Absolutely love it, so worth going. Loving the Cardiff night life and the city still offers plenty to do in the day, the university offers loads of support on both the academic side and the social side which is very reassuring.
The University of South Wales (USW) is progressive and career-oriented university, which provides high quality tuition and course content developed in collaboration with key employers and industry-leading professional partners. The university offers a huge selection of courses, over 500 in total, and a comprehensive selection of postgraduate taught and research programmes which are internationally regarded. Courses are designed with the needs of the current and future employment industry in mind, and are accredited by leading professional bodies wherever possible. There are both full-time and part-time postgraduate courses available, as well as options for distance learning.
The university has built its curriculum around addressing the most significant challenges society faces today. More than half of all research is rated as world-leading or internationally significant, including ground-breaking work in medicine, criminal justice and sustainable energy. This research also informs teaching and is reflected in a diversity of postgraduate programmes.
The university has campuses in and around Cardiff, Wales’s capital city. At USW, students can experience the diversity south Wales has to offer – the buzz of the cities, the beauty of the coast and the calm of the countryside.
With quality teaching, industry-standard facilities and a diverse student community, USW is a great place for students to further their education and learn key skills. Plus, there are many support services available in person and online that are tailored to academic growth, career guidance and general wellbeing.
The University of South Wales is a superb place to undertake postgraduate study, offering a variety of high-quality course options to suit students from all backgrounds and with all academic aspirations.
Their focus on employment makes USW a strong choice for postgraduate learners looking to gain meaningful and competitive employment positions at leading industry organisations, and students are educated in a way which teaches them leadership skills, which are relevant beyond the workplace.
Courses also carry professional accreditation wherever possible, making graduates well prepared for entering professional roles within industry. Teaching is flexible, allowing students to learn in a way that suits them and balance their study with other work and life commitments.
USW also offers extensive support that is tailored to the needs of postgraduate students, from study skills and career advice to wellbeing.
The University of South Wales offers a wide range of postgraduate and professional courses. Postgraduate students can choose from taught and research-led qualifications, including PhDs and master’s degrees. Each course is led by expert lecturers in their field, who work with industry leaders to tailor courses to the demands of the real world.
Many students at USW are returning to learning and fit postgraduate study around work, family and other commitments. The university takes a realistic approach to learning and offers many courses part-time or through distance learning. Taught courses are available for one-year full-time study, or over two or four years if studying part-time.
Interested? Order a prospectus to find out more about the uni and the courses on offer.
GET PROSPECTUSEntry requirements at the university vary depending on the chosen field of study.
Postgraduate courses generally require students to have completed an undergraduate degree in the same subject or one that is transferable, and are judged on a case-by-case basis. Work experience will also be considered, as many postgraduate students are returning to education following time in employment.
International students must be proficient in English, with an IELTS score of at least 6.0 and no individual module below 5.5.
Send a message directly to the uni to learn more about their entry requirements.
ASK A QUESTIONAll first-year students, whether undergraduate, postgraduate or international, are guaranteed a place in student accommodation should they want it. This will be in the university’s own halls of residence, which are modern and comfortable living spaces.
USW has a range of halls of residence located in Pontypridd, Newport and Cardiff, ensuring that all students have access to safe, affordable and enjoyable accommodation within a short distance of their university campus.
At Pontypridd, halls are a highly social place to live, with more than 1,200 rooms to choose between. Students meet and make friends with people from outside their course and all over the world, often forming friendships which last a lifetime.
Newport’s private halls of residence offer a range of room options at convenient price points, are only a few minutes’ walk from campus, and situated on the bank of the River Usk.
USW also maintains several housing locations in Cardiff, where students from all campuses may find their home. Additionally, there is a large variety of accommodation options which students can explore in the local rental market.
Prices for university-owned accommodation range from £98 per week to £140 per week, depending on the choice of room, which includes some single-living studio flats. Payments can be made in instalments.
Rooms typically include a bed, desk, chair, wardrobe and ample additional storage space, with a speedy internet connection and access to shared bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities within the building.
Across all campuses, students will find modern facilities that enhance their learning and wellbeing.
In particular, our Treforest campus at Pontypridd has a Student’s Union, a hairdresser, shop, café, restaurant, chaplaincy, gym and more.
All teaching and learning facilities at USW are purpose-built and industry-standard. On campus, there’s an aircraft hangar, a clinical simulation centre replicating a hospital ward, a bespoke crime scene house training facility, an immersive Hydra Simulation Centre, recording studios and international-standard sports facilities, these are just a few examples. This approach helps students gain relevant skills and hands-on experience as part of their study.
What's it like to study at this institution? Current students and alumni share their opinion...
VIEW 1305 REVIEWS WRITE A REVIEWS Safoora Reviewed 22 Feb 24 MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry I like my university because they are really determine not only to educate us but also to develop our character. Every... READ FULL REVIEW
C Christian Reviewed 20 Feb 24 MSc Construction Project Management The University of South Wales is a citadel of knowledge well know for academic excellence. The facilities, the teaching... READ FULL REVIEW
There are many support services to help with all aspects of student life during their time at USW, from study skills to counselling and wellbeing.
There is plenty of learning support on offer, particularly for postgraduate students and those returning to study. The university is very experienced in supporting postgraduate students and are aware of the issues they face.
Available support includes online, face-to-face and self-help material. Working closely with the study skills team, the university has a strong team of information librarians who can help with everything from assignments to theses.
The Disability Service is available to offer advice and guidance to students whose learning at USW is affected by physical, sensory, mental health or unseen disabilities, specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and autism.
Find out more about the student support offered on the university’s website.
VISIT WEBSITEThe teaching faculty at USW is comprised of a team of expert lecturers and practitioners, working at the forefront of their academic fields. They conduct leading research which informs the high-quality curriculum delivered at the university, almost two thirds of which was rated by the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) as world leading or internationally excellent (4* or 3*). The university has climbed from 8th in Wales in 2014, to 4th in 2021, and has had 81% of their research impact rated as world leading or internationally excellent (4* / 3*).
The true strength of the university comes in the form of employability skills. Students at USW will gain not only an education, but also the core skills required to be successful in applying for jobs and progressing in their career.
Networking events and relationships with major UK employers help students make connections and find work even before their degree is complete. Workshops and other services help to ensure that students are fully prepared for life beyond university.
USW is dedicated to using knowledge to improve lives and address global challenges that affect every society.
The university has a students’ union (SU) that is on-hand across all three campuses. It’s where students can seek advice or support in their lives, whether they need help with academic or personal and wellbeing issues. The student's union is a student-run organisation which represents the voice of its membership, acting as a bridge between the student community and the organisational staff at the university.
The SU also runs the university’s sports teams that compete in inter-university competitions. There are also over 100 clubs and societies where students can meet like-minded people and enrich their student experience.
Every year, USW welcomes thousands of students who come together with the shared purpose of learning and building for their future, so students are part of a great community.
Joining a club or society is a great way to meet lots of new people and get involved in all sorts of activities, from demonstrations and day trips to nights out and parties. Whatever a student is interested in, there’ll be a USW society or club to help them meet like-minded people or discover something new. Some of the clubs and societies on offer include LGBT+, Snowsports, Cheerleading, Debate, Film, Rowing, and Cyber Security.
USW Sport is for everyone – it’s good for everyone’s wellbeing and a great way to make friends and connections. As well as classes, team sport is a key part of student life and USW teams compete in the BUCS League across many sports, with great success. There is a huge range of clubs and teams to play for, whether just for fun or aiming for selection on the official university teams.
USW has campuses in and around Cardiff, Wales’s capital city. South Wales offers rich experiences, with Cardiff at the heart. The youngest capital city in Europe, Cardiff is friendly, diverse and down-to-earth.
Every year, thousands of students from all over the world make Cardiff their home. Well known as a city of culture and entertainment, it’s a popular student city that knows how to enjoy itself. Lots of USW students choose to live in Cardiff, even if they study at a campus just outside the city.
As well as a campus in Cardiff city centre, USW has two other campuses just outside: one in the nearby town of Pontypridd, and another in Newport city centre. Every campus is open to all students so students can easily explore the region, whichever campus hosts their course.
These locations make the university very well connected and commuting is straightforward; all campuses are just off the M4 motorway and have train services that run practically to campus.
All courses are tailored towards employability. Along with lectures and reading, students are taught the practical skills they need to take the first steps in their career.
At USW, students can gain the skills they need in environments that recreate the workplace. From equipment to software to professional practice, students can build their confidence on campus and be ready for the real world. Recent figures show that over 95% of graduates are employed within six months of leaving the institution, having been fully prepared with a combination of academic tutoring and career support services.
Career support services include feedback on CVs, mock interviews and networking with businesses. Events are run regularly for students to meet and build connections, bringing in some of the 3,500 businesses that the university partners with. Support even continues after graduation, including personal career advice, application support and graduate job alerts.
Students who excel academically or who need extra financial support may be able to apply for a bursary or scholarship to help them with their studies. There are various scholarships and bursaries available such as the USW Postgraduate Alumni Discount, Postgraduate Ethnicity Equality Bursary, Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarship, Refugee Sanctuary Scheme, USW Sport Scholarship and more.
As well as internal scholarships provided by the university for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, there are external trusts and funds that students can apply to, with varying requirements. Students can learn more and see how to apply for this extra financial help on the Postgraduate Fees and Funding pages of the USW website.
Course fees differ depending on the course and length of study. This is even more true for a postgraduate degree because the type of learning and chosen field have a large impact on how much it will cost.
A typical master’s degree will normally cost £9,000 for a full-time year, with part-time fees varying. International students’ fees will be higher, usually around £14,000 per year.
The fees for research degrees are different, with the MPhil in Writing costing just £3,800 for the first two years and then £1,900 per year after that. PhDs are a little more expensive at £4,407 per year or £2,203 if a student chooses to study part-time, with international fees for PhDs set at £15,000 per year or £7,500 part-time.
Send a message directly to the uni to learn more about their scholarships and bursaries.
ASK A QUESTIONThe University of South Wales offers a wide range of taught postgraduate and professional courses.
The university takes a realistic approach to learning and offer many courses part-time or through distance learning. Taught courses are available for one-year full-time study, or over two or four years if studying part-time. Many students at USW are returning to learning and fit postgraduate study around work, family and other commitments. Distance learning is available in some areas, while other courses are designed to be delivered at weekends to fit around working life and other commitments.
Each course is led by expert lecturers in their field, who work with industry leaders to tailor courses to the demands of the real world.
Research at USW provides solutions to the challenges faced by society and the economy. Researchers work across disciplines to help businesses, communities and policy makers.
The university has a thriving research culture and supports all its researchers in achieving their full potential, from the most junior to the most senior.
USW offers a number of research-led postgraduate courses across various fields. Many are taught at the Pontypridd Campus, although students do have the option of undertaking a MPhil/PhD in Media at Cardiff, while the DPsych qualification is based in Newport. There is also a professional doctorate programme in Business Administration, which can be studied remotely.
Most of the research degrees at the University of South Wales have the option of full-time or part-time learning, with the exception of the MPhil in Writing, which is only available as a part-time programme over four years.
Students can search for research and expertise on the university’s website.
While most courses at the University of South Wales are taught in person, there is the option of remote study with some courses.
During the pandemic, USW has mixed online and traditional teaching methods to create active, social learning communities. The university is experienced in blended learning, and it was a feature of many courses before COVID-19. This experience allowed them to adapt quickly and ensure students’ wellbeing with minimal disruption to studies.
The university continues to innovate in this area, mixing campus visits with online study and evaluating how courses that were previously only available in-person may now incorporate more distance-learning methods.
There are currently no postgraduate open days available to book at this university.
Take a look at open days at unis across the UK.
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