University of Plymouth

The University of Plymouth is based in the biggest city in the Southwest of England, providing international students with all the best aspects of British life. With a campus in the centre of a vibrant coastal city, the university is located a short drive from the local beaches and Dartmoor National Park. Plymouth is one of the cheapest cities in the UK to live as a student, with living costs around 51 percent cheaper than London (livingcost.org/cost, 2026).

Ranked as a top two modern UK university in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024, the university has 195,000 alumni across 158 countries and 3,500 current international students, approximately 14 per cent of the student body.

The university has high-quality facilities that help students make the most of their time in the UK. Over GBP 155 million has been invested in the campus, from a new performing arts centre to a marine building with wave tanks and ship simulators, and a 24-hour library.

Research conducted by the University of Plymouth is internationally respected. More than three quarters of research was ranked either world-leading or internationally excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Plymouth has also been ranked among the world's top 100 universities – and the top 15 in the UK – in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

Every year, nearly 4,500 students benefit from Plymouth's work-based learning and placement opportunities. It has won the prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher Education three times.

The teaching and learning support team at Plymouth supports every teaching member of staff to gain a recognised higher education teaching qualification. All degree programmes have incorporated internships, work-based learning or work experience. With this unique combination of teaching excellence and real-life job skills, Plymouth graduates gain more than just a degree.

Teaching Methods

Plymouth is one of a select number of universities in the UK to achieve triple gold in the latest round of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023, gold overall and gold for student experience and student outcomes).

Over 4,500 students benefit from placements and work-based learning each year, as well as research-led teaching. The university also offers 'Plymouth Plus' modules in the first year which allow students to work across subjects, broadening their skills-base and enabling them to work collaboratively with students from other subjects.

Research-Informed Teaching

The University of Plymouth is committed to enhancing the link between research in its disciplines, professions and teaching. All academic staff undertake a teaching qualification ensuring that superb teaching quality is maintained.

In the 2025 Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES), the university has performed particularly well. Of the 11 categories, Plymouth is ranked 7^th in three of them – including the Overall Satisfaction category, one of the most important.

Rankings and Ratings

• 78 percent of research recognised as world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
• 95 percent of graduates are in work or further study (most recent Graduate Outcomes Survey)
• Top 20 in the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2025
• 2^nd Carbon-neutral university in the UK (PAS 2060)

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business

The faculty is comprised of the Plymouth Business School, the School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Art, Design and Architecture.

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business transcends the provision of degrees and doctorates, lectures and workshops by offering support for the development of creative business ideas through The Cube, fostering collaborations both within the university and with external partners through Creative Cultivator and by bringing a diverse range of cultural events to the people of Plymouth and the South West through our Arts & Culture Programme.

Faculty of Health

The faculty consists of six schools, namely Health Professions; Nursing and Midwifery; Psychology; Biomedical Sciences; the Peninsula Medical School and the Peninsula Dental School.

The schools combine world-leading research and practical expertise across a wide range of scientific and practical disciplines. Graduates progress to a huge variety of professions, and Plymouth is one of the UK's largest providers of graduates for the health and social care sector, which has over 350 different career paths.

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Various study options are offered across the faculty's School of Biological and Marine Sciences; School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics; and the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences.

With excellent laboratories, exciting field trips and internships, and ‘hands on' learning, students will develop their practical skills alongside their academic knowledge. Based in Plymouth, Britain's Ocean City in the heart of the South West, the faculty is uniquely placed to address some of the biggest challenges society faces today.

Entry requirements for international students hoping to study at the University of Plymouth can be determined based on a student's home country. The university has a detailed route to check entry requirements, split into Europe, The Americas, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia. Within each of these continents is individual guidance on what is expected of a student from specific countries.

International candidates (students with a non-EU nationality) applying for a degree course with Plymouth must also have an appropriate English language qualification. Acceptable qualifications include:

• AS or A-level in English Language awarded by Edexcel
• GCSE English language
• Canada High/Secondary School Diploma/Certificate
• Hong Kong Diploma in Secondary Education and Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination
• Malaysia SPM
• Zimbabwe GCE O Level and more

If applicants do not meet the English language requirements, they may be eligible to attend pre-sessional courses, organised by the university's English Language Centre. EU students will be informed of any English language requirements for their course as part of the admission process.

Plymouth has the Undergraduate Welcome to Plymouth Scholarship, worth up to GBP 6,000, and the Postgraduate Welcome to Plymouth Scholarship, worth up to GBP 4,000, for international students.

These scholarships are in place to help students thrive and achieve their study goals in Plymouth. Any undergraduate or postgraduate student who meets the university's entry requirements will automatically receive this scholarship. No application is needed.

The following are important to note:

• Students must check the eligibility requirements for the scholarship.
• Students who are eligible for multiple scholarships, awards or discounts by the University of Plymouth will only qualify for the highest amount awarded.
• This scholarship scheme is for students commencing study in September 2026.

Students can find the information on tuition fees on the university's website, specifically on each course's page. Fees vary depending on the level of study and on the residential status of the student, with international students paying higher fees than those applying from the UK.

Charles Seale-Hayne Library

The Charles Seale-Hayne Library is open 24/7 and provides access to approximately 350,000 books, 500,000 eBooks, 80,000 current journal titles and a variety of different study environments. It's also home to the Library Cafe on the first floor, a space to refuel with a wide selection of hot and cold food and drinks.

Specialist Labs

The University of Plymouth houses world-class specialist facilities centered on marine science, engineering, and health. Key highlights include the COAST Laboratory, which features advanced wave tanks for testing offshore renewable energy, and the waterfront Marine Station for direct ocean research.

Engineering students benefit from the new Babbage Building, equipped with robotics and structural testing Hexapods, while the Cyber-SHIP Lab addresses maritime cyber security. In the health sector, the Brain Research & Imaging Centre (BRIC) offers high-field MRI for neuroscience, and the Derriford Research Facility focuses on biomedical breakthroughs in cancer and infection.

This is supported by LABplus, a unique open-access space providing students with flexible use of professional-grade microscopy and lab equipment.

Accommodation

Students can choose from a great variety of halls of residence, all of which offer a safe and friendly environment. The accommodation buildings are close to the university's main campus, near to city centre amenities and situated in one of the South West's most vibrant coastal locations.

Rooms vary between en suite and shared bathroom facilities, all with internet access. The Students Union Advice Team also offer a free tenancy check, where they check any rental agreements.

Sports

The UPSU Sports Centre provides a range of activities and sports services to students. Facilities include the 50-station gym, multi-purpose sports hall, dance studio, squash courts and a sports injury clinic. Sports available at the centre include badminton, football, netball, volleyball, basketball and table tennis.

The University of Plymouth is a modern, dynamic university with an educational history dating back to 1862. The institution is renowned for high-quality, internationally leading education, research and innovation. Plymouth was one of the highest performing cities in the 2025 PwC Good Growth for Cities Index, scoring particularly highly across income distribution, work-life balance, jobs and skills.

With a mission to advance knowledge and transform lives, Plymouth is a top 2 UK modern university (Times Higher Education, Young University Rankings 2024). The university has clusters of world-class research across a wide range of disciplines, including marine science and engineering, medicine, cybersecurity and psychology.

The university is thrilled to offer a Welcome to Plymouth Scholarship for undergraduate and postgraduate students starting in September 2026. This scholarship is worth up to GBP 6,000 for undergraduate students and up to GBP 4,000 for postgraduate students.

Award-winning

The university has garnered significant recognition for its commitment to sustainability, research, and student experience. Notably, it has consistently achieved high rankings in the People & Planet University League, including ranked as a 1st class university (or top 20 university) for sustainability, reflecting its dedication to environmental and ethical performance.

The University of Plymouth has also been ranked among the world's top 100 universities – and the top 15 in the UK – in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. The university's pioneering research in marine science and engineering has also earned numerous accolades, contributing to its reputation as a leading institution in these fields.

Furthermore, Plymouth's focus on providing a supportive and enriching learning environment has been recognised through various awards and high student satisfaction scores, solidifying its position as a modern, forward-thinking university with a strong focus on real-world impact.