Solent University

Skills. Experience. Connections. Knowledge. For a future full of possibilities.

Solent has been a university since July 2005, but it has a long and complex educational history.

Incorporated as an independent higher education institution in 1989, the University's origins can be traced back to a private School of Art founded in 1855. Mergers between Southampton College of Art, the College of Technology and the College of Nautical Studies at Warsash laid the foundations for what is now Solent University.

Solent University is all about creating opportunities: for its students, for its staff, for its partners. It offers expertise and experiences you couldn’t get anywhere else, opening doors and making introductions.

We’re focused on the practical side of higher education – giving our students the connections, experience and confidence to turn their newfound knowledge into a career with real, meaningful impact. Whoever you are, whatever your goals, we want to help you make your mark.

Since becoming a university, Solent has helped over fifty thousand students from all walks of life to make the most of their potential. Guided by four Vice-Chancellors in turn, the University has changed dramatically over the past ten years – from campus improvements to the latest state-of-the-art facilities.

Our mission and strategy:

We are dedicated to the pursuit of university education that enables learners from all backgrounds to become enterprising citizens and responsible leaders. We are committed to promoting economic and social prosperity for the communities we serve.

Put simply - we want Solent graduates to be the passionate, creative professionals of the future, bringing expertise and energy into their communities and workplaces.

Studying at Solent:

If there's one thing our 160 year history has taught us, it's that employers are expecting more than ever from modern graduates. Our job is to ensure you leave your course ready to exceed those expectations - equipping you with the hands-on skills and workplace confidence you'll need to succeed.

Employability sits at the heart of everything we do. Our curriculums, created in collaboration with industry employers, guarantee that the skills and knowledge you gain have genuine market value. Our teaching teams extend this value, injecting their first-hand experience into every aspect of your degree.

Everyone learns differently. If at any point during your studies you feel you may benefit from extra support, you'll be able to access it. This isn't limited to academic support either. Whether you want help setting up your own business, are worried about your finances or simply want help with looking for part-time work, our support services will be there for you.

• Our pledges and charters: Solent University is proud to demonstrate our commitment to being future ready through being signatories of pledges and charters with key external partners. Together, these define who we are and what we stand for.

• Social Mobility Pledge, This is Purpose: We are committed to growing the Social Mobility Pledge coalition, sharing best practice and playing a key role in closing the growing Covid-19 Opportunity Gap.

• C-19 Business Pledge, This is Purpose: We are committed to being a force for good by making a commitment to doing what we can to tackle coronavirus (Covid-19), supporting the recovery and helping the world to rebuild over the medium to long term.

• Manifesto for Public Engagement, National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE): We are committed to contribute to society through our public engagement, sharing our knowledge, resources and skills with the public, and listening to and learning from the expertise and insight of the different communities with which we engage - benefiting staff, students and the public, and sharing what we learn about effective practice.

• Development of a Civic Agreement, UPP Foundation: We are committed to creating a Civic University Agreement that will align our priorities with those of our local partners. Alongside schools, further education colleges, local authorities, charities, the NHS, civil society and businesses, large and small, we want to make sure our place thrives in the coming decades.

• The Knowledge Exchange Concordat, National Centre for Universities and Business: We are committed to enhancing our knowledge exchange through outlining activity and practice, identifying where improvements or innovation might add value, and supporting staff to develop.

• Magna Charta Universitarium, Magna Charta Observatory: We are committed to the principles of academic freedom and institutional autonomy as a guideline for good governance and self-understanding of universities.

• Southampton Green City: We are committed to addressing some of the most challenging environmental issues facing Southampton to deliver far-reaching changes to the city environment.

• Fossil Free Declaration, People and Planet: We are committed to remaining free of investments in fossil fuel.

• City of Sanctuary Organisation Pledge: We support the ‘City of Sanctuary’ vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.

• Solent Creatives: As a Solent student you can access opportunities through Solent Creatives, our student-powered freelancing agency.

We help students to embark on freelance work experience and build a portfolio by introducing you to real, paid creative assignments from businesses of all sizes.

You will be supported by the Solent Creatives team to collaborate with clients, create amazing work, and belong to a community of creative students

We provide training, advice and expertise to enable you to start your freelancing career alongside your studies.

Admission requirement vary from country to country. Kindly contact our admissions counsellor for more information!