The University of Southampton

Researchers in Engineering and Physical Sciences are defining and developing substantial areas of research that impact on the fast-changing world in which we live.

Our research rankings place us at the forefront of the UK's research-intensive Russell Group Universities for our subjects, and our degree programmes are highly regarded by leading global employers and companies requiring the skills needed to develop theories and technologies that will enhance our understanding and shape our future world.

Over 7,000 UG, PGT and PGR students
Annual research income of around £60m
19 RAEng Fellows and 12 Fellows of the Royal Society

Schools, Research Institutes and Future Worlds

We continue to make new discoveries, find new perspectives and change people's lives through our research and our education. Our Faculty's web pages will help you find out more about our story, our people and the future we are building.

Chemistry

The School of Chemistry offers a dynamic learning community alongside a long-standing reputation for world-class research.

Electronics and Computer Science

World-leading education in a research environment of electronics and electrical engineering as well as computer and web sciences.

Engineering

The School of Engineering represents the largest and most diverse engineering group in the UK.

Physics and Astronomy

A dynamic environment with research in the fields of astronomy, quantum, light and matter, and theoretical particle physics.

Web Science Institute

Bringing together multidisciplinary expertise to tackle pressing global challenges facing the World Wide Web and wider society today.

Future Worlds

An on-campus startup accelerator helping entrepreneurial researchers and students change the world with their ideas.

Centres of Excellence

Researchers from across Engineering and Physical Sciences are addressing national and global challenges in four new Centres of Excellence. These Centres are cross-disciplinary and will forge new links that transform the research landscape.

Students and Education

Our international reputation attracts students from around the world to study and research on innovative programmes that provide access to renowned academics, unique and cutting-edge facilities, and a community that is exciting, ambitious, and dynamic. The Faculty's academic staff are highly qualified and many are nationally and internationally acknowledged for their contribution to engineering, science and technology.

  • High quality courses and programmes
  • Student numbers: around 5,000 undergraduate, 700 postgraduate and 1000 PhDs
  • Civil Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics and Astronomy, Computer Science and Chemistry feature in the UK top 25 subject rankings in the Guardian University Guide 2020

Research

Our thriving research community is highly valued by our many industrial collaborators. National and global recognition of our achievements includes those with significant Fellowships, honours and awards from various sources including the European Research Council (ERC), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC), The Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

  • The Faculty is one of the most successful of its type in the world. Our academic and research staff regularly win prestigious and highly competitive externally funded research fellowships
  • In 2013, the Faculty was awarded the UK’s only Regius Professorship of Computer Science, an honour bestowed by The Queen to institutions of exceptionally high quality teaching and research. The prestigious title was created in recognition of our contribution to software engineering in areas such as agent technologies and open data
  • The Faculty's average annual research income from research funding and industry is around £60m

Facilities

The Faculty is home to several advanced research facilities. Our Zepler Institute Cleanrooms have the UK’s best photonics fabrication and nanoelectronics capabilities. We are also home to the UK’s National X-ray Crystallography Service and the R.J. Mitchell Wind Tunnel, which is used extensively by industries such as motorsport, automotive, aerospace, marine, maritime and performance sport. Our High Voltage Laboratory is a world-class centre for research into dielectric materials, insulation systems and high voltage phenomena.

Enterprise/Impact

  • The Future Worlds startup accelerator, founded in 2015, supports entrepreneurs with their startup and spinout ideas
  • ECS Partners is a professional consultancy company engaged in short-term enterprise projects
  • Our researchers have filed over 160 patents in the past three years
  • Physics and Astronomy is engaging thousands of pupils and teachers every year with high impact outreach and public engagement activities
  • Electronics and Computer Science hosts several residential summer schools and taster courses every summer that are inspiring future generations of scientists
  • Our School of Engineering’s Enterprise Units offer a range of commercial services, including wind tunnels for hire and sound and vibration consulting.

Fellowships, Honours and Awards

National and global recognition of our achievements includes those with significant Fellowships, honours and awards:

Faculty Intranet (Staff Access Only)

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