Solent University
Solent University is a public university tracing back to a Southampton art school of 1856, which took university status in 2005. Its campus is in central Southampton and it is on the register of student sponsors.
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One record matters more than any ranking when reading a university page: the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits an institution to issue the CAS a student visa requires. Solent University is on it. The visa itself is set out at UK visas and immigration.
01
What kind of university is Solent University?
Solent University is a public university in Southampton, founded in 1856 as a Southampton art school, taking university status in 2005. Its campus is in central Southampton and its teaching model is applied and industry-facing.
The present institution came out of the merger of Southampton College of Art, the College of Technology and the maritime college at Warsash. The main campus is at East Park Terrace near Southampton Central station.
02
Which subjects stand out at Solent University?
The subjects Solent University is known for are maritime studies, yacht and boat design, business, media and film, sport and health and social sciences. Warsash Maritime School is one of the oldest merchant navy training schools in the country.
maritime studies
deck and engineering officer training and maritime operations at Warsash Maritime School
yacht and boat design
with naval architecture programmes
business
marketing and tourism management
media and film
film production, journalism and media
sport
sport science, coaching and football studies
health and social sciences
nursing, psychology and social work
Programmes are searched from the university's own course catalogue, where each page carries the entry requirement, the syllabus and the fee in one place.
03
What are the entry requirements at Solent University?
Solent University admits undergraduates on A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification; a Turkish high school diploma alone is not accepted for direct entry. Postgraduate admission rests on a bachelor's degree and each programme publishes its own requirement.
On English language ability the admissions pages take IELTS Academic at 6.0 as the baseline for undergraduate programmes; some departments publish a component score requirement or a higher threshold. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Which documents are required?
Degree certificate and transcript
with a certified English translation
Proof of English
IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic
Personal statement
your own account of why you chose the course
Reference letter
one at undergraduate level, usually two at postgraduate level
Passport
so the identity details match the application
04
How much are tuition fees at Solent University?
Solent University publishes the international tuition fee on each programme's own page; there is no single central tariff. The student visa fee and the annual immigration health surcharge are added on top, and the university offers its own scholarships to international students.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa application (from outside the UK) | £558 |
| Immigration health surcharge (per year) | £776 |
| Maintenance to evidence, outside London (monthly) | £1,171 |
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05
What is campus and student life like in Southampton?
The campus is a single site in central Southampton, with the library, the sports complex and the Spark building on it. The institution's halls are spread across six separate buildings in the city centre, and the city centre is a short journey away.
Southampton is a port city on England's south coast, and the cruise and commercial port gives the maritime programmes their industry connection. London is around 80 minutes away by train.
06
How is an application to Solent University made?
Undergraduate applications to Solent University go through UCAS with up to five programme choices, and the equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Postgraduate and doctoral applications are submitted through the university's own online portal.
- Programme choice: the course catalogue gives the department, the requirement and the fee.
- Documents: transcript, diploma, personal statement, references and English language evidence.
- Submission: UCAS for undergraduate study, the university's portal for postgraduate.
- Offer: conditional or unconditional, with the conditions stated.
- CAS: issued once the offer is accepted and the deposit is paid.
The step after the CAS is the student visa itself, and its published conditions are set out at UK visas and immigration.
How does the application timetable run, month by month?
| Period | Step |
|---|---|
| May–September 2026 | Researching courses, sitting the English test and preparing documents |
| September 2026 | UCAS applications open |
| 15 October 2026 | Deadline for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, Oxford and Cambridge |
| 13 January 2027 | Equal consideration deadline for undergraduate applications |
| February–May 2027 | University decisions and firming up choices |
| June–August 2027 | Meeting conditions, receiving the CAS and applying for the Student visa |
07
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to Solent University directly with a Turkish high school diploma?
A Turkish high school diploma is not accepted on its own for direct entry to an undergraduate programme. Applicants complete a foundation year, or hold A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification.
Which English language tests are accepted?
IELTS Academic is accepted and the level required is published on each programme's page, with 6.0 as the undergraduate baseline. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Does Solent University issue a CAS for a student visa?
Yes. Solent University appears on the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits it to issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies a student visa application requires.
When is the undergraduate application deadline?
The UCAS equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Applications arriving after that date are considered where places remain on the programme.
Sources
- Solent University — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
- Solent University — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
- UCAS — The equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027 and an undergraduate application carries up to five programme choices.
- GOV.UK — The student visa application fee, the annual immigration health surcharge and the maintenance figure an applicant evidences are published by the Home Office. — 26 August 2026
