Study at the University of Portsmouth
The University of Portsmouth can trace its history back to 1869 and the formation of the Portsmouth and Gosport School of Science and the Arts. Portsmouth is a coastal town, and its dependence on shipping meant that the principal focus of this college was the training of engineers and dock workers. As the city developed after the Second World War, the maritime industry became less prominent in the area and the college diversified. It was renamed Portsmouth Polytechnic in the 1960s and grew to be one of the biggest such institutions in the country.
University status was granted to Portsmouth in 1992 when the institution began to validate its own degrees (degrees had previously been validated by the Council for National Academic Awards). In 2009 the university’s School of Law opened a mock courtroom, giving students the opportunity to take part in realistic recreations of course cases.
Quick Summary
- Established: 1992
- Students: 20,871(2021)
- Intl. Student Ratio: 26%
- Location: Winston Churchill Avenue, Portsmouth
- Campus: Two ( University House Campus, Langstone Campus)
- TEF Ranking: Gold
- THE Ranking: 61st in the UK (501 – 600 in the World)
University Details
Subjects Offered
The University of Portsmouth covers a broad range of subjects at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level. Find out more about what they offer and why it’s great to study at the University of Portsmouth.
- Accounting
- Aerospace engineering
- Agriculture
- American studies
- Anatomy Animal science
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Building and surveying
- Business and management studies
- Chemical engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil engineering
- Classics Computer games design and programming
- Computer science
- Dance
- Dentistry
- Design
- Drama and theatre studies
- Economics
- Electronic and electrical engineering
- Finance
- Fine art
- General Engineering
- Genetics
- Geography
- Geology
- Information management
- Journalism
- Law
- Marine and ocean sciences
- Marketing
- Materials science
- Maths
- Mechanical engineering
- Media studies
- Medicine Microbiology
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Photography and film
- Physics
- Physiology
- Social work
- Sociology
- Software engineering
- Tourism and travel
- Zoology
University Ranking (Worldwide)
According to Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2021, University of Portsmouth is ranking at 501- 600 in the world.
- Overall: n/a
- Teaching: 18.8
- Research: 16.7
- Citations: 70.4
- Industry Income: 33.9
- International Outlook: 88.6
University Campuses
The university is split between the University Quarter, which is centred around the Portsmouth Guildhall area, and the Langstone Campus. In the last few years, a number of new academic buildings have sprung up on campus. In 2014, a £14 million wing of the university’s Eldon Building opened, housing facilities for creative arts students – including a cinema-quality screen room with 200 seats, creative studios and seminar rooms.
This was followed in 2015 by the White Swan Building, attached to the New Theatre Royal providing performance space for students, and the Forensic Innovation Centre, set up with local police and giving students the opportunity to work with practitioners of forensic science.
- University House Campus Winston Churchill Ave, Southsea, Portsmouth PO1 2UP
- Langstone campus Southsea, Portsmouth, Southsea PO4 8LW