The University of Southampton is a research-intensive university and a founding member of the Russell Group. Our successes are acknowledged in international and UK league table rankings and educational awards. Our degrees and courses enable you to develop critical thinking and independent learning skills that are essential for future leaders and decision makers. Our lecturers are leaders in their fields and offer you the change to learn about world-changing research as it happens.
The Department of History is ranked 3rd in the UK for the quality of our research (REF 2014). As well as writing new and challenging histories, our staff advise governments, the media, and cultural institutions. Southampton History research happens at the university, but goes far beyond it.
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities brings together the specialisms of Archaeology, English, Film Studies, History, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Music, Philosophy and the Academic Centre for International Students. It is also the home of the Winchester School of Art, one of the UK’s leading art and design institutions with a long tradition of creative education and excellence.
We have a large number of research centres. These include The Parkes Institute, the world’s oldest centre for Jewish and non-Jewish relations, The Confucius Institute for the study of modern Chinese culture and the Winchester Centre for Global Futures in Art, Design and Media, which highlights historical, contemporary and future roles for art, design and media within globalisation. Our facilities and expertise make our Arts and Humanities education among the best in the UK:
Guardian University Guide 2022
- Ranked 9th for Philosophy
- In the top 20 for Fashion & Textiles
Complete University Guide 2022
- 7th for Music
- 14th for Communication & Media Studies
- In the top 15 for Media & Communication Studies
- In the top 20 for Art & Design
Times Good University Guide 2022
- In the top 15 for Communication and Media Studies
Research Excellence Framework 2014
- Our Music department is number one for quality of research in the UK.
- History is 3rd in the UK for quality of research.
- Modern Languages and Linguistics is 5th in the UK for quality of research.
- In English, 100% of our research environment is world-leading or internationally excellent.
- Philosophy is 7th in the UK for our published work.
Creative and Cultural Industries Masters degrees
The creative industries have an indisputable impact on global culture.
Our MA programmes delve into the cultural industries, introducing our students to innovations and challenges whilst encouraging critical thinking and welcoming original ideas.
As a founding member of the Russell Group our teaching is research-led. This approach provides a framework for our graduates to gain invaluable creative and analytics abilities – giving them a step-up in their career.
Explore our course options here.