The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902 the Institution developed into the Hartley University College, with degrees awarded by the University of London. On 29 April 1952, HM Queen Elizabeth II, granted a Royal Charter to give the University of Southampton full University status. This was the first Royal Charter granted by HM Queen Elizabeth II on her accession to the throne.
The university is a member of the Russell Group of research universities and the Worldwide Universities Network. It currently has over 17,000 undergraduate and 7,000 postgraduate students, making it the largest university by higher education students in the South East region. The main campus is located in the Highfield area of Southampton. Four other campuses are located throughout the city alongside the School of Art based in nearby Winchester.
The university has a strong emphasis on research, having one of the highest proportions of income derived from research activities in Britain. Southampton is highly regarded as a centre for educational excellence, ranking as a top 20 university in various tables, and regularly rated in the top 10 of the National Student Survey.
History
The University of Southampton has its origin as the Hartley Institution which was formed in 1862 from a benefaction by Henry Robertson Hartley (1777–1850). Hartley had inherited a fortune from two generations of successful wine merchants. At his death in 1850, he bequest £103,000 to the Southampton Corporation for the study and advancement of the sciences in his property on the Southampton's High Street, in the city centre.
In 1902, the Harltey College became the Harley University College, a degree awarding branch of the University of London. This was after inspection of the teaching and finances by the University College Grants Committee, and donations from Council members (including William Darwin the then Treasurer).
Further expansions through the 1920s and 30s was made possible through private donors, such as the two daughters of Edward Turner Sims for the construction of the University library, and from the people of Southampton, enabling new buildings on both sides of University Road. During World War II the university suffered damage in the Southampton Blitz with bombs landing on the campus and its halls of residence.
On 29 April 1952, in the early weeks of the reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II, a Royal Charter was granted to the University of Southampton, which enabled the institution to award its own degrees. Six faculties were created: Arts, Science, Engineering, Economics, Education and Law.
The University celebrated its Golden Jubilee on 22 January 2002. By the time the celebrations started, Southampton had become one of the leading universities in the UK, with a reputation for academic excellence, attracting students and researchers from all over the world.
Campus
Highfield Campus
The University's main campus is set in green and pleasantly landscaped surroundings, just a short walk from the city centre. Here you will find new and refurbished student facilities, such as the Jubilee Sports Centre and Students' Union, the Hartley Library, a range of cafés and restaurants, a bookshop, a post office and four major banks.
Avenue Campus
Only a few minutes walk from Highfield Campus, Avenue provides a purpose built environment for the School of Humanities along with the Centre for Language Study. It also has its own library, lecture theatres and catering facilities.
Boldrewood Campus
Boldrewood is the purpose-built location for Biomedical Sciences, close to the Highfield Campus. It has its own library, spacious lecture theatres, extensive laboratory and computing facilities, a student common room, catering facilities and a bar.
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
This is our waterfront campus, situated in the south of the city on the dockside. The National Oceanography Centre, Southampton is one of the world's leading research centres for the study of ocean and earth sciences.
Southampton General Hospital
One of the country's leading teaching hospitals and the base for the University's School of Medicine.
Winchester School of Art
Founded in 1863, the WSA is based 12 miles (20 kilometres) north of Southampton in the historic city of Winchester, a short journey by train or bus. Its purpose-designed buildings include the renowned School of Art and Textile Conservation Centre, studios, workshops, a library with special collections and Students' Union
Library
The University of Southampton Library has a presence on each of the University's six campuses, holding more than 1.5 million books and periodicals, some 6,000 in electronic form, besides specialist materials, including more than 6 million manuscripts.
The library contains a number of special collections of rare books and manuscripts. In 1983, the university received the correspondence of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. It also houses the Broadlands Archive, including the Palmerston and Mountbatten papers. The library also contains 4,500 volumes of Claude Montefiore's library on Theology and Judaism, the Ford Parliamentary Papers, Frank Perkins' collection of books on agriculture, Sir Samual Gurney-Dixons's Dante collection and the James Parkes Library of Jewish/non-Jewish relations. The library also includes six rare editions of the Divina Commedia, the first of these, the Brescia edition of 1487 is the Library's earliest book.
Research
As one of the UK's top 10 research universities, It is internationally recognised for its pioneering work in many areas, including engineering sciences, law, medicine, oceanography and physical sciences.
It promotes the unique features of its research and transfer this knowledge to the wider community through professional development courses, research collaborations, consultancy, technology licensing and company formation.
More than 150 international businesses have chosen Southampton as a key partner for their research and development. it works with hi-tech companies of all sizes – local, regional and global. See more on its work with business.
Here are some of its world-leading achievements:
- The University's School of Ocean and Earth Science and the Natural Environment Research Council form the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. The centre boasts one of the world's largest groups of scientists and researchers collaborating on ocean processes, climate change and the development of technology to explore the oceans and seabed.
- The Cancer Sciences Division at the School of Medicine supports research programmes into basic immunology and tumour biology at the highest international level. Research firsts include the development of anti-cancer DNA vaccines that are being tested in clinical trials. The division is one of the 14 National Translational Cancer Research Network centres in the UK and is a Cancer Research UK clinical centre.
- The Institute of Sound and Vibration Research was instrumental in developing 'virtual sound', which is now used within the home cinema industry.
- Researchers at the Optoelectronics Research Centre laid the foundations for the world wide web and global telecommunications through the development of fibre optics.
- The Textile Conservation Centre at Winchester School of Art has played an important part in developing advanced knowledge and understanding of textile conservation, offering world-renowned postgraduate training in the subject.
Faculties and Schools
The University is made up of a number of schools organized into three faculties:
- Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics
Engineering Sciences
Civil Engineering and the Environment
Chemistry
Geography
Electronics and Computer Science
Mathematics
Physics and Astronomy
Ocean and Earth Science
- Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences
Arts
Law
Humanities (Archaeology, English, History, Music, Modern Languages and Philosophy)
Social Sciences (Economics, Politics, Sociology and Social Policy, Statistics and Social Work Studies)
Education
Management
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Biological Sciences
Nursing and Midwifery
Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences
Psychology
Health Care
Medicine
University of Southampton was ranked 99th in the 2008 THES-QS World University Ranking.
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