Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Portsmouth is a city university on the UK's only island city, with the seafront at Southsea a short walk from campus. Everything is compact: the university says you can walk to any of its buildings in under 15 minutes, and almost all halls are in the city centre or Southsea.
It's a mid-to-large university of about 24,000 students, with a friendly, down-to-earth feel. It's also good value for the south coast. Halls start at £120 a week for 2026/27 and the university estimates total costs of about £201–£317 a week in halls. If you want the sea, a walkable city and a modern university, it's worth a look.
Known for
The University of Portsmouth is 29th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 53.4, above the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Northumbria University | 53.7 |
| 28 | University of Liverpool | 53.4 |
| 29 | University of Portsmouth | 53.4 |
| 30 | York St John University | 53.4 |
| 31 | Bath Spa University | 53.1 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
10th of 124 · Social Score 71.1
12th of 124 · Nightlife Score 71.6
30th of 124 · Balance Score 49.7
33rd of 124 · Societies Score 60.5
42nd of 124 · Freshers Score 60.1
43rd of 124 · Employability Score 34.2
43rd of 122 · Careers Score 35
44th of 124 · Affordability Score 58.9
45th of 124 · Value Score 51.6
45th of 124 · Inclusion Score 66.3
46th of 123 · Happiness Score 49.6
49th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 53.9
73rd of 124 · Innovation Score 54.3
80th of 124 · Sustainability Score 46
84th of 124 · Safety Score 35.2
Portsmouth as a student city
Ranked 10th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 61.6.
The University of Portsmouth appears in 52 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiography | 3rd | of 29 | 89 |
| Pharmacology | 6th | of 37 | 87 |
| Real Estate | 5th | of 22 | 80 |
| Quantity Surveying | 8th | of 35 | 91 |
| Supply Chain Management | 3rd | of 12 | 48 |
| Creative Writing | 9th | of 34 | 80 |
| Photography | 13th | of 44 | 92 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 20th | of 66 | 101 |
| Surveying | 8th | of 24 | 73 |
| Pharmacy | 11th | of 32 | 78 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
The University of Portsmouth Students' Union (UPSU) runs a wide range of societies and sports teams, plus student events and advice. Ravelin Sports Centre is the university's big sports hub, with a swimming pool, sports hall and large gym. Southsea is the go-to area for bars, cafés, independent shops and the seafront, while Gunwharf Quays has shops, restaurants and the Spinnaker Tower. Because the city is so compact, most nights out are walkable.
University halls cost £120–£208 per week (2026/27, 40-week contracts, bills included; catered halls from £175 including two meals a day) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
New full-time undergraduates are guaranteed a room in halls if they hold Portsmouth as their firm choice and submit a completed online hall application through the Student Home Portal by 26 June 2026 (for 2026/27 entry). Applications opened from the end of February 2026.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Hall | City centre | shared bathroom | £120/wk | The cheapest hall. University-owned, £4,790 for the academic year. |
| Bateson Hall | City centre | shared bathroom | £130/wk | University-owned. Standard rooms £130 a week and large rooms £141. |
| Langstone Flats | Langstone campus | en-suite | £148/wk | The cheapest en-suite option (£5,930 a year), at the university's Langstone site rather than in the city centre. |
| Harry Law Hall | City centre | en-suite and studios | £162/wk | University-owned. Studios from £188 a week, with accessible rooms available. |
| Burrell House Catered | Southsea | shared bathroom | £175/wk | Catered (breakfast and dinner), just behind Rees Hall and about 10 minutes' walk from the university. Rooms cost £175–£194 a week. |
| Rosalind Franklin Hall | City centre | en-suite and studios | £178/wk | Unite Students-owned, so your contract is with Unite. Studios are £194 a week. |
| Greetham Street Hall | City centre | en-suite | £201/wk | The priciest self-catered hall (£201–£208 a week). Unite Students-owned. |
| Rees Hall Catered | Southsea seafront | en-suite | £205/wk | Catered hall in a sought-after seafront spot, 12 minutes' walk from the university. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
The main student area: terraced houses, bars, cafés and the seafront, within walking distance of campus.
Cheaper terraced streets east of the centre, with its own station. A short walk or bus to campus.
Closest to campus, with lots of private student blocks.
Top tip
Once you've made Portsmouth your firm choice, the Student Housing team emails you a login for the Student Home Portal (from the end of February). Apply by the late-June deadline to secure your guarantee. Some halls are owned by Unite Students or Yugo, so check who your contract is with. The university estimates private rent at about £95–£130 a week plus £35–£45 for bills.
The university estimates that living in halls costs £201–£317 a week in total, or about £8,040–£12,680 for a 40-week year. Halls cost £120–£208 a week with bills included. Private renting works out at roughly £221–£286 a week including bills and living costs. Travel is cheap because almost everything is walkable.
Getting around
Portsmouth is compact and flat, so most students walk or cycle. The university says you can walk to any of its buildings in under 15 minutes, and Portsmouth and Southsea station is right by campus. Buses link Southsea, Fratton and the city centre, and trains run to London Waterloo.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Portsmouth is 29th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 53.4. Its strongest results are for social life (10th), nightlife (12th), work-life balance (30th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Portsmouth places highest for Radiography (3rd of 29), Supply Chain Management (3rd of 12). Across our awards, it also stands out for social life.
Yes. If Portsmouth is your firm choice and you submit a completed hall application through the Student Home Portal by the June deadline (26 June for 2026/27), you're guaranteed a place in halls.
For 2026/27, self-catered halls cost from £120 a week (Trust Hall) to £208 a week (Greetham Street Hall), on 40-week contracts with bills included. Catered halls Burrell House and Rees Hall start at £175 and £205 a week.
Yes, two: Burrell House (shared bathrooms, from £175 a week) and Rees Hall (en-suite, from £205 a week). Both are in Southsea and include breakfast and dinner.
It's a city university. The main buildings are spread across the city centre, but it's compact: the university says you can walk to any of its buildings in under 15 minutes. Most halls are in the city centre or Southsea.
The university estimates £201–£317 a week if you live in halls, including rent, food (about £45 a week), travel, phone and socialising. That's about £8,040–£12,680 for a 40-week year.
Most move into shared houses in Southsea, which is close to the seafront and walkable to campus. Fratton is another popular, slightly cheaper option. The university estimates private rent at about £95–£130 a week plus bills.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
