UNDERGRADUATE PROSPECTUS 2014-15 CARDIFF AND PONTYPRIDD EDITION Treforest Campus, Pontypridd A place may look amazing on paper but you need a gut instinct to know whether or not you like a place, and in order to find that gut feeling you need to explore that university. You’ll be in university for the best part of three years, so you need to TOP5 TIPS find out what the Here are our top five tips on how to make surrounding area is like – the most of your day: are there good travel links back home, where is the 1. Study the programme: Once you have booked your place nearest kebab shop?! It’s a online, we’ll send you a programme outlining the talks, tours chance to talk to and activities that are happening throughout the day. lecturers about 2. Plan your day: The programme will include a planner that shows the course, see what is happening and when, to help you get the most out of where your your visit. lectures may be held and chat to 3. Chat to the academics: Speak to the academic representing current students the course you are interested in studying. about what life is really like! 4. Visit the support departments: Our friendly, professional staff will be on hand throughout the day to answer your Hannah Lane, questions about finance, accommodation, careers or welfare. BN (Hons) Nursing 5. Take a tour: You can sample what we have to offer by taking a tour of the campus, Halls of Residence and sports facilities. Open Days Choosing a university course and deciding where to study are two of the most important decisions you will ever have to make. The best way to find out if a university is right for you is to attend an Open Day. At one of our Open Days, you can You can even start to make friends and explore the campus, go to sample meet people you might study with OPEN DAYS 2013 lectures and talks, and speak to when you arrive. This year’s Open Day lecturers and current students to get a programme is better than ever – from better idea of what it’s like to study at workshops and tours, to trying out SAT 6 JULY the University of South Wales. some of our most exciting facilities. Visit our website to book your place: FRI 13 SEPTEMBER www.southwales.ac.uk/opendays SAT 19 OCTOBER 91% SAT 23 NOVEMBER of attendees gave the day top marks! (Data collected at Open Days, 2011) My university experience has been absolutely brilliant. Once I attended an Open Day and saw the facilities and spoke to some of the lecturers, my mind was made up that I wanted to study here. Ceri Brett, BSc (Hons) Biology Did you know? ATRiuM, Cardiff Campus We hold extra events for students who apply to study Want to come and see us? here – you can come back and see us to make sure you’ve Please visit our website to check made the right choice. Applicant which campus and date is most Days are tailored to your course, relevant for your subject choice and so it’s the perfect opportunity to to book your place: get more detailed information. www.southwales.ac.uk/opendays 08455 76 77 78 www.southwales.ac.uk 1 Helping you achieve your potential A welcome from the Vice-Chancellor You’re considering the University of South Wales at an As a student at the University of South Wales, you’ll have an exciting time. excellent learning experience. We are unique in bringing together the broadest range of courses and levels of study. This new institution is one of the largest in the UK, offering This rich learning environment will give you a rounded you more opportunities and better prospects. Our students university education and broaden your outlook from within enjoy all the benefits of our superb courses, facilities and your chosen discipline. support, as well as our growing reputation as a major university for jobs and employers. We are renowned for our applied, relevant research that informs key decisions and makes a difference in the real The University may be new, but we have a long and proud world. The University is a major public policy think tank, history going back to 1913, and throughout our evolution offering independent advice to government and employers one thing remains constant. We’re committed to providing across the UK. This research and influence ensures that our professional, employment-focused courses that are more undergraduate courses reflect the latest thinking and than just a degree. We create a bridge between industry and advances, giving your university education an added academia, reflecting and recreating the demands of industry distinction. in our academic programmes and facilities. I hope you find all that you need in this prospectus, but Our students are equipped with the knowledge, skills and remember you can discover much more about us at one of attributes that will maximise their intellectual and personal our popular Open Days. If you cannot visit us in person, fulfilment, and enable them to succeed in the challenging please contact us – we’ll be happy to discuss your options economic environment we now face. Indeed, recently and help you make your decision. I look forward to published data showed that 93% of our students were welcoming you to the University. employed or in further study within six months of graduating; one of the best outcomes for any UK university (Graduate Destination Survey 2011). Professor Julie Lydon Vice-Chancellor 2 University of South Wales. Cardiff and Pontypridd. Contents Contents Courses Accounting and Finance 40 Open Days 1 Animation and Visual Effects 47 About the University of South Wales 4 Art 54 Why choose the University of Business 58 South Wales? 6 Computing 68 Where is the University of Criminology and Police Sciences 78 South Wales? 8 Design 82 Employability 10 Drama 84 Careers and work experience 12 Electrical and Electronic Engineering 90 Teaching and learning support 14 Engineering 99 Investing in your future 16 English and Creative Writing 107 Student money 18 Events 112 USW Insight 20 Fashion and Interior Design 114 Accommodation 22 Geography, Geology and the Environment 120 Student support 24 Health Sciences 127 USW Sport 26 History 137 Students’ Union 28 Law 140 International students 30 Mathematics 146 EU students 32 Media 152 Cyfleoedd cyfrwng Cymraeg – Welsh language opportunities 34 Music 164 Choosing a course 36 Psychology and Education 172 Design your own degree 38 Science 182 Courses at our Caerleon and Sociology and Public Services 194 City Campuses in Newport 216 Sport 198 Entry requirements 218 Surveying and Property 211 How to apply 222 Welsh 214 The UCAS trail 224 The University of South Wales If you know the name of the course you are looking for, Group 226 you can turn to page 238 for our A-Z listing. Partner colleges 228 For a list of courses at our Our commitment to you 230 Caerleon and City campuses Travel and maps 232 Course index A-Z 238 in Newport, see page 216 General index 240 08455 76 77 78 www.southwales.ac.uk 3 About the University of South Wales The University of South Wales is one of the largest universities in the UK, offering our students more opportunities and better prospects. It’s an exciting time to get involved with us and discover what we have to offer. Here’s what you need to know. Interested? Discover the University of South Wales for yourself at an Open Day – simply register online to secure your place: www.southwales.ac.uk/opendays PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THEIR GRADUATE CAREERS Engineering Laboratory, Treforest Campus, Pontypridd Who? Where? about these places on the next few The University of South Wales was The University has campuses pages. For more information about formed recently through a merger of throughout south Wales, in Cardiff, University of South Wales courses the University of Glamorgan and the Newport and Pontypridd. Our unique taught in Newport, turn to page 216. University of Wales, Newport. By location means you can enjoy combining our areas of expertise, this everything the region has to offer – city Why? new institution is bigger and stronger. life and culture, stunning beaches and A course at the University of South Plus, pooling our resources means our breathtaking countryside. Wales is more than just a degree. Inside students have a better educational and outside the classroom, we want to This prospectus features courses taught experience and better graduate help you achieve your potential at our campuses in Cardiff and prospects. professionally and personally. Pontypridd. You can find out more 4 University of South Wales. Cardiff and Pontypridd. T ˆy Crawshay, Treforest Campus Employability is at the heart of Our priority is to prepare students for gives our graduates more than a everything we do. It is part of the their graduate careers. This requires the university qualification. They have the curriculum, with teaching informed by best facilities and support, so we’ve right skills, knowledge and attitude to what happens in the real world and invested millions of pounds to provide impress employers at graduate new skills that are essential for the them. We are a leader in using interviews. workplace. All this is strengthened by simulation for our teaching. Our This all adds up to an excellent student employability schemes, business students learn about their profession in experience and the best possible start start-up support, and plenty of environments that recreate the to your future. But that’s not forgetting opportunities to get actual experience, workplace, using the same equipment what happens outside the classroom.