The University of South Wales is one of the largest universities in the UK, offering our students excellent opportunities and prospects. USW is proud of their global community on campus and have welcomed nearly 4,500 new international students this year, from 120 countries all over the world. With undergraduate and postgraduate options at multiple campus locations in Cardiff, Pontypridd, Newport and Dubai. USW has both February and September intakes so you will find the course which is right for you.
The university offers a wide range of courses ranging from Chiropractic to Creative Industries and Computing. Many of their courses are accredited by professional bodies and are taught by lecturers who have experience working in the industry.
Employability is at the heart of everything they do; they have a dedicated Careers team who organise events through the year which provide excellent opportunities to network with graduate employers. This support means that 95% of South Wales graduates are in work or study within six months of graduation (DLHE 2016/17).
Popular courses
Some of the popular courses at USW include:
- Computer Games Design
- Fashion Marketing and Retail Design
- Game Art
- Music Business
- Popular and Commercial Music
- Computer Forensics
- Computer Security
- Creative Industries
- Football Coaching and Performance
- Sound Engineering
- Games Enterprise
- Master of Chiropractic
Rankings
- USW is in the top 7 of Animation schools in Europe and 2nd in the UK (Rookie Awards, 2018). State of the art film and media resources including TV and film studios, performance and rehearsal spaces, editing and dubbing suites, motion capture and green screen studios, a cinema and a screening room.
- Accounting and Finance at USW is ranked top 25 in the UK (Guardian University League Tables 2020). The Business faculty offers a vibrant, multicultural environment, with 1 in 5 students from the EU or overseas.
- The Aerospace Engineering courses are top in Wales and 6th in the UK for student satisfaction (NSS 2019)
- USW won cyber University of the Year at the National Cyber Awards 2019.
- USW is rated top in the UK for Health Professions subjects (Guardian University League Tables 2020)
- The University of South Wales has some of the best simulation facilities in the UK. These practical learning environments replicate the workplace.
Campuses
South Wales' campuses are based in and around Cardiff, the capital city of Wales and they recently launched a brand new campus in Dubai. USW has been welcoming international students for many years, and students quickly settle into life in Cardiff which is a beautiful, safe and multicultural student city with everything from shopping to concerts, sporting events and culture.
South Wales' campuses are well equipped with everything you need to succeed at university. There are Advice Zones based in libraries across each of the campuses and excellent quality en-suite accommodation to suite all budgets.
Here’s a summary about what you can expect in each of the campuses.
USW Cardiff
At USW Cardiff you will find Creative Industries courses, from Animation and Games to Fashion and Music. You’ll find modern specialist facilities, study spaces, a library and the Students Union all in one city-centre building. Cardiff is the perfect place for creative industries students. The city is a major centre for media production in the UK, with the BBC’s Roath Lock drama studios on the doorstep and Pinewood Studios nearby. The city centre is also set to welcome the headquarters of BBC Wales, while ITV Wales is making Cardiff Bay it's new home.
USW Pontypridd
USWPontypridd is made up of two sites; Treforest and Glyntaff. Here you can study subjects including Business, Chiropractic and Psychology. Students love the community atmosphere, as well as the convenience of living and studying in the same place. On a safe campus with 24-hour security, you’ll find everything you need in one place – your classes, the library, cafes and bars to eat and drink. If you want to visit the city, Cardiff is just 20 minutes away by train – and there is a train station right next to the campus.
Some of the impressive facilities on Pontypridd campus include:
- Welsh Institute of Chiropractic
- Psychology Clinics
- Hydra Minerva Simulation Suite
- Indoor full-size 3G football pitch
- Crime Scene training facility
- Clinical Simulation Centre
USW Newport
Overlooking the River Usk, the iconic university building is in the centre of the city of Newport, just ten minutes by train from Cardiff. The Halls of Residence are just a few minutes’ walk away. You’ll study in a modern building with the latest facilities for working and socialising. USW Newport is home to the recently launched BA (Hons) Hotel and Hospitality Management programme which provide excellent placement opportunities in the 5* Celtic Manor Resort which is located nearby.
Accommodation
There are multiple on-campus and private accommodation options. All of the on-campus rooms have a shared kitchen and sitting room but you will have your own private bathroom. On-campus accommodation start from just £96 per week. For more information about both on-campus and private accommodation options please ask your Across the Pond advisor.
Social
The Student Union hosts events and activities at all campuses and supports over 100 clubs and societies. It’s a great social space for students on all campuses to enjoy. The Treforest Student Union includes a shop, hairdresser, café, bar and nightclub.
The Sports Park will be your base if you are studying on one of the university's various sports courses.
Location
Cardiff is the capital of Wales and is located on the coast of Wales. It has its own International Airport - and is only 2 hours from London by train. Cardiff is well connected to all major UK cities – and is just 2 hours away from London by direct train. The biggest advantage of living in Cardiff is the cost of living; Cardiff was voted the cheapest UK city for students (Natwest Student Living Index, 2019).
The city has a great international sports and food scene, and an interesting history and heritage.
History of the university
The University of South Wales was established in 2013 following the merger of the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport. Both the institutions that have come together to create the University of South Wales have a rich and varied history, and can each trace their roots back more than 170 years. Since its formation, the University has offered over 500 courses, welcoming students from more than 120 countries. Recent investments in USW’s campuses include a £15m extension to the Cardiff Campus in 2016, a £15m enhancement of the University’s sport park in 2018, and the opening of the USW Dubai campus in 2018.
If you are interested in studying at the University of South Wales, contact one of our Across the Pond Advisors.
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