:: University of Southampton

Our strategies, aims and ambitions for continually improving our achievements in teaching and learning, research, employability and enterprise.

Mission statement

As a University community we will change the world for the better through our research, education, innovation and enterprise. More...

We are committed to further improve our position as a leading research university of international standing, distinguished by our enterprise. We aspire to be a place of opportunity and inspiration that attracts talented staff and students regardless of their background. Less...

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University strategy

To realise our ambition, we have set ourselves 17 strategic initiatives to complete by 2015. These will transform the University. We are committed to achieve the following: More...

- a step change in the scale and performance of our research in ways that fully exploit our capabilities and infrastructure
- transformation in the structure, quality and flexibility of our educational programmes to offer our students a distinctive Southampton educational experience
- tangible economic impact through our international leadership in enterprise, knowledge transfer and business engagement
- significant social impact locally and globally through public debate, community outreach and cultural engagement. Less...

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Transforming education

We are committed to transforming our curriculum to provide our students with greater choice and opportunities to learn alongside our world-leading academics. More...

Our aim is to attract the most talented students, irrespective of background, and prepare them to be confident citizens and potential leaders in an increasingly globalised work environment. Less...

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Access agreement

The University of Southampton offers a distinctive education in a modern learning environment underpinned by three core elements, research that directly influences the education we offer, choice and flexibility in study options and preparation for employment and life after university. More...

Our programmes are designed to challenge our students, to develop the critical thinking and independent learning that will prepare them for life after university. This Access Agreement applies to all eligible students entering the University of Southampton for the first time in 2013/14 for the duration of their undergraduate and PGCE (ITT) courses. Less...

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University Quality handbook

The Quality Handbook is a dynamic online resource which provides easy access to our education policies and guidance. More...

It includes the key strategy documents which support and underpin quality assurance and quality enhancement of learning and teaching at the University. Less...

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Collaborative arrangements in education

We embrace the benefits of collaborations with partner institutions and organisations, and the opportunities they bring to the University, our partners and our students. We enter into collaborations which are aligned to the University Strategy, ensuring that our education is shaped by our culture of research and enterprise and providing a flexible, personalised educational experience. More...

Our collaborative arrangements overseas support our ambition to be clearly recognised as a successful and influential international university that has a substantial global presence. We will enter into partnerships only with organisations which have the academic standing to deliver and support programmes of study successfully to appropriate academic standards, and where we can be assured that the standards of any of our awards involving collaborative arrangements are consistent with those offered solely through this University. Less...

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Employability

The University is developing mechanisms for engaging with employers to broaden their understanding of the value of our programmes and our graduates. More...

We do this through:
- Fostering and developing professional networks (eg through use of alumni, employer forum and partnerships)
- Engaging employers in the curriculum (eg through membership of programme development teams, validation panels and curriculum review)
- Developing the knowledge of employers of the work of students and staff (eg placements, project work, and knowledge transfer activity)

We are committed to improving the employability of our graduates, by enabling students to develop their skills and attributes to prepare for employment. This includes increasing opportunities for students to gain work experience, including volunteering and enterprise activities or to be matched with a mentor in their chosen career path. We encourage students to gain recognition for their extra-curricular activities by participating in our Graduate Passport. Less...

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Prospectuses, programmes and modules

Our Undergraduate Study section provides an overview of all our degree programmes, with links to further details including module specifications. More...

Key Information Set feeds on each course page add statistics and wider information on the course and institution. Less...

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Programme specifications

Programme specifications are detailed on each course page, and in the Key Information Sets for each course. More...

These are found on our Academic Unit websites, which are linked from the main undergraduate course listing. Less...

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Knowing our students

Student feedback and evaluation is important to improving the quality of our learning and teaching environment. We seek feedback from our students in a variety of ways, for example, through regular evaluation of units, student satisfaction surveys, focus groups, and student representation on committees. We also receive feedback through our student complaints mechanism. More...

We seek to make links between the different methods of obtaining feedback in order to maximise the usefulness of information received from students. We also seek to improve coordination of feedback and evaluation, for example, to ensure that comments on services and facilities are fed through to relevant providers. At the same time, we make sure that our students are aware of the value of their feedback. Less...

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Links with employers

Southampton is one of the world's leading entrepreneurial universities, with an impressive track record as a partner to business and the public sector and as a source of invention and innovation. More...

The University encourages long-term and short-term relationships with major corporate organisations that fund research programmes and centres of excellence, and provide input to degree programmes. A number of multinational companies and organisations are involved in our Doctoral Training Centres and as research partners to our research groups and outstanding research facilities. Less...

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Delivery partners and awarding bodies

Many of our programmes are delivered in partnership with other institutions or professional organisations, receive accreditation from independent bodies or lead to a professional qualification. More...

Delivery partnerships, professional accredication and awarding bodies are detailed in individual course specifications and Key Information Sets. Less...

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Programme approval, monitoring & review

Proposed new programmes of study are drawn up on the basis of best practice in each academic subject, taking into account national guidelines such as the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and relevant Subject Benchmark Statements, and in line with University standards and guidance. We also ensure that we comply with the requirements of Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies where this is relevant to the programme area. More...

We review our programmes at least every five years, to ensure their currency in the light of developing knowledge in the discipline(s), their the effectiveness in achieving tated aims and the success of students in attaining the intended learning outcomes, to identify areas for improvement/enhancement and to provide assurance to external stakeholders of the currency of our curricula. We use an external adviser as part of both programme approval and review to give an independent perspective.

Where appropriate we engage in joint approval and review processes with Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies.

Full details are found in the University Quality Handbook. Further information may be obtained from the Quality, Standards and Accreditation Team (qsa@soton.ac.uk).
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External examination procedures

The University's procedures relating to the appointment of external examiners for taught programmes are designed to ensure that the external examiners appointed for our programmes are appropriately qualified and in a position to provide informative comment and recommendation. More...

Our policy on the role and responsibilities of External Examiners for Taught Programmes is informed by the Quality Assurance Agency’s ‘Quality Code for Higher Education Chapter B7 External Examining – October 2011’ and is designed to:

• demonstrate how the University meets the Expectation that ‘Higher education providers make scrupulous use of external examiners;
• assist External Examiners to undertake their role; and
• provide information and guidance for those staff administering the External Examiner system.

We take all comments made by our external examiners very seriously and use their feedback to ensure the academic standards and quality of our programmes. Full details are found in the University Quality Handbook. Further information may be obtained from the Quality, Standards and Accreditation Team (qsa@soton.ac.uk).
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Policies for student complaints, appeals and representations

The University has put in place a complaints procedure which sets out how students may seek to have their complaints addressed. It is very rarely needed: the vast majority of student concerns or complaints will be handled fairly, amicably and to the satisfaction of all concerned without recourse to this procedure. More...

The complaints procedure is part of our commitment to ensure a high quality educational experience for all students. We aim to address complaints or related concerns in a positive spirit, and to try and ensure that any issues are resolved quickly at local level. Less...

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University of Southampton

Southampton at a glance

Mission statement

University strategy

Transforming education

Access agreement

University Quality handbook

Collaborative arrangements in education

Employability

Prospectuses, programmes and modules

Programme specifications

Knowing our students

Links with employers

Delivery partners and awarding bodies

Programme approval, monitoring & review

External examination procedures

Policies for student complaints, appeals and representations