Southampton Solent University

Solent University (SU) is a higher education institution based in the south of England, which offers students a range of postgraduate courses supported by a 160-year history of educational and modern approaches to training. 

Solent’s campus is centrally located in the city of Southampton, and is a hub for a diverse student population of more than 30,000 individuals. Postgraduate students will find subject specific departments, industry standard facilities and specialised research labs across the campus, along with contemporary studios, lecture theatres and private study spaces. The campus is also home to the university’s active students’ union, various support services, places to eat and drink, and six halls of residence. 

Southampton is a mid-sized city on the south coast of England, offering students a vibrant and enjoyable lifestyle by the sea. With museums and galleries, historic buildings and cultural institutions within the city itself, along with miles of stunning coastline to explore, Southampton is a haven for student living. It combines natural and historical wealth with a modern lifestyle, with many bars, clubs, restaurants, pubs and event spaces dotted around the city. 

Prospective postgraduate students at Solent University can explore a wide range of taught and research courses spanning subjects including business, communications, computing, health and wellbeing, law and more. 

The university is noted for its dedication to thorough, personalised learning across its curricula. Students are able to benefit from extended contact time with teachers and tutors, individually assigned to students to suit their subject area and academic strengths. Staff are active researchers in their field, feeding new industry developments and academic discoveries into their teaching material. 

Courses are rich with practical learning and real-world learning opportunities, with industry placements being a part of some courses. 

Students can select from a number of different qualifications to suit their objectives and current lifestyle. Full master’s degrees including MA and MSc degrees are available, while shorter programmes such as PGCert and PGDip may suit students looking to prepare for a new academic focus or stimulate their career prospects. 

Part time and distance learning opportunities are also on offer at the university, with Solent Online Learning acting as a one-stop-shop for virtual learning, online resources and robust support for distance learners. 

Solent University maintains a wide range of postgraduate programmes, each with its own specific entry requirements. Applicants will need to meet academic, professional or application performance based criteria in order to secure a place on their chosen course. 

For example, students applying for the MA in Human Resource Management will need to have a 2:2 grade or higher at undergraduate honours level, or equivalent professional qualifications and experience. 

Applicants for the LLM in Intellectual Property Law and Professional Legal Practice will need to demonstrate achievement of a 2:2 grade or above at undergraduate honours level, across any subject area. 

Applicants for the MSc in International Shipping and Logistics should have an undergraduate honours degree at 2:2 level or above, in shipping or maritime studies. Applicants with equivalent professional or international qualifications will be considered. Those combining a degree in any subject area, or a HND in a technical or business subject, with relevant professional experience, will also be considered. 

Entry requirements may change over time, so students should check the university website before applying. 

Solent University works to support the graduate prospects of its postgraduate students at every opportunity.  

Employability is embedded into all courses at Solent, with course modules drawing from real-world examples and industry-relevant theory, helping students build skills and knowledge that are highly valued by potential employers. 

The university has a dedicated service for employability and careers advice, Solent Futures, which provides students with a comprehensive array of digital and in-person services designed to help them maximise their career prospects – both during and after their studies there. 

The Solent Futures Online platform also provides students with access to a wide range of jobs, placements or work experience opportunities. Graduate jobs and internships are generated for students through the university’s employer team, who connect with employers across dozens of sectors on students’ behalf. 

Regular skills workshops, jobs fairs and sector specific presentations mean that students can always work on their networking and transferable skills alongside their studies. 

Students can access career advice and helpful online resources for their whole lives after graduating from Solent University, as well as benefit from various exclusive alumni perks. 

Accommodation

Solent University works to ensure that postgraduate students are able to make the most of the wonderful lifestyle that Southampton has to offer through the provision of quality accommodation options. There are various choices, from rooms in on-campus halls to privately rented houses and apartments across the city, to suit every lifestyle and budget. 

There are five halls of residence available, all of which provide a limited selection of rooms for postgraduate students. There are more than 1,200 rooms in total, and each residence is located close to the others – providing the perfect environment for a rich social life, while being walking distance from both the campus and the city centre. Rooms are available on a self-catered basis. 

Some postgraduate students prefer the independent and tailored experience of private accommodation, whether living alone or with friends. The university maintains a directory of accredited student accommodation around the city and its surroundings, making it easy for students to find perfect living arrangements. 

Southampton is a diverse and energetic coastal city with a significant student population. It’s easy to get around, well-connected to London and has a buzzing student nightlife. 

Postgraduate students at Solent University can access a wide range of scholarships and bursaries to support their student lifestyle and achieve their academic or professional potential. The funding options offered may be awarded on either a merit- or needs- based basis, or both. 

Some of the available scholarships and bursaries include: 

• The Postgraduate Taught Academic Merit Scholarship, which provides tuition fee reductions to applicants depending on their grades at undergraduate level. Students with a 2:2 grade will receive a £250 award, while 2:1 students receive £500 and first-class students receive £750. 
• Course specific scholarships, such as the scholarship for students on the MSc in Applied AI and Data Science, funded by the Office for Students. It provides scholarships of £10,000 to 36 students, with priority given to students of certain backgrounds. 
• Alumni of Solent University can receive a tuition fee discount of 20% if they study a postgraduate programme after graduating from a course at the university. 

Students can explore the full range of scholarships and bursaries on the university’s website, as well as a range of external funding opportunities available elsewhere.