The University of Southampton is a world-leading research university on England's south coast. Founded by Royal Charter in 1952 - the first university charter of Queen Elizabeth II's reign - it traces its origins to the Hartley Institution, established in 1862. Today, Southampton is home to approximately 26,000 students from over 130 countries. As a founding member of the Russell Group, it ranks 33rd in the world (QS 2026) and 17th in the UK. The university is globally renowned for engineering, computer science, oceanography and Web Science - a discipline that was born here. Its Highfield Campus spans 59 acres of green parkland adjacent to Southampton Common, while the Boldrewood Innovation Campus houses cutting-edge engineering facilities alongside Lloyd's Register. The National Oceanography Centre, based at Southampton's Waterfront Campus, is one of the world's leading marine research institutions. The university's alumni include Adrian Newey, the legendary Formula 1 designer, and its faculty has included Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web.