Southampton Solent University

History

• Southampton Solent University (SSU) gained university status in July 2005.
• Its origins can be traced to a private School of Art founded in 1855, which became Southampton College of Art.
• Mergers with the Southampton College of Technology and the College of Nautical Studies led to the establishment of Southampton Institute in 1984.

Location and transport

• The main campus enjoys a lively city centre location, close to Southampton’s nightlife, shops, entertainment and cultural landmarks.
• Southampton enjoys excellent road, rail, sea and air links. By rail we are just 75 minutes from London, 60 minutes from Portsmouth, 30 minutes from Basingstoke, Bournemouth and Salisbury and only 15 minutes from Winchester.
• The University’s Warsash Maritime Academy and Watersports Centre are ideally located at the mouth of the River Hamble. A new world class ship handling centre on a 10-acre lake at Timsbury, near Romsey.

Entry standards

• The average UCAS Tariff Points on entry was 262 (2010–11).
• 85% of full-time first degree entrants have A Levels as their highest qualification and 8% of UK undergraduate entrants' qualifiations were AAB or equivalent (2010–11).
• SSU offers open access to those without formal qualifications, in particular mature students with previous work experience.

Student mix

• 58% male and 42% female, although these vary by individual faculty (2010-11).
• Full-time population comprises 83% of students from the UK and 17% who are non-UK residents (2010-11).
• Approximately 1,900 international students from 105 countries (2010-11)
• 95.4% of full-time undergraduate entrants are from state schools, 35.9% are lower socio-economic groups, and 17% are from ethnic minorities (2010-11).
• For every place on a full-time undergraduate course there are 4 applications (2011).

Course flexibility

• Full and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses, short and CPD courses and Foundation degrees.
• Virtual Learning Environment 'myCourse' gives access to online teaching materials, information, news and notices about students' individual course units.
• Solent On-Line (SOL) is being developed as a fully integrated on-line learning environment for students who study on distance or blended learning courses mostly off campus.
• HE entry courses in Nautical Science and Marine Engineering prepare students, without a formal A level background, both academically and professionally for entry onto respective HND courses.

Teaching standards

• QAA Institutional Audit (December 2008) – highest possible outcome of 'confidence' awarded in both judgement areas.
• In 2010–11 (as in previous years) all external examiners confirmed that the academic standards of the university's awards continued to be appropriate, secure and comparable with the UK university sector as a whole.

Research standards

• More than 100 PhDs awarded to date, with a further 90 students currently studying towards MPhil or PhD.
• Research and scholarship encompasses the criteria of applied innovation, employer engagement, practice-based outcomes and direct links to the taught curriculum.

Academic strengths

• A distinctive curriculum which connects theory and practice, with emphasis on real world and real work learning experiences, giving graduates a combination of academic knowledge and professional employability skills.
• More than 60 of our courses are accredited by professional bodies.
• Official indicators show that over 86% of Solent's leavers were in employment or further study in 2010.
• A strong track record in business start ups. The University supports 40 new business start ups annually. Thirty of these businesses are still running three years after start up.

Student facilities, including library andcomputing

• State-of-the-art library facilities including new social learning spaces, the provision of a comprehensive graduate skills programme and extensive electronic resources enhance 24:7 availability.
• Learning centres and a dedicated wireless network provides students with the IT resources, both PC and Mac, they require to succeed.
• Specialist IT and computing resources are available within faculties to support course requirements.
• Online student portal provides a single point of access to a number of online services and personalised information, including the University’s online learning environment, email and library.

Disability services

Students' Union

• The Students' Union supports and protects the rights of students and offers independent advice – from housing to academic matters
• A hub of activities for students offering social events and opportunities for building skills and experience through clubs, societies volunteering and in the running of Union itself.

Sport

• Following a World Championship gold in 2010 and silver medal in 2011, Business student Kate Macgregor has been selected for the 2012 GB Olympic Sailing Squa.
• Paul Goodison – Olympic Gold medallist, Laser class sailing at Beijing 2008 will be sailing for Team GB in 2012 games.
• Development of Team Solent FC which has now been accepted into the Wessex League.
• Team Solent Basketball promoted into the English Basketball National Division 2.
• Following gold in 2010, Solent won a silver medal in the Student World Yachting Championship 2011.
• The acquisition of the Sports Development Unit at the City Council.
• Ladies Basketball 2011 BUCS League and Cup winners.
• Further development of the support offered to talents sports students saw the unveiling of the new High Performance Academy (HPA) and HPA Fitness Suite.
• Development of a new Football Association standard football ground and facilities is now complete.
• Purpose built watersports centre opened in 2006 serving both university academic and public courses in keelboat, dinghy and powerboat.
• Three fitness suites, two sports halls, climbing wall and squash courts.

Recent/prospective new builds

• £18-m spend on the estate during 2010–11.
• Acquisition of 2.3 acres of land to the side of the main University campus in the centre of Southampton.
• A £2.7-m world leading shipping handling centre, one of only five in the world, was opened in Romsey in June 2011.
• A new £1.4-m city centre site for the School of Art and Design.
• A new exhibition space was opened at the heart of Southampton’s new culture quarter in November 2011.
• £3.2-m new Football Association standard football ground and facilities is now complete and in use Sports Science – new physiology and motor performance labs enabling fitness testing, ergonomics and biometric analysis, new haematology lab.
• Music and Performance – new music studios and music practice rooms. Enhanced performance space and dance studio.
• Media and Fashion Styling – new wet room with hair washing and styling stations. New photographic studio and computer suite.

Availability of part-time work

• All part-time, full-time, volunteering and work experience opportunities options are advertised through Jobshop.
• Plans to expand the Graduate Internship Scheme which currently offers 25 University-based jobs.
• Dedicated job hunting advice is available on the website.
• Daily support in locating and applying for part-time or full-time work is available at the Employment Desk on campus.
• In depth guidance and careers advice is available daily by appointment with a professional Careers Adviser.
• Excellent Graduate Job South website for those looking to work locally after graduation.

Notable alumni

• Jenny Packham – Leading fashion designer; a favourite with A-listers and royals.
• Paul Goodison – Olympic Gold medallist, Laser class sailing at Beijing 2008. Will be sailing for Team GB in 2012 games.
• Sean Yasbeck – Winner of 2006 The Apprentice (USA).
• The late David Quayle – B&Q Co-founder.
• Geoff Holt and Katie Miller – transatlantic record breaking sailors.
  
• Pamela Blundell, fashion designer.
• Bobby Parks, former Hampshire and England cricketer.
• Peter Long – former First Choice holidays CEO.
• Ed Dubois and Bill Dixon – leading yacht and boat designers.
  

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