University of Southampton

The University of Southampton is an exceptional place whose people achieve remarkable things. We are a world-leading, research-intensive university, with a strong educational offering, renowned for our innovation and enterprise. This is a great platform from which to sharpen our focus with our new strategy. It’s a very simple strategy. It’s about our aspirations. It’s about building our reputation. It’s about being simply better than our competitors at what we do.

We will strengthen our reputation, increasing our national and international rankings to secure a position in the top 10 in the UK and top 100 internationally. Our ranking increases our reputation and our reputation increases our ranking. A reputation for delivering excellence and an exemplary student experience will lead to greater demand from the best student applicants, sustained support from research funders and strong support from our alumni. We aspire to be the best in all we do, inspiring the confidence and ambition that enable our staff and students to reach their full potential. We are imaginative and resourceful, thriving in an environment that values independent thought and encourages originality and innovation amongst its staff and students.

Our University community is committed to the highest quality in everything we do. We have a global reputation for our passion and ability to work collaboratively in delivering world-class education, research and innovation that makes a real impact on society’s biggest challenges. Our exceptional students share in these journeys of discovery and become confident thinkers who can realise their full potential.

We will develop graduates who are confident global citizens, equipped to make a positive contribution to the world. Our knowledge and technologies, developed through our research and applied through our enterprise, will have real economic and social benefit for the world. People will choose Southampton because of its reputation for quality and to play a part in changing the world. Our staff will say it is a great place to work, where they are encouraged to be creative and are part of a team that achieves more together. We will be a university consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally and top 100 internationally. Our student satisfaction will be among the highest in the country, reflected in the National Student Survey (NSS). Our graduate prospects will be among the best. Our entry tariff will reflect our reputation as a leading university, with completion rates and good degrees reflecting our commitment to fully developing the potential of our students. Our world-leading research will underpin an excellent Research Excellence Framework (REF) position. We will achieve all of this while improving our sustainability and generating a surplus that allows us to invest in our University.

Our vision is that we will be internationally recognised for the quality of our education. We will attract highly qualified students from across the world, and offer them a vibrant and transformative experience. We will work as partners with our students to enable them to develop their ambitions, fulfil their potential and make a positive contribution to the world. We will improve quality at all stages of the student journey. This will be reflected in the calibre of our students and in their outcomes. It will result in league table rankings that enhance our attractiveness to the best students from across the world.

Our international vision is that we will be a leading global institution, enhanced by select high-value partnerships, with global reach in education and research that leads to real-world impact. The University will attract world-class talent, support its communities and celebrate its diversity. To compete with the very best we will embed an international dimension in all aspects of our strategy. Internationalisation will permeate our academic endeavours, our community and our operations. It will enhance the quality and impact of our education and research. It will ensure our financial sustainability by providing increased access to research funding and markets for high quality students. It will provide a rich experience for our people, supporting collegiality.