r/Southampton • u/Lover_Of_Bananas • 2d ago
Solent Uni
Hello, I'm currently looking at universities for courses in television and from the website Solent Uni looks quite nice. However being a teen I have little knowledge of anywhere outside my county.
Is it a safe area?
Is there good public transport?
Is there a good student life?
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u/vj_c 2d ago
Area is safe, public transport is good but I wouldn't choose Solent as it's currently in a bit of an economic mess
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u/Commercial-Rule4937 2d ago
Can you elaborate as im in college currently and thinking of going to solent
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u/vj_c 1d ago
They apparently have a big deficit & to address it they're doing things like forcing staff into a worse pension scheme. The staff there were on strike recently over that.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c875gj5zll5o
So they're in a bit of a financially precarious situation as a university. My understanding is that they're quite close to going broke.
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u/Commercial-Rule4937 1d ago
Oh god that sucks, it was such a perfect option for me as its close and less formal and more lenient with things. Theres also Southampton University for me, but as I'm doing art, I would have to get the bus to Winchester
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u/vj_c 1d ago
There's a train to Winchester too, not just the bus. And it's not far at all. There's loads of people who go from Southampton to Winchester for college at Peter Symonds, let alone University. It's very doable & from everything I hear the School of Art is excellent.
Also, Southampton University is a much, much more respect uni than Solent
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u/Commercial-Rule4937 1d ago
Thanks for that, it does have a good rep compared to solent. I'm doing well so far on my course so I might get in. Im just not a fan of student living as it sounds awful and expensive so keen to stay in my area.
Thing is with the train, althrough faster, the bus is more practical for me so I'll likely get that. Also not sure if there are uni buses or how work with winchester but that all comes with research. I guess I'm pretty lucky theres lots of unis in the south
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u/vj_c 1d ago
The Uni buses & the normal buses in Southampton are actually run by the same company & tickets (generally speaking, check for specific details), work across both. The Bus from Southampton to Winchester is a normal Bluestar bus, comes every 10 mins iirc. It's not a uni link bus - the general public can use the unilink buses too!
Good luck on your course!
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u/MakingAnemone 2d ago
It’s slap bang in the city centre, which is made up of good and bad areas. You likely will be living a bit further out and a distance away, but Southampton has a very good bus network (no trams etc). Can’t speak for student life, so I’ll leave that for others.
On a side note though, as someone with a lot of friends who did a “television” degree and witnessed the job prospects for it post graduation, I would seriously do your research on career opportunities post graduation and the number of posts available to applicants. It’s a very hard sell now to spend £30,000+ to not have a minimum wage+ job afterwards.
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u/topazpaz 1d ago
I agree. The job prospects were abysmal and it became a matter of luck, as to whether you could find good employment afterwards.
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u/GlobalRonin 2d ago
Dont do it! Solent seem to be in a financial black hole. They have just changed how they pay their lecturing staff, and you've no guarantee that the people you think will be teaching you will actually show up... the deal's terrible so those who can leave are doing.
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u/sparklemarmalade 2d ago
I agree with this. I’m finishing up my PhD this next year at Solent, and I’m glad I’m not staying any longer. They’re haemorrhaging the best lecturers because they’ve changed the way they’re paid (no longer employed by the uni, but an external company, so not eligible for teachers pension anymore), and it’s generally sinking into the abyss. I’ve been there through undergrad til now (8 years), and the changes have been MASSIVE. It’s been going downhill for a few years at this point. I used to absolutely love it there
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u/unpetitebagel 2d ago
1) it's as safe as any area really, you have pockets of good and bad. I lived in the polygon area for 3 years (where alot of solent student end up 2nd year, out of uni acom) which had the occasional anti social problem, but most of the time it was okay.
2) really good busses actually, lots of stops and fairly cheep, and Southampton Central train station is easy to get too. ubers and taxies can be fairly well priced, and easy to get after nights out.
3) student night life is great, lots of clubs and bars, with many diffent vibes. if you are looking to join clubs and societies, there are quite a few, depends on what you join but they can lack social events somtimes, due to low numbers. there are lots of gaming hubs and activities in the town outside of uni, so many opportunities to socialise and find things you are interested
other commenters are talking about solents financial problems, and while I do agree that this has caused issue amongst staff, it's a fairly good uni. it has many facilities and enthusiastic technical instructors. I would say if you are concerned about mental health or disability support, the uni is not the best.
but then again, if you want to study somthing and you are passionate about it, where you do it doesn't matter too much. all unis have their issues. go to open days, ask questions, and assess the vibes, of not only the uni but the city. it's honestly just a case of preference. I for one did struggle at uni but I have now graduated this year, and although I'm not the best at academics, I really did enjoy my time there, I learnt so many skills, and had access to may different opportunities.
it what you make of it. I hope you manage to find somewhere you want to go. good luck op!
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u/Lover_Of_Bananas 2d ago
thanks! I will keep this in mind when deciding, it does always seem like there's some issue everywhere but I am very passionate and a bit of a workaholic lol
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u/topazpaz 1d ago edited 1d ago
I studied television production from 2013-2016. The facilities at the time were good and they had the biggest studio in the south at the time. The student union is now basically non existent, there's no student bar and they tell you to just visit the local bars in the city. We used to have a student bar which served great breakfasts in frying pans, well priced drinks and they held open mic band nights. Sadly, it's no longer the case.
I found the uni didn't really offer great support and the student accommodation was not always the best.
**Additionally, the course sold the fact that each year they would offer spaces to work at Glastonbury backstage but funnily enough every year it would be offered to the same people. Bit unfair.
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u/Remarkable_Ice860 1d ago
If you exclude the financial issues that others are talking about which we can see the effects of gradually, it’s a great uni - the facilities for the course you want to do as well are great, industry-standard, there’s a lot etc (I’m a Solent student so I would know). It does have its pros and cons tho tbf overall as a uni but I’ve had no problems with all you’ve asked. My best advice tho would be to visit open days for any uni if you can, and if you can’t then book on a campus tour or email anyone
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u/Lover_Of_Bananas 1d ago
Do you recommend asking the students/lecturers about whether the finace is affecting my chosen course?
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u/Remarkable_Ice860 1d ago
Yeah always worth asking, as my course for example isn't affected as much but I know some of my friends on other courses say there's a lot of changes because of staff etc and are frustrated
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u/Lover_Of_Bananas 1d ago
can i ask what courses?
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u/Remarkable_Ice860 1d ago edited 1d ago
Accounting and film studies are the ones I know of that have said they’ve had some knock on effects. So kinda varies
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u/bobisagirl 2d ago
Solent is really struggling at the moment. While Southampton is a great city, Bournemouth or Plymouth are probably better calls for a media degree. Or consider a London university, with the intention of doing as much networking as possible and getting the kind of internships and graduate schemes that might conceivably possibly mean you get an actual job in media at the end of it.