University of Southampton

The University of Southampton has a longstanding and formidable international reputation for research. It is a member of the Russell Group of research-led British universities and is among the top 10 research universities in the UK, according to both the government's official Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and the Sunday Times newspaper league table. It is probably best-known as a science and engineering university. In the most recent RAE assessment (2001), it has the only Engineering faculty in the country to receive the highest rating (5*) across all disciplines. According to the Times newspaper Higher Educational Supplement, Southampton has the second largest research income in the UK for the Physical Sciences and Mathematics, and the third largest research income for Engineering and Technology.

Southampton places great emphasis on inter-disciplinary cooperation and on collaboration with industry. This is most evident in the university's Centre for Enterprise and Innovation, which is jointly run by Faculty of Engineering and the School of Management. This focus has recently been augmented by the establishment of a separate Institiute for Entrepreneurship.

In addition, the university is home to the Southampton Oceanography Centre, a leading research centre for oceanography. Southampton is a member of the Worldwide Universities Network . Southampton also has close links with America's MIT.

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History

The University of Southampton was originally called the Hartley Institution and was formed in 1862 as the result of a benefaction by a local wine merchant. In 1919, it was renamed Hartley University College and subsequently, University College Southampton. Prior to 1952, the college's degrees were awarded by the University of London. In 1952, the Queen granted the University of Southampton its own Royal Charter to award degrees in its own right. This conferred full university status and made Southampton independent of the University of London.

Famous alumni

Laura Bailey (Model)
Guin & Miriam Batten (Swimmers)
Roger Black (Athlete)
John Denham (Politician)
Sue Douglas (Journalist)
Dr. Astrid Fischel (Vice-President, Costa Rica)
Guy Fordham (Hockey Star)
Jeremy Hardy (Comedian)
Baroness Hooper (Politician)
John Inverdale (Sports Journalist)
Stuart Maister (CEO, Broadview Communications)
John Nettles (Actor)
Adrian Newey (Technical Director, McLaren Formula One team)
Chris Packham (Wildlife Presenter)
Jon Potter (Hockey Star)
Jon Sopel (Journalist)
Stella Tennant (Model)
Lord Tonypandy (Politician)
Dr. Alan Whitehead (Politician)

Motto

Strenuis Ardua Cedunt (The Heights Yield to Endeavour)