Swansea University offers £3,000 Excellence Scholarships to students who achieve 3 A grades at A-Level and 5 GCSEs at A/A* and make Swansea their firm choice. The document provides an overview of student life, academics, accommodation, and financial assistance available at Swansea University.

1. £3000 Excellence Scholarships for firm choice applicants achieving 3 A grades at A Level & 5 GCSE A/A*

2. Swansea University: An Introduction for UCAS applicants and parents Steve Minney UK Student Recruitment Office

3. The University Established in 1920 Waterfront campus between city and country 14,000 students from throughout UK Average entry is 370 UCAS points Multi-disciplinary University with teaching excellence across all subject areas

4. Student Life at Swansea University Winner of Times Higher “Best Student Experience Award” Excellence in Teaching & Research Extensive study abroad opportunities – inter calary year or summer programmes, eg, India, China, USA Employability is a major focus of all schemes of study (Graduate recruitment event every October) Entreprenurial education Thriving range of student societies World-class research across full range of subject areas 85% of work submitted to RAE deemed to be of international quality Active Student’s Union Taliesin Arts Centre – cultural heart of campus 89% overall student satisfaction in the official National Student Satisfaction Survey Progression to postgraduate study

5. Sport at Swansea Sport is a major part of Student life at Swansea £20m investment in sports village facilities Tradition of success in representative sport Annual Varsity matches University is home to the National Pool Excellent access to facilities for all Active, outdoor lifestyle available

6. Accommodation Policy The University has - Over 3,200 places in residences: Nine residences on campus Hendrefoelan Student Village off campus Applying for accommodation Students accepting Swansea as their CF choice will receive an e-mail with their ID number and a link to the online accommodation application form Accommodation applications open on 4 th May Accommodation offer will be confirmed after results in August Firm choice (CF) students and those who apply early will have their accommodation preferences met first We guarantee accommodation to those who- Firmly accept our offer & complete their accommodation application before 30 th June

7. Campus Accommodation: Part-catered Residences: Kilvey and Rhossili 95 rooms each with wash basin and mini fridge Traditional hall layout with 17-20 rooms per floor Shared bathroom facilities (ratio of 1:2 or 1:5) Fully equipped kitchen Value of one meal a day (£24.50 p.w.) is included on a residence dining card which can be used at all campus catering outlets Telephone & free wireless broadband internet in all bedrooms Parking for disabled students only £103 - 109 p.w.

8. Campus Accommodation: Self-catered residences with en-suite facilities Langland, Caswell, Oxwich, Preseli, Horton and Penmaen 811 self-catered en-suite rooms Flats of 8 students Fully-equipped modern kitchens Telephone and free wireless broadband internet in every room Parking for disabled students only £92 - £108 per week

9. Campus Accommodation: Self-catered residences with shared facilities Cefn Bryn has 171 standard single rooms Traditional hall layout Each room has a wash basin and mini fridge Shared bathroom facilities – 1 for every 2 students Fully equipped kitchen Telephone & free wireless broadband internet in all bedrooms Parking for disabled students only £87 - £92 p.w.

10. Off-campus Accommodation: Hendrefoelan Student Village 1.5 miles north-west of campus 1644 rooms in self-catered accommodation Single rooms in flats / houses of 4-11 students Shared bathroom – approximately 1 for every 4 students Fully-equipped kitchen facilities All rooms have telephone and free wireless broadband internet access

11. Off-campus Accommodation: Hendrefoelan Student Village Shop, laundrette, bar, diner and doctor’s surgery on site Regular Unibus service to campus & town: Student bus pass approx £120 per term or £329 for the academic year Car parking available Welfare wardens on site 47 week contracts available for healthcare students £73 - £78 per week

12. Accommodation: Private Sector There is a good supply of private sector housing in Swansea and Mumbles Residential Services produces lists of approved landlords Residential services also operates an online house-hunting site called Studentpad Rents approx £60 -£75 per week

13. Applying for Government Financial Assistance … and paying it back Application for Student Loans & Grants made after UCAS application completed Apply online at: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk Interest will be charged at a maximum of inflation + 3% Loan repayments begin when the graduate’s earnings exceed £21,000 pa A graduate earning less that £21,000 will not have to begin repayments until earnings exceed that threshold Repayments are automatically deducted from earnings at source The amount a graduate pays back each month is determined by how much they are earning – not how much they owe The minimum repayment is 9% of any income over £21,000 It is not expected that Graduates will pay back all of their loan – and any unpaid loan is written off after 30 years Annual Income Monthly income Monthly Loan Repayment £25,000 £2,083 £30 £30,000 £2,500 £67.50

14. Swansea University scholarships & bursaries Income related bursaries Will be available for all UK students from households where the household income is under £30,000 per year Available to all UK students We expect that over 30% of our students will receive support Further information about our bursaries package is available on our website and in the Applicant Visit Day packs Financial Contingency Funds: Discretionary funds to help students in financial need Excellence Scholarships Worth £3000 - available in all subjects Awarded to all students who achieve three A grades at A-Level (or equivalent) Students must have at least five A grades at GCSE and must make Swansea their firm choice (CF) with UCAS Sporting Scholarships £1,000 p.a. Swansea is one of the most cost effective places to live as a student, with student debt levels below the national average

15. Swansea, Mumbles & Gower Swansea Wales’ 2nd largest city -1 mile east of campus Vibrant social life Museums, theatres & arts galleries £250m Waterfront development Liberty Stadium – Swansea City FC, Ospreys LC2 Mumbles Student housing; pubs, restaurants & ice-cream parlours Gower UK’s 1st “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” Historic sites, surfing, cycling, mountain biking, walking …

16. And finally … Thank you for visiting Please complete our online feedback form at: www.survey.swansea.ac.uk/visitday2012 If you need any further information or assistance, please ask at the reception desk in Digital Technium

17. £3000 Excellence Scholarships for firm choice applicants achieving 3 A grades at A Level & 5 GCSE A/A*