🌊University of Plymouth

Plymouth, UK

QS World 2026 · #613

A coastal Devon university with a genuine identity in marine and ocean science.

About University of Plymouth

University of Plymouth is woven into a historic naval city on England's south-west coast, with the seafront Hoe and harbour genuinely part of daily student life rather than a weekend extra. Its clearest strength is marine biology and oceanography, backed by real fieldwork and research credibility, alongside engineering, nursing and health professions, business, and architecture and sustainability-focused courses. Living costs sit well below London or Brighton, and eligible international undergraduates can apply for the Welcome to Plymouth Scholarship, worth up to around £6,000. It suits students genuinely drawn to marine, environmental or health careers who want a coastal lifestyle over major-city intensity.

Why students choose it

  • A genuine, research-backed identity in marine biology and oceanography
  • The Welcome to Plymouth Scholarship, worth up to around £6,000 for eligible students
  • A coastal Devon lifestyle at living costs well below London or Brighton

🎓 Free application support for University of Plymouth

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to University of Plymouth — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

BBB (A Level)  ·  IB 30

Solid tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

£20,000–£28,000/yr

mid tier for UK — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

city campus, Plymouth

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or University of Plymouth's financial aid office.

Beyond government-level awards, most UK universities offer their own merit-based international scholarships — commonly a partial tuition reduction for strong A-Level/IB/IGCSE results, sometimes auto-considered from your application and sometimes requiring a short separate form.

  • Chevening Scholarships: UK government-funded, fully-funded, for one-year Master's study — highly competitive, open to students from eligible countries with leadership potential.
  • Commonwealth Scholarships: For citizens of Commonwealth countries, mainly postgraduate, funded by the UK government.
  • University international merit scholarships: Widely offered across Russell Group and other universities — typically a tuition-fee reduction for high entry grades, often renewable each year of study.

Chevening and Commonwealth are postgraduate-only. For undergraduate applicants, the university-specific merit scholarships are usually the more relevant route.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Marine Biology & Oceanography

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Requires two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths

Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Nursing

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Biology recommended

Business Management

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Architecture

⏱️ Typical duration: Often longer than a standard Bachelor's — commonly a 3-year Bachelor's plus a further 2-year Master's for full professional accreditation

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Typical entry: Portfolio

Durations are typical for UK — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September
Typical deadline
Late January (equal consideration deadline)
Note
Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

Read the full Tutopiya guide

A deeper walkthrough of applying to University of Plymouth for international IGCSE / A Level / IB students.

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See where University of Plymouth ranks on your personal shortlist

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University of Plymouth FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to University of Plymouth as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into University of Plymouth?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, University of Plymouth expects around BBB at A Level or 30 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for University of Plymouth's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on University of Plymouth's own admissions page before applying.

How much does University of Plymouth cost for international students?

International tuition at University of Plymouth typically falls in the £20,000–£28,000/yr range (mid tier for UK). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not University of Plymouth's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for University of Plymouth?

University of Plymouth follows UK's typical intake calendar: September, with applications generally due late january (equal consideration deadline). Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry. Always verify the exact date on University of Plymouth's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for University of Plymouth?

UK universities, including University of Plymouth, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is University of Plymouth known for?

A coastal Devon university with a genuine identity in marine and ocean science. University of Plymouth is woven into a historic naval city on England's south-west coast, with the seafront Hoe and harbour genuinely part of daily student life rather than a weekend extra. Its clearest strength is marine biology and oceanography, backed by real fieldwork and research credibility, alongside engineering, nursing and health professions, business, and architecture and sustainability-focused courses. Living costs sit well below London or Brighton, and eligible international undergraduates can apply for the Welcome to Plymouth Scholarship, worth up to around £6,000. It suits students genuinely drawn to marine, environmental or health careers who want a coastal lifestyle over major-city intensity.

Can I apply to University of Plymouth with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — University of Plymouth accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free UK University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against University of Plymouth and every other UK university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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