Portsmouth Student Guide
The city of Portsmouth can be found in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. The city is home to a student population of over 21,000 students.
Nightlife
There are an abundance of pubs and clubs in the city. ‘V Bar’ can be found near Portsmouth and Southsea railway station and is a popular pre-club bar. The bar offers £1 shots every night so evenings can get messy! Liquid nightclub hosts the biggest student night out every Thursday and drinks are cheap and the music is loud, so be prepared for a Friday hangover.
Entertainment
There are a couple of cinemas in Portsmouth- the multiplex cinema at Gunwharf Quay plays all the latest Hollywood blockbusters while Cinema No. 6 in the dockyard caters more for independent and world cinema. The Wedgewood Rooms in Southsea are worth a visit as they often host live music and comedy nights, and drinks are cheap so a night out here doesn’t have to break the bank.
Shopping
Portsmouth offers a wide range of opportunities for a bit of retail therapy. Gunwharf Quays is home to over 90 designer outlet shops and is also a great place to grab a cheap bite to eat. Albert Road caters more for retro and vintage tastes and includes a large collection of independent clothes, antique and craft shops.
Culture
Art lovers can take refuge in Aspex, Portsmouth’s leading contemporary art gallery. The gallery specialises in supporting contemporary artists in the early stages of their careers and is a great place to discover new artists. As well as gallery exhibitions the venue provides performance events, workshops and discussions.
Where Can I Study?
Portsmouth is home to the University of Portsmouth (also referred to as Portsmouth University), the only university in the city.
The University of Portsmouth welcomes over 21,000 students ever year and is a member of the University Alliance, a group of major business focused universities. The university is split into 2 campuses: University Quarter and the Langstone Campus.
University Quarter is a collection of buildings scattered around the city centre and includes many of the university’s teaching facilities as well as halls of residence. The Langstone Campus is the smallest campus and can be found in Milton. Langstone overlooks Langstone Harbour and is home to the university’s sports facilities and halls of residence.
Courses at Portsmouth University are organised into 5 faculties of schools: Portsmouth Business School, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries.
The Students Union at Portsmouth University offers a wide range of activities and encourages students to get involved as a great way to socialise and meet other students. Activities on offer include rugby, cricket, football, sailing and rowing. The union also runs societies for many different interests including a Politics Society, a Brightsparks Enterprise Society and a Property Development Society.
Should I Study in Portsmouth?
A student’s honest opinion:
“Seaside, great weather and plenty of students is what comes to mind when you mention Portsmouth University. Lying on the south coast, the student city offers a great living and studying experience. The city is a great middle sized coastal town. There are plenty of beaches across entire Portsmouth which are full of young people sitting and enjoying the great weather.
As a non campus based university, the UOP offers you as a student the perfect student/city experience. The University is located in the centre of Portsmouth, right next to the seafront and central shopping area. There are regular student buses taking students from the main campus to other parts of the city starting at 07.30 and ending at 00.25.
The student union has also recently opened its own bar and club. Furthermore the UOP offers a large variety of sports to choose from with anything to suit your needs. The student services are very well organised as are the facilities including the university library.
In terms of parties, there is a huge abundance of clubs and bars to choose from. The Albert road offers a more relaxed atmosphere of pubs and bars in comparison to the hoard of students at Guildhall.
I would definitely suggest the University of Portsmouth for any student looking to experience an authentic student lifestyle with great weather and in a friendly living environment.” Alex, 21