Starting University is an exciting but sometimes nerve-wracking time and this year, more than ever, we understand that you'll want to be well-prepared for what lies ahead. Don't panic! We've pulled together our top tips and information to help you get ready.
September will be here before we know it! We can't wait to see you!
Our Singleton campus is nestled beautifully between the stunning Swansea Bay beachfront and leafy Singleton Park, perfect for lunchtime picnics and weekend beach days. Our campus beach (as we like to think of it) is a popular haunt for students during study breaks and lunch hours while Singleton Park is home to vast green fields, botanical gardens, a small boating lake (with awesome Swan pedalos) and a crazy golf course – perfect for finding some space to call your own.
Moving away from home is an exciting time and Swansea has a range of accommodation options for you to choose from. Adapted rooms are available for anyone with special requirements, including wheelchair users, and there are designated areas for those who want to be with like-minded people – including fellow Welsh-speakers and those who prefer alcohol-free or quiet space.
Whether you want to live in our halls on campus, in our suburban student village, or in one of the nearby private properties managed by our Student Accommodation Services (SAS) letting agency, the University’s Residential Services Team is there to ensure that you choose the accommodation that is perfect for you.
A short walk through Singleton Park and you will reach the student hub of Uplands – home to trendy bars and eateries, the best hangover cure in Wales (thank you Uplands Diner for your Mega Beast Breakfast), convenience shops and monthly Uplands Markets, and some of the best views in the city.
Swansea University’s neighbour is the cosy beachfront village of Mumbles; home to Victoria Pier and Oystermouth Castle, streets of boutique shops and independent eateries, along with the famous Verdi’s Ice cream parlour and restaurant.
Mumbles is the gateway to the UK’s first area of outstanding natural beauty – the Gower Peninsula. With over 19 miles of beautiful coastline to explore, you can hike the limestone peaks of Three Cliffs Bay, surf some of the UK’s best waves on Langland Bay, Llangennith and Caswell Bay beaches, or simply marvel at the rugged beauty of Rhossili Bay (voted the Best in Wales (2018), the best beach in Europe (Suitcase Magazine 2017) and is consistently in the UK Top 10 in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards).
Swansea City Centre is a 40 minute walk along the beachfront, or a 5 minute bus ride away from campus. Once here you can shop your way through Oxford Street and the Quadrant Shopping Centre (home to Wales’ largest indoor market), treat your inner culture vulture through a trip to the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and National Waterfront Museum, or sample the varying eateries, bars and pubs of Swansea’s famous Wind Street.
As a Swansea student you will have the opportunity to explore some of the city’s best kept secrets! Our city may be small, but its home to some great hidden gems. Here is our Top 5...
We start our list with one of the lesser known Gower beach spots. This small, sandy beach next to the larger Oxwich Bay is accessible through a wooded area and footpath. Venturing off the beaten path is worth it for a secluded, sunny spot to admire the beauty of the Gower Coast.
The home of local, fresh Welsh produce, monthly markets take place in the Marina, Uplands and Mumbles. A great place to explore local Welsh food, beautiful handmade crafts and gifts, as well as the local areas.
A little further out, but definitely worth the trip, is the Brecon Beacons National Park. Just short of an hour’s drive and you will arrive at some of the most breath-taking scenery in Wales. From natural caves and scenic walks (check out Henryd Waterfalls, they feature as the bat cave from ‘The Dark Knight Rises’), to adventure parks and high adrenaline sports, the Brecon Beacons has something for everyone.
Take a historic trip down the River Tawe on the Copper Jack and learn about the industrial history of Swansea. Take in the scenic wildlife, learn about Swansea’s history as a worldwide copper production hub, and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.
A student favourite! A short walk from the Singleton Campus through the park will take you to Brynmill Coffee House. This laid-back coffee hub serves all student tastes, with a vast selection of coffees, loads of vegan options (including delicious fresh cakes) and American pancake Saturdays, what’s not to love!
Moving away from home for University might seem daunting but the better prepared you get the easier it’ll be. Remember – you’re not necessarily leaving forever and you don’t need to pack the kitchen sink! For things you do need, it’s much easier to collect things closer to your new home, or even get them delivered.
For all your student essentials visit UNIKITOUT - they offer discounts on Student Bed Packs, Student Kitchen Packs, Student Bathroom and Towel Packs. They will deliver directly to your Campus so everything is waiting for you upon your arrival. Quote your Swansea code 'SWANSEA10' (for Singleton and Hendrefoilan Student Village) and 'BAYCAMPUS10' for the Bay Campus and save 10%!
For everyday items, why not use Click and Collect services at local superstores? Within 15 minutes of both campuses we’ve got:
There’s also a range of deliver local stores around the city, for example in Uplands, Brynmill, Port Tennant and SA1.
Our students and alumni tell us that our small community has helped them make friends for life, have good relationships with their lecturers and helped give them the best experience whilst studying with us. And when it comes to having access to state of the art facilities we have that in spades. In the last assessment, we were ranked 1st in the UK for Research Environment – which means access to great facilities and researchers during your studies.
We urge you to enjoy your summer before embarking on your next studying adventure but we regularly get asked for recommended reading. If you want to brush up or get in the zone before you arrive, here are some excellent resources...check your local library before you buy!
The Anatomy Coloring Book by Wynn Kapit and Lawrence M. Elson
Best-selling human anatomy colouring book! A useful tool for anyone with an interest in learning anatomical structures, this concisely written text features precise, extraordinary hand-drawn figures that were crafted especially for easy colouring and interactive study. Organized according to body systems, each of the 162 two-page spreads featured in this book includes an ingenious colour-key system where anatomical terminology is linked to detailed illustrations of the structures of the body. When you colour to learn with The Anatomy Coloring Book, you make visual associations with key terminology, and assimilate information while engaging in kinesthetic learning. Studying anatomy is made easy and fun!
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
This is an accessible and essential read for all scientists and clinicians which looks at the story behind Henrietta Lacks and her cancer which would give rise to the first immortal human cell line, which became a multi-million dollar industry, and one of the most important tools in medical history. This text highlights who really owns our body and the pathway to scientific discovery.
The Beautiful Cure: The New Science of Human Health by Daniel M Davis.
This thrilling book charts the ground-breaking scientific quest to understand how it fights disease and enables the body to heal itself. It explains how the body is affected by stress, sleep, age and our state of mind, and reveals how all of this knowledge is now unlocking a revolutionary approach to medicine and well-being. The Beautiful Cure tells a dramatic story of detective work and discovery, of puzzles solved and of the mysteries that remain, and of lives sacrificed and saved.
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
This eye-opening book looks at the MMR hoax and misleading cosmetics ads, acupuncture and homeopathy, vitamins and mankind’s vexed relationship with all manner of ‘toxins’. Along the way, the self-confessed ‘Johnny Ball cum Witchfinder General’ performs a successful detox on a Barbie doll, sees his dead cat become a certified nutritionist and probes the supposed medical qualifications of ‘Dr’ Gillian McKeith. Ben Goldacre takes us on a hilarious, invigorating and ultimately alarming journey through the bad science we are fed daily by hacks and quacks.
The Drugs Don't Work: A Global Threat by Professor Dame Sally Davies
Written in an informal style for wider debate beyond scientists, this short book provides a brief history of the rise of antimicrobials, from Fleming's chance discovery through the work of Chain and Florey in Oxford to the production of penicillin and other medicines against infectious disease, before discussing current and future difficulties. Resistance to antibiotics is the new inconvenient truth. If we don't act now, we risk the health of our parents, children and grandchildren.
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
The Selfish Gene is a classic exposition of evolutionary thought. Professor Dawkins articulates a gene's eye view of evolution - a view giving centre stage to these persistent units of information, and in which organisms can be seen as vehicles for their replication. This imaginative, powerful, and stylistically brilliant work not only brought the insights of Neo-Darwinism to a wide audience, but galvanized the biology community, generating much debate and stimulating whole new areas of research. Forty years later, its insights remain as relevant today as on the day it was published.
Oxygen: The molecule that made the world by Nick Lane
The strange and profound effects that oxygen has had on the evolution of life pose a riddle, which this book sets out to answer. Oxygen takes the reader on an enthralling journey, as gripping as a thriller, as it unravels the unexpected ways in which oxygen spurred the evolution of life and death. The book explains far more than the size of ancient insects: it shows how oxygen underpins the origin of biological complexity, the birth of photosynthesis, the sudden evolution of animals, the need for two sexes, the accelerated ageing of cloned animals like Dolly the sheep, and the surprisingly long lives of bats and birds. This remarkable book might just redefine the way we think about the world.
Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution by Michael Behe
Ten years ago, Darwin's Black Box launched the Intelligent Design movement: the argument that nature exhibits evidence of design, beyond Darwinian randomness. Darwin's Black Box has established itself as the key text in the intelligent design movement, the one argument that must be addressed in order to determine whether Darwinian evolution is sufficient to explain life as we know it, or not.
The Epigenetics Revolution by Nessa Carey
This book traces the thrilling path this discipline has taken over the last twenty years. Biologist Nessa Carey deftly explains such diverse phenomena as how queen bees and ants control their colonies, why tortoiseshell cats are always female, why some plants need a period of cold before they can flower, why we age, develop disease and become addicted to drugs, and much more. Most excitingly, Carey reveals the amazing possibilities for humankind that epigenetics offers for us all - and in the surprisingly near future.
Exploring Global Problems is Swansea University's very own podcast series. Be sure to check out Episode 4: The devastating effects of "legal highs" with the Medical School's Dr Amira Guirguis, and Episode 12: Cancer treatment and eradicating malaria: what role can microbes play? with our own Professor Paul Dyson
GenePod is the podcast from the journal Genetics in Medicine that delves into the latest research in medical genetics and genomics, featuring content from this leading journal
Microbe.tv is an independent podcast network for people who are interested in the life sciences. Its shows are about viruses, microbes, parasites, evolution, and even urban agriculture
The Genetic Society has news articles, blogs and webinars
The Biochemical Society has news articles, blogs and webinars
The Royal Society of Biology has news articles, blogs and webinars
The Microbiology Society is aimed at those interested in microbes, their effects and their practical uses. The society marked its 75th anniversary with an ambitious project demonstrating the value and raises the profile of microbiology in addressing the world’s biggest challenges.
Know your Avant-Garde from your Anime? The Film Society is one of over 150 societies and clubs to join at Swansea University’s Student Union, from the University Challenge Society, to the Trampolining Society, and even a VegSoc! So whether you’re a top baker, master archer or an ancient studies enthusiast, we have the society for you. Can't find what you're looking for? Then go ahead and develop a new society and share your passion with your peers (but please note, the Quidditch Society already exists!)
Sport Swansea offers a huge number of teams to practice sports, whether you are looking to compete with other University’s or simply just to keep fit and enjoy. And each year Swansea and Cardiff Universities go head to head for the sporting event of the year – Varsity! Usually hosted in Swansea and Cardiff on alternate years, the Varsity tournament sees more than 30 sports teams compete in basketball, rowing, golf, hockey and a host of other sports. The main event is the rugby match, hosted in a major stadium with crows of up to 15,000...and Covid-19 couldn't even stop the fun as for 2020 Varsity went online!
The Medical School has a strong student community, with many academic and medically-focussed societies to join including:
Many of our students are also members of sports and activity societies, balancing their studies with fun and social activities.
The events of 2020 have thrown our normal study methods into disarray and we've all had to find our feet with online, blended and independent learning. The University's Centre for Academic Success can help you bridge the gap between where you are and where you need to be, with some tutorials and top tips:
Prospects.ac.uk also offers some great advice on adapting to University life and how to stay afloat
Our team of dedicated health and safety professionals work with students and staff across the University to embed a health and safety culture and continuously improve processes and procedures to ensure our students and staff can carry out research, work and studies safely and securely - even more so in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. There are also many support services available to you at Swansea University so if you are finding things difficult, Wellbeing can support you to improve your mental health and wellbeing and to help you seek help when you need it.
Swansea University offers a safe, secure and welcoming experience for students, staff and visitors.
An integral part of campus life, our friendly team of security professionals provides a 24/7 security service across our campuses. The dedicated team brings a wealth of experience in providing security services to the University and is trained to provide a first response service including first aid.
Swansea University’s Security and First Response Service is a team of qualified and experienced security professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds ranging from military and emergency services to customer service specialists and paramedics. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the team provides a wide range of services including emergency response, crime prevention, first aid, traffic control and event support.
Safezone is a personal safety app for University students and staff. We advise all University students to download the Safezone app - it's easy to download and gives you immediate access to on-campus security and a team of first responders through your mobile phone.
SafeZone lets you get help quickly in a personal emergency, or if someone needs first aid or general help. You can also check in when you are working alone or in high risk areas, to share your status with the response team. SafeZone also sends you notifications in the event of an emergency, so you know what to do to stay safe.
There are many support services available to you at Swansea University, through the Wellbeing Service. We want to support you in getting the most from your studies and personal life, whilst you’re here and after you graduate. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the Wellbeing Service has also reviewed what it is able to offer students during these challenging times, with a dedicated Mental Health and COVID-19 webpage offering a range of useful resources.
Other services and support include:
There are many coping mechanisms you can employ to manage your stress levels. Our Deputy Head of School, Professor Ann John, specialises in children and young adults’ mental health. Her top tip is to take time to do one thing a day for yourself; this could be spending time outdoors in the fresh air, going for a walk with friends, family and pets (don’t have one? Borrow one!), keeping fit, or taking some time for your favourite hobbies.
Technology can be both a friend and foe on the struggle against stress and anxiety; a constant stream of new and exciting content can be over stimulating and make you feel like your summer is less exciting than others (FOMO is no fun). Taking regular breaks from social media will allow your mind to switch off from the constant stream of content, and allow you to focus your energy on what’s important to you (and if that’s a new Netflix show and some snacks, that’s great)
However technology can also help to combat times of stress and anxiety. There are many stress relieving apps available to help you reach a peaceful and calming headspace, provide you with tools to manage anxious and stressful times, and even help you to sleep.
On results day, we will have a team of admissions, teaching and support staff ready to take your call and discuss your options. We’ll also have current students on hand to tell you all about life in Swansea – they can even video call you if you prefer.
Be sure to also keep an eye on our social media...we're @SwanseaMedicine on all platforms
Don’t panic! If your results are lower than you hoped for, it’s not the end of the road. We’ll consider your results in light of the results of all of this year’s applicants and taking into account the places available on the course. We’ll also go back through your original application and can chat everything through.
It may be the case that another of our courses will suit you better – for example, if you did better in Chemistry than Biology then or might suit you better than Medical Genetics.
We also have an excellent , which will give you the key knowledge and skills to progress to a BSc degree in just a year’s time.
We’ve all heard of Clearing, but what about Adjustment? Adjustment is the name for the process of upgrading your course.
According to UCAS: “Adjustment is a chance for you to reconsider where and what to study. If you've had a conditional firm choice accepted – and therefore made into an unconditional firm choice – you could potentially swap your place for one on another course you prefer”
We have lots of options for applicants with higher grades. Our are advanced undergraduate degrees, adding a further research-focused year to a 3 year BSc. They give an in-depth knowledge of your subject area plus specialist training in a broad range of laboratory techniques before spending a year developing an extended, research project.
Missing out on your undergraduate medicine place may feel like the end of the world but we can assure you that it’s not. You won’t be alone in this situation and there are plenty of options available to you.
While it is unlikely Medicine spaces will be available during Clearing - as most medical schools run their own waiting lists throughout the cycle – there are alternative pathways to medicine at Swansea University Medical School. Check out our Guide to Medicine in Clearing, written by a student who has been there.
Each of our offer graduates a guaranteed interview for Graduate Entry Medicine.
Changed your mind about your course or where you would like to study? Don't panic! Clearing is another opportunity to secure a university place that is just right for you. You’ll be eligible for Clearing if:
You can check UCAS to see if you're eligible for Clearing - UCAS will not send anything in the post to tell you if you are eligible, so it is important that you check online. If you are eligible for Clearing an 'Add Clearing choice' button will appear on your UCAS 'choices' screen, which you can use to accept a place on a course you have been offered through Clearing.
Clearing is often a stressful time for students, but it can be just as hard on parents and guardians. However, it doesn't have to be a worry. Here at Swansea, we will do all we can to help candidates find the right vacancy for them. To support your child through the clearing process, take a look at our advice and prepare in advance for results day, with information on:
