University of Wales Trinity Saint David

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is the oldest higher education institution in Wales and one of the newest. In 2022 it will celebrate 200 years since the original Lampeter campus was founded in 1822. Its 1828 Royal Charter is the third oldest in the UK after Oxford and Cambridge. A merger of the University of Wales Lampeter and Trinity University College Carmarthen in 2010, followed by Swansea Metropolitan University joining in 2013, created the university people we know today.

As a result of these mergers, UWTSD has its three main campuses in Carmarthen, Lampeter and Swansea. The university now also has a campus in London. In addition to that, there are UWTSD learning centres in Cardiff and Birmingham.

The university, which has a Silver award from TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework), offers a great range of postgraduate subjects, covering both research and taught programmes. UWTSD also provides a variety of ways to study. Its staff has experience and expertise in online and distance learning.

The university’s approach focuses on careers and employability in all its courses. There’s also a careers service that you can access to ensure that you’re making the most of every opportunity to make yourself more employable when you finish your studies.

Postgraduate students taking the PGCE courses will be working towards Qualified Teacher Status. UWTSD has an impressive 99% employment rate for students who have taken these courses (2016/17 DLHE). UWTSD ranked 9^th in the UK for satisfaction with employability in the 2018 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey.

All UWTSD postgraduate courses are led by experienced staff members who are research-led and focused on creating a positive and engaging environment for students. Postgraduate study can be done either through research or by studying a taught postgraduate programme, and there’s a large range of subject areas available. There are also part-time options for some courses at Postgraduate level.

As a student of UWTSD you will automatically become a member of the Students’ Union (SU). The SU organises events and projects for students, as well as acting as students’ representatives to the wider university. Additionally, if there’s an event or project that you would like to see happen within the SU, then there are people you can talk to and they will help you to set it up. The SU representatives also have links to any support services you might need while at university.

Carmarthen, Lampeter and Swansea campuses all have on-site, self-catered accommodation that you can apply for. All of these will be fully furnished and have free wireless internet available for students. Alternatively, there’s a lot of private accommodation you can look at each of these locations.

Carmarthen mixes its historic buildings with modern ones and has a well-resourced library, music, media and IT suites, and impressive, up-to-date teaching spaces. S4C (the Welsh broadcasting company) now has its new headquarters based on the Carmarthen campus. Y Cwad is the modern, on-site learning centre where students can go to meet and study, and also relax in the café there.

Lampeter has a historic past and this is clear when you see the buildings on the beautiful campus that dates back to 1822. However, it also has modern facilities and equipment available to students, and there’s a vibrant student life that’s enjoyed on campus. The sports centre is very popular among students here, with a modern gym, facilities, classes and clubs. There are on-campus places to eat and hang out with others too.

Swansea is a city centre campus, with locations across the city that are all within walking distance of the sea. It has specialist equipment and resources available to its students at these locations, and there’s also the new £350 million seaside development; SA1 Swansea Waterfront. This exciting development houses purpose-built spaces for learning, state-of-the-art facilities, as well as social areas for students. 

At Swansea, the campus is spread across different locations throughout the city, but all of them are central so that you can make the most of being in a seaside city. There’s plenty of things to get involved with, including a great student nightlife, shopping, cafes, theatres and much more.

The Carmarthen campus is only a short walk away from the historic town, which has plenty of shops, cafés, pubs, nightclubs and things to do. It’s a beautiful location that’s also only an hour by train from Swansea.

Lampeter has a lot of independent shops and cafes to enjoy, and it’s also close to beaches and fishing villages. The town is right outside the campus, so it’s easy to access. Students are a big part of town life here. It’s a beautiful location, where you can make the most of the stunning countryside surrounding the campus and town.

There’s a huge range of clubs to get involved in across the three main campuses, depending on your interests. There’s plenty of sports groups, as well as choirs, an environment society, gaming clubs, music groups and much more.

The university has a wide range of support services for students. These include a careers service, a counselling service, financial advice and support, support for international students, support for those with disabilities, a mental health advisory service and study skills support, among other things.

UWTSD has something called the Big White Wall, which is an online support service that’s available 24/7. It’s an anonymous service that all students can access when needed, giving you the chance to discuss issues and find tools and courses that can help you.

Fees vary depending on the course you choose, but there is a full list available on the website. The costs given are for full time study so if you choose to study part-time, the fees may vary. There’s a separate fees page for London courses, and there’s also a specific fees list for overseas students.

There are several scholarships and bursaries available to postgraduate students at UWTSD. Distance learners can access the £1,000 Distance Learners’ Bursary, while campus-based postgraduate students can access an award of up to £300 to help with course costs, such as books, transport and so on. Please see the website for up-to-date information about the other awards that are available.

PGCE students can access certain bursaries too. These change each year depending on the high and medium priority subject areas, so please check the website for current information.

UWTSD is proud of its innovative research. This research is always collaborative when possible, and it has local, national and even international influence. The university is also proud of its teacher education, delivered through the Athrofa Professional Learning Partnership (APLP), which brings schools and universities together. When not working in schools, PCGE students will study at the new campus development in Swansea; SA1 Swansea Waterfront.

Entry requirements depend on the course you wish to study – please see individual course pages for details.

Research subject areas include architecture, computing, engineering, art and design, coastal and marine research, Yr Athrofa (the Institute of Education) and humanities. Research supervision is available at each of the UWTSD campuses, or by distance learning.

UWTSD has a Research Development Programme, which is designed to support research students. This includes on-campus events, online support and online planning accounts and tools to help you schedule and record your work. There’s also more general support, including funding guidance, representation and a hub of information to access.

There’s a broad range of subjects on offer at UWTSD that are studied in taught programmes. Please see the website for the full list and for information about which courses are studied on which campus. Some are available as online or distance learning courses only.

There are a great many postgraduate courses that can be studied remotely, allowing you to fit in study around work or other commitments. Subjects include Ancient History, Creative Writing, and business courses. Please see the website for the full list.

In 2014, 60% of the research work undertaken at UWTSD was recognised as being “outstanding” or “very considerable” by the Research Excellence Framework (REF).