University of Portsmouth maintains position as a Top 40 UK university

Portsmouth has been ranked the 36th best university in the country this year.

The Guardian University Guide, published on Saturday (12 September), is one of the significant national guides for students and their parents, using measures based on a range of criteria including teaching quality, student experience and graduate prospects. 

As well as the overall ranking, a number of subject areas were also rated highly nationally including the following ranked in the top 20: 

• Biomedical - ranked 1st

• Creative writing - ranked 9th 

• Economics - ranked 11th

• Journalism - ranked 11th 

• Pharmacy and pharmacology - ranked 11th

• Film production and photography - ranked 12th

• Politics - ranked 13th 

• Criminology ranked 14th 

• Interior design - ranked 16th 

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Galbraith, said: “To keep our position as a Top 40 university for two years in a row is a fantastic achievement. Like us, universities across the country are striving to make improvements to the student experience. To be ranked in the Top 40 shows we are a high quality university and among the best in the UK.

“But we don’t want to stop there. Our vision is to be a Top 25 UK university by 2035. We know this is ambitious, but we are ready to take on the challenge and this year’s ranking shows that it remains within sight.

“I’d like to thank colleagues and our partners who continue to work tirelessly to deliver the very best for our students.” 

Building success upon success

The Guardian University Guide is yet another indicator of the University’s excellence and investment over recent years including:

• Gold rating in the national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

• Top 3 modern UK university for research power reflecting that Portsmouth students are taught by expert lecturers and researchers.

• Portsmouth will be home to the first dental school ever established in the South-East, and one of the first new dental schools anywhere in the country in over 20 years, following a Government announcement earlier this year. 

• The establishment of the University’s new medical degree, in partnership with King’s College London as a branch campus for medical students to train locally, with the aim to eventually open our own medical school.

• £5.8 million in OfS funding to transform the Faculty of Technology facilities including new laboratories, simulated learning environments, a satellite room for space applications and advanced renewable energy equipment to prepare the next generation of engineers and technicians.

Rachel Hall, editor of the Guardian University Guide, said: “We know how much thought goes into choosing where and what to study, so a huge amount of work goes into making the Guardian University Guide as useful as possible. This year, we’ve looked closely at the questions students are asking now, from what a degree could mean for their future career to whether studying closer to home could make university more affordable. We hope the guide helps students and families feel informed and confident about the choices ahead.”