University of Southampton

The University of Southampton is a British university situated just north of the city of Southampton, on the south-coast of the United Kingdom. The university has a world-wide reputation for high-quality research, and is a member of the Russell Group of research-led British universities. According to the Sunday Times newspaper league table, Southampton is perennially in the top ten for research (its primary focus), while in 2002 it came 11th overall (out of around 200 British institutions). Southampton is a member of the Worldwide Universities Network, and has close links with MIT in the United States.

History

The University of Southampton has its origin as as the Hartley Institution which was formed in 1862 from a benefaction by a local wine merchant. In 1919 it was renamed Hartley University College, and subsequently University College Southampton. Before 1952, the college's degrees were awarded by the University of London. In 1952, the Queen granted the University of Southampton a Royal Charter to award degrees in its own right. This conferred full university status and made Southampton independent of the University of London. Despite being one of the last of the "civic" universities, it grew rapidly and gained a reputation for a strong academic approach. It expanded rapidly during the 1960s, when new "plate glass" universities were springing up in Warwick, York, Norwich and a number of other places.

Related Topics:
1862 - 1952 - University of London - Royal Charter

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