Medicine and Life Science Outreach

Undergraduate Courses in our Medical School cover Applied medical Sciences, Biochemistry, Genetics, Medical Pharmacology, Population Health and Medical Sciences, Pharmacy and Graduate entry medicine.

There are also a range of MSci and Foundation year routes available. For the full list visit our Medical School Undergraduate Courses Page. 

Our Undergraduate courses in the School of Health and Social Care span a range of subjects including Nursing, Midwifery, Healthcare Science, Health and Social Care, Occupational Therapy, Osteopathy, Social Work, Paramedic Science and Operating Department Practice.

Our courses have a range of study options. For the full list of courses, please visit our School of Health and Social Care Undergraduate Course page.

At our School of Psychology, we offer the opportunity to study Psychology as a Single or Joint honours programme. Psychology can be studied alongside Criminology, Education and Sociology.

For more information on our range of Psychology Courses, please visit our School of Psychology Undergraduate Courses page. 

Research Family Day | Xplore! Wrexham

Staff from the National Centre for Population Health and Wellbeing Research (NCPHWR) attended Where would we be without research? at Xplore! Wrexham, to showcase the importance of research through exciting activities like building COVID-19 fighter out of Lego, or using a space hopper to investigate heartrates. This event was organised by Health and Care Research Wales. Find out more.

Contact: Sinead Brophy

School workshops | Mental health

Workshops have been delivered at a range of local Swansea schools and science festival events, covering topics such as cyberbullying, mental health, absences and exclusions.

Contact: Ann John 

ADR Wales | Climate Change

This research programme will focus on: health impacts of extreme weather events; climate change transition risks and opportunities; and associations between biodiversity, ecosystem resilience and health. Each strand will utilise public engagement to improve research outcomes.

Contact: Samantha Turner

BBC Wales Interviews | Impact of the pandemic

Prof Lyons has been interviewed by BBC Wales Investigates on the impact of the pandemic in Wales, particularly the indirect impact on routine NHS services. Our early results on vaccine safety were also reported by the BBC. Prof Lyons was also interviewed on BBC Radio Wales on 12th October in relation to the introduction of COVID passes in Wales for nightclubs and large sporting events.

Contact: Ronan Lyons 

Science Festival | Heart health workshop

A heart health workshop at the Swansea Science Festival took place to highlight cardiovascular research at Swansea. It was based around a demonstration of cardiovascular equipment.

Contact: Libby Ellins

BBC Wales Interview | Sunproofed

An interview on sun safety and rises in skin cancer, to raise awareness of the Sunproofed study, which examines what is currently being taught in Welsh schools about sun safety and what influence this has on the knowledge and behaviour of children, teachers, staff and school managers. Find out more.

Contact: Kirsty Lanyon

Oriel Science Exhibit | How The Sun Sees You

A UV camera display for families, to raise levels of awareness of the need for sun protection. Based in Swansea City Centre, Oriel Science brings science to the community through exhibits, workshops, and talks. Find out more about this exhibit.

Contact: Kirsty Lanyon

SAIL Databank | Consumer Panel

SAIL is a databank including population-scaled data. The Consumer Panel is comprised of around a dozen members of the Welsh general public, acting as advocates for data linkage research. Find out more about the SAIL consumer panel.

Contact: Claire Newman

The Mullany Fund | Mentoring Project for STEM Subjects

The Mullany Fund is an independent social mobility charity, with a base at the university. They run an online mentoring scheme. Using volunteer mentors, they link a young person to someone studying or working in an area they might be interested in working in. The mentor provides age appropriate advice and personal insights via a secure bilingual e-Mentoring platform.

Any young person who is interested in registering can join here.

Any medical students who might like to become a mentor for a young person interested in medicine can register here. 

STEM Ambassador

STEM Ambassadors visit schools to help with mock interviews, and run occasional events. Find out more about being a STEM ambassador.

South West Wales Reaching Wider Partnership

The South West Wales Reaching Wider Partnership works with school pupils, families and adults from areas within the two lowest quintiles of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

To find out about opportunities to get involved in this project please contact Sophie Flynn, University Reaching Wider Events Coordinator.

Nanobach | A workshop aimed at inspiring scientists of the future

Year 7 and 8 pupils from across Neath Port Talbot attended a Swansea University workshop to demonstrate what nanotechnology is and spark an interest in how it can be applied. This one off workshop was inspired by Italian project NanoGaliato. 

Ti a Dy Gorff (Kay’s Anatomy) | Book Launch

Pupils from Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Bryn-y-Môr attended a book launch on Singleton Campus to celebrate the Welsh Language release of Kay's Anatomy, by Adam Kay. Welsh medium staff and students from the Medical School were on hand to share facts about the body and answer any medical questions the children had. Dr Llinos Roberts, a GP and Lead for Community Based Learning for the Graduate Entry Medicine course at Swansea University, shared her expertise and helped to host the event. 

Taster Session | BSc Healthcare Science Audiology

This involved a visit to the University where the students took part in a fun quiz, visited the Health and Well Being Academy on campus and were able to use a 3D scanner to take an ear impression, create an earmould and carry out basic hearing-aid repairs and tuning fork tests. This activity was organised by colleagues in the School of Health and Social Care. Find out more.

Swansea University Medical school attended this interactive and inspirational event, attended by Year 10 and Year 11 students, to showcase undergraduate courses and pathways to medicine. The event was organised by the student recruitment team.

Brownies and Guides Microscope Workshop | Swansea Botanical Gardens

An outreach project with Swansea Botanical gardens, aimed at Brownies and Guides, to develop interest in Science. A 2023 weekend event at the Gardens was attended by 168 people. The project will soon expand to include local primary schools. This project is in collaboration with the West Wales Outreach Hub

Teddy Bear Hospital 

Visiting hospitals or the doctor’s surgery can be very worrying for young children, the Teddy Bear Hospital tries to provide a fun, friendly and relaxed platform for children to experience these settings. It is a voluntary project run by university students.

The aims are:

• To enable university students to develop their interactive skills with young children
• To educate children of the local community about medicine, healthy living, basic self-care and wellbeing.
• To reduce the fear and stigmatisation associated with healthcare environments and allow children to become comfortable in these areas.

Find out more at The Teddy Bear Hospital

Step Up Swansea | Residential event on campus

Year 12 students attended an on campus event involving seminars and practical workshops, aimed at promoting an interest in studying sciences. The event was organised by the student recruitment team.

Interactive Workshops | Learning about Blood and Circulation

These workshops are aimed at piquing young people's interest in medicine by looking at blood and circulation. A range of activities have run at sumer schools, science fesitvals and school visits. These include blood typing, lab sessions, physiological challenges for children whereby they can investigate their own blood oxygen or other measures. Resources are available for carrying out these workshops, including models of the circulatory system and test equipment.

Contact: Wendy Francis 

Tomorrow’s Doctors

A programme for fluent Wlesh speakers who are aspiring medical students. Supported by Coleg Cymraeg, the scheme is active from March to January. The scheme is funded by the Welsh Government, and Cardiff University School of Medicine and Swansea University Medical School. Find out more information on Doctoriaid Yfory.

A Level Workshops | Kidney Function

Practical workshops looking at kidney function, aimed at A level students who may be interested in medical science. These workshops have been delivered as part of the Seren Network, and at summer schools and science festivals.

Charity Engagement | Cancer Research UK

Cancer researchers at Swansea University have a strong relationship with Cancer Research UK and have delivered talks and contributed to fundraising efforts to raise awareness of cancer research. CRUK supports thousands of scientists and world-leading initiatives in Wales and across the UK, all with the aim to improve the lives of people with cancer. Find out more.

Outreach in Rural Areas | Collaboration with Aberystwyth University

A scheme aimed at supporting medical students to see the potential benefits of living and working in rural areas of Wales. This project is in collaboration with Aberystwyth University, and will hopefully form stronger links with rural areas of West and North Wales.

Swansea Community Farm | Research Collaboration

A collaborative research project with Swansea Community Farm to explore the social determinants of health and the impact of green social prescribing.

Science Tent | Bridgend Fun Day 2023 

On Sep 2 2023 several students and staff from the Medical School alongside other outreach teams from Swansea University headed to the Science Tent at the Broadlands Fun Day in Bridgend which attracted >3300 visitors from the Broadlands estate and much further afield. 

The Teddy Bear Hospital was run by welcoming medical students from the Widening Access to Medicine Society (WAMS) with further support from Dr Wendy Francis and Skelly. A fun, friendly and relaxed platform was provided for children to experience hospitals or the doctor's surgery by diagnosing sick teddy bears and applying treatment. 

The Superbugs team consisted of three enthousiastic MSc Biomedical Sciences students who were showcasing and trialling educational and engagement resources to increase the awareness of the microbial world in, on and around us. 

The third Medical School display was run/supported by microbiologists and mass spectrometrists under supervision of SUMS Co-Champion Outreach Dr Geertje van Keulen to provide opportunities to learn more about the genetics and biochemistry of microbial biofilms and how microbes make sticky materials to defend themselves against antibiotics. 

Dr Geertje van Keulen also acted as the Lead of the Science Tent, introducing and compering all the stage acts. She also interviewed participating scientists and medics over the PA system so visitors could hear about different routes into careers in a wide range of STEMM subjects, while also discussing current affairs in science such as the recent moon landing.

Contact the SUMS Outreach team if you like to know more, or wish to offer a display or podium act at the Science Tent @ 2024 Fun Day. You can also join as a general volunteer in the Science Tent!

15 young people (Year 12/13) attend a week of sessions based in Swansea Medical School covering a series of lab sessions, study techniques and preparation for individual projects. Activities included haematology practicals, lectures in Population Health Data and workshops in genetics and anatomy. The scheme was organised by the student recruitment team.

Fruit DNA Extraction | Workshop

A workshop to facilitate DNA extraction from fruit, used previously for outreach activities, including a Wales Gene Park Genetic Roadshow for schools, a Widening Access day and a Sixth Form summer conference.

SuperBugs | Online Resource for young people

An educational resource to increase awareness of the microbial world in, on and around us. Aimed at 7 - 14 year olds, this website is a great resource for learning all about microbes and infections, and how to fight them. The SuperBugs project is currently looking to expand. Read more at the website and get in touch if you are interested.

Brain Repair and Intracranial Neurotherapeutics (BRAIN) | Swansea Science Festival

The Science Festival was a great opportunity to present the work BRAIN were doing in the lab and interact with the community, with a range of interactive stations to get children involved and encourage them to participate in science, but also some more mature research for people who had an interest in MS, or knew of someone with MS. 

School workshop | Genetics Masterclass

Classes of students and their teachers would visit Swansea University Campus between about 10 am and 3pm and conduct various activities focused on DNA in a teaching lab. This project ran for several years on campus but is no longer running.

Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy Physics | Outreach Sessions

A range of events have been delivered to promote Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy Physics, including Seren workshops on ‘Curing cancer by hand: radiotherapy treatment planning’, school visits looking at ‘Chocolate bars and patients: it is what is on the inside that counts!', and summer school workshops on 'Superhero masks for precise delivery of radiotherapy’