Regents' Semester in Wales

Swansea University

Swansea University was founded in 1920 and is one of the seven constituent institutions of the Federal University of Wales. The university has a student population of approximately 10,000: large enough to support a wide range of academic and social activities, yet small enough to ensure a sense of belonging and community. Courses are of a lecture and seminar style; they may last for one term or a whole year.

The university occupies a modern and compact campus. All undergraduate teaching takes place at the Singleton Park campus, where the administrative, academic, social, and some residential buildings are conveniently grouped together. Most buildings overlook beautiful Swansea Bay. The university is a short distance from both downtown Swansea and the scenic Gower Peninsula, a national park and area of outstanding natural beauty.

At the heart of the campus is the university's arts center, the Taliesin. Although the center is owned and operated by the university, its wide-ranging activities are open to everyone. Throughout the year, there is a mixed program of professional and amateur drama, dance, opera, film, and concerts ranging from classical to jazz to rock. Exchange participants may join more than 120 student-run clubs and societies. These societies cover hobbies, pastimes, and political and religious interests, as well as serve social and entertainment functions. Membership in these organizations provides an excellent opportunity for exchange participants to meet and make friends with British students with similar interests.

Swansea

Swansea is a modern city of approximately 200,000 inhabitants. It enjoys excellent road and rail connections to all parts of Britain. London is only three hours away by train, and Stratford-Upon-Avon and Oxford are similar distances. The city offers fine shopping centers and is home to the Swansea Market, one of the oldest markets in the country.

Sporting activities abound at the city's well-equipped leisure center and at various sporting grounds around the city. An international athletics stadium recently opened, and first class rugby and soccer games are played by local professional teams. The Grand Theater, Taliesin Arts Center, the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, and the Brangwyn Hall, the main venue of the now world-famous Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts, which attracts renowned orchestras, conductors, and artists, offer a wide variety of cultural events. Swansea also has many cinemas, restaurants, and museums, and its lively nightlife makes it popular with students.

The university lies on the wide sweep of Swansea Bay and is ideally situated in a large area of landscaped parkland two miles to the west of the city with the Gower Peninsula extending some fifteen miles to its west. The Gower provides a wealth of natural leisure facilities. The Gower's south coast is a succession of broad bays and less-accessible, sheltered sandy coves divided by rugged limestone cliffs. Some 20 miles to the northeast of the university lie the Brecon Beacons, a national park consisting of a succession of undulating hills and rugged mountains-an ideal setting for hill-walkers and mountaineers.

Academic offerings

Swansea University maintains faculties (colleges) of Arts, Social Sciences, Sciences, Engineering, Law, and Education. Search the Swansea course catalog. To find out how each class offered in Wales will transfer to Iowa State University credit, use this Course Equivalency Catalog (.xls).

Students may select from courses in the following fields: American studies, anthropology, biological sciences, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, classics and ancient history, computer science, development studies, economics, education, electrical and electronic engineering, electronic materials engineering, English, European business management, French, geography, German, health care studies, Hispanic studies, history, Italian, materials engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, medieval studies, music, philosophy, physics, politics, psychology, Russian, social policy, social anthropology, sociology, statistics, topographic science, and Welsh.

Program costs

The price of the program is approximately $8,550.00 plus airfare and meals. (Students should plan to spend about $50 per week on food). The price includes tuition, fees, housing, excursions, and a semester bus pass. See the budget (.pdf). Learn more about financing your trip.

Application and selection

Applicants must be full-time students at ISU, normally be of at least junior status during the program period, have departmental approval for participation, and have an overall 2.8 GPA.

Required materials include: official transcript, 500-word statement of purpose (essay.doc), 2 letters of recommendation, and two applications are required for this program:

ISU study abroad application (.doc)
Supplemental application (.pdf)

Complete the ISU study abroad program application and turn it in by September 30 for the Spring and March 15 for the Fall to:

Study Abroad Center
3224 Memorial Union
Ames, IA 50011-1133
(515) 294-6792
studyabroad@iastate.edu

For more information

If you would like more information, download this brochure (.pdf) and the Wales handbook (.doc).

You may also contact:
Julie Yankey
Study Abroad Center
3224 Memorial Union
Ames, IA 50011-1133
(515) 294-6792
jyankey@iastate.edu