Swansea University (Welsh: Prifysgol Abertawe) is a public research university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. It was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes within the University of Wales. The title of Swansea University was formally conferred upon the institution in 2007 after receiving approval from the Privy Council.
Swansea University has 18,499 students and 2,541 staff . The 2015/16 Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey ranked Swansea 23rd out of 123 institutions surveyed. In 2016, Swansea was named Welsh university of the year by The Sunday Times and The Times Good University Guide . In 2018, Guardian League Tables ranked it top 60th out UK universities while Complete Universities Guide ranked it 7th for employability . It is currently a member of Universitas 21 , an international network consisting primarily of research-intensive universities located in Europe, North America and Australasia. Additionally, it is also a member institution within Coimbra Group – an organisation representing leading European Universities which promotes cooperation between their members with regard to teaching and research . As part UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), all eight Welsh higher education institutions work together under ‘Team Wales’ banner with aim to secure more than £1 billion per year from external research funding sources by 2027/28..
The university offers about 500 undergraduate courses and 350 postgraduate courses through its eight academic faculties comprising arts and humanities; business; engineering; health sciences; medicine; science; social sciences ; law . Notable alumni include Dylan Thomas , Nobel Prize winner Sir John Talbot Gibbs , former President James Callaghan , writer Roald Dahl , broadcaster Huw Edwards ; actors Catherine Zeta Jones , Matthew Rhys ; singer Duffy ; rugby union players such as Gareth Davies , Jonathan Davies , Leigh Halfpenny JPR Williams ; footballers Leon Britton and Ashley Williams ; cricketer Robert Croft OBE among many others who have made significant contribution across various walks life both in Britain internationally.