Physical Sciences and Engineering subjects positioned in UK top 10 in 2019 Guardian University Guide

Computer Science and Physics courses at the University of Southampton have both climbed into the top 10 for subject rankings in the 2019 Guardian University Guide.

Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) also retained a second place subject finish in the national rankings, which mean that all teaching in Southampton’s Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering are placed in the UK top 10 in their subject areas.

Physics rose six places to be ranked sixth in the guide, with a 99.0 out of 100 score positioning it second in the country – and first in the Russell Group – for satisfaction with the course.

Computer Science and Information Systems, part of Southampton’s Department of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS), leapt from 16th to eighth in the 2019 standings.

For EEE in ECS, the guide’s second place ranking is the subject’s tenth consecutive year in the UK top three. Southampton topped the table for course satisfaction in the subject with a score of 99.0 out of 100.

Professor Paul Lewin, Head of ECS, says: “We have a proven record of delivering high quality teaching in the areas of Computer Science and Electrical and Electronic Engineering and this is reflected in terms of student satisfaction as well as our standing in league tables. Our students benefit from access to world-leading resources as well as the hard work and dedication of all ECS staff engaged in education.”

The Guardian University Guide ranks 121 UK institutions and focuses on undergraduate study and experience. Rankings are based around criteria of entry tariffs, student satisfaction, graduate prospects, student-staff ratio and university spend per student.

Professor Jonathan Flynn, Head of Physics and Astronomy, says: “We are thrilled to be sixth in the Guardian league table for Physics, and first in the Russell Group for overall student satisfaction. The Guardian University Guide emphasises the students' perspective and we think our top 10 position reflects the effort we make to support our students. We will not be complacent, however, and will continue to work to improve our students' experience and their future prospects.”

The University of Southampton rose 12 places to be ranked 23rd overall in the 2019 guide. The improvement comes a month after the University’s return to the top 20 in the 2019 Complete University Guide.

Professor Bashir Al-Hashimi, Dean of Physical Sciences and Engineering, adds: “EEE is consistently ranked among the best departments in the UK and this outstanding result reinforces that the University and ECS provide the highest quality educational experience and training to our students. I am also delighted that Computer Science and Physics are among the top 10 in their disciplines, which is a fantastic achievement. Such consistent results are testament to the expertise and commitment of our staff as well as the leadership at Department and Faculty level.”