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4.03.93.7
With more than 23,000 students and 2,700 staff, the University of South Wales (USW) is one of the largest universities in Wales, and offers students an expansive range of quality academic opportunities which are designed to widen future career prospects.
The university offers 179 study programmes at undergraduate level 176 at postgraduate level, across 49 subject areas. Employability is central to all courses at USW, with many degrees accredited by recognised professional bodies.
The university prides itself in recognising and encouraging student goals and ambitions, both professionally and personally, and working with students to fulfil their potential. Through its industry-informed courses and outstanding student support, USW creates career-ready graduates with the professional skills and qualifications needed to excel in the workplace.
Students can study at any of USW's five campuses, all of which are located in South Wales. City campuses include the buzzing Cardiff campus, which houses a range of dedicated study and social spaces with a focus on the creative arts. The Newport campus, meanwhile, is centrally located in the heart of the city, and equipped with a number of state-of-the-art facilities which have been recently modernised.
In Pontypridd, there are three campus sites located in the heart of the stunning South Wales valleys. These are USW's Glyntaff campus, the Treforest campus, and the university's specialist Sports Park. Across all of USW's campuses, students enjoy access to city life, the countryside, and beautiful coastline.
University of South Wales students on WhatUni say:
''The facilities, the teaching and the environment is exceptionally good with qualified academic staff. The university's strong industry connections provide valuable opportunities for practical experience and career development.''
''University of South Wales has a perfect environment for study, easy access to library, great accommodation and great internet speed for accessibility on my study.''
''This is a home away from my home. This is the place where I discovered myself. I found my true self. The location makes it the best place to study.''
4.2USW students have access to a range of specialist facilities, designed and built to enhance the degree experience, and augment the acquisition and sharing of knowledge. These include:
Students also benefit from the latest virtual learning systems across, allowing them to access course materials anytime and anywhere as part of a blended learning experience.
USW Sport Park is one of the best university sport coaching and training venues in the country and many professional teams regularly use the park for training.
University of South Wales students on WhatUni say:
''Elite facilities.''
''The best aspects of my uni experience are the facilities, engaging lectures, a cosy learning environment, opportunities for growth.''
''The campus facilities were amazing, and the diverse student body made for a vibrant learning environment.''
3.9One of the most competitively priced university-owned accommodation providers in Wales, USW offers a range of accommodation options, with dedicated halls of residence at each campus.
Many undergraduate students opt to live in Cardiff, even if they study at a different campus. There are several student halls in the city centre, as well as a range of private rentals. Halls at Pontypridd are located on campus and foster a close-knit community atmosphere. At Newport, private halls are just minutes' walk from campus, on the bank of the River Usk.
University of South Wales students on WhatUni say:
''A friendly atmosphere, with a large on-site range of accommodation.''
''The accommodation is fine overall. I had no issues with mould or pests and any maintenance issues were dealt with in a timely manner.''
''The accommodation has recently been refurbished and is good quality and well kept.''
Cardiff is a modern, multicultural city. It is one of the most affordable cities in the UK and well-known as a hub of culture and entertainment. From shopping and live sport to music, arts, and history, there is something for everyone in this popular student city.
Newport offers vibrant small city living with culture, history and natural beauty. Students at the Pontypridd campuses enjoy a quieter, more rural study experience but with quick and easy access to nearby towns and cities.
There are over 60 clubs and societies on offer at USW. These include sports, special interest, culture, religion, music and more. Students are also encouraged to start their own societies.
The university also has over sports 65 teams which compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sport league (BUCS), ranging from tennis and mountain biking, to golf, surfing, and rugby. Most team members train and compete at USW Sport Park, one of the best university sport coaching and training venues in the country.
2.6At the University of South Wales, students are given myriad opportunities to learn both inside and outside the traditional classroom. Work experience is a major part of all courses, and industry-focused learning is a central component of a curriculum designed to ensure future career success.
USW's industry partners help shape the university's courses to ensure that they reflect the latest in industry demands. Many of the degrees at USW are accredited by professional bodies and some courses have a year of work experience (a ‘sandwich year') built in.
There is also the option to combine work and study at USW through degree apprenticeships, in addition to the well-established Network75 scheme. Students on Network75 combine work and study, with tuition fees paid in full by their host employer. Subject areas which form part of the Network75 scheme include engineering, surveying, computing, business, accounting, and law.
USW also has a dedicated careers team to help students find career-related work experience in the UK and overseas. The USW careers team provides a range of support services to students and graduates, which include CV writing workshops, careers mentoring, interview tips and skill development sessions.
A number of scholarships and bursaries are available to undergraduate students. These may be granted based on academic or sporting excellence, financial or circumstantial need, or be subject-specific. Options include:
Tuition fees may vary between courses, but generally, domestic undergraduate students can expect to pay tuition fees of £9,250 per year from September 2025.
International students can typically expect tuition fees of £14,950 - £15,260 for each year of their undergraduate degree.
Courses at USW are expertly designed to give students first-hand practical experience and help them prepare for future career success. Students can choose from a range of undergraduate courses to tailor their learning pathway to suit their career aspirations. Most undergraduate degrees take three years to complete, and include a mixture of lectures, seminars and practical sessions, alongside hands-on work experience opportunities.
All USW campuses are closely linked, meaning students can easily move between locations and collaborate with fellow academics across the university. All campuses include tailored learning resources and state-of-the-art facilities to complement and enhance the learning experience.
USW Cardiff is home to the university's creative departments. Students enter a nurturing and innovative learning environment where they are able to develop invaluable transferable skills and knowledge, as well as grow their creative practices. USW Newport campus is home to a number of professional departments, with students studying law, business, computing, and education amongst other things. The three Pontypridd campuses each have their own specialisms, with bespoke on-site leisure and academic facilities.
Many lecturers at USW are operating at the forefront of their specialist academic and professional fields. Staff and researchers at the university produce world-leading research and actively work to develop novel solutions to real-world issues facing society today.
The university's culture of ground-breaking research was recognised in the most recent Research Excellence Framework, which ranked almost two thirds of USW's research as either world-leading or internationally excellent (REF, 2021). Current areas of research expertise, which inform teaching at undergraduate level, include the development of sustainable energy solutions in Europe, and building the next generation of low-carbon power systems in the automotive industry.
University of South Wales students on WhatUni say:
''What makes the university exceptional is the lecturers and staff eager to help students no matter what.''
''With the excellent and supportive lecturers and career guidance team, uni life became a really relaxing experience.''
''The lectures are interesting and the lecturers always strive to help their students.''
Employability
One of the central strengths of USW is the quality of its graduate outcomes and its commitment to ensuring that graduates leave the university with the highest employability potential.
Students acquire the transferable skills required to be successful in job applications and progressing in their career. Networking events and relationships with major UK employers help students make connections and find graduate employment even before they complete their degree
Subject rankings
USW has gained national renown for its impact in STEM, and has been recognised at the Wales STEM Awards for three years running (2022-24). Furthermore, USW has been named four times as Cyber University of the Year at the National Cyber Awards (2019-22), and its courses in complementary medicine are second-best in the country, according to the Complete University Guide (2025).
Research
Many lecturers are at the forefront of their fields, producing world-leading research and contributing to innovative advances within their area of expertise. USW's cutting-edge research culture informs course content at every level, meaning students are taught the latest in critical thought.
USW ranks fourth in Wales for research impact (REF, 2021) and 81% of the university's research impact is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
University of South Wales students on WhatUni say:
''I was also given the opportunity to take a work placement which allowed me to gain much needed experience and massively helped me to achieve a jumpstart in my career.''
''All course content is uploaded and kept up to date, thus you always have full access to your lectures before workshops.''
''The university has a good syllabus, with many great lecturers who will guide you through your learning.''
3.7The University of South Wales Students' Union (USWSU) supports and promotes the voice of the student body, while also programming an exciting range of events and activities throughout the year.
University of South Wales students on WhatUni say:
''The University of South Wales has beautiful locations from the green valleys of Trefforest to the city life of Cardiff and Newport.''
''The Newport campus where I study is very easy to navigate.''
''A lot of interesting activities makes it a great place to receive education as well as do fun stuff.''
4.1The University of South Wales is committed to ensuring the wellbeing and academic success of its students. USW offers a range of student support services to ensure that every student is able to make the most out of their time at the university.
There is a library on every campus at USW, providing a range of study services and academic resources. Study skills tutorials are also offered to all students through dedicated study skills tutors.
There are also specialist advice zones on each campus, designed to help students with any personal or academic difficulties. At advice zones, students can access USW's wellbeing service for counselling and free advice, as well as talk directly with trained student mentors who can answer questions and address any issues students may be facing.
At USW, students also have access to the university's student money advice team and a disability service, which provide individual support plans and services for students. There is also a health service available to all students at the university, in addition to a playcentre based at USW Pontypridd, and a multi-faith chaplaincy.
University of South Wales students on WhatUni say:
''All staff members from your course, library etc are so helpful and do their utmost best to get the support in which you need to thrive.''
''Support from staff is great.''
''Amazing for disability support for disabled students!''
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