The University of South Wales (USW) is a modern, forward-thinking institution which provides practical courses with an applied approach.
Spread across three campuses in South Wales, it is one of the largest UK universities. Welcoming thousands of students from over 120 countries, the university offers more than 500 programmes. It has campuses in Pontypridd, Cardiff, and Newport. The largest of these is Pontypridd, which is made up of two sites (Treforest and Glyntaff).
USW has three faculties and multiple research centres across key disciplines. Its faculties are:
From their first day on campus, students are welcomed into a collaborative learning environment. Many of the university’s courses are accredited by professional bodies and taught by award-winning lecturers who are experts in their industry. Its teaching staff maintain strong links within their fields, ensuring students are taught up-to-date and relevant information.
Cutting-edge facilities on campus provide hands-on learning opportunities, where students can apply their specialist knowledge in practical environments. The university also has strong links to industry employers, providing students with work experience opportunities and placements.
95 percent of USW students are in employment or further study within six months of graduating (DLHE 2018). Successful alumni have gone on to work for well-known companies including Sony, BBC, the NHS, and British Airways.
A beautiful and affordable place to study, South Wales combines city life, countryside, and coastal environments, all in one convenient place. Cardiff has even been voted the most affordable city in the UK for Students (2022 Natwest Student Index). The university’s campuses are easily accessible from all modes of public transport, connecting students with other UK locations to explore. Students at the university will be able to access places like London, which is just two hours away by train from the Newport campus or 2.5 hours from the Cardiff and Pontypridd campuses.
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In a new strategy, USW has outlined its plans to become carbon neutral by 2040 and has introduced a range of initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint.
The institution has already started implementing changes, including adding LED lights and solar panels on campus and switching to biodegradable packaging in its catering facilities and has reduced its carbon emissions by 27 percent since 2018/19.
The MBA Global is a two-year postgraduate programme that is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute. With a scholarship worth up to GBP 2,500, the programme is a unique MBA, that offers students the opportunity to apply for a placement with a local company, within the USW Business Clinic or an entrepreneurship-based placement to gain up to 8 months of invaluable work experience in the UK.
The BSc/MSc Cyber Security has helped university has become the only Welsh institution to be named an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education and has been named cyber security university of the year for three years running from 2019-2021.
The MSc Public Health qualification creates professionals who can lead and implement change in public health across the world stage. An increasingly popular course since the pandemic, this public health master’s recognises that health challenges can be more global than a single country’s population, and that local policy and regulation responses will vary from country to country.
£12,830 Undergraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
£13,340 Postgraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
£3,963 Living costs
£3,830 To live on campus
The university offers a variety of scholarships for self-funding international students. When students apply to USW, they are automatically assessed for these scholarships, so don’t need to apply separately.
All scholarships are awarded for each year of study. To secure the scholarship, recipients must pay the minimum deposit which is stated on their offer letter.
Scholarships for international students include:
Undergraduate and postgraduate students from the following regions are eligible for a scholarship of GBP 2,500:
A new scholarship for international students from Vietnam, North America, India and the EU, it offers GBP 10,000 to those studying for a full-time one year master’s degree. Part of a new partnership between the Welsh Government, Universities Wales, The British Council and HEFCW, it is the first scholarship of its kind in Wales.
International undergraduate students who are progressing onto a USW master’s programme are eligible for this scholarship. It awards a fee discount of up to GBP 6,000.
Each course at USW has specific entry requirements, including country-specific qualifications which are accepted.
As all of its courses are taught in English, the university requires applicants to have English language proficiency. USW recognises the following qualifications and test scores as a minimum:
Some of USW’s courses may require a higher score than the ones listed above, so applicants are encouraged to check the university’s website.
If applicants don’t meet these language requirements but have a conditional offer from the university, USW’s English Language school can help. It runs several pre-sessional programmes which improve English language and academic skills. Run several times each year, the programmes are completed by the start of academic terms in September and February.
International applicants who are applying for a Tier 4 student visa and planning on studying a below degree level course (for example, foundation courses and HNDs) will need a Home Office approved secure English language test.
Several of USW’s courses have been accredited by professional organisations, highlighting its academic excellence. Accreditations come from a wide range of professional bodies, including:
Many of USW’s courses are developed alongside professional bodies, and several teaching staff are still actively involved in their chosen industries. This allows students to be taught by modern industry experts and engage with courses that have been specifically designed to meet business expectations and demands.
The university is also heavily involved with high-impact research work. Using collaborative learning practices, it develops and explores solutions to problems within society, culture, and the economy. This includes areas of sustainability, security, and justice, as well as health and wellbeing. In the latest Research Excellence Framework, half of its research was rated ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.
USW is the only university in Wales to be named as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education by the National Cyber Security Centre.
It is also the only UK university to have integrated industry-standard aircraft maintenance qualification 'EASA Part 66' with an aerospace honour’s degree, delivered on a single campus. Students can also undertake practical training all over the world with any university-approved Part 145 Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organisation.
The University of South Wales is comprised of three faculties and multiple research centres. Its faculties are:
This faculty is split into three schools which are design and digital; production and performance; and the South Wales business school. Offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees, students can study a variety of creative subjects including:
The business school runs specialist subjects including:
This faculty’s three schools are computing and mathematics; engineering; and applied sciences. Subjects that can be studied at undergraduate and graduate levels include:
This faculty is comprised of four schools. These are psychology and therapeutic studies; health, sport, and professional practice; care sciences and education, early years, and social work.
Specialist subjects within these departments include:
The university boasts high-quality facilities across its three campuses. USW invests in the latest technology and equipment, so students have access to industry-standard facilities and feel fully prepared for real work environments.
Specialist industry equipment includes a full-size Jetstream 31 airliner, an engineering flight simulator, TV studios, crime scene houses and healthcare suites.
Cardiff was voted the most affordable city in the UK for students (2022 Natwest Student Index). Facilities include:
A range of subject-specific facilities can be found on the Newport campus. With more developments planned for this campus, it currently has:
The largest of the campuses, Pontypridd has two sites: Treforest and Glyntaff. Facilities on this campus include:
The university has a vibrant sports community, including over 60 sports teams. The USW Sport Park is one of the best coaching and training venues in the UK and is often used by professional teams.
Facilities include:
Each of USW’s campuses has a range of student housing. All accommodation has a bed, wardrobe, storage, chair and a desk, as well as shared kitchen and laundry facilities. The university also provides advice on finding private rental housing.
Pontypridd, Rhondda, Cynon, Taff, UK
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