| Unit Name: | Southampton University Officer Training Corps |
| Dates: | 1902 – Present |
| Allegiance: |  United Kingdom |
| Type: | Training |
| Role: | Army Officer Training |
| Size: | 3 Companies |
| Garrison: | 32 Carlton Place, Southampton |
| Garrison Label: | Locations |
| Command Structure: | Sandhurst Group Army Reserves (Group B) |
| Current Commander: | Lt Col S Ash |
| Current Commander Label: | Commanding Officer |
| Colonel Of The Regiment: | Major General (Retired) Robert Nitsch[1] |
| Colonel Of The Regiment Label: | Honorary Colonel |
| Motto: | Strenuis Ardua Cedunt "the heights yield to endeavour" |
| Identification Symbol 2: | SUOTC |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Abbreviation |
Southampton University Officer Training Corps is a University Officers' Training Corps formed of three sub-units: A Company for its first-year Officer Cadets, B Company for its second-year Officer Cadets, and the Leadership Development Wing. It recruits predominantly from the University of Southampton, University of Portsmouth, Bournemouth University, Solent University and the University of Winchester.[2]
In November 1902 twenty students from Hartley University College raised a company, sanctioned by the War Office, which formed part of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment. The Company conducted Foot Drills at the College Assembly Hall and weapon training at the Carlton Place drill hall.[3] [4]
Following the Haldane Reforms, and the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908, the Company retained its identity as part of the 5th Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment. Upon the outbreak of the First World War, members of the company were commissioned into the 5th Battalion, and other units. The names of those that fell in action are named on the University War Memorial.[3]
After the war, with the amalgamation of the 5th and 7th Battalions, a College Platoon was formed in 1929. On 1 October 1937, the relationship with the Hampshire Regiment discontinued, with the formation of the University College Southampton Senior OTC. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, OTCs were replaced with Senior Training Corps, member of which were part of the Home Guard. From 1948, the name was changed to the University Training Corps, with Cadets being enlisted into the Territorial Army. However, numbers fell and the University Training Corps was placed in suspended animation in April 1951.[3]
In 1978, the University Military Education Committee asked the Ministry of Defence to consider reforming the University Training Corps, and on 1 October 1979 SUOTC was re-established in Blighmont Barracks, before returning to its original home at 32 Carlton Place in 1981.[3] [4]
The capbadge worn by SUOTC is taken from the heraldic arms of the University of Southampton. SUOTC have worn the arms as their capbadge since becoming an OTC in 1937.[3]