University of Glamorgan

History

The University of Glamorgan celebrates its Centenary in 2013.

• Began life in 1913 as South Wales and Monmouthshire School of Mines.
• In 1949, became Glamorgan Technical College and, nine years later, Glamorgan College of Technology.
• In 1970 became Glamorgan Polytechnic and in 1975 the Polytechnic of Wales, gaining university status in 1992.
• 2007 merger with the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and establishment of a new campus in central Cardiff – ATRiuM – for the University's Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries.

11 April 2013, merger with University of Wales, Newport to form the University of South Wales.

Location and transport

• Treforest and Glyntaff campuses are located near Pontypridd, 19.5 km (12 miles) north of Cardiff.
• Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries located in the heart of Cardiff's city centre.
• Excellent road, bus and train links. Railway station adjacent to the university, with trains every 15 minutes.

Entry standards

• Visit the website for information on entry standards at Glamorgan.

Course flexibility

• A wide range of courses available across the faculties of Advanced Technology, Health, Sport and Science, Business and Society, and the Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries.
• All courses designed in conjunction with employers, so that students graduate with the skills that employers need.
• Many degree courses available part-time or via online learning.

Teaching standards

• The latest report by the rigorous QAA praised our commitment to standards and best practice and gave an 'excellent' stamp to 12 subject areas.
• The University of Glamorgan is the top new university in Wales for overall student satisfaction says the results of the 2012 National Student Satisfaction (NSS) Survey.
• Glamorgan’s overall satisfaction rating has risen to 83%. In addition to its excellence in overall satisfaction, Glamorgan is also now top in the UK for mathematics and chemistry with the subjects gaining the maximum 100% in the survey.

Research standards

• The University performed very well in the Research Assessment Exercise of 2008 with English, History, Engineering, Built Environment, Nursing, Social Policy and Computing performing particularly well.

Academic strengths

• The Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries provides a platform for a comprehensive mix of teaching and research in the theory and practice of media, design and the arts.
• Glamorgan is home to the Welsh Institute of Chiropractic, one of only two institutions in the UK offering Chiropractic studies.
• The Creative Writing and English staff are all internationally recognised, with many prize-winners amongst them, including Professor Philip Gross, the current holder of the TS Eliot poetry prize.
• The Business School has a growing international reputation and is a diverse School, with students and staff from all over the world.
• The faculty of Advanced Technology operates many niche courses, including Lighting and Live Event Technology and Aerospace Courses, where students will benefit from working on a plane in the aircraft hangar on the Treforest campus.

Student facilities, including library and computing

• Extensive use of simulation equipment and tools to create unique learning environments across a range of academic disciplines, including aerospace (aircraft simulator), forensic science ('Scenes of Crime' house, law (moot court), media and journalism (TV/radio studios and control rooms), nursing and midwifery (patient simulators).
• State-of-the-art theatre, drama, dance and graphic studios on the Cardiff campus.
• A new Sport Park containing new sports science facilities as well as recreational equipment.
• New Science laboratories on the Glyntaff campus.
• Library facilities on each campus, with online access to many databases and journals.

Disability services

• For information on the disability services at Glamorgan, telephone 01443 482080 or visit the website information pages for disabled students.

Students' Union

• Brand new, iconic £5-million Students' Union building on the Treforest campus.
• Student's Union facilties on the Cardiff and Glyntaff campuses.

Sport

• New £37-million Glamorgan Sport Park with sports science and recreational faciltities used by touring Springboks and Australian rugby teams, Cardiff Blues and Cardiff City FC academies.
• Facilities include a full gym, climbing wall, sports hall, badminton and squash courts, aerobics studios and 12 hectares (30 acres) of playing fields, with all-weather pitches.
• It is possible to study sport at all levels – foundation courses, undergraduate, postgraduate and professional study are all available.

Recent/prospective new builds

• £35-million, state-of-the-art, 'ATRiuM' building opened in September 2007 to house the Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries.
• £15-million investment in new science and sport laboratories on the Glyntaff campus
• £4-million investment in high-tech clinical simulation centre for Care Sciences, giving invaluable experience for student nurses and midwives.
• New Students' Union buildings at Treforest and Cardiff campuses.
• £3.7-million Glamorgan Sport Park opened in autumn 2010
• New aircraft hangar and access to a commercial aircraft for aerospace students opened in autumn 2010
• New student accommodation on the Treforest campus opened in September 2011.
• New postgraduate centre opened in September 2011.

Availability of part-time work

• Students can register for part-time work with the university's on-campus Careers Service.
• Good network with local employers.

Distinguised alumni

• (Dafydd) Huw Morgan – Commercial Director, International Rugby Board.
• Lorna Dunkley – News Presenter, BSkyB.
• Tim Zimmerman – Managing Director, Peugeot Motor Company plc.
• Barrie Godwin – Senior Vice President of Disney Character Voices International, Worldwide Technical Services, and Worldwide Media Library Services & Operations, The Walt Disney Company.
• Matthew Rees – Senior Vice President, Head of US Procurement, HSBC North America.

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