University of Portsmouth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
University of Portsmouth

Coat of arms of the University of Portsmouth
Other name	UoP
Former names	See History
Motto	Latin: Lucem Sequamur
Motto in English	Let us follow the Light
Type	Public
Established	c. 1870; 155 years ago (1870) (as Portsmouth and Gosport School of Science and Art)
Budget	£290.5 million (2021/22)
Chancellor	Karen Blackett
Vice-Chancellor	Graham Galbraith
Total staff	3,500
Students	29,000 (2021/2022)
Undergraduates	22,170 (2020/21)
Postgraduates	6,110 (2020/21)
Location	Portsmouth , Hampshire, England, United Kingdom 50°47′43″N 01°05′36″W / 50.79528°N 1.09333°W / 50.79528; -1.09333
Campus	College town with multiple sites including: University Quarter Northern Quarter Langstone Campus London Campus
Colours	Purple      Black      White
Affiliations	University Alliance Doctoral Training Alliance The Channel Islands Universities Consortium Universities UK
Location in Hampshire

The University of Portsmouth (also called UoP) is a public university located in Portsmouth, England. It has five main departments, called faculties. The university offers many different subjects to study.

About 29,000 students attend the university. They study for their first degrees (undergraduate) and advanced degrees (postgraduate). In 2022, it was one of the largest universities in the United Kingdom by student numbers. Around 3,500 staff members work at the university.

The University of Portsmouth is known for its teaching quality. In 2023, it received the highest rating of Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework. This shows how good the university is at teaching its students.

History of the University

How it All Started: The 1800s

The University of Portsmouth began a long time ago. It opened on June 1, 1870. Back then, it was called the Portsmouth and Gosport School of Science and Art.

In the late 1800s, the school was in different buildings in Old Portsmouth and Southsea. The main building was on Pembroke Street. Both boys and girls went to school there. Because Portsmouth is a coastal city, the school taught technical skills. These skills helped engineers and skilled workers. Many students went on to work at the city's docks, including for the Royal Navy. They learned things like geometry, artistic anatomy, and drawing for buildings and machines. The school also had evening classes for local craftspeople.

New Schools for Art and Technology

In 1894, changes in education meant local councils took control. The Borough of Portsmouth then created the Portsmouth Municipal Technical Institute. This new institute took over the science and technology courses. The original Portsmouth and Gosport School of Science and Art then became the College of Art.

Growing in the 1900s

The Portsmouth Municipal College and Park Building

In 1903, a new building started to be built behind the Portsmouth Guildhall. It was designed by a local Architect named G.E. Smith. The building was finished in 1908. It has a mix of Flemish and Renaissance styles.

In the same year, the Portsmouth Municipal Technical Institute was replaced. It became the Portsmouth Municipal College. This college offered many further and higher education courses. These included chemistry and engineering. The college shared the new building with the College of Art. It also shared it with the Portsmouth Day Training College and a public reference library. Today, this building is still used by the university. It is now called the Park Building. It got its name from Victoria Park, a park next to it.

In 1911, student groups were formed for both male and female students. A student magazine called The Galleon started in the autumn of 1911. It reported that a women's basketball team was created. It also talked about problems with the student common room.

After World War II, the college added new subjects. It started teaching arts and humanities. This helped the college offer a wider range of courses.

Portsmouth College of Technology

In 1953, the Portsmouth Municipal College changed its name. It became the Portsmouth College of Technology. It was then chosen as the main regional college for Southern England.

Becoming a Polytechnic

The college was renamed Portsmouth Polytechnic in 1969. This meant it became a polytechnic, which is a type of higher education institution. By the late 1980s, it was one of the biggest polytechnics in the UK.

Becoming a University

On July 7, 1992, the University of Portsmouth officially opened. A special ceremony was held at Portsmouth Guildhall. As a new university, it could now approve its own degrees. This was allowed by a law called the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

The 2000s and Today

On May 4, 2018, the University of Portsmouth became the main sponsor for the Portsmouth F.C. football team's shirts. This sponsorship lasted for three seasons.

University Locations

The university has two main areas. These are the University Quarter and the Langstone Campus.

Langstone Campus

Langstone is the smaller of the two campuses. It is located in Milton. This is on the eastern side of Portsea Island. The campus looks out over Langstone Harbour. It is also home to the university's sports fields.

The Langstone Campus used to have the university's School of Languages and Area Studies. This school has since moved to the Park Building in the University Quarter. Langstone also used to have three student halls of residence. These were Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM), Trust Hall, and Langstone Flats. They housed 565 students. However, these halls have now been closed and taken down. New halls are closer to the main university buildings.

University Quarter

The University Quarter has many university buildings. They are located around the city centre. This area has most of the university's teaching facilities. Almost all student halls of residence are here too. (A few halls, Rees Hall and Burrell House, are on Southsea Terrace).

The University Library was made bigger in 2006. This cost £11 million. The famous crime writer P. D. James opened it. The university has also spent money on its Faculty of Science. For example, the main building, St Michael's, was updated.

A new department called "Creative and Cultural Industries" opened in September 2006.

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  Anglesea buildings

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  James Watson building

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  Park building

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  University House

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  Sports fields

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  St Michael's building

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  Dennis Sciama building

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  Library

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  Ravelin House

Working with Oman's Military College

In 2013, the University of Portsmouth announced a partnership. It teamed up with the Military Technological College of Oman. The University of Portsmouth helps guide their studies. It also gives official approval for the education of 4,200 students. These students learn technical skills for the armed services and some civilian jobs in Oman.

How the University is Run

Leadership and Management

The main leader of the university is the Chancellor, Karen Blackett. She started this role in 2017. However, the university is managed day-to-day by the Vice-Chancellor, Graham Galbraith. They work with a group called the University Executive Board. This group makes important decisions. It includes leaders from different departments and financial officers.

The University's Board of Governors is the main governing body. It is responsible for everything the university does.

University Faculties (Departments)

The University of Portsmouth has five main faculties. These are like big departments. Each faculty has smaller schools, institutes, or departments inside it.

University's Impact on the Economy

In 2017, a study showed that the University of Portsmouth is very important to the British economy. It adds £1.1 billion to the economy. It also brings £476 million directly to the city of Portsmouth.

What You Can Study and Research

Courses Offered

Portsmouth offers many different courses. You can choose from over 200 undergraduate degrees. There are also 150 postgraduate degrees. Plus, there are 65 research degree programs for advanced studies.

University Research

The university does a lot of important research. In 2014, over 60% of their research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. This means it was some of the best research in the world. For example, 90% of research in Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing, and Pharmacy was top-rated. In Physics, 89% of research was also world-leading.

In 2017, a big research project called CRUNCH started. It focuses on how cities can be ready for climate change. It looks at how food, water, and energy are connected. The University of Portsmouth is leading this £1.6 million project. They work with universities from other countries like Miami and Taiwan.

University Rankings

In 2024, the QS World University Rankings placed Portsmouth at #651 in the world. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings put it in the top 501–600 universities globally in 2022.

The University of Portsmouth was one of only four universities in the South East of England to get the highest Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in 2017. This shows its excellent teaching quality.

Student Life at Portsmouth

Students' Union

The University of Portsmouth Students' Union (UPSU) is a group that helps and represents all students. When you join the university, you automatically become a member. The Students' Union offers support and ways to develop new skills. They speak for students at the university and in the community.

The Students' Union has been around for a long time. Records show it existed in 1911. Since 2002, the Union has been located at the north end of Ravelin Park. The Union Advice Service offers private and fair support. They give information and advice on many topics to students. This service also holds events to help students stay healthy and well.

In 2016, Portsmouth was named the most affordable city in the UK for students. This was based on the Natwest Student Living Index.

Student Groups and Sports

The Union supports over 150 student-led groups. These groups offer many activities outside of classes. They include sports clubs, societies, media groups, and volunteering chances. Students can also start new societies with the Union's help.

The Students' Union has many sports clubs. These are managed by the Athletic Union. Sports include team games like football, cricket, rugby union, and netball. There are also unique sports like octopush (underwater hockey) and lacrosse. As of 2020, there are 38 different sports clubs.

The Students' Union also runs volunteering projects. In 2010, they received a grant to work with older people in the city.

Student Media

The university has two active student media groups. Spyglass is the student magazine. Pure FM is the student radio station. It works with local radio stations like Express FM. The university used to have a newspaper called The Galleon.

Well-Known People from Portsmouth University

Teachers and Researchers (Faculty)

• Deborah Sugg Ryan: A professor who studies the history and ideas behind design.
• Jen Gupta: An astrophysicist who studies space and shares science with others.
• Nizar Ibrahim: A professor who studies ancient fossils, especially dinosaurs.
• Claudia Maraston: A professor of astrophysics who won the 2018 Eddington Medal.
• Alessandro Melis: A professor of architecture and curator for a big art event in Venice.
• June Purvis: A professor who studies the history of women and gender.
• Neil Rackham: A visiting professor at the Business School and a famous author.
• David Wands: A professor of cosmology who studies the universe at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation.

Famous Former Students (Alumni)

Many notable people have studied at the University of Portsmouth or its earlier schools:

• Mohammed Abubakar Adamu: Former head of the police in Nigeria.
• Karen Blackett: The current Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth.
• Paola Arlotta: A leader in regenerative biology at Harvard University.
• Simon Armitage: A famous poet and writer, who became the poet laureate in 2019.
• John Armitt: A civil engineer who chaired the group for the Olympic Games.
• Ben Fogle: A well-known TV presenter, writer, and adventurer.
• John Flint: A British banker and former CEO of HSBC.
• Grayson Perry: A famous modern artist, writer, and TV personality. He won the Turner Prize.
• Tim Peake: An officer in the Army Air Corps and a European Space Agency astronaut. He lived on the International Space Station.
• Lauren Steadman: A Paralympic athlete who competes in swimming and paratriathlon.

See also

• Coat of Arms of UK universities
• Drug Safety Research Unit
• International College Portsmouth
• Isle of Wight College
• List of universities in the UK
• Universities created after 1992