The places you study and live make a big difference to what you get out of university. It’s important to be somewhere that feels like home, but can also surprise you. South Wales offers rich experiences, with Cardiff at the heart. The youngest capital city in Europe, Cardiff is friendly, diverse and down-to-earth. It has everything you might expect from a capital, but with hidden gems and a winning personality.

USW is one university, with campuses at three locations: Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd. Every campus is open to you and whichever campus hosts your course, you’re welcome to explore all our locations and beyond. You’re never more than 20 minutes from somewhere completely different, so why limit yourself?

Cardiff

Every year, thousands of students from all over the world make Cardiff their home. It’s a great place to study.

USW’s Cardiff campus is in the creative centre of the capital. Here you can develop your creative work in a professional environment, with everything you need in one place. The city is an extension of campus, offering inspiration and experiences that will enrich your study and help you develop as an artist.

Well-known as an arts and media city, our location in central Cardiff has allowed us to establish collaborations with leading venues, producers and companies. With courses that focus on industry, our students have excellent opportunities that will form the foundation of their careers.

Student life

Cardiff is a modern, multicultural capital city that will surprise you. Here, you’ll find an amazing quality of life and more green space per person than any UK city. Lots of USW students choose to live in Cardiff, even if they study elsewhere. Well known as a city of culture and entertainment – it’s a popular student city that knows how to enjoy itself.

There are several student Halls in the city centre, as well as a huge choice of private rentals. Cardiff is one of the most affordable cities in the UK too, so it’s perfect for students on a budget. There’s always something happening or new places to discover. From shopping and live sport to music, arts and history, there’s something for everyone and great company to do it with.

Newport

Newport is an independent, multicultural city that’s full of ideas and opportunities. It’s bidding to become the UK City of Culture 2025, which would be a year-long celebration of Newport’s diversity and communities that are rich in culture, tradition and language.

Our modern campus is on the riverfront, home to a community of learning that’s dedicated to improving people’s lives. From teaching and counselling to cyber security and artificial intelligence, our courses here will create a better tomorrow.

Like the rest of USW, our Newport Campus diverse and friendly. Everything you need is in one place, like the library and Starbucks, and most other things can be found in the city around campus. Conveniently, there’s a shopping centre right opposite campus with plenty of places to eat and drink, as well as gyms and a cinema. Halls of Residence are just a couple of minutes’ walk from campus, with different room packages to choose from.

Student life

If you decide to live in Newport while studying at USW, you will never be short of ways to spend your time. It’s a compact, welcoming student city that’s packed with new and emerging businesses, including its independent culinary scene – from artisan bakeries and cafes to a multi award-winning brewery. If the arts are your scene, you can unwind with friends over a drink and live music in one of the many venues and artistic hubs that Newport has to offer.

Like our other campuses, Newport is well-connected and it’s a great base for exploring South Wales and further afield. Newport train station is on the main London line between Cardiff and Bristol, so you can experience whole other worlds of entertainment, culture and nightlife in no time.

Pontypridd

USW Pontypridd is framed by green hills and easy access to the awe-inspiring Brecon Beacons National Park. Here, you’ll have space to focus and horizons to explore.

A diverse and friendly community is at the heart of our Pontypridd Campus. Learning is spread over three sites: Treforest, Glyntaff and USW Sport Park. From listed buildings to new, modern structures, Pontypridd reflects the University’s heritage and ambition. Here, you’ll find everything you need – your classes, the library, sport centre, cafes and bars to eat and drink, and friends to spend time with. Halls on campus are a big part of the community atmosphere that our students love. With over 1,200 rooms and students from all over the UK and the world, you’ll make friends for life.

Student life

Pontypridd is the ideal place to feel connected to a community and to nature; it’s an authentic market town surrounded by countryside. Try hiking, biking, climbing or outdoor swimming, or team sports at our incredible Sports Park. There are also plenty of cosy and award-winning pubs and cafes, cinemas and live sport for down time with friends.

From Pontypridd’s central location, it’s easy to enjoy all that South Wales has to offer – city life and culture, stunning beaches and breath-taking countryside. There’s a train station right next to campus that heads straight to the coast and it’s only 20 minutes from Cardiff when you want a night out in the city.

A home away from home

Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus where you’ll study, there are great transport links to keep you connected. So whether you want campus living or a city centre experience, you can choose what’s right for you. 

Many students choose to live in Cardiff, even if they study at a different campus. There are several student Halls in the city centre, as well as a huge choice of private rentals. Halls at Pontypridd are on campus and they’re a big part of the community atmosphere that our students love. With over 1,200 rooms and students from all over the UK and the world, you’ll make friends for life. At Newport, private halls are just a couple of minutes’ walk from campus and right on the bank of the River Usk, with different room packages to choose from.