The University of Southampton is a public research university in Southampton, England, with 25,785 students in 2024/25 and more than 10,000 international students from over 130 countries.[1][2] It is joint 111th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, down 24 places from 87th.[3][4]
The 2027/28 course fee table lists UK undergraduate fees of £10,050 and overseas fees from £26,800 to £34,100 for the examples we read, with Medicine listed separately.[5] We could not find a labelled 2026/27 overseas table. Undergraduates apply through UCAS.[6]
Key facts
| Official name | University of Southampton |
| Location | University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, England (main campus: Highfield)[7] |
| Type | Public research university; founding member of the Russell Group[1] |
| Founded | 1862 as the Hartley Institution; Hartley University College (1902); Southampton University College (1913); royal charter 1952[1] |
| Students | 25,785 in 2024/25 (17,645 undergraduate, 8,140 postgraduate)[1] |
| International students | More than 10,000 from over 130 countries[2] |
| Faculties | Five: Arts and Humanities; Engineering and Physical Sciences; Environmental and Life Sciences; Medicine; Social Sciences[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | =111th in the world (score 66.7); 87th in the 2026 edition[4] |
| Undergraduate tuition, 2027/28 (UK) | £10,050 per year, full-time[5] |
| Undergraduate tuition, 2027/28 (overseas) | Examples: £26,800 (Midwifery) · £27,500 (English) · £33,000 (Computer Science) · £34,100 (Physics MPhys)[5] |
| Overseas fee changes | Overseas tuition fees increase every year for students starting from 1 August 2026[8] |
| Postgraduate deposit | £2,000 before a CAS is issued (some applicants exempt)[8] |
| Undergraduate application | Through UCAS for the first year of a full-time course[6] |
| Official website | southampton.ac.uk |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 9 November 2026.
About the University of Southampton
The university began in 1862 as the Hartley Institution, funded by a bequest from Henry Robinson Hartley. It became Hartley University College in 1902 and Southampton University College in 1913, and it received a royal charter in 1952 that allowed it to award its own degrees.[1] It is a founding member of the Russell Group.[1]
Highfield is the main campus. Other sites include Avenue, Boldrewood, the National Oceanography Centre, University Hospital Southampton and Winchester School of Art; the university also has campuses in Malaysia and India.[1] Teaching is organised in five faculties: Arts and Humanities; Engineering and Physical Sciences; Environmental and Life Sciences; Medicine; and Social Sciences.[1] Wikipedia counts 25,785 students in 2024/25; the university’s international page says more than 10,000 international students from over 130 countries.[1][2]
How is the University of Southampton ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, the University of Southampton is joint 111th in the world (score 66.7), down from 87th in the 2026 edition.[4] The Tab’s list of Russell Group results reports the same position and calls it a fall of 24 places.[3] We did not find the QS 2027 position on the university’s own rankings page, and it was not confirmed from topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access.
The university’s rankings page lists other tables: TIME World’s Top Universities 2026 (52nd in the world, 8th in the UK), Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 (129th in the world, 15th in the UK), the Complete University Guide 2027 (15th in the UK) and the Guardian University Guide 2027 (18th).[9] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Southampton?
The five faculties cover arts and humanities, engineering and physical sciences, environmental and life sciences, medicine, and social sciences.[1] The 2027/28 undergraduate fee table lists courses such as English, Psychology, Computer Science, Physics, Midwifery and Medicine.[5]
How much does the University of Southampton cost?
| Course (full-time, 2027/28) | UK | Overseas |
|---|---|---|
| Midwifery BSc (October start) | £10,050 | £26,800 |
| English BA | £10,050 | £27,500 |
| Computer Science BSc | £10,050 | £33,000 |
| Physics MPhys | £10,050 | £34,100 |
The undergraduate course-fee page states that it gives fees for the 2027/28 academic year.[5] Medicine (BM5) is listed separately with higher amounts that we could not interpret reliably from the table, so check the Medicine course page.[5] A separate course page for BSc Psychology shows £10,050 for UK students and £33,900 for EU and international students per year of study without naming the year.[10]
2026/27
We could not find a table labelled 2026/27 for overseas undergraduates. The overseas fees page says that tuition fees increase every year for students starting from 1 August 2026, so the 2027/28 amounts above should not be read as the 2026/27 amounts.[8] Offer letters state the fee for your first year.
Postgraduate and other costs
Postgraduate applicants must pay a £2,000 deposit before a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is issued; some applicants are exempt and refunds are available in certain circumstances.[8] The international page mentions a £3,000 yearly undergraduate scholarship towards tuition for up to four years, and automatic postgraduate scholarships of up to £12,000, both described for students starting in September 2027.[2] For living costs, see our United Kingdom guide.
How do you apply to the University of Southampton?
- Undergraduate: anyone applying for the first year of a full-time undergraduate course must apply through UCAS. You can apply before you complete your qualifications or meet the English language requirement.[6]
- Fee status: non-UK applicants are usually charged the international fee; the Admissions Team decides fee status and may ask for a Fee Status Questionnaire.[6]
- Visa: non-British and non-Irish citizens may need a visa, which you can apply for after receiving an unconditional offer.[6]
- Postgraduate: the international page links to separate application guides for postgraduate taught and PhD study.[2]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year; check the guide for your cycle.
Which English level do you need?
Requirements apply if English is not your first language.[6] The level depends on the course: BSc Psychology asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each of reading, writing, speaking and listening.[10] The international page links to a full table of accepted tests and to pre-sessional English courses for students who need to build their English first.[2]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the University of Southampton’s QS ranking?
How much are overseas undergraduate fees at Southampton?
Is there a deposit for postgraduate study?
Yes. Postgraduate applicants must pay £2,000 before a CAS is issued, unless exempt.[8]
Do I apply through UCAS?
For the first year of a full-time undergraduate course, yes.[6]
Will fees rise each year?
The university says tuition fees for overseas students increase every year for students starting from 1 August 2026.[8]
More about studying in United Kingdom (UK)
- United Kingdom (UK): best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in United Kingdom (UK)
- Durham University
- Imperial College London
- King’s College London
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
- Queen Mary University of London
- University College London (UCL)
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- University of Cambridge
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Exeter
- University of Glasgow
- University of Leeds
- University of Manchester
- University of Nottingham
- University of Oxford
- University of Sheffield
- University of Warwick
- University of York
Sources
[1] Wikipedia: University of Southampton (history, 2024/25 student numbers, campuses and faculties)
[2] University of Southampton: International students information (page without a date (footer © 2026))
[3] The Tab: Ranked: all 24 Russell Group universities in QS world rankings 2027 (article of 19 June 2026 (date from the URL))
[4] Xuanxiao: University of Southampton rankings (QS 2027 edition) (aggregator; ranking data fetched 30 Sep 2026; QS edition released June 2026)
[5] University of Southampton: Undergraduate course fees (page states it covers the 2027/28 academic year)
[6] University of Southampton: Step-by-step guide to applying for an undergraduate degree course (page without a date; refers to 2026 terms)
[7] University of Southampton: Home page (address in footer) (page without a date)
[8] University of Southampton: Tuition fees for overseas students (page without a date)
[9] University of Southampton: Rankings and reputation (page without a date (footer © 2026); no QS World 2027 entry)
[10] University of Southampton: BSc Psychology (course page) (page without a date; fee year not stated)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.