British education has long been popular with Malaysians. But the UK is more than just London, Liverpool, Manchester or other big cities that we may be familiar with.
Studying in a big city has its advantages but there are also many other wonderful places that you can choose from.
Remember, you are choosing a place that is going to be your home for the next three years at the very least.
Like Malaysia, towns across the UK have their respective charms, such as being near forests, farmlands, or highlands. Within these locations reside great universities.
Wouldn’t it be cool if you get to study somewhere by the sea? Swansea in South Wales offers precisely that option.
Lifestyle in Swansea, a seaside town
The UK is home to top destinations, many of which lie in Wales.
Swansea, a city and county in South Wales, covers over 380 kilometres of oak woodlands, limestone cliffs, rolling fields, incredible beaches and plenty of green spaces.
The Gower Peninsula is a magnificent attraction, recognised as the UK’s first area of outstanding natural beauty in 1956.
This 30.5km coastline is a paradise for all sorts of outdoor activities, especially surfing, that students can enjoy during their free time.
Meanwhile, Mumbles is a vibrant seaside community with over 120 shops, restaurants, and bars lining the west side of Swansea Bay.
A rich source of delicious seafood, much of the local catch finds its way into the finest establishments of London and Paris – so taste it here first at the local restaurants.
The Mumbles Oyster Festival is one of several attractions for foodies around here, as well as the battle for the best ice cream parlour.
Living in Swansea means you will never run out of fascinating things to do. This vibrant city is filled with activity, from outdoor adventures to arts and history events.
You can visit the National Waterfront Museum that highlights Wales’ industrial and maritime heritage from the 1800s, or the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. You can also try local delights at Swansea Market.
Swansea is also one of the safest cities in the UK with low crime rates. The above attributes and more, make Swansea a great place to hit the books.
Swansea University, a reputable institution in a wonderful city
Founded in 1920, Swansea University is only five minutes from Swansea Bay.
This world-leading university offers a wide range of courses, including foundation, undergraduate degrees, and teaching and research postgraduate programmes in subjects ranging from business to zoology.
The university has also received the Gold rating, UK’s highest rating for Teaching Excellence and Study Outcomes Framework (TEF).
This rating puts Swansea University in an elite group of universities, ranked highly for both research and teaching excellence.
In 2018, Swansea University ranked among the top 10 in the UK for graduate prospects, and has maintained its number one ranking in Wales, with nearly 86% of graduates in professional level employment or further study.
It is also ranked 24th overall in the UK and was awarded University of the Year by UK’s WhatUni Awards 2019. Not bad for an institution known to be the closest university to a beach in the world.
The reputable institution currently has nearly 20,000 students from over 90 countries enrolled across its two campuses.
Swansea University Medical School, College of Human and Health Sciences, College of Arts and Humanities, and the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of
Law are all located on the Singleton Park campus, which was established in 1920.
The Bay Campus, which was completed in 2015, is home to the College of Engineering, the School of Management, and the Department of Computer Science.
Quality at great value
Known as the third most affordable city in the UK by Times Higher Education 2019, Swansea is one of the best for students to take their next step in education.
According to Numbeo, the world’s largest cost of living database, maintaining a standard of living in Swansea is considerably lower against other major cities in the UK.
For example, the average rent and grocery prices in Swansea are 68.52% and 12.09% lower respectively, as compared to London. Such differences are a big deal to international students.
Swansea University also offers a variety of international scholarships, including the Excellence Scholarship worth up to £6,000 (RM34,546), which recognises the academic excellence of high performing students.
For applicants from Malaysia, a guaranteed £3,000 (RM17,273) scholarship called the Thrive Bursary will be given to those who have successfully enrolled at Swansea University.
This scholarship requires no criteria as it’s an automatic deduction off tuition fees for both undergraduate and postgraduate applicants. Isn’t that amazing?
With affordable living costs, great scenery as well as ample scholarships available, Swansea University offers much more diversity than you can imagine.
Click here to find out more about the university and the available courses.