Why choose the University of Portsmouth?

Portsmouth is a dynamic and forward-looking university where you will be supported to fulfil your potential. We are committed to innovative teaching that is informed by significant research, and to ensuring that you are confident and resilient when you embark on life after university. At Portsmouth you'll be able to equip yourself with recognised graduate skills and attributes empowering a spirit of independence, creativity and enterprise.

Our aim is to give you an excellent student experience focused on knowledge and skills essential for roles in the global workforce. You'll find this in a modern city campus, right in the heart of Portsmouth. We have over 22,000 students and 3,000 are from overseas so you'll be joining a varied and vibrant community of people from over 100 countries with different experiences.

Watch this short film to find out what our students think about studying here.

More reasons to choose Portsmouth

 

Stimulating degrees that are relevant to your future

In liaison with professions and industry we develop courses that make you attractive to future employers. We offer nearly 300 different undergraduate courses and our course teams and Information Centre staff are happy to help with any questions you might have to ensure that you make the right choice. There's also so much more available for you to take advantage of when you're studying at Portsmouth. We run a full programme of interesting electives to supplement the skills gained through your course. You can gain academic credit and many of the qualities employers look for by learning another language or developing entrepreneurial attributes.

 

Academic experience

Our students report very high levels of satisfaction about the quality of teaching on their courses, the approachability of staff and academic support. Our reputation for teaching and student support is something we really value. In the 2011 National Student Survey 85% of students said that we satisfied or very satisfied with their course.  This exceeds the national average of 83% and places us within the top 30 of mainstream English universities.

 

Location

Portsmouth is a waterfront city surrounded by the sea which has shaped its history and its culture, a modern city that is a breath of fresh air, a distinctive culture with edge and attitude, pride and passion. Read more on living in Portsmouth.

 

Your future working life

At the University of Portsmouth we are very committed to equipping our students and graduates with the right skills and experiences to be successful in the graduate employment market.

In 2008 we created the Department of Employability, which has the Matrix Quality Award, and provides the following services to students and graduates through the Purple Door Careers and Recruitment Service, based in the centre of our campus:

  • One stop shop for careers advice and guidance available from day one
  • E-guidance to supplement face-to-face support
  • Recruitment agency available for up to 5 years after graduation – sourcing graduate internships, work experience, volunteering opportunities, part-time and graduate jobs
  • Graduate Summer Programme including CV clinic and interview support
  • Annual Graduate Recruitment Fair with local and national employers and recruitment fairs throughout the year targeted at specific careers and subject areas
  • Programme of external speakers and events on employment related topics
  • Specialist advice for distance learning, postgraduate and international students and for students with a disability or other challenging circumstances
  • A Careers Adviser linked to each of our five Faculties

Our courses all provide opportunities for work-related learning and we have a range of special simulation facilities and resources such as a court room, a forensics house, a model pharmacy and a health suite with 'living' mannequins. For many courses a placement year or short-term work experience is available together with opportunities for study abroad. Most of our courses have a strong vocational focus and many carry full or partial professional accreditation or recognition. Our academic staff work in collaboration with employers to ensure that our curriculum is up to date and will allow our students to develop the essential skills for employment. We also benefit from the involvement of employers in the delivery and assessment of courses, such as through judging presentations or presenting on case studies from the workplace.

Open to all students, the Portsmouth Centre for Enterprise encourages the development of enterprise skills and supports students in setting up businesses, freelancing and consultancy. It provides mentoring, on-line support, business development units, sponsored prizes and awards and a student enterprise club.

Beyond the curriculum there are many opportunities for developing employment related skills through involvement with the Students' Union in such activities as running societies, local community volunteering and fundraising. Portsmouth is a diverse and lively city and there are many opportunities for students to engage in activities which will enhance their employment potential, including a wide range of part- time jobs.

Further details can be found on our University website at www.port.ac.uk and at www.port.ac.uk/careersandrecruitment.

 

Student support tailored to your needs

From the minute you arrive we are dedicated to making your experience here exceed your best expectations. We offer both academic and personal support for you throughout your time with us. For those times when you may need support and advice with any issue, however big or small, help is at hand from our friendly, professional Student Advice Services team. We offer one-to-one guidance and supporting all areas of student welfare, tailored to your individual needs. Visit the student support pages for more information.

 

Outstanding learning spaces and facilities

Over £74 million has been invested in making learning, sport and leisure spaces the best possible between 2001-2010 and we are justifiably proud of our buildings where you'll learn, live or relax. Most of our teaching buildings are close to halls of residence, the town centre, nightlife and the seafront, meaning you don't have to travel far for anything. Our city campus has a blend of architecturally bold new spaces and more traditional buildings, but all are equipped and managed to the highest standards.

A prestigious Centre for Molecular Design was re-launched in 2008. Its work includes designing cutting-edge molecular modelling software for pharmaceutical companies to help develop new drugs. We established the UK's first dedicated brain tumour research centre in 2008, evolving out of a superbly equipped laboratory base.

The University Library was commended in the 2008 Civic Trust Awards for its £11 million 'green' extension. Our Forensic House provides a multidisciplinary student environment for studying crime scene detection. The new £9 million Dennis Sciama Building houses the internationally-recognised Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation. Dennis Sciama was a leading figure in the development of British astrophysics and cosmology.

Our new £9 million Dental Outreach Centre, opened in September 2010, and trains 80 dental students a year and provides improved access to NHS dental services to people in Portsmouth.

National Student Survey

Students at the University of Portsmouth have reported very high levels of satisfaction in the National Students Survey for the fifth year running. Both full and part-time students were asked to rank their satisfaction in a range of areas from specific subjects to academic support and their satisfaction overall was 85 per cent, higher than the national average of 83 per cent.

The results place Portsmouth within the top 30 mainstream English universities for student satisfaction, making it one of the top modern universities. Two subject areas – sports science and European languages - were rated joint top in England for overall satisfaction, with 96 per cent and 97 per cent respectively.

Portsmouth students equalled or exceeded the national average rankings for teaching; academic support; organisation and management and personal development. Many of the University’s taught subjects rank in the top 10 per cent in the country in terms of overall satisfaction. Subject areas which received consistently high levels of satisfaction include education, history, politics, sports science, finance, accounting, geography, psychology, European languages, English studies and sociology (including criminology).

Your business

If you have an idea, initiative or design and you'd like to 'make it happen', our Centre for Enterprise will inspire you to learn and succeed in entrepreneurship through developing enterprise skills and experience. The Centre helps both existing and former students, regardless of their course, by guiding innovative ideas and developing skills in business start up, self-employment, freelancing and consultancy. Every year our Centre for Enterprise runs the Enterprise Challenge competition.

World-leading research

Research at the University of Portsmouth has been rated world class in the latest survey of research quality in UK universities the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Three subject areas - Applied Mathematics, Allied Health Professions and Studies, and European Studies - have been judged to be among the top research groups in their subject areas in the UK. In Applied Mathematics, Portsmouth is equal first with Cambridge, Durham and Oxford with the highest total (75 per cent) for research that is internationally excellent and world-leading.