About us

We are ideally located for our staff and students to enjoy all that South Wales has to offer, with campuses in Cardiff, Newport, and Pontypridd.

We work closely with our partner colleges, and have two wholly owned subsidiaries, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and The College Merthyr Tydfil. We are aiming to be carbon neutral by 2040. We know this is important to operate and maintain a sustainable university environment.  

We are also key part of the local economy – generating £1.1billion to the UK economy every year (Biggar Economics Report, 2019/20). For every £1 that USW receives in income, £5.30 is generated to the wider economy. There are more than 23,000 students and 2,700 staff at USW (HESA 2021/22).

Working with others

Partnership working is at the heart of everything we do. We work with businesses, the public sector and third sector to achieve the best outcomes for learners and organisations. We are researching and innovating to tackle some of the biggest global challenges, from energy and health to security and sustainability. This expertise helps our partners and our students.

Learning by doing

At USW, our students learn by doing. Our learning spaces reflect the industries in which they will work after graduation. Our curriculum is co-created with employers. Our focus is on providing a skilled and relevant workforce for local, national, and international industries. We are generating the workforce that employers tell us they want and need.

Inclusive study options

There are a range of study options, offering flexibility and supporting life-long learning. We are proud that many of our students are the first in their family to go university. Almost half of the students at USW come from areas within the bottom two quintiles of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD). This is significantly above average for higher education institutions in Wales and the UK.

We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone can flourish. We work with our students to support them to successfully complete their studies and enter their chosen careers.  We are also a University of Sanctuary. This recognises our commitment to create a welcoming culture for people seeking sanctuary within, and beyond, our campuses.