London South Bank University's roots are in the real world. We offer industry-relevant degrees that mean you can become the best version of yourself. Here you’ll gain skills for life and the experience employers are looking for.
Originally the Borough Polytechnic Institute, we laid down roots in south London in 1892 and has been improving the lives of students, businesses and the local community ever since.
Our original aim 'to promote the industrial skill, general knowledge, health and well-being of young men and women' remains central to our mission today.
Education
Our academic staff deliver an innovative curriculum. All staff enhance professional opportunities by combining their own knowledge of developed practice with education theory. As well as their academic backgrounds, you'll find staff have an impressive range of professional expertise and are often invited to act as consultants for external enterprises. As a leading provider of fully accredited professional courses and excellent industry links, a qualification from LSBU is recognised across the world.
Research
Our Research Centres are externally facing beacons of innovative, timely research, with an international reputation for achievement and innovation. A key role is to catalyse and support collaborations and work with the Research Groups to enable academics to learn from their peers and support the development of early career researchers.
Career
The Employability and Placements Service (LSBU Careers Hub and LSBU Employment) is here to help you develop the skills, experience and connections to gain graduate level employment after completion of your study
Top reasons to study here
Our teaching practice is informed and many courses offer work experience opportunities.
We offer a wide range of scholarships and discounts for international students including Nationality Scholarships, fee-discounts for LSBU alumni
Whatever the course, we have the facilities to fully support it.
London South Bank UniversityKey Statistics & Highlights
#901Ranking
20 Courses
740Academic Staff
12,144Students
4,008Students (int'l)
6,922Students (female)
Public Institution Type
Student services
At LSBU we provide advice and support for students on a wide range of non-academic and educational needs. Our aim is to enable all students to achieve their potential while studying, by providing an approachable and reliable service that students can trust. Any questions or concerns you may have, the student services are here for you.
We provide:
Accommodation advice
Disability and dyslexia support
Employment and career advice
Financial advice
ID card support
International student advice
Mental health and wellbeing support
Student life guide
Student status and Council Tax exemption letters
Housing services
LSBU is a part of the UUK which protects our students’ rights to safe, high-quality accommodation. This ensures our students get the best out of their time living in our residences. It outlines everything students can expect from our us as well as their responsibilities as tenants. The Code has already raised standards of accommodation at LSBU and underpins our ongoing dedication to our students. We are fully committed to providing safe, comfortable living environments which will help support our students in leading a successful and enjoyable student life.
Library services
LSBU has three library buildings - the Perry Library on Southwark Campus, which holds items for all LSBU courses, Havering Campus Library, which holds items for health-related courses, and Croydon Campus Library.
We have a range of study environments for individual and group learning, course materials, online information resources, as well as over 230,000 books and DVDs.
Medical services
We strongly advise students to register with a doctor as soon as you enrol so that you can obtain immediate medical advice and assistance if you fall ill or have an accident.
Information on registering with a local GP is available on the NHS website and provided during Welcome Week. The closest GP surgery to the Southwark Campus is Princess Street Surgery.
Campus life
LSBU’s Southwark campus is in Elephant and Castle. It’s our main campus and has been our home since 1892.
Our new Croydon campus is now open and will play a key role in our mission to transform lives, communities, businesses and society, through applied education. Croydon is fast becoming one of London's largest growth centres and our new home in Electric House is the first and only university in this ambitious community.
Away from the bustle and hustle of the city (which we know isn’t for everyone), Havering is a warm, welcoming and friendly campus environment. Classes are small and the campus has a tight knit community, which enables students to make friends and socialise with each other.
Sports facilities
We offer quality gym facilities, services and programmes to LSBU students, staff and the community. There is a 20+ station Fitness Suite, equipped with SMART Centre Technology for better performance monitoring and progression, as well as a selection of Free Weights including dumbbells from 2.5kg – 50kg and a Multi-Purpose Olympic Rack.
The gym also provides therapy services, personal fitness programmes and Personal Training, as well as an extensive Group Exercise Studio Timetable
Student clubs
South Bank Students’ Union (SBSU) is the center of student life on campus and home to a number of key services and activities designed to help you get the most out of your student experience.
London South Bank UniversityOverview
London South Bank UniversityRankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Top 10.4%United Kingdom
Top 12.8%Worldwide
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
QS World University Rankings
901
By TopUniversities
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
2025
2026
2027
801
901
901
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
1147
By U.S. News & World Report
Climbed 24 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
2025
2026
2027
1304
1171
1147
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
World University Rankings
No 2027 Ranking
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
2025
2026
2027
601
601
-
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
London South Bank UniversityStudent Reviews & Awards
3.9
Based on 59 reviews
5 Star
16 Reviews
4 Star
29 Reviews
3 Star
11 Reviews
2 Star
1 Review
1 Star
2 Reviews
How Students Rated This University
Overall Satisfaction4.0
Student Teacher Interaction4.0
Student Diversity4.0
5/5
Great practical learning
I have had a really positive experience at London South Bank University. The academic programs are highly practical, focusing heavily on real-world applications, data, and modern industry techniques rather than just pure theory. The professors are supportive and bring valuable industry insights into the classroom.
The campus location is also a massive bonus�being right in the heart of London makes commuting easy and offers fantastic opportunities for networking and student life. I would highly recommend LSBU to anyone looking for a university that genuinely prepares you for the professional world.
Posted byMd Nahid
Studied fromUnknown
Posted onAug 2026
5/5
Supportive Learning Environment
The programme offers a good mix of theory and practical learning. The lecturers are supportive and the university provides helpful resources for students. The multicultural environment also makes studying more interesting. However, administrative processes can sometimes be slow. Overall, it is a good place to study and I would recommend it to other students.
Posted byMd Nahid
Studied fromUnknown
Posted onAug 2026
4/5
Solid foundation for my career
Best choice I ever made going to LSBU, the teaching is brilliant and the knowledge of the teachers is second to none. Really enjoy this experience and would highly recommend this university. As a mature student I was more interested in the academic side of my course and not the social scene and this did not disappoint. The Professors introduced me to so many new aspects of psychology and provided me with a solid base to build my career.
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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