Swansea University (Detailed Info)

Founded: 1920. Structural features: Part of Wales University.

Location: Campus a mile west of Swansea, on Swansea Bay near the Gower Peninsula.

Getting there: Mainline rail from London Paddington (2 hrs 50 mins), also frequent services to eg Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham; close to M4; coach services to Quadrant Bus Station in Swansea. Also 40 mins drive from Cardiff International airport; ferry services to Swansea from Cork. Buses to campus from railway station, city centre and oft-campus accommodation.

Academic features: Many degrees modular. 4-year degrees in sciences and engineering with foundation year; also undergraduate Masters' degrees.

Special features: Cultural and sporting scholarships (£1000 pa) and Millennium scholarships (£1125).

Awarding body: Wales University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BSc, BEng. BScEcon, LLB, MChem, MEng, MMath, MPhys.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years (eg undergraduate Masters'; courses with foundation year or period abroad).

Library & IT facilities: Over 830,000 volumes, 9600 periodicals (incl 6600 electronic), 1250 study places (including 500 PCs for student use). Annual expenditure on information provision, £138 per (FTE) student. IT and library services converged, open 82 hours/week. 1850 PCs across university for student use. Induction sessions for all new students on library and information services; information skills courses (eg on the internet).

Other learning facilities: TV studio; portable digital recording units; digital photography and video conferencing: computer-assisted language labs.

Study abroad: Many students (in most departments) can spend up to a year abroad in eg North America, Japan, Mexico, Australia or Europe.

Careers & Jobs: Information, advice and placement service; vacation employment, work experience.

Student advice & services: Integrated student services including student financial aid, international student advice, disability office and student counselling service. Also careers centre, health centre, dentist, chaplains, mosque, SU advice centre. Excellent facilities and support for disabled students (incl specialist accommodation; dyslexia assessment and support; IT training; support for students with mental health problems; recording centre for the blind on campus).

Amenities: SU building with shop, travel centre, copy shop, launderette, radio station, bar. CCTV unit; arts centre; gallery; theatre, cinema and Egypt centre on campus. City has pubs/clubs, art galleries, theatres and wide range of restaurants/cafes.

Sporting facilities: Main sports centre close by, with excellent facilities incl new national pool (50m and 25m pools), sports hall, climbing wall, fitness centre, 3 squash courts; outdoors, 6 tennis courts, rugby and soccer fields, new 8-lane athletics track; indoor athletics training area and 2 artificial hockey pitches. Fairwood (4 miles away) has further 20 acres of fields for major sports. Support services incl sports scholarships, physiotherapy, range of activity programmes for all levels of ability. Location ideal for water-based and other outdoor activities.

Accommodation: 98% of first years normally in university accommodation. 2850 places available (2300 for first years): 600 B&B at £65 (£79 ensuite), term time only; 2200+ self-catering places (1600+ for first years) from £46 per week (£70 ensuite), Sept-June. Small number of shared rooms at lower rates. Most students live in privately owned accommodation for 1-2 years: £40-£45 pw for self-catering. 10% of first degree students live at home.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £4800 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term time work: University supports term-time work for full-time students. Careers unit, Worklink, helps students find work on and off campus.

Financial help: Total available £545,500 government funds (awards £100-£3500), plus own funds of £20,000 for EU and overseas students. Special help for eg overseas students, non-traditional students, those with high travel costs, disability costs, final year students and those with childcare costs. University scholarships (£1000 pa) for sports and cultural activities (dance, drama, music, writing), plus new Millennium scholarships (£1150). Apply for scholarships to Admissions office, for other help to Student Financial Aid Office.