University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Summary

University Environment

UWTSD is based around fives campuses, four of which are in Wales with a fifth campus in London.

Swansea Campus

The Swansea campus is spread across a number of dedicated centres, all within easy reach of the city centre. Each subject area has its own facilities with access to specialist equipment, learning resources, workshops and IT suites. UWTSD has ambitious plans to develop a £300m Swansea

Waterfront Innovation Quarter around the city’s marina, scheduled for 2018. The new development will offer a 21st century student experience in an environment which will mix academia, business, leisure and residential accommodation.

In 2014 the University also opened its new £14m city centre-based ALEX Design Exchange, home to the University’s School of Design and Applied Arts. It has become an international teaching, research and consultancy centre focusing on automotive design, product design and architectural glass. The facility is used for public exhibitions, lectures and community activities. Located nearby is the historic Wind Street, the city’s famous café quarter, providing a host of popular pubs and clubs, restaurants and entertainment venues including a 12-screen state-of-the-art multiplex cinema. 

The city is also home to top-flight football action with Swansea City and quality rugby with the Ospreys. Swansea is surrounded by resorts, parks, wildlife centres, caves and castles and the Gower Peninsula was the first part of Britain to be designated an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ by the Government in 1956.

Carmarthen Campus

The friendly Carmarthen campus boasts a well-stocked library, a fully-equipped theatre and workshops, music, media and IT suites and modern teaching spaces, and is centred around its original 1848 building. Sweeping lawns and landscaped areas form a picturesque setting for the mix of Victorian and modern buildings. In 2018, UWTSD will welcome the relocation of S4C’s headquarters to the Carmarthen campus. S4C is a public service broadcaster and the only Welsh language television channel in the world.

The Carmarthen Campus is located on the outskirts of Carmarthen, the reputed birthplace of Merlin, the legendary Arthurian wizard, and the oldest town in Wales. It is a busy town which enjoys a good mix of traditional and modern shops. It is home to national chains, boutique style shops, as well as excellent indoor and outdoor markets. It enjoys excellent leisure facilities, theatres and boasts the first purpose-built digital cinema with six 3D screens. The town is served by major road and rail networks and is within easy reach of major cities, including Swansea and Cardiff, as well as ferry ports in West Wales.

Cardiff Campuses

The Cardiff Campus is home to the Wales International Academy of Voice (WIAV). 

Lampeter Campus

Lampeter campus is home to approximately 1,000 full-time students and provides a close-knit community environment with modern facilities and technology. Its picturesque campus environment, is home to a range of undergraduate courses including English, History, Archaeology, Chinese,Classical Studies, Philosophy and Religious Studies, as well as Anthropology, Publishing, Heritage Studies, Ancient Civilisations, Applied Psychology, Ancient Egyptian Culture, and Creative Writing.

Many students study more than one subject in a Joint Honours combination or in a new innovative mix across the disciplines with Heritage Studies, Digital Humanities, Museums and Archives, and Education Studies. 

Unlike other universities, students at the Lampeter campus are taught by lecturers in small teaching seminars, typically by the second year in groups of between 15 and 25 students.

The University is located at the heart of the historic market town of Lampeter, which is surrounded by the beautiful Cambrian mountains of rural Wales. Running through the campus is the river Dulas whose banks host a patchwork of students enjoying barbecues, picnics and quiet reading. The town provides a warm welcome to students and is a vibrant centre of student activity. Besides the national stores and supermarkets, Lampeter prides itself on its wide range of award-winning independent shops.

London Campus

UWTSD London provides an opportunity for international students to study a range of Business and Management programmes in one of the most picturesque areas of London.

History

UWTSD was formed on the 18th November 2010 through the merger of the two oldest higher education institution is Wales, the University of Wales Lampeter and Trinity University College Carmarthen, under Lampeter’s Royal Charter of 1828. On the 1st August 2013, Swansea Metropolitan University also joined UWTSD.

Academics

Schools & Facilities

Faculty of Architecture, Computing & Engineering

• Applied Computing
• Architecture & Built Environment
• Automotive Engineering
• Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering
• Natural Environments
• Logistics & Transport

Swansea College of Art

• Advertising, Graphic Design & Illustration
• Automotive, Transport & Product Design
• Film & Digital Media
• Fine Art & Photography
• Surface Pattern Design & Glass

Faculty of Business & Management

• Swansea Business School
• School of Business, Finance & Management Carmarthen
• Sport, Health & Outdoor Education
• Tourism & Hospitality

Faculty of Humanities & Performing Arts

• Anthropology
• Ancient World
• Archaeology
• Chinese Studies
• Creative Writing & English
• Modern History & Mediaeval Studies
• Performing Arts
• Philosophy & Ethics
• Religion
• Wales International Academy of Voice

Faculty of Education & Communities

• School of Early Years
• School of Psychology
• School of Social Justice & Inclusion
• School of Welsh & Bilingual Studies
• SWW Centre of Teacher Education

Research

The University is committed to research that contributes to the economic vitality and regeneration of the region and is developing a reputation for working collaboratively with business, industry and government.

In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, 47% of the University’s research was deemed as globally or internationally leading, with a further 39% internationally recognised for its significance and rigour. 

International & Industrial Opportunities

The University offers a wide range of opportunities for students to spend time overseas during their studies, whether on an international work placement or as part of the University’s well-established study abroad programme.

Several degree programmes offer overseas work placements and students gain placements in locations such as California, Dubai and Greece.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships & Bursaries

The University offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to support talented students from every background. These include the University of Wales Trinity Saint David Bursary which is awarded to students from a low income background outside of Wales, departmental scholarships which are awarded to students based on their ‘all-round’ performance, residential bursaries, and Welsh medium/bilingual scholarships which are available to students who wish to study partially or fully through the medium of Welsh/bilingually.

Facilities

Learning Facilities

At the beginning of your course, you will receive a basic introduction to study skills and information technology. In addition, drop-in and study skills sessions are offered to students who require support with their coursework. Support includes developing effective study strategies, tackling assignments, preparing presentations, essay writing and preparing for examinations.

At the Swansea campus each subject area has its own facilities relevant to the needs of students. The facilities range from the workshops where Formula Student racing cars are designed and built to the art and design studios where students have dedicated spaces to develop their ideas. There are dedicated subject relevant libraries and all students have open access to IT suites and remote access to library services and their study materials through the online library catalogue and virtual learning environment.

Carmarthen campus boasts a range of facilities including a well-stocked library and excellent learning and teaching spaces, a fully equipped theatre and workshops, media and music suites as well as IT facilities which include open access areas and rooms for students to undertake group work. 

Lampeter hosts one of the best collections of medieval illuminated manuscripts and early modern printed first editions in the country, held in the Roderic Bowen Library and Archives. The special collections include over 30,000 volumes, printed between 1470 and 1850, which students help to curate. The recently refurbished Main Library offers hi-tech learning support and study areas, in addition to its collection of 275,000 books and journals. There are two dedicated computer suites, a dedicated MAC laboratory for GIS survey software, language studies, and courses on Digital Humanities. There are four different Archaeology laboratories covering all manner of forensic and environmental study.

Sporting Facilities

If you are studying in Swansea you’ve a diverse choice of some of the most modern and well-equipped privately-run sports and health facilities in the country, including facilities used by world renowned athletes and swimmers. 

At the Carmarthen and Lampeter campuses you have access to a range of opportunities, including on-site well-equipped sport centres as well as partnerships with local leisure facilities and swimming pools. If you like cycling you’ll be pleased to hear that Carmarthen town’s outdoor velodrome is due to be upgraded by the council in a £580,000 project.

With national parks, country parks, designated areas of outstanding beauty, clean rivers and beaches, West Wales is a favourite with those who enjoy the outdoors. Facilities and attractions include a wealth of National Trust properties, castles, gardens and seaside attractions, as well as theme parks including Oakwood and the Blue Lagoon Water Park.

For climbers and mountain lovers the region offers an expanding network of indoor climbing centres and some of the best natural hill walks and cliff climbing in the UK. The region can also serve as an ideal base from which to explore the mountainous regions of Snowdonia and the Brecon beacons.

Swansea and West Wales offers a gateway to an unspoilt area of wild coastal countryside to rival any other. The Gower Peninsula offers wonderful beaches for walking and watersports. Along the Swansea and West Wales length of the Wales Coast Path – the longest continuous coastal path in the world − students can access a broad range of surfing and water sports locations.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

The Students’ Union at Swansea offers a wide range of sports clubs and societies to choose from, with the choice of continuing with current hobbies and interests or take up new ones. There are sporting societies as well as a variety of hobby and interest-based societies such as the Gaming Society, Dance Society, Medieval Society, the Christian Union, the Artists Creating Together Society, the Pagan Society and the Conservation Society. If you find the University doesn’t currently have the club or society you’re looking for, the Students’ Union can help you to start your own.

The Students' Union are also in charge of organising entertainment such as ‘Freshtival’ during the first few weeks of term and ‘Refreshers’ at the start of the second semester. The annual Summer Ball is another highlight of the social calendar in Swansea, with recent headliners including Florence and the Machine, Rudimental, Professor Green, and Lethal Bizzle.

At Lampeter students can refresh themselves at the 1822 Starbucks café, or the Refectory or Student Union cafe and bar.

Student Support

Career Facilities

The University has a dedicated careers service run by professional careers staff which offers a wide range of services, from identifying possible career paths, job search, CV and interview advice, and finding careers information, to help with applying for postgraduate funding and study. 

The University offers a range of internships and internship funding to enable students to find work with companies during vacation periods or to work on sustainability projects.

The Job Shop is a service that is run both online, and through the Careers Service with details of many graduate, parttime/casual jobs, volunteering opportunities and internships both in the UK and abroad. 

Opportunities for study visits and field trips are offered to most students. In the past, students have enjoyed visits and field trips to such places as national parks, museums, galleries and theatres within the UK, including London’s art galleries, museums and West End shows. Recent field trip destinations have included Poland, Norway, France, The Gambia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, New Zealand and the United States to study aspects of their courses and to gain an international perspective on their chosen subject areas.

GO Wales is a new employability project with officers on each campus. It targets groups such as, for example, those with additional needs, people from BME backgrounds and care leavers. You can access extra support with finding work experience and mentoring.

UWTSD provide students with the insight and experience of the many skills needed to both plan, organise and run a business, together with commercial experience and industry placements.

The development of these personal attributes is encouraged throughout the University’s teaching, and enterprise and entrepreneurship is specifically embedded in the curriculum in the vast majority of courses including credit-bearing modules and assessment.

In addition, they provide voluntary extracurricular activities. These include schemes such as ‘Enterprise Week’, ‘Creative Bubble’, ‘Graduate Launch Pad’ and Role Model workshops through ‘Shut Up and Start Up’ where students can meet inspirational graduates and work across all faculties and with all student groups. 

Life Design is a four-step programme that all students have access to, through workshops, events, and online and offline resources. It helps you make the most of your time at university and prepares for your future.

Every first year student takes part in a Life Design session at the start of their university experience and you’ll have access to a range of events, challenges, skills sessions and other support throughout your course. You’ll learn how to use design tools to generate multiple potential future pathways and design a future life that matches your needs and passions.

It can help with: working out how to design and create a career and lifestyle that works for you; understanding what skills and assets you already have and building the confidence to use them;making the most of your time at university to build up the experiences you’ll need for your future; growing your networks and presenting yourself online and offline in ways that will give you access to the best opportunities; and, developing the confidence and ability to redesign your life whenever circumstances change.

Health & Wellbeing

If you require additional learning support or have a Specific Learning Difference, the University can provide assistance to help you on your course. The University also provides a comprehensive screening process for specific learning differences, help with applications for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), and one-to-one support for students requiring extra tuition. They also have a range of specialist technology to help with your studies and specially adapted rooms in Halls of Residence.

The University works collaboratively with a number of surgeries and encourages you to register with a local medical practice when you arrive.

The University’s Counselling Service offers a high level of confidentiality and privacy to students who wish to discuss any matter of concern. Students use the free Counselling Service to talk through a wide range of issues – personal and academic.

The University employs four part-time qualified mental health advisers who can provide support to students with mental health issues.

Religion & Spirituality

There are many opportunities to explore and celebrate your faith through the various activities organised by the Chaplaincy team. The University’s Chaplains can provide support for students to explore their faith, as well as a range of other issues, including providing confidential guidance and help in solving problems and concerns. The Chaplaincy Service works closely with all denominations to ensure the beliefs of all members of the University are supported. 

There is a chapel on both the Lampeter and Carmarthen campuses where services are held daily on weekdays. The chapels are open for prayer, meditation and quiet contemplation throughout the day. There is also a mosque and a Pagan Circle on the Lampeter Campus, a prayer room on the Swansea Campus and there are plans to develop a prayer room on the Carmarthen campus. 

Accommodation

Swansea

UWTSD Swansea has five halls of residence based on two different sites, both of which are at the heart of the campuses and within 100 metres of teaching and library facilities. There are more than 300 rooms for first year students with a mixture of standard study bedrooms and rooms with en-suite facilities.

Swansea also has a wide variety of private accommodation and several private student halls within a short walk of the campus buildings, and most students move into private rented accommodation with friends after their first year.

There is a dedicated accommodation office in Swansea that provides advice and support for students when applying for accommodation, or finding private rented accommodation.

Carmarthen

On the Carmarthen campus there are four student residences on campus, which offer single and shared rooms in catered or self-catering accommodation. All rooms have internet access and include utility bills. First year students are normally housed in the catered halls of residence – Myrddin, Non and Tower – which offer spacious bedrooms with plenty of storage space and wash-hand basins. Bathroom and snack preparation areas are shared with other residents. In the second and third years, students normally choose to live in self-catering halls with shared kitchen and living facilities.

Lampeter

Lampeter campus has 15 halls of residence for students. All are self-catering; some with en-suite facilities and others with shared facilities. Places in halls are guaranteed for for students in first year while many students decide to spend all three years in halls.

International

English Language Requirements

Students whose first language is not English are required to obtain a minimum of 6.0 overall and a minimum of 5.5 in each component of reading, writing, listening and speaking in the IELTS English language test or equivalent. For more information please see the University's website.

International Support

UWTSD international students come from over 70 countries. There is a dedicated International Office Team to help you with services including pastoral care; orientation and welcome programmes to help you settle in and make new friends; an airport welcome service from Heathrow and Gatwick airports in London; study skills and English language support; and cultural programmes with a series of weekend trips around Wales and other famous places in the UK and National Day celebrations. 

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