UniHomes guide to

Southampton

Uni Life in Southampton

Southampton student life​ can be a fantastic experience, with the city being nestled in the bays and shores of England’s gorgeous south coast. The two universities in the city - University of Southampton and Solent University - welcome over 36,000 students every year. With plenty of affordable places to live, a thriving nightlife, and a beautiful dockside, you'll feel right at home studying in Southampton.
One of the most popular areas for student living is Portswood, a vibrant high street packed with shops, bars, cool independent cafés, and restaurants. Portswood is also an ideal location for those studying at the University of Southampton's Highfield Campus, and there are regular transport links to get into the city centre. There are other places worth looking into as well - students often land in districts like Swaythling, Highfield, Bassett and Shirley, all to the north of the city centre.

Key reasons to study in Southampton

  • 1
    Full of history

    Southampton has a rich history as one of the United Kingdom's most important ports. The RMS Titanic actually departed from Southampton, which you can find out more about at the dedicated exhibition in the SeaCity Museum. Southampton is also the proud home of Cowes Week, the famous sailing regatta, which you can watch for free on the waterfront if you are still around in August. If you’re looking for other free cultural activities, check out Southampton City Art Gallery and the Old Town Walls for some fantastic views.

  • 2
    Amazing nightlife

    You won't be struggling to find a great night out in Southampton. Jesters and Sobar are two student favourites, and you're bound to end up at Orange Rooms or Popworld while studying in the port city. We'd also recommend Trilogy, which hosts student ‘Skint’ nights every Tuesday and opens until late. If that's not enough, why not try The Hobbit, England's only Lord of the Rings-themed pub?

  • 3
    Shop 'til you drop

    For shopping lovers (or anyone who just wants to pick up a sweet treat), Westquay Shopping Centre is the place to be. You'll find all the favourite student brands here, like H&M, Schuh, Apple, and much more. There are also plenty of trusted places to eat inside, like Nando's and Wagamama - just make sure you remember to ask for a student discount!

  • 4
    See the sea

    There are few better cities in the UK for watersports than Southampton. Ocean Village has two watersports centres, as well as a third dedicated specifically to the University of Southampton, running activities like sailing, powerboat courses, paddleboarding, windsurfing, and more. There are more watersports (and the opportunity for a bit of sunbathing in the sunnier months) at Calshot Beach, which you can get to on the 9 Bluestar bus.

  • 5
    Efficient transport links

    Southampton University student life​ is made easier with the city’s efficient transport links. The Unilink Bus service connects to different campuses, the city centre, and more. The best thing? It is entirely free for those living in the University of Southampton halls! What’s more, Southampton Central station can easily get you to other major cities like London by train, and you may enjoy the Cycle Freeways if you’re a biker.

  • 6
    Places to eat

    Student life in Southampton often involves exploring the best foodie spots, and we can certainly give a few recommendations. Uni Kebab is the perfect Turkish takeaway for those on a budget, while you can eat all you can eat at COSMO, a buffet-style restaurant featuring cuisines from all over the world. Sushi lovers will become head over heels for Nara, while POPSI'S Pizza is a safe bet when going out as a large group - it even caters for vegans!

Southampton is such a predominantly student-based city with the two universities. There are lots of green spaces and the docks to enjoy with the blue skies, and there are plenty of student-friendly activities to do with your friends.

Yasmin Easton Southampton Brand Ambassador

Universities in Southampton

Solent University

Picture of Solent University

Located right in the centre of Southampton, Solent University is a well-regarded university that welcomes over 10,000 students to its campus every year. Solent teaches a wide range of courses, but is particularly well-known for its academic programmes in sport, health and wellbeing.

University of Southampton

Picture of University of Southampton

The University of Southampton is a prestigious Russell Group university that has a main campus up in Highfield, north of the city centre. The university is fabulously well-equipped, with Earth and Ocean science courses being taught at UoS' dedicated Waterfront Campus in Ocean Village.

Southampton is a green city with plenty of parks to walk around with your uni friends. There are also lots of coffee shops in Portswood high street, perfect for after your lectures! I don’t want to leave after graduating. I genuinely have loved my time in Southampton and will visit even after uni.

Erin Martinez Southampton Brand Ambassador

Frequently Asked Questions

Southampton student life is vibrant and exciting for many - especially those who aren’t used to living near the coast. There are plenty of activities, bars, and food spots to get on board with, while London is only a short train ride away if you’re looking for something different.
Aside from the city centre and university campuses, Portswood and Highfield are student area favourites in this city. Student life in Southampton is all about getting to know the different areas, so make sure you do your research and check out each neighbourhood’s amenities to see which suits your personality best.
October is the best time to start looking for student accommodation in Southampton. Properties will be available until February, but we would recommend starting a search for a property during the autumn. The most popular student areas in Southampton include Portswood, Highfield and The Polygon.
UniHomes has a property search tool which displays hundreds of student properties in Southampton, all with bills included. Sign up to our mailing list so that you can be notified of new properties going live.
Tenancy periods in Southampton usually last for 12 months. Most contracts will start on the 1st July and end on the 30th June the following year. Occasionally, letting agents may offer tenancy periods that last for 10 or 11 months, starting in August or September. You can always enquire with the letting agent to find out how long your contract length will be.
Deposits are usually either 4 or 5 week's rent. The maximum legal amount a landlord can charge your for a deposit is 5 week's rent. You’ll get your deposit back when you move out of the property. That said, if the landlord is still owed outstanding rent or needs to pay for repairs to damage within the property, they may take deductions from the deposit to cover the costs.
UniHomes accommodation in Southampton usually costs £99 – £206 per person, per week. This price includes the cost of all bills you'll need to pay, which you won't always see on other student accommodation websites. Check out the full range of student accommodations available in Southampton.

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