Swansea University

Overview

Swansea University, located in South Wales, is a prominent institution with a student population of approximately 20,000 across its two main campuses. The historic Singleton Park campus, established in 1920, is set in a stunning parkland by the coast and houses several key academic departments. These include the Swansea University Medical School, ranked as one of the top medical schools in the UK, the College of Human and Health Sciences, the College of Arts and Humanities, and the prestigious Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law. The newer Bay Campus, which opened in 2015, features state-of-the-art facilities and is home to the College of Engineering, School of Management, and Computer Science.

Swansea University is renowned for its excellence in both the sciences and the humanities. While the university has long been recognised for its strengths in science subjects, including engineering, medicine, and computer science, its humanities programmes have also earned global recognition. This balance of disciplines enables Swansea to provide a diverse range of academic offerings, supported by cutting-edge research and world-class facilities. The university consistently ranks among the top 15 for graduate employment in the UK, with a strong 97% employment rate for its graduates, reflecting the high calibre of education and skills imparted to its students.

Students at Swansea University benefit from an outstanding university experience, with the institution consistently ranked in the top 10 for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey. The city of Swansea itself adds to this appeal, offering a welcoming, vibrant, and friendly atmosphere, often referred to by students as a ‘home away from home’. The university’s location provides a low cost of living compared to other major UK cities, while also offering access to beautiful beaches, scenic landscapes, and a lively cultural scene. This blend of high-quality education, a supportive student community, and an affordable lifestyle makes Swansea University an attractive destination for both domestic and international students.

Services for International Students

At the beginning of the year, Swansea runs a meet and greet service from Heathrow Airport as well as a week-long induction programme to help students settle in. During term time, the English Language Training Service offers personalised English language support, as well as numerous pre-sessional courses.

They have a permanent office which is dedicated to helping international students on each campus known as International@CampusLife. They offer help, advice and guidance on all matters relating to overseas students, including visas, money and welfare.

Ranking

• 37th in the Times University Guide 2025
• 29th in the Guardian University Guide 2025
• 298th in the QS World University Rankings 2025

REF 2021 highlights for Swansea include 32% of outputs rated 4* and world-leading (a significant increase from 21% in 2014), whilst 91% of the research environment is rated 4* world-leading or 3* internationally excellent.

Accommodation

Residential Services provides accommodation for almost 4,500 students and all first year undergraduate and postgraduate students are guaranteed University accommodation, if you apply before June 31st. The largest site is 4km from the main Singleton Campus, with over 1,000 rooms available. Most accommodation areas are a mixture of en suite and standard rooms for all students.

The University also runs Student Accommodation Swansea, which arranges shared houses for students in the city, as well as assisting students in finding private rented accommodation.

Location

Swansea is Wales’ second-largest city, on its south coast about 70km west of Cardiff. The University campuses are close to the city centre, and on the beach. While the area is mostly famous for watersports and coastal scenery, the city provides a vibrant nightlife and cultural scene, famous amongst the UK students particularly.

Alumni

• Lyn Evans CBE (Project Leader, Large Hadron Collider, CERN)
• Paul Pindar (Chief Executive of Capita)
• Geoffrey Thomas (President of Kellogg College, Oxford)
• Isatou Njie-Saidy (Vice-President of The Gambia)