Coronavirus Q&As for Prospective International & EU Students

Please download the statement here: Letter-to-prospective-International-students.

Yes, you can still apply to study in 2020/21. Submit your application through our Apply system. We will keep applicants up to date with any changes to delivery or start dates.

Some of our undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses are now available in January 2021. 

Students who need to study a pathway before progression to Swansea University can still apply to our partner college – The College, Swansea University – for programmes which start in January 2021.

We understand that the current situation varies by country, and you may have a question specifically relating to you and where you are from.  We have regional focussed teams who are here to help.

Find out who to contact for your country. You can get in touch to arrange a one to one chat too. 

You may have had email reminders to accept your offer to study with us. These are standard emails which are generated automatically. Whilst it is helpful to accept the offer so we know you intend to come, we appreciate that you may still be unsure due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control. It is not essential to formally accept your offer right now, so please don’t worry if you are still getting email reminders. You may accept it later on. You may accept your offer, defer to a different start or change to a decline whenever you want. If you are unsure, you may contact our admissions team or your regional contact to discuss your situation. 

The current guidelines on deferring offers still stands. You can find more information about the current guidelines on deferring offers.  The University is proactively working on the constantly changing situation. The current advice is that a deferral is not needed, unless absolutely certain you cannot make it for the intake applied for, and for other reasons.

Some of our undergraduate courses and postgraduate taught courses are available in January 2021. You can contact the admissions team or your regional contact to discuss this further if you wish to do so.

We are aware that the way many international students receive their formal grades will be affected by this situation, with possible assessment delays and some awarding bodies basing final grades on predicted grades or prior attainment. In this instance we will accept formal grades from awarding bodies as usual.

We will be monitoring institution closures in the UK and around the world and following UK and overseas Government and exam board advice on appropriate admission processes. Swansea University will be flexible and do all we can to support students and ensure they can progress to university.

We will be updating this page regularly and will be in direct contact with offer holders who this may affect. If you wish to discuss your personal circumstances, please get in touch with the admissions team or your regional contact, whose email is provided on your offer letter.

We understand that prospective students and offer holders are concerned about the coronavirus outbreak and the potential impact on being able to enrol at university in time. The University has reviewed late enrolment policies and will be as flexible as possible. The University is preparing to deliver online enrolment, induction and welcome so students will be able to enrol online, and arrive in Swansea when they are able to travel. 

International & EU Student Arrivals January 2021

We appreciate that you may not be able to join us in person on campus from the beginning of term and therefore you may start your programme online (there may be some exceptions; your College or School will be able to advise on this).

As soon as circumstances allow, we encourage students to join us in Swansea.   All students, whether they are starting in person or online, must enrol online.

If circumstances do not allow you to join us in person for the start of term, you should contact your College/School to inform them of your plans.  Please use the email addresses below:

College of Arts and Humanities - coahcollegeoffice@swansea.ac.uk

College of Engineering and Sports Science - engoffice@swansea.ac.uk

College of Human and Health Sciences - g.m.davey@swansea.ac.uk

Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law - solsupport@swansea.ac.uk

School of Management - somsupport@swansea.ac.uk

Swansea University Medical School - c.wu@swansea.ac.uk

College of Science - cosadmin@swansea.ac.uk

The College Swansea University - The-College@swansea.ac.uk

Please be reassured University staff are working together planning future activity and Swansea University will be ready to teach at the start of the new academic year as per the published term dates (there will be variations on the start date for students enrolled on programmes leading to professional registration).

Our priority is to ensure that the education and experience of our students remains of the highest quality whilst guarding the health and safety of our students and staff.  All courses will be delivered online. We are continuing to follow changing Government guidance and will provide more details in due course. Please check your emails as we will communicate updates to teaching plans as soon as they are released.

All courses will be delivered online until mid February 2021 and will be reviewed inline with Government guidelines. 

We will be constantly reviewing the situation in the UK and overseas to give our students as much flexibility and support as possible while ensuring safety is our first priority.

We are aware of restrictions in some countries on the recognition or funding of online courses. Swansea University has committed to, as far as possible, deliver all courses in a dual way combining both online and face to face teaching as appropriate. We will make announcements on any changes, and more details on specific courses as soon as possible. Please check these web pages and your emails for further updates. If you wish to discuss your personal circumstances, please get in touch with your regional contact.

We understand that prospective students and offer holders are finding it difficult to provide proof of their English Language levels without being able to sit an IELTS test. To help with this, our own SWELT tests (Swansea English Language Tests) is now offered online and is FREE to Swansea University offer holders. You can find out more information about Swansea English Language Tests here. 

Swansea University will also be delivering all Pre-sessional programmes online and these programmes are available for you to apply to if you have an English Language condition in your offer or you need to prepare for academic study. You can apply via the IELTS website. 

We accept a range of approved English Language tests and are reviewing alternative tests in light of the situation. If you wish to discuss your personal circumstances, please get in touch with your regional contact or our admissions office, whose email is provided on your offer letter.

Yes, Swansea University will be delivering ALL pre-sessional programmes ONLINE . These courses are available for you to apply to if you have an English Language condition in your offer or you need to prepare for academic study.

You can apply via the IELTS website. 

Our online teaching software will enable you to join a virtual classroom for the live sessions.
You will be able to send messages and files and also, interact via audio and video link.
The online Pre-sessional programme will be able to prepare you for UK academic study by:
• teaching in small groups
• face to face interaction online with classmates and teacher.
• opportunities for 1:1 live interaction with a teacher.
• guided learning tasks for you to complete in your own time.
• regular personalised feedback on your work and progress in online tutorials
• flexible self-study (work at your own pace and fit around your schedule)

If you have any questions about ELTS at Swansea University please email elts.admissions@swansea.ac.uk. 

Yes! Our own SWELT test (Swansea University English Language Tests) is now offered online and is FREE to Swansea University offer holders. You can find out more information and book a SWELT test here.

The University requests a deposit payment from International offer holders before issuing the CAS letter. You can find out more information on deposit payments before issuing CAS letter here. However, before issuing the CAS, there will be documents we require. Our current advice is to submit documents when you can via the online application portal, so if you pay your deposit later, there will not be any further unnecessary delays in issuing the CAS. If there are any changes to any deadlines, you will be notified by email, along with all other admissions announcements.

In addition to the University’s standard conditions, we have a policy for your deposit to be refunded if one of these conditions, specific to Covid-19 are met. The new refunds policy can be found here.

Yes, our scholarships are still open.
EU applicants will find more information about available scholarships on this page.
International applicants can find more information on our International Scholarship page. 

International Excellence scholarships can be deferred along with an offer to study.

The University is currently reviewing the terms and conditions of other scholarships and bursaries. If you have been made an award, you will get email updates if anything changes. If you have already decided to defer, please notify us by email on ido@swansea.ac.uk 

We recognise that students are concerned about the impact of coronavirus on their studies during this period. The University has taken major steps in altering its delivery to ensure that teaching, learning and assessment can continue.

The University remains committed to supporting you to enable you to remain engaged with your studies, meet the learning outcomes on your programmes and achieve the necessary credit to ensure that you may be awarded your degree or progress to your next level of study.

Major efforts by University staff have ensured there is wide-ranging support for active learning and progression, resources can be accessed, assessments can proceed where appropriate or offered with alternative arrangements and wellbeing and employability support is available.

Therefore in common with other Universities, Swansea University will not be issuing tuition fee refunds.

The University is delivering online enrolment, induction and welcome week in January. 

If you are arriving in the UK from overseas (unless from a country which is exempt from this requirement), you are required to spend 10 days in quarantine. This means you will not be able to leave the place you are staying for the first 10 days you are in the UK. This is because it can take up to 10 days for coronavirus symptoms to appear. When you arrive in the UK, you must go straight to the place you are staying to start your period of quarantine.

You may also hear the term quarantine referred to as self-isolation.

Please see below for more information on quarantining on arrival in the UK. 

If you are unable to utilise our meet and greet service, there are other options available. The UK Government COVID-19 guidelines states you are allowed to use public transport to get to your accommodation in Swansea even if you are required to quarantine on arrival. We advise using our service for ease and safety.

If you wish to use public transport your recommended options are:  
Train - nationalrail
Bus - nationalexpress OR megabus

If you wish to book private transport, we recommend the following providers:
AC Jenkins
Cymru Coaches
London Heathrow Airport Taxi Service

We are currently continuing to accept nominations and applications for the 2020/21 academic year. As and when circumstances change, this information will be updated.

Yes, applications for University accommodation are open so if you intend to study at Swansea University this January you should still apply for accommodation. Our latest announcement on on the academic year 20/21 is that University accommodation will be available as normal with appropriate social distancing measures in place. You will be informed of any changes that may affect your accommodation application as the situation progresses. 

The health, safety and support of our students and staff are our first priority in all that we do. We will provide more details in the coming weeks to keep people up-to-date with our plans, and look forward to welcoming students and staff.

For the latest update on safety on our campuses please watch our new video.

International students studying a course longer than six months will have paid an Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your visa application. This means you can access free National Health Service (NHS) medical care while you are in the UK. Please follow the guidance, if you think you have symptoms, you would be entitled to the same treatment as UK citizens.  

If you are arriving in the UK from overseas (unless from a country which is exempt from this requirement), you are required to spend 10 days in quarantine. This means you will not be able to leave the place you are staying for the first 10 days you are in the UK. This is because it can take up to 10 days for coronavirus symptoms to appear. When you arrive in the UK, you must go straight to the place you are staying to start your period of quarantine.

You may also hear the term quarantine referred to as self-isolation.

Swansea University will provide help and guidance for all students that need to quarantine, however, it is the responsibility of individuals to follow the rules outlined by the UK government to keep themselves and others safe.

You can check your home country's current status on the UK government website.

Please note, the situation is constantly changing and it is your responsibility to check whether you will need to quarantine or not.

Yes - if you are travelling from outside the UK and from a country which means you are required to quarantine on arrival, we can provide quarantine accommodation in Rod Jones Halls at the Bay campus and in your room in other university residences. We cannot provide University quarantine rooms for students who choose to live in private housing.

If you are renting a room in a University residence, the cost of your quarantine period will be included in the rental contract.  The advantages of choosing university residences to quarantine include:

• Registration process and support in place at time of arrival. 
• Assistance with food, mail, welfare, online social events etc.
• Remain in the same room throughout your period of study
• Reduce the risk of feeling isolated by establishing friendship groups early on after arrival

You will be accommodated in a single room at the Rod Jones Halls of Residence on the Bay Campus. All rooms are ensuite (private bathroom) and are divided up into flats.

We want all of our international students to have a safe and relaxing arrival in the UK. A weekly meet and greet (airport pickup) service will be provided by Swansea University.

Book your airport pick up for January 

If you have any questions about the service, please email: meetandgreet@swansea.ac.uk 

No, unfortunately not. The use of the meet and greet (airport pick up service) and quarantine accommodation is exclusively for students. If you are travelling with members of your family, they will need to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements.

If you are moving to Swansea with your family (including dependents) and they are staying for the duration of your studies, it may be possible for you all to quarantine in your pre-arranged accommodation. Please contact Residential Services directly to discuss your options.

We want all of our international students to have a safe arrival and friendly welcome to the UK.

If you have already applied for University accommodation and plan to arrive early in order to quarantine, the cost of your stay will be included in your existing contract.

Accommodation, utility bills and WiFi will be provided for the 10 day period. Food and drink are excluded. 

There will be support in place to help you with anything you may need during your time in quarantine accommodation. Food and drink will not be provided free of charge but you will receive help to get your food supplies to your room.

You can buy 'student packs' directly from www.unikitout.com. They provide kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and complete kits. Orders are delivered to a location and on a date requested by the student, subject to a minimum 48 hour lead time.

Even if you already have your accommodation booked you will still need to register for quarantine accommodation.

If you have not yet arranged permanent accommodation for your stay in Swansea this must be done prior to your arrival so you can move there as soon as you leave quarantine. Apply for University accommodation.

Once your quarantine period is completed you can move into your pre-arranged accommodation for the remainder of the academic year.

If you have Swansea University accommodation booked for the remainder of the academic year and have been told you need to collect keys by a certain date, please do not worry as Residential Services will be aware that you are quarantining from your registration form and will make alternative arrangements for you to collect your keys.

You must self-isolate for a period of 10 days and follow the advice and guidance provided by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Yes, if you already have your accommodation with a private provider secured, you can spend your 10 day quarantine period there. You will not be required to stay at the Rod Jones Halls. 

Yes - if you prefer not to live in University residences, there is private housing available in the city.  You can use SAS (Swansea Accommodation Services) to help find a suitable place to rent.

Important information about accommodation contracts

Please read this carefully so you are fully informed about what your accommodation contract commits you to:

1. Contracts are legally binding for the full duration of the Tenancy Agreement. 
   Please note that fees are payable as stated in the Contract.
2. There are very limited circumstances when you can apply to the University to request a withdrawal from your Tenancy Agreement, for example, suspension from studies, withdrawal from studies or not starting a course. 
   Please read and consider all terms and regulations carefully before accepting the Tenancy Agreement.
3. Please note the terms of your tenancy are a distinct and separate arrangement to those relating to your study/course.
4. If you accept an offer of a room in University accommodation, please note that any breaches of Government and/or University regulations will not be tolerated.
   Please check your University email account and MyUniHub website often for information updates.

You can contact the accommodation team here.

We cannot provide University quarantine rooms for students who choose to live in private housing.

The new NHS COVID-19 app, now available to download for free in England and Wales, is the fastest way to see if you're at risk from coronavirus.