1,289 University of Southampton reviews

The lecturers are very knowledgable about their area, with many also being able to assist on other aspects of the course. Contact time has been managed well, with limitations due to coronavirus meaning a full lecture hall is not always possible. Hands on experience has also been used successfully to back up the theory taught. The workload is not overwhelming, however I feel challenged and therefore as if I am progressing my understanding. Time has also been left for independent research and wider reading which has also proved beneficial.

Blended learning

Medicine at Southampton has been great. Clinical placements were implemented very early on. The ability to get in contact with senior tutors is very easy and content covered is good. It does have some disadvantages being a smaller hospital and not having the resources other larger city hospitals might. But you get to cover a large area of the south coast on placement and get to know many of the senior doctors and tutors.

Lots of housing near by and around the university. Is well priced in comparison to other city’s across England and good sized houses as well. Good bus and train connections helps to get around. Have always felt safe on nights out and walking around the university

Halls was great to meet people and get involved in university life in first year. The more research you do the better as the locations of the halls vary across the city. For my halls I felt like the facilities could have been better used and maybe to feel more like a community across each of the blocks.

There is a big contrast between lecturers, some of them are not that involved into the course, some of them make the module really interesting and help you a lot. The material is good and robust. The tutor time is almost non-existent. Since the pandemic I didn’t have 1 meeting with my tutor. Although, they quickly replied to my emails.

Southampton is a great city, having both a quiet residential area and also a lively city centre. Beside being a cultural city, I find Southampton a good place to wander around, in the Common Park, or by the harbour. The student experience is great , having a lot of places to go out, but there are some areas that might be shady and unsafe.

Staying in halls helped me making a group of friends, my flatmates, because I didn’t know anyone at uni at the beginning. As for the amenities, the kitchen was great and spacious, had all that we needed. My room was small, but looked nice and modern and having a double bed was a big plus. I also had my own bathroom which was what I wanted. The halls were 10 min walking from campus, and the area was safe and looked neat.

There are about 8 hour contact hours per week for Psychology (give or take a few). Some lecturers have been amazing, making it engaging and enjoyable, whereas some have not been so helpful. Most lectures take place on campus, with a few things online (it’s a good mixture with most in person). The modules have mainly been interesting but also very challenging (but there’s opportunities to ask questions/ email lecturers for help). Most content is taught in big lecture theatres so it’s hard to talk to lecturers one on one as such unless if you wait until the end of the lecture however, there are smaller tutorial groups that happen in some modules, meaning it has a more classroom feel where they’ll walk around and talk to you (providing you the opportunity to ask questions).

Some areas do feel a bit unsafe particularly at night, but within the city centre there’s a big nightlife and a lot of lighting so it normally isn’t too bad especially if you are with your friends. Transport is amazing with buses running every 10ish minutes and Ubers always available (along with a lot of train stations to get home). There is a massive shopping centre with is really nice with shops and restaurants and bars. Some places can be very expensive but there are places that definitely are affordable.

The old Wessex Lane halls are very outdated and don’t feel as great value for money. The kitchen is quite small for 7 people meaning it’s hard to hang out with your whole flat- potentially causing you to not hang out/get to know everyone all at once. The rooms are a good size with a lot of storage, they do just look quite old (but what a stereotypical uni room looks like- nothing fancy but does the job). They have great security as well as good facilities- including a laundry room with washers and driers and a common room (where you can study or just hang out). It is also located very close to fast food places like McDonald’s and shops such as Tesco express which are all within a walk away. The bus stop is also right outside the Wessex entrance so you don’t have to walk far and can get to the campus/ city centre in no time.

The course tries to have in-person teaching wherever possible. There is a medium amount of contact with lecturers and you’re always able to schedule more time with them, or the PG teaching assistants. Internships and work placements have to be sought out, so it takes a motivated individual to make the most of these opportunities.

Safety is as you would expect from a large city, the Union does what it can to protect students on night’s out. It’s a predominantly white, middle class institution although there are a diverse group of societies which people can join to find likeminded individuals. Overall, safety is a priority for students and staff alike which is reassuring.

It was good value for money and close by to main campus. Wifi had good enough speeds to stream things on my laptop which I liked. The facilities were basic but these have since been upgraded in the last year which is good for incoming students.

Education School is incredible.

A nice balance with lectures and tutorials spread out over the term

Good location

They lie about contact hours (12 is actually 8-9), and a lot of lecturers use content you’re not allowed to use yourself. It’s intellectually stimulating, but that’s mostly in seminars. Lectures are a huge drawback of the course.

The city isn’t the greatest for women feeling safe at night. That said, taxis have safety services and the Uni has safe buses. Has a lovely amount of trees and greenery that really help the area pop. Great for running and walks. Good nightlife.

My course is taught with a blend of online and in-person teaching and this works for me because there is still contact time but it means I can structure my learning in the best way, and this is especially helpful in third year when I have a dissertation due. The course hours and assignments alongside them keep me busy and this has helped me to make the most of my degree. Contact hours with lecturers face-to-face have allowed me to engage with the content, however with the online components lecturers have helped to address frequently asked questions in online lectures. The worst aspect is that there is an equal split between in person teaching and online teaching as I would prefer more in person teaching, but this does help me to structure my learning more which helps when it comes to assignments.

Southampton is a city which is ideal for students to learn to live in a new place surrounded by peers, and there are lots of green spaces to enjoy in warmer weather. There are lots of shops around the city as well as lots of part-time job opportunities if students are interested and I currently have a part-time job. There are lots of graduate jobs in Southampton and the surrounding areas that relate to a lot of degree pathways, and this has helped me to discover what graduate path may be best suited to me. Public transport is helpful as depending on your course your lectures may be on different campuses across the city, and bus passes are subsidised or free if you live in halls. One thing that isn't as great is that bus services timetables can be inaccurate but this is not an every day occurrence. Cost of living is reasonable for a city and is in the mid-range. There are lots of home and international students here so there is great diversity and I have got to know people from all over the world and have made some great friends!

Good value of money as this halls site includes an en-suite room. Good location as it is half way between campus and the town centre which makes it easier to shop, there is also a supermarket recently opened up on its doorstep, as opposed to living very close to campus. Good common rooms, huge flat kitchens, and opportunity to socialise with friends on green spaces. One thing that isn't as great as the two Archers Road hall sites are on opposite sides of the road so depending on which halls site you're in it may mean you have to cross over the road to access laundry.