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).
Overview
About University of South Wales
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.
The satisfaction amongst students who study at the university is very high, with subjects such as Information Technology ranked top in Wales (Complete University Guide 2023). 95 percent of USW students are in employment or further study within six months of graduating (DLHE 2018), and 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.
What’s new
Environmental initiatives
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.
Scholarships & funding
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:
- Chevening scholarship: Covers tuition fees and living costs for a one-year postgraduate course.
- Commonwealth scholarship: Covers airfare, full tuition fees, living costs, thesis grant and clothing allowance.
- EU scholarship: The scholarship will ensure that tuition fees for EU students do not exceed the amount being paid by UK students at USW for the duration of their study.
- International Office scholarship: Awards up to GBP 1,500 for undergraduates and GBP 2,000 for postgraduates.
Chancellor’s International Development Scholarship
Undergraduate and postgraduate students from the following regions are eligible for a scholarship of GBP 2,500:
- Africa
- Latin America
- South Asia
- South East Asia
- Central Asia and Turkey
- Caribbean
- Lebanon
- Norway
Entry requirements
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:
- Cambridge English: Overall score of 169, 162 in each component
- GCSE pass in English (at least Grade C)
- IELCA: Direct entry: 32 overall score, 30 in each component
- IELTS: Overall score of 6.0, at least 5.5 in each component
- LanguageCert International ESOL: High pass with a score of 33 in each component
- PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI: 64 overall and 59 in each component
- TOEFL: Overall score of 72, at least 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
- TOEFL Home Edition: 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing (for 2021 intakes only)
- Trinity College English Language: ISE II Distinction or ISE III Pass
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.
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.
Accommodation
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.
