What Students Say
Likes
- The Diversity - It helps when you have a diverse audience around. Especially to understand their perspective, their way of looking at problems, and their approach to situations.
- The Research - It is a less known fact about University of Southampton that it is a research power house! I've myself been involved in a few studies to help PhD students with their thesis.
- The Resources - University of Southampton had all the resources you need to flourish. Right from advanced labs to the most advanced gyms.
Dislikes
- Widespread Campus- While the city is rich in culture and vibrant, the university campus is spread across the whole city which might be a hassle for many
- Cost of Accommodation- I've lived at the university accommodation and while it is great, but super expensive!
- Culture Shock - While this not necessarily being an university problem, but it is a huge culture shock when you move to the UK from India. This is also reflected in the campus!
Scholarship Received
Merit Scholarships for International Students
3,000
Course Curriculum
8
- The difficulty level of my course would be a solid 7 out on 10. It was a mix of both theoretical and practical. Mostly practical as the assignments and exams were more research-based and would take longer to finish. Most assignments were group assignments and a group of 4 would be made.
- Most positive fact about my course would be its dynamic nature, research focus and practicality. Negative would be that there is too much info to digest in 1 year, especially if you are not from the same background.
- I had 4 days of class and a maximum of 10 hours of classes per week. Mostly independent learning.
- Average number of students in 1 class is close to 250, mainly held in auditoriums.
- We had around 8 Indian students in a class of 250
Admission Experience
-
I applied to 5 universities, listed below –
- Loughborough University – Shortlisted – Decided not to proceed due to global rankings
- University of Bristol – Rejected – The Main reason was me changing career paths from Engineering to Finance. I believe they were expecting someone to have the same career path to do the master's programme.
- University of Durham – Shortlisted – Decided not to proceed, as it was too far up north and the global rankings.
- University of Glasgow - Rejected - Main reason was me changing career paths from Engineering to Finance. I believe they were expecting someone to have the same career path to do the master's programme.
- University of Southampton – Admitted
- The primary reason was they were open to students joining from different streams/career changes. The university ranking was great, as was the great infrastructure, diverse audience and vibrance of the city.
- The admission process involved filling in an application form, paying fees and then waiting to hear back. Once you have the good news, it is about paying the initial instalment of the fees, submitting documents, etc.
- The eligibility criteria was to have an IELTS 6.5+ score and for my course, no other exam was needed
- I applied for the fall intake of 2021 (Sep-21). It was a well-thought-out decision, as most students get admitted during this time, which means more exposure to a diverse audience and like-minded individuals. I applied for it in May and I heard back in July. So it takes around 6-12 weeks on average to hear back on the result of your application. Of course the result depends on how strong your application is, your SOP, academics, interests, resume, etc.
Faculty
8
- The faculty-to-student ratio would be 1:150 most days. But the faculty makes a conscious effort to focus on most individuals.
- The teaching is mainly centred around research papers, practical assignments and live topics to keep things relevant. The course alone is not enough to prepare for a job, as there are other factors involved. But this gives you a solid base!
- There are enough opportunities to find work part-time, both within the university and outside. You can be a student ambassador.
- One of the faculty members I admired the most was Corporate finance lecturer, mainly because of his great acumen and teaching skills to keep students engaged
Campus Life
8
- The university has a total of 7 campuses in the UK and 2 abroad. Highfield Campus, Southampton; Boldrewood Innovation Campus, Southampton; Avenue Campus, Southampton; National Oceanography Centre, Southampton; University Hospital Southampton Campus, Southampton; City Centre Campus, Southampton; and Winchester School of Art, Winchester. Abroad: University of Southampton Malaysia Campus, Iskandar Puteri, Johor, and University of Southampton Delhi Campus, Gurgaon, India.
- The university has quite a few facilities – Hartley Library, 24/7 study spaces, sports complexes with gyms and swimming pools, health and wellbeing services, medical and dental centres, cafes, shops, student housing, and performance venues.
- Loads of campus festivals, including freshers week, the Culture Festival, the Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival, etc. Loads of stuff to do at Southampton Uni outside of lectures! They've got tonnes of sports clubs under "Team Southampton" and over 200 student societies covering everything from cultural events to gaming. You'll find something you're into, for sure!
Part Time Jobs
- Teaching Assistant (TA), Research Assistant (RA), or Departmental Assistant (DA) positions – they really depend on the need and the time. There is no fixed number of people being hired. There are other jobs, like Student ambassador which are very flexible and they revolve around your course timings and classes. They pay around 11 GBP per hour and you have work for 20 hours per week during course time and 40 hours after. And it is not too difficult to find part-time jobs, as if you have good connections, you'll find opportunities for sure. On campus and, if not, outside.
- Students typically earn around the minimum wage set by the UK, which is around 10 GBP per hour. Some earn more, but those jobs are more specialised. It is comparatively easy if the student puts in effort to find a job. Students can apply directly on websites if they are well-known companies or can walk into the place and ask if any jobs are there. With on-campus jobs, it is more about applying on the website and having connections. Once you find a job, upload your resume, fill in the required details and attend an in-person interview to get shortlisted.
Placement
6
- It really depends, as most students prefer to fly back to their home country just after their course completion. But I'd say most people who have good CVs, academics, and skills (both hard and soft) and have knowledge/experience in the field can secure a job within 6 months. Average pay would be around 35K GBP. Most people get jobs through applying online through job portals or directly through company websites. Having good connections and networking is always great.
- Linkedin is primarily used along with Indeed and other similar job portals. There are networking events held on campus, but they are not necessarily helpful. It's really hard to get placement experience, as there is no such thing as on-campus placement. Majorly students flock to Big 4 and Big banks as a starter.
Accommodation
Off Campus
8
- I found my accommodation through the university website. I also had joined a few whatsapp groups which can help especially if you are looking for accommodations outside of university. I stayed at Wessex Lane halls accommodation where was a bit old, but very spacious and nature-centric.
- The monthly cost was around 650 GBP, which includes the rent, food (twice a day), bus pass, security, bills, cleaning.
- I would highly recommend Wessex lane halls if you are not looking for anything fancy and if you are looking for an accommodation which provides food.
- The halls is around a km away from the campus, so a good 15 min walk
Exams
- My course only needed IELTS and the score was 6.5 and above.
- The documents required are Statement of Purpose, Letter of Recommendation * 2 (from your undergrad college or from your work, in some cases), Strong resume highlighting your key achievements and work, undergrad degree certificates (for masters), 10th and 12th marks cards, valid ID proofs like Passport, etc.
- I did not have any interview as part of my application. But the people who do, I would assume questions that revolve around their motivation and key skills.
Fees
- The yearly tuition fee was 26,500 GBP. You can pay in quarterly instalments. The instalments would depend on how much you pay upfront.
- Monthly expenses – Depends on your lifestyle. Since I was living at the university accommodation, it was a bit pricey. I was paying 650 GBP per month for accommodation and food (twice per day). You also get a bus pass in that for 9 odd months, which is great. Other expenses would be around 300 GBP.
Scholarship
- I received a scholarship called 'Merit Scholarships for International Students' of 3000 GBP. A few of my batchmates received 5000 GBP, as they had better grades in their undergrad.
- The typical award amount ranges from 1000 GBP to 8000 GBP. And the scholarship depends on the faculty and course. You do not need to apply for it; you get awarded automatically based on your academics.
