Swansea University

Swansea University stands on the coast of Swansea Bay, split between two campuses. The older Park Campus sits in Singleton Park west of the city centre, its grounds including the eighteenth-century Singleton Abbey. The newer Bay Campus occupies a 65-acre beachfront site east of Swansea near Jersey Marine Beach. Both campuses overlook the sea, with the Park Campus retaining mature parkland and the Bay Campus built on Crymlyn Burrows. The university began in 1920 as University College of Swansea, the fourth college of the University of Wales. Singleton Abbey became its first arts centre in 1923, moving subjects from a temporary site. Early professors included Mary Williams, the first woman appointed to a chair in the United Kingdom, and Saunders Lewis, who later became a notable Welsh writer. The university expanded through the century, adding departments such as philosophy, economics and Russian studies. In 1996 it changed its name to University of Wales Swansea, then became Swansea University in 2007. Visitors to the Park Campus find Singleton Abbey, the original library and later buildings like Fulton House. The Bay Campus has a Great Hall seating 800, a library with views over a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and student accommodation. Sports facilities include the Wales National Pool, an eight-lane athletics track and training pitches shared with Swansea City A.F.C. The university’s sports science department ranks 13th nationally and has produced athletes such as Alun Wyn Jones and Paralympian Liz Johnson.