University of South Wales

The University of South Wales (USW) is a public university formed in 2013 through the merger of the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport. Its roots go back to the Newport Mechanics' Institute of 1841 and the South Wales and Monmouthshire School of Mines, founded in 1913.

The university has more than 20,000 students and is one of the largest universities in Wales. It operates three campuses: Pontypridd, the largest, which includes the Treforest and Glyntaff sites; Cardiff, home to much of its creative industries provision; and a city campus in Newport. The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and The College Merthyr Tydfil are part of the USW group.

USW focuses on applied, career-oriented education, with curricula developed alongside employers across computing, engineering and science, business and creative industries, and life sciences and education. It is recognised for support of graduate start-up businesses and for widening participation, and it made notable gains in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, including strong results in allied health professions and computer science.

Information for International Students

The University of South Wales welcomes nearly 2,000 international students each year from around 100 countries. The Immigration and International Student Advice (IISA) team provides guidance on Student visa applications and immigration questions, and the university issues CAS statements up to six months before the course start date. An international welcome programme helps new students settle in, and peer mentoring connects applicants with current students.

The typical English language requirement is IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, for most undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Applicants who do not meet the requirement can take a pre-sessional English course before starting their degree.

Many undergraduate degrees are available with an integrated foundation year, providing an alternative route for students who do not meet direct entry requirements.

All new full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students, including international students, are guaranteed accommodation if they accept USW as their firm choice and apply by the published deadlines. Rooms may be in university halls at Treforest or with private providers in Cardiff or Newport. Eligible graduates can apply for the Graduate Route visa.