Solent University, Southampton: Admission, Fees and Foundation Route

Solent University (legal name Southampton Solent University) is a public university in central Southampton that has held university status since 2005. Its strongest areas are business, media and film, computing, sport and maritime studies; Warsash Maritime School is part of the university. International bachelor's fees in 2026/27 are $25,250 (£19,081) a year, and master's courses cost, for example, $24,280 (£18,350). For Russian school leavers the natural route is the on-campus International Foundation Programme at $19,790 (£14,950), which leads into year one of a three-year degree. QA, which runs it, asks for 12–13 years of schooling, so an 11-year attestat should be sent to QA for assessment early.

Solent is not the University of Southampton: they are two separate universities in the same city.

Who Solent suits

Solent suits applicants looking for a practical degree on England's south coast at a moderate price: business and management, marketing, IT and cyber security, film and television, sport, and shipping and port management. If you want a Russell Group research university in the same city, look at the University of Southampton. More options are on our study in the UK page.

After school: the International Foundation Programme

For international students who do not meet direct entry requirements, Solent's course pages point to one route: the International Foundation Programme (IFP). It is run by the private provider QA Higher Education under an agreement with the university; you apply through the QA portal, and QA decides on places on the pathway. Classes take place on the Southampton campus with access to all university facilities.

A Russian attestat represents 11 years of schooling, while QA asks for 12–13 years and publishes no Russia-specific rule. Before paying anything, ask QA to assess your attestat: QA decides on IFP admission. If 11 years turn out not to be enough, there are two workable alternatives: a year at a Russian university or college before the IFP, or a pathway at a university that accepts the attestat directly, such as ENUIC at Edinburgh Napier with an average of 3/5. The IFP comes with an integrated CAS, so one visa covers the foundation and the degree. To progress, you need at least 40% in every unit. From the business pathway, for example, students can progress to Business Management, International Business Management, Business Management with Finance or with Marketing, Shipping and Port Management, Sport Management and Construction Project Management.

Many Solent degrees also list a "four years with foundation year" version taught by the university itself; check its entry rules on the course page. Our foundation year guide explains how pathway formats differ.

Bachelor's degrees: requirements and fees

For direct entry, Solent looks for qualifications equivalent to UK A-levels, which on the UK scale means 104–120 UCAS points. Most creative courses also ask for a portfolio. English: IELTS 6.0 with no component below 5.5, the Duolingo English Test at 115 with at least 95 per section, or TOEFL iBT 80 with at least 20 per section for tests taken before 21 January 2026 (4.5 with at least 4 for newer tests).

Bachelor's degrees take three years, or four with a year in industry. Solent has not yet published 2027/28 fees; extra course costs (such as a project management exam or graduation gown hire) are listed on each course page. Apply through UCAS; the equal-consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. See our guide to applying to UK universities.

Master's degrees

On its Kazakhstan page, Solent asks master's applicants for a degree comparable to a UK bachelor's. MSc Applied AI and Data Science, for example, runs for one year full-time or with a placement and costs international students $24,280 (£18,350) in 2026/27; the English requirement is the same IELTS 6.0 (5.5), or Duolingo 115 with at least 100 per section.

International master's students starting in May or September 2026 received two automatic awards that could be combined:

Together they were worth $5,290 (£4,000). The anniversary award marks the university's 20th year, so 2027 terms need checking afresh. Solent graduates receive 20% off a master's. More funding options are in our UK scholarships guide.

Deposit and payment

Once you have firmly accepted an unconditional offer, Solent asks for a CAS deposit of at least 50% of the course fee; you may also pay the full fee. Deposits are not accepted against a conditional offer. For a 2026/27 bachelor's this means at least $12,630 (£9,541), half the annual rate; the university confirms the exact amount. The deposit is waived only if a recognised sponsor (a government, company or foundation) covers the full fee; letters from relatives do not count as sponsorship. Payment is by card on the university website or by transfer through Flywire. Lawful routes from Russia are covered in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

Halls of residence

All halls are 10–15 minutes' walk from the main campus. Students who hold Solent as their firm choice, with a conditional or unconditional firm offer, can apply for a room; rooms are allocated from April. More tips are in our student housing guide.

Visa

• The CAS is issued after the 50% deposit and an unconditional offer.
• Visa fee $740 (£558); Immigration Health Surcharge $1,030 (£776) per visa year.
• Maintenance for applications from 30 November 2026: £1,203 a month, or $14,330 (£10,827) for nine months, held for 28 consecutive days.
• Residents of Russia and Kazakhstan need a TB test at a GOV.UK-approved clinic.
• The Graduate visa lasts 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.

UK Visas and Immigration decides on the visa. See our pages on English tests for the UK student visa, the UK student visa and the Graduate Route.

Common mistakes

• Confusing Solent University with the University of Southampton: separate universities, entry rules and fees.
• Expecting the IFP to lead into year two. After the QA programme you begin the degree from its first year, four years in total.
• Delaying the deposit. Without 50% of the fee there is no CAS, and the payment is only possible once the offer is unconditional.
• Budgeting with last year's master's discounts. The £2,500 anniversary award applied to 2026 intakes.
• Searching Solent's website for Russia-specific requirements. There are none, so rely on the general rules and QA's IFP requirements.

Plan for 2027

1. October–November 2026: take IELTS, choose a subject; with an attestat, apply for the January 2027 or October 2027 IFP.
2. By 13 January 2027: with A-levels or the IB, apply for a bachelor's through UCAS.
3. After an unconditional offer: pay 50% of the fee and apply for halls.
4. Summer 2027: hold funds for 28 days, take the TB test, get the CAS and visa.
5. September–October 2027: start the degree or the IFP.

FAQ

Can I enter Solent University straight after school?

Usually through QA Higher Education's International Foundation Programme on the Southampton campus: two terms, IELTS 5.5 and a 2026/27 fee of $19,790 (£14,950). QA asks for 12–13 years of schooling, so show QA your 11-year attestat in advance. QA decides on IFP admission and the university decides on progression to the degree.

How much does Solent University cost?

In 2026/27, most international bachelor's courses cost $25,250 (£19,081) a year, including Business Management and Computer Science. Master's fees are, for example, $24,280 (£18,350) for MSc Applied AI and Data Science. Rates for 2027/28 are not yet published.

How is Solent different from the University of Southampton?

They are two independent universities in Southampton. Solent is an applied university with university status since 2005, strong in business, media and maritime studies. The University of Southampton is a research-intensive Russell Group university with its own entry rules, fees and pathway programmes.

How much do I pay to get a CAS?

At least 50% of the tuition fee, paid once an unconditional offer has been firmly accepted; for a 2026/27 bachelor's that is at least £9,541. The deposit counts towards tuition. No CAS is issued without it, and UK Visas and Immigration then decides on the visa.

Does Solent offer discounts to international master's students?

For May and September 2026 starts, international students automatically received a £2,500 anniversary award plus £1,500 with a 2:1-equivalent degree. The university will announce 2027 terms separately and decides on each award. Solent graduates get 20% off a master's.

Where do Solent students live?

In university halls: from $170 (£130.20) a week at Chantry to $230 (£170.10) at Kimber, the closest hall to campus. Every hall is a short walk from teaching buildings. You apply for a room after firmly accepting your offer of study.

Sources

• Solent University: international students, Kazakhstan requirements, history
• BSc Business Management, BSc Computer Science, MSc Applied AI and Data Science
• QA Higher Education: International Foundation Programme, Business and Management
• International tuition fees, fees explained and alumni discount, CAS deposits
• Solent 20th Anniversary Study Award, Postgraduate Taught International Excellence Scholarship
• Accommodation, how to apply for halls
• UCAS: 2027 deadlines
• GOV.UK: Student visa, money, HC 584, IHS, Graduate visa, TB testing in Russia

Amounts are converted at the ECB reference rates of 1 October 2026 (£1 = $1.3234) and rounded to $10. Data checked on 2 October 2026.

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