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The overall ranking is decided by students from this institution rating them in a 2026 Whatuni review. This forms the basis of the Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs for short).
4.03.93.7816 Student reviews
Sort:Latest reviewsGreat student experience, made some great friends and a lovely learning environment, staff are really supportive and welcoming and have a wealth of knowledge to share. University facilities are outstanding however I do wish we could use them more when on campus teaching. Communication can sometimes be poor when not on campus . I am really enjoying studying and so pleased I chose to take the plunge .
The facilities for the Newport campus are satisfactory. The library and cafe serve their purpose, but that's about it for the facilities. The Newport campus needs more amenities (e.g., a small fitness gym). The location is good, and the prices for accommodation and groceries. The campus is nice and clean.
25-34 years
First gen student
I love the way lectures engaging with students most of them are so friendly and give support.
It is a great place to study because the teachers are friendly and helpful. The classrooms are comfortable and the environment is calm, which helps students focus.
I love the university, positioned in an accessible environment, provides stairs and other accessible pathways. Has exquisite site seeing such as forests and beautiful views of the vallies, also has many river streams that are amazing to listen to. What makes USW a great place to study is its range of facilities that is provided for students including a great libary with amazing sources, books and information: An amazing online libary service 'Find it': And aswell as this the university provides an accessible room open all day and night if the libary is closed, with studio spaces, donating boxes, computers and printers. USW is a great place to study aswell because they have an amazing range of lecturers and study facilities and courses which are brilliant in my own experience.
Great Location with friendly Environment
18-24 years
First gen student
The university is far from the town and like there's no affordable restaurants or shopping center . It's a quiet place kinda and far from city centre. If my course class held in Cardiff it would be really easy for me and convenient for me and I think for other student's also. I need to change 2 trains which is really tiring and rushing things sometimes. I wish it change the places for my course. But everything is really good. Lovely friendly supportive teachers and friends classmates. And in this university no bully here .I didn't find any or face anything like that. I really love that thing.cause I am an international student. I thought at first that in UK university people will bully me and it will be difficult for me . But everything is okay. I wish university provide some work facilities for students. Overalls I love my uni.
The university has a welcoming vibe and the lecturers are very supportive and helpful. The facilities are generally really good, and it’s a quieter and more calmer area that can be cheaper to live in than a city-centre campus. The main downside is that Treforest can feel a bit quiet, so you end up travelling for bigger social plans. Also, things like Wi-Fi connection and some accommodation stuff can be frustrating at times.
18-24 years
A brilliant site with well-maintained facilities, including lots of course-specific equipment available to students. It could be improved by an increased number of clubs and societies. As the Newport site is not the university's main site, there is a limited number of them.
Its not too busy. The study facilities could be updated - access with a uni ID to new study rooms , be available 24 hours.
Best - the people. I have made some amazing friends and the resources like equipment i have access too is increase Worst - lack of support from lectures when it comes to uninwork. Some are amazing and others not so great
Best experience - student life and extra curricular events
What makes the atrium such a great place to study is its centred in the heart of Cardiff a short walk from student housing options and accommodations and round the corner from town. It’s close to the station also along students to travel in so they wish. The facilities are amazing, just top tier not much else to say for that. The lecturers are so knowledgeable and motivating, the photography department are just phenomenal, if they don’t already get a lot of credit they deserve more. Peter Bobby, the course leader, makes an excellent job at putting the photography department together, I’ve bettered myself in ways I never thought I would because of how much value this cause brings, not just as an aspiring photographer/creative but as a person. As for the rest of the university they put on some great events, and generally I don’t have much to say against it, I would say the cafe in the entrance of the atrium is overpriced for students, if that’s even a critique, and we should as a university put more work into the student union space I don’t think it’s utilised enough and there’s not something that really draws students to it, maybe that could be something to improve on. Also some work needs to be done to the equipment hire site like connect 2 for a smoother process for students booking equipment and technical rooms, I think there should be more funding to the photography apartment for more up to date camera equipment too. Additionally my friend in another course at the Cardiff campus has gotten to third year and has little good to say about his course Overall a 8.5/10 experience
My university experience has been good , I have been supported with my studies and mental health support. Made friend both with students and non teaching staff. It is easily accessible and the library are very helpful plus IT services for someone who struggles with IT it has been good having support with my assignment projects.
Amazing teachers, personalised learning. The support for students could be improved- quality over quantity. Also, the university has expensive non healthy snack options.
It's a great place to study as all the lectures are so helpful and nice. All the staff members particularly the ones who serve food and drink are so helpful. Mel from the SU is really nice she helps a lot with the finances with the society I'm in. The worst aspects is the course closure and the late arrival to a module that replaces the old one. I know this can never be done, but an elevator/escalator or something to get up and down the hills and steps.
The accommodation area has a shop and the student bar is lively and cheap and really fun, the students union and the hub host so many activities all year round. Super convenient transport links into Cardiff and Pontypridd and if you’re bringing a car there’s lots of parking for a reasonable price. The libraries on both pontypridd campuses are really well stocked and they have such lovely staff to help out with anything. Something to improve would be the weather haha
Always clean and staff are helpful! Parking could be better, and some of the vending machines and water stations don’t work. I think maybe having some more workshops or activities for socialising would be good, especially for people not living on campus, or maybe the advertising could be better for it?
Good support from all university staff, great facilities for simulation training and easy location to travel to
4.1
The facilities at USW Newport Campus are brilliant - we have access to the latest technology and industry practices. However, the student life at Newport Campus is very dull - events rarely take place in Newport, and it feels like outside of the campus there aren't many student social interactions.
The course is taught in person which is great, however it does feel like the modules are so heavy on information that the course hours never feel enough. Contact with lecturers is possible, however it feels strange to only physically speak to them for three hours a week.