University of Portsmouth Societies and Students’ Union: Meet university friends and practise your English!

LSI/IH Portsmouth has a close partnership with the University of Portsmouth, and our students can use the local university facilities while they study with us. This allows our students to connect with British and international university students for a true British student experience! Our student services team is on hand to help students with finding out more.

University Gym: Ravelin Sports Centre

The recently built Ravelin Sports Centre is a great place to get fit! Sign up for a monthly membership and receive a discounted ‘student rate’ price by showing your LSI student card. You can also simply dowload the UoP Sport app to book one-off gym and swim sessions, and fitness classes.

University Library:

LSI students can also use the university library study spaces on a day pass with their LSI card. For those who want to borrow books and use the library year-round can  apply for a free external membership card.

University Student Union and Clubs:

Want to socialise and make British friends? There are over 140 sports clubs, societies, and groups at the University of Portsmouth! Visit the University of Portsmouth Student Union website to find out about what clubs are available. Here, you can contact union groups and societies, and sign up for memberships!

What social activities are organised by LSI/IH Portsmouth?

We know how important it is to have fun as well as learn English whilst at LSI/IH Portsmouth! We therefore have a dedicated Student Services Team whose job is to make your time spent studying in Portsmouth as enjoyable as possible. The social programme we offer is full and varied, and includes weekly sporting events, nights out, and cultural and educational activities. During your time here, you can also go to many events organised by the community and Portsmouth University which is a great way to make friends with British students!

Have fun and improve your English with our Student Services Team!

LSI/IH Portsmouth receptionist smiling

Our Student Services team is made up of full-time and work experience staff working hard to deliver the best experiences to our LSI/IH Portsmouth/IH Portsmouth students.

Student Services look after students from the moment they decide to book a course, such as helping with applications and visas and greeting students on their first day and showing them around the school. Student Services deliver a fun-filled social programme for students to enjoy during their course, including after-school and weekend activities.

The social programme is a great way to meet new friends and explore Portsmouth and the surrounding areas, with activities such as welcome drinks on a Monday, movie afternoons and trips to other cities around the UK!

Please feel free to email us at StudentServices@lsi-portsmouth.co.uk.

students in London

What's on?

A big part of every course is to be able to practise English outside of the classroom and explore Portsmouth. We run a social programme with lots of different activities that cater to every taste! Our social programme allows students the opportunity to meet other students who might not be in their class, and mix with teachers and activity leaders to practise their English in an informal and fun setting. Our most popular events include ping pong tournaments, football and conversation clubs!

We offer trips to different cities every Saturday and students love the opportunity to explore new places outside of Portsmouth! Our activities are always led by an experienced Activity Leader and have a fun and varied schedule of events which are carefully planned out to ensure maximum student satisfaction with the trips. During you weekend breaks you will have the opportunity to visit multiple locations across the country, including:

Salisbury
Stonehenge
Bath
Brighton
Oxford
Isle of Wight
London
Winchester
Arundel Castle

In a gallery
Football students

Student Life in Portsmouth

We are located in the heart of the University area of the city, so there is great access to facilities for students, such as subsidised cafes and entertainment.

Some of our students join University of Portsmouth gym for a discounted rate (includes access to the gym facilities and all classes.

If you have any hobbies that you wish to continue during your stay, such as Basketball or Photography, you can ask the Student Services team to contact the University for you. It is sometimes possible for you to join their activities!

Depending on the length of your course you may be eligible for an NUS card. The National Union of Students arrange discounts in shops and restaurants.

Our Student Lounges

We have two student lounges where students can relax between classes, have a coffee, catch up with friends, or see what’s on the social programme that week.

In our student lounges we have information about Portsmouth, including our favourite places to eat, drink and visit and recommendations from our Student Services Team and other members of staff.

We have a smart TV set up in the student lounge, so you can enjoy music, Netflix or whatever takes your fancy!

This month's social programme

 

What we've been doing this year

 
 

Executive Social Programme

Our professional English social programme, together with the accompanied lunch option, provides opportunities for you to practise, and learn social English, enhance your intercultural awareness and network with professionals from all over the world. Real-life work situations include communications with people from all countries with all levels of English and these opportunities reflect those situations.

The Executive Lounge

This is where you can relax, grab a coffee and get to know the other Executive students.

Students hanging out in Executive lounge

The optional evening social programme is full and varied and includes visits to restaurants and pubs, theatres and cinemas, museums and many optional sporting activities. Snooker, tennis, football, and golf are all available. Our student services team also arrange a wide range of weekend excursions to places of cultural and historical interest which you can join and enjoy as part of your language stay.

An example week:

Monday: Welcome drinks in Cafe 113 (Free)

Tuesday: Live music/ guided tour of Old Portsmouth (£10-£15)

Wednesday: Salsa Lesson (£4)

Thursday: Meal out and drinks (£30-£40)

Friday: Farewell drinks in 113 (Free)