The University of Southampton is a research university in Southampton, England. It is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities in the United Kingdom. The university has its origins in the Hartley Institution, which was founded in 1862. It became a university in 1952. The university is known for its excellence in a wide range of subjects, including engineering, ocean and earth science, and the arts and humanities. It has a strong international reputation and a diverse student body.