🏅 QS World Rank #111
University of Southampton — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
Home to the UK’s National Oceanography Centre — QS World Rankings 2027 (joint #111)
The University of Southampton is a public research university on England’s south coast, with roots going back to 1862. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is joint 111th. This guide covers its faculties, admission, undergraduate fees, scholarships, advice for applicants from Pakistan and the questions applicants ask most.
University of Southampton Overview
The University of Southampton traces its history to the Hartley Institution of 1862 and gained full university status in 1952. Its main Highfield campus is in the city, with other sites including the Waterfront Campus at the docks.
The University works closely with the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), which is based at Southampton’s waterfront. The NOC is a separate research organisation, but it shares the site and collaborates with the university on marine science. Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web, has held a professorship at Southampton.
University of Southampton Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
The University of Southampton is joint 111th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026.
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
Southampton is known for:
- Electronics, electrical and computer engineering
- Ocean and Earth science, with the National Oceanography Centre on the waterfront
- Engineering, including ship science, aerospace and acoustics
- Computer science and web science
- Health sciences and nursing
- Business and law
This page does not quote subject ranks. Check the current QS subject tables for exact positions.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate applicants apply through UCAS. Confirm each course on the official pages.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Application | Undergraduate: through UCAS. Postgraduate: directly to the university |
| Offers | Typical offers depend on the course. Check the course page for entry requirements |
| English | International applicants need proof of English proficiency. Check the required scores for your course |
| Health courses | Nursing and other health courses have extra checks such as occupational health clearance |
| Documents | Transcripts, references and a personal statement for undergraduate applicants |
| Visa | A UK Student visa is required for most international students |
University of Southampton Acceptance Rate
Southampton does not publish one acceptance rate for international applicants, so this page does not quote one. The old “about 85%” figure was not tied to a source. Medicine and some engineering and science courses are more competitive.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and read its entry and language requirements
- Check the application deadline for your intake
- Book an English (or other required) language test
- Prepare transcripts, identification and any required documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the visa or residence-permit conditions for your destination
- Plan funding for tuition and living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on the University of Southampton’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
Southampton’s undergraduate fee page lists these overseas fees by subject area. The page does not state the academic year, so check it before budgeting:
- Nursing, midwifery and occupational therapy: £26,800
- Business, economics, law, politics and most arts and social sciences: about £28,300
- Mathematics: £29,800
- Computing, AI and software engineering: £33,000
- Engineering (all disciplines): £33,500
- Biology, psychology, oceanography, marine biology and earth sciences: £33,900
- Chemistry and physics: £34,100
- Medicine (BMBS): £35,900 in pre-clinical years and £64,900 in clinical years
Living costs are extra. The old range of £23,000 to £32,000 did not match these figures.
Source: University of Southampton undergraduate fees. Fees, dates and rules change each year.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- 75th Anniversary Undergraduate Excellence Scholarships: listed for students starting in 2027 who pay international fees. We could not read the amounts or criteria, so check the scholarship page.
- Sanctuary Scholarship: also listed for students starting in 2027.
- Postgraduate awards: Southampton lists many 75th Anniversary and Dean’s Global Talent awards, including awards for applicants from Pakistan in the Business School.
- Not confirmed: the old “Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship worth up to £5,000” was not found, so it has been removed.
- More funding ideas: see our guide to fully funded scholarships for 2027.
Source: Southampton international scholarships. Fees, dates and rules change each year.
University of Southampton for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants apply as international students:
- English: prepare an accepted English test. Our IELTS preparation guides can help
- Scholarship: check the Business School awards that name Pakistan, and the Scholarship Finder tool
- Budget: plan for the full tuition and UK living costs
- Visa: a UK Student visa is required after your offer
Campus & Student Life
- The Highfield campus is in the city, with the Waterfront Campus at the docks
- Southampton is a major port city on England’s south coast
- The National Oceanography Centre is based at the waterfront
- London is reachable by train in roughly an hour
Research & Career Opportunities
- Southampton is research-intensive, with strong electronics, engineering and ocean science
- The south coast has maritime, aerospace, technology and healthcare employers
- Graduates work in engineering, healthcare, research and business
- The university does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, has held a professorship at Southampton
- The National Oceanography Centre’s researchers work with the university’s ocean scientists
- Check the official Southampton pages for other notable graduates
Contact & Location
University of Southampton
University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
Official website: southampton.ac.uk
Use the contact details on the official site for admissions questions, as email addresses and phone numbers change.
Frequently Asked Questions
The University of Southampton holds joint 111th place in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
It is a UK marine and ocean science research organisation based at Southampton’s waterfront. It is separate from the university but collaborates with it.
Southampton is well known for electronics, electrical and aerospace engineering. Check current subject rankings for exact positions.
It is best known for electronics and computer science, engineering, ocean science and health sciences.
Its fee page lists about £33,500 for engineering, £33,000 for computing and £28,300 for business. Check the year and course.
Yes. Southampton is a member of the Russell Group.
Southampton lists the 75th Anniversary Undergraduate Excellence Scholarships and the Sanctuary Scholarship.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web, has held a professorship at Southampton.
Yes. Pakistani applicants apply as international students, usually through UCAS for undergraduate study.
Check the University of Southampton’s official pages at southampton.ac.uk. Fees, deadlines and rules can change.
Compare University of Southampton With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, University of Southampton’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.