Graduate careers in Southampton
Career city: Southampton | Postgraduate study | Local graduate employers | Moving to Southampton | Useful links
Southampton is Hampshire’s primary city and has one of the largest commercial ports in Europe. The south coast is a popular holiday destination, with cruise ships regularly docking in the city and, as a result, competition for graduate jobs in the tourism industry is fierce. The docks too are a major employer, with the Maritime Coastguard Agency taking on entrylevel surveyors and engineers, while creative types may find trainee roles at smaller companies such as Imagine Publishing.
Nearby Portsmouth is home to IBM’s European headquarters and the UK headquarters of Zurich Financial Services is located a dozen miles from Southampton in Fareham.
Postgraduate study in and around Southampton
The University of Southampton is the ranked as the 12th best university in the country and performed well in the latest postgraduate research ratings. The university is ranked within the top five for nursing and midwifery, computer science and electronic and electrical engineering.
Southampton Solent University offers less traditional postgraduate options such as marketing, fashion merchandise management and film. The institution also makes the most of the city’s waterside location by offering courses in international maritime studies.
10 local graduate employers in Southampton
- Southampton City Council, Southampton (Public sector; HR)
- Ordnance Survey, Southampton (Public sector; Management)
- Imagine Publishing, Bournemouth (Publishing; Advertising)
- IBM, Portsmouth and Bournemouth (IT; Finance; Engineering)
- JPMorgan Chase, Bournemouth (Banking and financial services)
- University of Southampton, Southampton (Education; Research)
- Zurich, Portsmouth (Banking and financial services; IT)
- Unisys, Bournemouth (IT; Business consulting)
- Maritime Coastguard Agency, Southampton (Surveying; HR)
- NHS Southampton, Southampton (Healthcare; HR; IT)
(Note: these companies may not be currently recruiting. Their names have been provided as a guideline to the type of work available and what areas to look in.)
Moving to Southampton
It’s on the map for…
- RMS Titanic began its voyage here
- Mayflower Theatre hosts West End-style shows that are cheaper than London
- Home to the second longest medieval walls in England (that are still standing)
It’s within commuting distance of…
- Portsmouth – 19 miles
- Bournemouth – 33 miles
- Reading – 47 miles
Monthly lettings costs in Southampton
- Single room: £280–£360
- Double room: £300–£400
- Bedsit: £320–£420
- One-bed flat: £500–£600
- Two-bed flat: £600–£750