open all year round and staffed by a team of experience advisers available to assist you throughout your studies and for up to five years after you graduate.

    Electives (optional units not necessarily related to your field of study, such as languages, music etc), work-shadowing and volunteering opportunities are also widely available. They expand your CV, help you improve communication and teamwork skills, and make you more attractive to future employers. Please visit Purple Door Careers and Recruitment for more details.

  • English Tuition

    We offer all International (non EU) students free EAP classes during the first year of the course. These classes are optional and normally last for 2 hours each week. These sessions not only help you to improve your proficiency in English, but also help you to speak and write English in a way which is required for your particular course.

    An extensive choice of Pre-Sessional English courses are available for students who do not yet have the required level for entry onto our degree programmes. Courses from 4 weeks to 25 weeks in duration are available, depending on your current level.

  • International Orientation Programme

    Our International Orientation Programme is held the week before the start of the term.  The programme will help you to learn your way around the campus and the city, to make friends and give you a good start to your time at the University. In addition to receiving general advice about living and studying in Portsmouth, you will meet teaching staff from your department and be welcomed to the University by the Vice-Chancellor. The programme includes academic events, city tours and social events to prepare you for the new year ahead.

  • International Student Advisers

    We recognise and understand the cultural changes you may experience whilst studying here in the UK. Our International Student Advisers are available to provide advice and support, and help you settle into life in Portsmouth. They provide assitance with visa extensions, police registration appointments and any pastoral issues. The International Student Advisers also arrange social events and coach trips and produce our newsletter, The Island.

  • University Library

    The University Library is so much more than just books!  Open from 0800hrs to 2400hrs every day during term term, its a great place to study, access all your information needs and meet friends.  The library houses 400,000 books, as well as DVDS, maps and microfilm, and has study places for 650 readers. We have thousands of ebooks, ejournals and online newspapers which can be accessed across campus. There are wireless connections throughout the library and laptops available for loan. Our online catalogue gives you access to check the availability of resources and reserve or renew them.  Zones for silent study and (noisier) group work are available, as well as a handy cafe for when you need a study break!

  • Personal Tutor System

    All students are assigned a personal tutor when they have enrolled on their course. Students will find the tutor an invaluable resource and receive expert guidance in matters of an academic nature either in person, by telephone or by email.

  • Sports

    Sports at Portsmouth are varied and lively. As well as participating in many sports, you also have the opportunity to assist with the running of the sports clubs. Students currently run approximately 60 sports clubs ranging from scuba diving to soccer.

    Our position on Britain's south coast puts us in an ideal position to enjoy water sports. Windsurfing, from beginner to expert level, can be enjoyed off the Southsea seafront, while the University's sailing club regularly competes at international level.

    The University has its own playing fields, including a new all-weather pitch, and a range of excellent indoor sports facilities. Basketball, volleyball, badminton, hockey, netball, and five-a-side football are all available at the University's sports halls. The Nuffield Sports Hall has a newly re-equipped multigym.

    For those with a particular skill in certain sports, especially swimming, sailing, rugby and hockey, there is not only the opportunity to represent the University, but also to train and compete at professional level with leading clubs based in the area. The University has a limited number of sports scholarships available for this purpose. Other financial assistance may also be available to gifted performers in other sports.

  • Student Advice Services

    This is the University's information and advice point for all students, based in the Nuffield Centre. If you need advice or information then you are welcome to either telephone or call in. The International Office is also based in the Nuffield Centre and provides additional support for our EU and international students.

    The following support services are available to all students at the University:

  • Students' Union

    Our Students' Union complex is a fantastic resource. This is an organisation for students, run by students. It is a base for the University's clubs and societies, and is at the centre of the University's social life. The Union has a coffee shop, bookshop, sports bar, food outlets, convenience store and conference suite.  You will also find the 3rd Space there - a social learning space for you to study and meet up with friends. Small and large groups can also use the inflatable pods for group work.

    It is through the Students' Union that students' views are represented at the University's management committees. As well as representing students' interests, the Students' Union is committed to increasing the opportunities available to students for personal professional development.