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If you’re looking for a student-friendly seaside city to make your uni home, there are loads of reasons why studying in Southampton is for you. Located on the south coast, Southampton is in the South East, but is also very close to the border of the South West, meaning you’ve got a lot of major cities in close proximity. If Southampton is somewhere you think you might be applying to uni in, you’ll need to know what activities are on offer, what transport is on offer, and of course what everything costs. No matter what you’re curious about when it comes to student life in Southampton, we’ve got you covered with our student guide to the city.
- Student activities in Southampton
- Nightlife in Southampton
- Student accommodation in Southampton
- Transport in Southampton
- Student costs in Southampton
- Universities in Southampton
Student activities in Southampton
There’s a huge variety of activities on offer in Southampton, from long walks in the New Forest to catching a game at St Mary’s Stadium to visiting the Seacity Museum. Whatever it is you’re interested in, you’ll find something to match your interests in Southampton. There are also festivals such as the Southampton Mela occurring throughout the year, offering students a great opportunity to get involved in the local community.
Read our list of the top 10 things to do for students in Southampton.
Nightlife in Southampton
If it’s live music you’re after, then you might want to head to the Engine Rooms, the largest grassroots entertainment venue in Southampton. The venue hosts a range of different performances, with artists from across plenty of genres playing sets.
If you’re after more of a bar or club for your night on the town, then popular student haunts include Jesters nightclub and Bring and Mix bar, where you bring your own bottle of spirits and let the bartenders work their magic and craft you custom cocktails.
A quieter alternative to these night out is to take advantage of the theatres in Southampton. The Mayflower Theatre is the largest on the south coast and puts on shows from touring West End productions to dance shows to comedy.
Student accommodation in Southampton
If you’re at the University of Southampton, self-catered accommodation starts from £135 per week, while catered accommodation starts from £201 per week. Solent University’s rooms are all self-catered, and prices start at £113 per week. The price of rooms varies depending on the size of the room, whether the bathroom is shared or ensuite and the building the room is in.
If you decide not to live in halls, then you’ll want to look at renting private accommodation in the city. A room in a shared house can start from around £650 per month, but remember you’ll likely have to budget for utilities as well if you’re renting privately. If you want a bit more privacy, then you may want to rent a studio flat. Prices for these start at around £1,000 a month.
To find cheaper accommodation, you could opt to live in one of the nearby neighbourhoods such as Portswood. If you want to live a bit further out of the city to get a good deal on housing, make sure you factor in the cost of any transport you might need to get into uni to make sure you’re actually getting a good deal!
Transport in Southampton
The city is relatively small, so you can also opt to walk or cycle around in most cases. If you decide to take up cycling, you’ll have to consider the cost of a bike, helmet, and bike locks, as well as lights and other safety equipment if you’ll be cycling in the dark. You can often find second hand bikes at good prices, and safety equipment is relatively affordable.
If you’re travelling further afield, the city is served by a mainline rail station offering regular trains to cities including London and Birmingham, with off-peak return tickets costing around £50 and £100 respectively. You can save on train tickets by purchasing a 16-25 Rail Card, which costs £30 for a year and saves you 1/3 on rail fare.
Student costs in Southampton
Luckily for you, Southampton has a lower cost of living than many other major cities in the south of England. Aside from your rent and tuition fees, living in Southampton you should expect to spend:
- £44 a month on groceries
- £70 for utilities if your rent isn’t inclusive
You’ll also want to be aware of the typical cost for going out and socialising:
- £4.50 for a pint
- £12 for a meal in a chain restaurant
- £60 for two people to eat out in a mid-range restaurant
Read our detailed breakdown of the cost of living in Southampton for students.
Universities in Southampton
There are two universities in Southampton – the University of Southampton and Solent University. The University of Southampton ranks 20th in the UK overall according to the Complete University Guide 2025’s league tables. Solent University, meanwhile, ranks highly for student satisfaction, coming 31st in the UK.
Both unis offer hundreds of undergraduate courses, meaning you’ll have lots of different choices when it comes to picking your degree in Southampton. Whether you’re interested in languages, sciences or the arts, you’ll find loads of choice at the city’s universities.
