University of Portsmouth

Overview of the university

Portsmouth is the only university to offer Connected Degrees: a three-year course with a flexible fourth year placement. Most courses can be Connected Degrees.

This gives you more time to explore your career choices, and to find the perfect placement. It also means you can stay connected to the same friends throughout your studies. Then glide into professional life, with full support from the University throughout your placement. And if you prefer a placement year at the traditional time, you can opt to do it after year two.

As well as paid placements with employers, UK students can choose a self-employed placement as a traditional sandwich year, getting a start-up or freelance career off the ground with expert support. 

Portsmouth achieved the full five-star rating for excellence in the internationally recognised QS World University rankings in 2024, and the highest possible Gold rating in the most recent Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). With transferable skills, industry insight and professional connections, it’s no wonder 94 per cent of Portsmouth graduates are in work or further study (HESA 2021/22).

Career-Ready

Portsmouth wants to get you career-ready. The graduate employment rates are some of the UK’s best, with 94 per cent in work or study (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021/22). 

Courses are designed to give you skills employers are looking for, often using simulated working environments and professional equipment. Most courses give the option of a paid placement year to get a taste of working life and build up your CV. 

Portsmouth has great links with employers across a wide range of industries. Many give talks on campus, offering you opportunities to make professional connections. 

Lots of courses are accredited, approved or recognised by Professional Statutory Regulatory Bodies, certifying you've got the specialist knowledge and skills needed for those professions.

The Careers and Employability Service is free to access from the moment you register with Portsmouth, to five years after you graduate. It offers workshops, online resources, and one-to-ones to help with job seeking and career building.

Portsmouth has also launched a unique approach to placements called Connected Degrees. This is a 3 year course with a 4th year paid placement and courses offer the freedom to choose when you take your placement: either before or after your final year. Portsmouth is the only UK university that offers flexible sandwich placements for undergraduates. 

Research and Innovation

Researchers at Portsmouth make the world a better place. Portsmouth is recognised especially for the differences it has made to society, health, culture and the environment. 

With 77 per cent of the research rated world-leading or internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, Portsmouth is a Top 3 Modern University for Research Power. 

At Portsmouth, you’ll learn from researchers who work closely with international partners in academia, industry and the charitable sector to change lives for the better.

Teaching excellence

Portsmouth aims to help you grow, so as a graduate you can achieve your goals and make a positive contribution to society. So Portsmouth created a modern, inclusive, personalised and highly supportive learning environment, with extensive digital resources and access to modern simulation facilities. 

You’ll learn from lecturers who are experts in their field, with track records in industry or research. And your course curriculum will bring you close to the latest research and development in professional practice

Facilities and Services

Portsmouth is investing £400 million into facilities to prepare students for the competitive global jobs market. Key to this is giving you opportunities to practise skills in simulated professional environments. To give a few examples, Portsmouth has: 

The Centre for Creative and Immersive XR, for exploring virtual, augmented and extended reality. The Future Technology Centre, where students work with industry on advanced projects. Plus a Bloomberg Suite, Motion Capture Studio, Professional Interpreter Training Suite, Replica Courtroom, and simulated GP, pharmacy and hospital environments. 

Ravelin Sports Centre is one of the UK’s most sustainable sports centres, with the latest fitness tech and affordable memberships. It offers an 8-lane, 25-metre swimming pool, 175-station fitness suite, 8-court sports hall, multi-purpose studios, squash courts, ski simulator, climbing wall and bouldering.

Students' Union

The Students’ Union offers a wealth of opportunities for you to get involved in, try new things, and access support and advice as you need it. There is a huge range of student-led groups, covering physical activities, culture, politics, faith, fun and much more. Take the stage, play in an orchestra or even present a TV programme in Victory Studios. Whatever your interests, you will find like-minded students to share them with.

Programs and courses at University of Portsmouth