Swansea University

Located on a beautiful seafront on the southwest coast of Wales in the UK, Swansea University is renowned for its research reputation, outstanding student support and teaching excellence.

The university has two campuses, both based on stunning seafront locations. Swansea offers a range of degrees at undergraduate, postgraduate and research levels, several of which provide the opportunity to work and study abroad.

With students from over 100 countries studying at Swansea, it boasts a diverse academic community.

Established in 1920, this research-led university is ranked in the top 29th of UK universities (Guardian University Guide 2025) and 100 percent of students surveyed would recommend Swansea University (UniCompare 2025). Swansea prides itself on tackling real-world problems with pioneering research.

The university's Employability Academy, which connects students to graduate recruiters, has been highly commended. The academy is dedicated to giving students the best chance of employment after graduation.

Both of Swansea University's campuses are near the exciting city centre. The city of Swansea has been ranked the seventh safest place to study in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2024. The vibrant city boasts a range of restaurants, cafes, museums, and other cultural attractions for students to explore.

Students on both campuses are only a short walk, bus or cycle ride away from the bustling city centre. Swansea supports active travel with annual bike hire from Swansea University Cycles for just GBP 10. Swansea has plenty of charm and lots of character with a variety of art galleries and museums.

Prospective applicants to Swansea University can visit the institution's website for the latest application information, including country and course-specific entry requirements.

If prospective students already have qualifications beyond their chosen course requirements, for example, they could be eligible for second-year entry.

Applicants who have already studied a recognised foundation programme from their country or the UK (e.g., INTO, WISC, NCUK) may be eligible for entry onto the first year of a degree at Swansea University.

English language requirements

The university's specific English requirements are listed on course pages under the entry requirements section. Swansea University offers a foundation programme for applicants who do not meet minimum entry requirements.

• Undergraduate: Although there are exceptions, most academic departments require an IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) as a minimum.
• Postgraduate: Most departments ask for an IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) as a minimum, but there are exceptions.

Students from certain countries do not need to provide any proof of English language qualification.

If applicants don't meet the required English scores, they can still be considered if an English language pre-sessional programme at Swansea's English Language Training Services (ELTS) is completed.

If a student does not hold a Secure English Language Test score, or if they are not a national of a majority English speaking country, they need to complete a short English proficiency test at enrolment. This test will help the university assess whether the student requires English language support, which would be provided for free.

Accommodation

Swansea University guarantees accommodation for all first-year students and offers a range of different accommodation options to choose from, based on requirements and budget.

Students can choose to live on-campus or in a private residence, with the university's residential team on hand to provide support. Accommodation options are:

Bay Campus Residences

• Available for first year and postgraduate students.
• Premium en-suite rooms, en-suite options, twin rooms, single/double bed flats, and wheelchair accessible rooms.

Singleton Park Campus

• Housing for first year and postgraduate students.
• A range of different sized rooms, including self-catered, en-suite, standard, inclusive and a pre-paid dining card package.

Beck House Residences (off campus)

• Accommodation for PhD, postgraduate and medical students.
• Variety of rooms including standard, en-suite, as well as couple and family options.

True Swansea (off campus)

• Located just a short trip from both campuses, on Morfa Road in the City Centre, True Swansea offers ensuite rooms in flats of 5 and 6 and private studio style rooms with a kitchenette and luxury ensuite bathroom.

• Studio rooms also available for dual occupancy - a great option for those wanting to live with another person (please note, both tenants must be full time students).

Sports

With a range of 56 sports clubs there is something for everyone, whether students are new to sport and physical activity or a budding elite athlete.

The university's Sports Village complex offers top class facilities including the 50m Wales National Pool Swansea, Outdoor Athletics Track, multi-use pitches, gym, FIH global approved hockey pitches and more.

Swansea University offers a variety of financial assistance, including scholarships specifically for international students. Several federal and private student loans are also available to U.S. and Canadian applicants.

Scholarships for international students include the Excellence Scholarship which acknowledges academic excellence worth up to GBP 7,000 for undergraduate study and up to GBP 5,000 for postgraduate study. Successful applicants receive a tuition fee discount (however this cannot be used in place of a deposit).

Other scholarship options include:

Chevening Scholarships

Swansea University partnership with the Chevening Scholarship Commission means several Chevening Scholarship holders are welcomed to the campus every year.

Eira Davies Scholarship

A scholarship specifically for female students from select developing countries who are enrolled on a master's course within the Faculty of Health and Life Science. The award is a full tuition fee scholarship, and students who demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need are eligible.

Music Scholarships

The Music Entrance Scholarships help talented student musicians develop their skills and musicianship in a supportive environment.

Sports Scholarships

This scholarship is aimed at students who meet academic requirements and have an outstanding ability in their specific sporting area. This scholarship covers an enormous scale of talent in individual and team sports.

Swansea University provides a range of different support services, and the university is well-known for its outstanding student services team.

As well as being the bridge between students and the university, the students' union helps international students integrate into university life by organising a variety of social activities for international students throughout the year.

International support is also provided by International@CampusLife, a team of fully trained immigration specialists who provide free advice on non-academic issues. Available to all international students, the team can help with a range of issues, including immigration advice and information about working in the UK.

The Centre for Academic Success is run by a team of specialist tutors. It offers academic skills classes as well as confidential one-to-one appointments in all academic disciplines. The centre can also help students with specific learning differences.

Courses and tutorials within The Academic Success Programme (ASP) help students gain confidence as well as improving academic writing skills, critical thinking, and presentation skills.

Swansea also offers a free and confidential wellbeing service for students. The service uses therapeutic approaches and provides tailored learning support for students.

Swansea University provides a wide range of opportunities to enhance student's professional development. This is accomplished through strong industry links, as well as professional accreditations on many of its courses.

The university offers dedicated career support through:

• Careers services with job search and CV support.
• Impressive internship opportunities with GE Healthcare, Thomson Reuters, and 3M.
• Links with multinational companies including Boeing, Ericsson, IBM, Rolls-Royce, Sony, Infosys, and Microsoft Research.
• Connections with a wide range of national and international companies including Amazon, Admiral Insurance, BT, HP, HSBC, The Connaught Motor Company, directory enquiries company 118UK, Virgin Media, and 3M.

Students are also offered paid internships and opportunities to take part in career-based activities through the Swansea Employability Academy (SEA). The SEA provides a strong network of connections:

• Employer talks
• Interview support
• Workshops
• Student-led networking events
• Paid Student work placements

The Enterprise Team helps students and graduates develop their skills through workshops, initiatives and valuable experiences for business start-up, be it self-employed, a social enterprise, freelancing or a tech business.

Many employers offer sponsorship to Swansea students. The types of sponsorship include student support for the entire course duration, for just the final year of study or following the completion of a work experience placement. Swansea also has ties with prominent companies and organisations that offer sponsorships for postgraduate study, something that students are advised to apply for early.

Swansea University is comprised of three faculties offering undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes in a range of disciplines. The faculties are:

• Faculty of Health and Life Science which includes nursing, psychology, pharmacy and medicine. Students who want to make a difference to people's lives have the opportunity to learn in state-of-the-art clinical suites and laboratories.
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences which includes business, law, social sciences and media and communications. This thriving and well-respected faculty prepares students for rewarding careers.
• Faculty of Science and Engineering which includes mathematics, computer science, engineering and natural and physical science. Students learn and contribute to leading global research and a sustainable future.

In addition to the university's regular course offerings, there are also English language programmes available for international students, including pre-sessional English and IELTS Preparation courses.