Read honest reviews from real students at this uni
4.04.04.1
The University of Portsmouth is located in the centre of the UK's only island city. It's a higher education institution known for its commitment to offering each one of its students a transformative educational experience.
Outstanding teaching and wide-ranging support make for a lively community, where students develop skills and confidence for a rewarding life.
Portsmouth's commitment to students' future careers is impressive. The latest statistics show more than nine in ten of the university's graduates are in work or further study.
Students at Portsmouth will be able to access a broad range of degrees across subjects including business, creative and cultural industries, humanities, law, sciences, social sciences, and technology. Each course at the university reflects its commitments to students' future career success. Students at the university are able to access a wider range of professional development opportunities during their studies, including work experience, placement and volunteering options. With a dedicated careers and employability service, on hand with expert advice, students are well placed for success.
The university also places a high priority on student support. At Portsmouth, students are not only able to develop the knowledge and skills they need for their degree, but can also get support and guidance on everything from finances to accommodation, physical health and mental wellness.
The University of Portsmouth's campus is a compact site that is interwoven with the city centre landscape, just steps away from the beautiful seafront. Students will find shops, essential services and buzzing nightlife on their doorsteps, along with plenty of relaxing beaches, parks and walking trails to enjoy during their downtime.
University of Portsmouth students on Whatuni say:
''Portsmouth is a great city to study in. It's the only island city in the U.K. Living by the beach is one of the best things, as you can go there to relax.''
''Good atmosphere, good lecturers and standard of teaching.''
''Now that I have finished my degree at the University of Portsmouth, I can say that I had a great time, the staff were incredible and the facilities were great there were opportunities for everyone.''
4.4The University of Portsmouth has a strong range of facilities available for students to use.
The new £57 million Ravelin Sports Centre offers:
The main library offers access to almost 395,000 books, 874,000 eBooks, 110,000 e-Journals, and online newspapers.
The new Ravelin Sports Centre won best Leisure Project at the AJ Architecture Awards 2023, which celebrates the very best in architecture across the UK. The facility is one of the UK's most sustainable sports centres, and has been graded A for energy efficiency.
University of Portsmouth students on Whatuni say:
''I really liked the facilities and lecturers.''
''The library facilities are amazing.''
''Such good easy access to different buildings with various places to study and do work from.''
4.0The University of Portsmouth can guarantee a room in halls to all new, full-time undergraduates who make them their firm, first choice and meet deadlines for accommodation. Current sites include:
Students can choose between staying in catered or self-catering halls with a shared kitchen, or a studio flat with their own kitchenette.
University of Portsmouth students on Whatuni say:
''Spacious and great location.''
''Great for international students. Met some great people there.''
''I live right by my building for my lectures, which is amazing.''
The University of Portsmouth is one of the few UK universities that has the luxury of offering a coastal lifestyle with a buzzing city vibe.
The university campus is next to the resort area of Southsea, where lots of students live. It's a friendly area with a huge open common and, of course, the beach.
By night, there are plenty of gigs, bars, restaurants and clubs to take advantage of, with many student-focused nights going on throughout the week.
University of Portsmouth students make the most of a wide range of clubs and societies offered by the university's student union, from anime to yoga.
Students can also get involved in over 35 sports clubs, from football to sailing. Many of these teams take part in matches against other universities.
3.8The University of Portsmouth Students' Union is led and guided by students. Their main goal is to make sure students have the best university experience possible.
Their role is to:
University of Portsmouth students on Whatuni say:
''The societies are fun and have had some good nights out at gigs and nightclubs.''
''The university also has an amazing range of sports clubs which I have been a part of allowing me to get to know far more people. ''
''Lots of activities to do here and societies.''
3.3Nine out of ten Portsmouth graduates are in work or further study (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21) which makes Portsmouth a great choice for progression to a career or postgraduate degree.
A large number of courses at the University of Portsmouth are validated by leading professional institutes and organisations, allowing students to fast-track to valuable industry accreditations. The university provides a range of flexible study pathways such as distance learning and part-time study modes, as well as top-up programmes.
Work experience is a core part of studying for Portsmouth students, who are encouraged to take on the best opportunities available. It's a great way to get ready for professional success and adapt to the working world. Students are able to get involved in:
Many Portsmouth students have praised the university's in-house recruitment agency, the Careers and Employability Service, for sourcing graduate jobs, part-time work, placements and volunteering opportunities with great success.
The University of Portsmouth offers a range of scholarships and bursaries.
The University of Portsmouth Bursary is available to full-time undergraduate students from England who are being charged full tuition fees and have a household income of £25,000 a year or less.
This bursary is available for 2025/26 entry, and does not require application. The university will check for eligibility after each student applies to Student Finance England.
In addition, full-time undergraduates with a household income below £25,000 can receive a £750 bursary.
Other financial support includes £1,700 a year to qualifying care leavers, £1,000 a year for those estranged from their parents, £500 a year for eligible students who are caring for a family member, and a variety of opportunities relating to specific subject areas.
The university's website offers more on these opportunities, as well as other bursaries and scholarships.
Admission on to an undergraduate course at the University of Portsmouth is subject to meeting the entry requirements set out for that study programme.
Academic and other criteria for courses can differ from department to department and from course to course. As a result, students should ensure they check the specific requirements for their chosen programme before applying.
The university works to ensure that students from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences can access life-changing education at Portsmouth. As well as exam results, admissions staff look at professional and voluntary experiences, as well as personal statements.
In general, students will need to have exam or admissions test results that satisfy the minimum requirements for their course. In many cases applicants may be asked to attend an interview or audition, and for certain courses, submission of a portfolio may also be required.
Students who don't speak English as their first language will need to provide evidence that they meet the minimum proficiency requirements for English language ability.
Students can find specific admissions criteria in the key facts section of each course page on the university's website.
UK students - £9,535 per year
EU students - pay the same as UK students thanks to the university's EU Scholarship
International students - fees will vary depending on the course and how long it runs. Students can find more information on the university website.
The University of Portsmouth has been awarded a full five-star rating for its excellence in teaching and internationalisation.
Lecturers at the university are experts in their field, with years of experience to offer students across both teaching and industry. Active researchers and practitioners, they allow students to access the latest thinking and theories, as well as benefit from personal, face-to-face interactions and discussions.
Feedback from current students suggests Portsmouth's lecturers enjoy helping them make the best of their academic work. Teaching is informed by the latest world-leading research and best practices from industry. Students will have a personal tutor to boost their learning, as well as opportunities to gain support with their studies.
The university makes sure work-related learning experiences are part of every course. To supplement their degree, students can also take additional language classes free of charge, as well as take advantage of opportunities on campus to add transferable skills to their CV.
The majority of research outputs from Portsmouth are rated as ‘internationally excellent' or ‘world leading' according to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, and in the same assessment, the university was ranked within the UK's top three modern universities for research power.
University of Portsmouth students on Whatuni say:
''We always had everything we need, lots of labs and practical experience. The lecturers were always welcoming and available if we needed additional support.''
''The tutors and facilities are great and useful.''
''There's a range of course delivery like the blended learning which caters to diverse student learners.''
The University of Portsmouth is a leading UK higher education institution. The university is particularly known for the outstanding quality of its teaching and the dedication of staff across all departments.
Its curriculum is progressive, constantly evolving to reflect the needs of employers and the new insights borne from its cutting-edge research. With a student-focused approach to course design and academic support, students at Portsmouth can be confident in their academic success as they enjoy personalised support and an education which changes to meet their own needs, and the needs of the industries they intend to work in. The university has been awarded an overall rating of Gold in the most recent Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), which reviews the teaching quality across higher education providers in England.
The university particularly excels in a number of areas, including:
University of Portsmouth students on Whatuni say:
''The lecturers provide useful support for the assessments and have helped me understand how the work is to be completed when I was struggling.''
''Great lecture halls and computer labs, lecturers always available to contact, all teaching done in person.''
''The university is really good with the academics and the facilities provided.''
4.2The University of Portsmouth offers a range of services to help students with everything, from study support to finance and wellbeing. On the whole, student reviews reflect the high availability and open-door policy of the ample support staff. Support services include:
The University of Portsmouth is dedicated to nurturing an academic and human community that reflects, accepts and celebrates students of all kinds. That's why it has dedicated resources and services dedicated to race and LGBTQ+ equality. As a member of the Race Equality Charter since 2018 and a Stonewall Diversity Champion, students can feel safe in the knowledge that they'll always be supported and heard.
University of Portsmouth students on Whatuni say:
''University of Portsmouth is really understanding of students circumstances, great student support.''
''I have been offered so much support throughout my time at university, I am a mature student and parent and I have found the university of Portsmouth to be very inclusive and welcoming.''
''I have found interactions with staff pleasant and helpful - I have truly felt they have cared about my education and done their best to help in any way, especially since I have had some difficulties in my last year.''
4.2
