The University of Southampton is a public research university located in Southampton, England. Southampton is a research intensive university and a founding member of the Russell Group of elite British universities.

The origins of the university date back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 following a legacy to the Corporation of Southampton by Henry Robinson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed into the Hartley University College, with degrees awarded by the University of London. On 29 April 1952, the institution was granted a Royal Charter to give the University of Southampton full university status. It is a member of the European University Association, the Association of Commonwealth Universities and is an accredited institution of the Worldwide Universities Network.

The University of Southampton is in the top 1% of universities worldwide. They are a global centre for excellence in research and education.