Our roots as an institution date back to 1870 to the Portsmouth and Gosport School of Science and Art, and we became Portsmouth Polytechnic in 1969, buying Ravelin Park from the Government. In the same year our first halls of residence – Rees Hall – opened in a prime position overlooking Southsea Common. In 1992 after a decade as one of the largest and best performing polytechnics in the UK, we out-grew our old name and received university status. The University of Portsmouth was born.

We’re a new breed of university:

• We’re proud to be a breath of fresh air in the academic world – a place where everyone gets the support they need to achieve their best.
• We’re always discovering. We don’t fit the mould, we break it. Just as the world keeps moving, so do we.
• We’re closely involved with our local community and we take our ideas into the global marketplace. We partner with business, industry and government to set the course for a better future. And we educate and transform the lives of our students to help them achieve their potential.
• We stand out, not just in the UK but in the world. We excel in research areas from cosmology and astrophysics to cyber security, forensics and sport science.

Since the first day we opened our doors, we’ve looked towards the future. And we’re here to help you shape it.