Note: To actually apply you must submit:
* an application form including course selections (click here to access the catalogue of modules directly),
* an essay (about 200 words) stating why you want to study in Swansea, which should emphasize academic goals,
* an official transcript,
* a statement of how you will finance your study (see #5 below), and
* two letters of recommendation from faculty members who are familiar with your work and your interest in Swansea.

Letters of recommendation and the transcript should be sent directly to me. I will collect all the parts of the application, make a photocopy, and send the application to Wales. For first semester study, materials must be in my hands by June 1. For second semester, I must have everything absolutely no later than September 30. For travel you will need a passport. Since obtaining or renewing one can take as much as 10 weeks, you should begin the process as soon as you possible.

1. To become familiar with all aspects of study-abroad at Swansea, go to the University of Wales Swansea web site for study abroad programs. Give special attention to the Study Abroad Handbook. It details restrictions on courses available for visiting students, examination arrangements, etc.

2. Inform me (Mary Williams-Norton, Physics Dept., by e-mail) if you have any real or potential interest in studying in Swansea. If I know you're interested, I can keep you updated.

3. Fill out an applicant information form--obtainable from me--as soon as you have an idea of when you might want to go, but no later than the end of spring semester of the year before you wish to go! Also alert your academic advisor of your interest. If you have financial aid, check with that office as well.

4. Although the program was originally designed for science, mathematics, and engineering students, it might be possible for others to participate also. The University of Wales Swansea has a broad range of programs.

5. Payment for your study is handled as follows: Your financial aid package (if you have one) is structured to allow you to take aid with you for one semester. You pay your standard fee and Ripon College pays Swansea, so there is no need for you to be concerned about fees (except incidental ones) when you are in Wales. Because Swansea's tuition and fees work out to be lower than Ripon's, your aid package will be structured to help with your travel expenses as well as cover the fair share of tuition and housing costs. In your statement of financial responsibility, you need only include the text of our policy (stated below) on a sheet of paper. There is no need to obtain statements from the Financial Aid or Business Office.

Financial policy: A student accepted for a semester of study at the University of Wales Swansea will pay his or her fees to Ripon College in accordance with existing tuition and fee schedules and financial aid awards. Ripon College will then pay the University of Wales Swansea upon receipt of the appropriate bill for the student's tuition and fees at the University.

6. Several housing options are possible. Living in one of the on-campus halls will minimize your need to travel long distances on foot or by public transportation during the day or at night. (Swansea is a large city and not immune from the threats to personal safety plaguing people in cities around the world.) However, some students have enjoyed living in Clyne Halls off-campus because of the surrounding gardens. The Student Village, also a distance from the main campus, offers apartment-style living with kitchens. Bus transportation is available to and from the off-campus halls at regular intervals.

A few bits of advice based on personal experience:

7. Plan to purchase your airline tickets very far in advance for best prices. You can easily save hundreds of dollars by getting tickets in advance! Plan to fly to London Heathrow or London Gatwick. There are direct bus and/or rail links to Swansea from those airports.

8. Be prepared to travel in your spare time. Buses, trains, ferries, etc. starting in Swansea can get you to about any place in Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, or continental Europe (and beyond) that you might want to visit.

9. Consider learning a little of the Welsh language while you are living in Wales. The University runs courses for adults and the instructors are great! (Several of them were "imported" to help teach the courses I took during recent summers. I never learned so much while having so much fun!) Participating in such a course would also be a wonderful way to meet local people.

Pob hwyl a phob lwc!

Swansea University

QUALITY OF RESEARCH AND TEACHING 

92% of Swansea’s academic staff are research active which is the highest in Wales.  Nearly 70% of departments were rated 4 or above in the 2001 RAE with around 1/3 receiving 5 or 5*.

Research is scored on a scale of 1 – 5*.  Rating Definitions:

5*           Research quality that equates to attainable levels of international excellence in a majority of sub-areas of activity and attainable levels of national excellence in all others.

5            Research quality that equates to attainable levels of international excellence in some sub-areas of activity and attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all others.

4            Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all sub-areas of activity, possibly showing some evidence of international excellence, or to international level in some and least national level in a majority.

3a          Research quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in a substantial majority of the sub-areas of activity, or to international level in some and to national level in others together comprising a majority.

 Teaching is assessed on a scale of: excellent, satisfactory, adequate, and inadequate.

All Swansea departments have been awarded the top two ratings of ‘excellent’ or ‘satisfactory’.

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