Program Reviews

When I decided to spend a semester abroad at Swansea University, I hoped I would be able to challenge myself with the experience of living so far from home for a few months while also getting a taste of Europe. I'm happy to say that my time here has been everything I hoped for and more. Swansea may lack some of the glamour of a city like London, but its location on the Gower Peninsula offers easy access to some seriously beautiful places (Rhossili is one place you absolutely should go), both on the peninsula and throughout other parts of Wales. Plus, a weekend in London is still only a three-hour train ride away. If you want to leave the UK, traveling to Europe is cheap and convenient from nearby airports in Cardiff and Bristol. The cost of living (and drinking) in Swansea is also quite low, which as a student is really nice. As for academics, the professors I've had here have been great, and they're very accessible for students to get help if needed. Participating in the pre-sessional course also allowed me to meet other international students from several different countries, some of whom have become very close friends. The many clubs and societies at the university also provide opportunities to explore hobbies and meet other students. Overall, between the friendships I've made and the traveling I've had the chance to do during my free time, I can't recommend this program enough, and I'll forever be glad I chose to come to Swansea!

I had the most amazing time at Swansea University, in Wales. I was there for the full 17/18 academic year studying Media and Communications. It was a blast. The teachers were so nice and helpful and understanding of the differences between the US and UK school system. I learned more in that one year than I think I did in two years back home. I loved the society I got to be a part of while there, the Christian Union (CU). I had an incredible time with them the whole year and made so many lifelong friendships. Would 10/10 recommend Swansea University and Wales to anyone.

If you want a true, authentic British experience in a place that is affordable and convenient for travel elsewhere around Europe, Swansea should be your top choice. Firstly, the people make this beach town very inviting and easy to become comfortable in. It's not too big nor too small and has everything you could need in an area for school. Public transportation is great and its easy to get to Cardiff to take on some European trips. Academically, it is well run and not overwhelming with plenty of resources for all students. Lastly, the student social life is top notch. Wind Street and Varsity are just the tip of the iceberg for the great activities and events that students can partake in.

Swansea County is a sprawling area on the southwestern coast of Wales, containing miles and miles of rolling farmland, lush cliffside views, numerous sleepy little villages, and Swansea City. Both Swansea Uni's main campus (Singleton) and newly-built Bay Campus are oceanfront, with easy access to long stretches of calm beach. A semester-long bus pass provides access to the entire county, which includes day trips to Rhossili Bay--one of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. A student National Express card (around £10) provides 10-20% discounts on buses that run the entirety of the UK, and the MegaBus is a seriously discounted travel option for travel between Swansea and London. The Student Village (Hendrefoelan), though dated, was a great way to meet new people, and I made lifelong friendships that I wouldn't trade for the world. My professors were both thoughtful and approachable. Because of Swansea's location, international travel is easy, affordable, and encouraged over the spring holidays, and Swansea Uni sponsors several trips throughout the semester to UK hotspots like Bath and Stonehenge, and European hubs like Amsterdam. The opportunities afforded me because of my time in Swansea have been life-changing--from experiencing the often-overlooked-but-vivid-and-rich Welsh culture to contributing to respected travel magazines. The obvious locations for study abroad are a stone's throw from Wales, but the bonds formed in Swansea have changed my life for the better in more ways than I can even express. Don't count it out.

Its easy enough to give into the lure of studying abroad at one of Europe's major cities, but I think there is something to be valued in spending a length of time in somewhere you wouldn't think to visit otherwise. Swansea is a place of fantastic contrasts, best exemplified in the existence of the quaint, slightly tired city centre that is a few miles away from some of the most breathtaking coasts and beaches in the world. The people and students are rough and brash on the outside, but some of the most exceptionally kind people in reality. The weather can be brutally rainy for days, but when the sun comes out, the beauty is breathtaking. A lot of people want to go to an idyllic location when they study abroad, but the best memories are made when things aren't perfect. I can honestly say that I made friends for life, both in Swansea and from different universities in the U.S and have been able to keep in touch with all of them. I had the chance to work an 8 week internship, which has been a great asset during my job search. I joined 2 clubs on campus and surfed, hiked, and rock-climbed almost every day. My classes and professors were excellent but not too intrusive or time-consuming. The nightlife is wild and ever-present, and the college kids are a ton of fun. Transportation is accessible (can be slow), but can get you anywhere you really need to, at least at first. Also, there's a Premier League team right down the road. Swansea is a bit of a departure from the norm for a study abroad destination, but I can promise that it won't disappoint.

Swansea University is located in Wales, about an hour train ride away from Cardiff the capital city. The campus I spent all of my time one was Singleton Park, which is the older of the two campuses. Singleton Park was about a 15-25 minute bus ride from the Student Village where I lived, while Bay Campus was about a 45- 60 minutes away . Overall the student accommodation where I lived were not the best, but they are being closed soon since newer accommodations on both campus are available. Those that I knew who lived on either campus rather than the Student Village had none of the problems that I faced due to the construction that was occurring on site.
I highly recommend taking the Per-Sessional Class that is offer to incoming exchange student. Not only do you learn about the history and political environment in U.K, but you also get to take fun trips to Bath, the Gower and the Mumbles, and Cardiff! I'll attach a few images of these trips bellow. This course allow me an extra few weeks to transition to Swansea and get important paper work out of the way before classes started. I was more prepared than my soon-to-be friends who showed up a few days before classes started.
Overall the Go Global staff were amazing. They had a nice training day before regular classes started, this is when we registered for classes. There was free food and trivia games. It was a fun activity and I had a bit of a leg up due to the Pre-sessional course. Classes only meet a few times a week and both my grades were based on two papers. Keep in mind that their grading scale is different and what they are looking for is also different from the school in the US. Though you should be fine to pass your class, and do well if you aren't too busy taking in all the natural beauty on the beach just a few second away from both campus! I highly recommend studying at Swansea University, because it will be an amazing experience that you wont forget.

Studying Abroad in Swansea was one of the better decisions of my life. From an Academic standpoint, it was pretty straight forward. The class sizes were fine and faculty attention was adequate. Overall, they were business courses that didn't vary too much from those in the States. What set Swansea apart for me was the familial vibe from the extra-curriculars and also the housing. It felt like there was always something to do, a Uni-sponsored trip to go on, and I loved that "organized" was not synonymous with "lame." The University, its volunteers and the students all shared a pride and a fun spirit that was irreplaceable. Above all else, the housing at Hendrefoelan Student Village simply made the experience. To live in a house with 10 others, some exchange students, others native to Wales or the UK, it was priceless. Everyone was extremely warm, welcoming and simply a family. Within days I was a part of house dinners, trips to the bars; by the end of the semester, it felt like I was parting ways with family members. I felt closer to the 30 friends (in my corner of the village) than any of my life over that time period. We had "House Football" tournaments every weekend on the local soccer pitch that will ring with echoes of banter lore for decades. I traveled 13 countries while in Europe. No city brought better memories than my days in Swansea-- and it's not even close.

Coming on exchange from my home university to Swansea was one of the best decisions of my life. I initially arrange a 6 month student exchange but ended up extending my stay for a full year because I was having such a good time.
The university is great with an awesome student union, there's always fun events on and there's a great night life in town and around campus. The classes were interesting with very good lecturers and support staff as well as taking advantages of the unique location (e.g. Marine Science work out in Swansea Bay/Bristol Channel, engineering field work in the surrounding areas, etc.).
Best of all was living in the student village and getting to meet some amazing people from all over the world. I would highly recommend studying at Swansea unversity to anyone considering it.

My time at Swansea University was amazing. I was able to go through a partnership program with The University of North Carolina Wilmington. The classes I took were wonderful and I learned a lot, and I was easily able to balance academics and the fun of traveling and experiencing a new country.

My biggest complaint during my time abroad was the housing situation. We were placed in a student village that was actively being torn down. Due to the ongoing construction, bus routes were often interrupted and sometimes buses wouldn't pick up from the village at all, and students were often not informed of these changes and therefore missed classes. Additionally, the water would be shut off for long stretches of time - students would live between 5 and 25 hours without running water. Finally, because of the impending tear-down of each building, maintenance wouldn't be done when it was requested. Overall, the living situation was not what I paid for and was overall disappointing.

That being said, Swansea University was a lovely campus full of attentive staff members and a pre-sessional course that provided ample time to get acclimated to the new environment. I would recommend Swansea University to anybody looking to study abroad; just be careful with where you live.

Literally, just commit. Sign-up. Pay the down payment. Whatever it may be, if you have any doubts about this program whatsoever, ignore them and take a leap of faith. This program and Swansea University as a whole was one of the best decisions I could have ever made. I originally never planned on studying abroad, but I'm 100% glad I made the decision to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because it's changed who I am as a person in such a great way. I'm so much more of an 'adult' now than I ever was, and I'm loads more knowledgeable with how the world works. With studying abroad experience under my belt, I'm more keen to graduate and move somewhere where I have to start a whole new life- it's given me the courage to do so.
First and foremost, Wales is incredibly beautiful and lush. Studying at Swansea gives you ample time to roam around and take in all the natural beauty like the Gower and Rhossili. As classes are set at your own pace with very minimal deadlines to meet (as there's typically only a final at the end of term), this gives you a massive amount of time to explore and travel. The weather itself isn't dreadful, either. It doesn't rain terribly hard at all and instead only drizzles. I'm from Texas where the temperature is a constant boil, and I managed to adjust really well to the wind and cold.
Secondly, you get to make so many friends abroad. I now have friends all over the world from Australia to Germany to Canada. In this sense, not only do you get to learn about Welsh culture, but you get to learn about so many other countries plus the ones you get to travel around to. After my five months were over, I had visited 10 countries including Iceland and Hungary (my favourites by far).
Tips: pack light (you never even use half your wardrobe, I promise. And more room for souvenirs!), integrate and become a local (I always went to the same coffee shop, met lots of sweet locals who I still keep in contact with), get the National Express discount card and the railcard