University of South Wales: Fees, Entry and Scholarships
TL;DR: The University of South Wales (USW) charges international students £16,800 to £17,200 a year for most undergraduate degrees and £17,900 for most taught master's courses (2026/27 fees). It accepts IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each part, and self-funded students from South Asia and several other regions are considered for a £2,500 a year scholarship. Courses run at Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd.
USW offers accredited courses in engineering, computing, project management and the creative industries, with most fees below £18,000 a year. This guide covers the fees, campuses, English requirements, scholarships and start dates, so you can judge whether it fits your plan. To check your profile first, Check your eligibility with Prosper.
Is the University of South Wales good for international students?
For students who want an accredited, career-focused degree at a fee below £18,000 a year for most courses, it is a sensible option. USW was formed in 2013 from the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport. Several of its courses carry professional accreditation: the MSc Advanced Computer Science is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT; the MSc Project Management by the Association for Project Management; and the BEng Aerospace Engineering by the Royal Aeronautical Society and IMechE.
| Campus | Main subjects |
|---|---|
| Cardiff (city centre) | Creative industries: film, animation, fashion, design, performing arts |
| Newport (riverside) | Business, cyber security, education |
| Pontypridd, Treforest | Engineering, aerospace, law, business |
| Pontypridd, Glyntaff | Science, sport, nursing and health, with a simulated hospital |
University of South Wales fees for international students
These are USW's international fees for the September 2026 and February 2027 intakes.
| Course group | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate: business or creative industries | £16,800 |
| Undergraduate: computing, engineering, sciences or education | £17,200 |
| Placement year | £3,230 |
| Taught master's: business, creative, law, computing, engineering, sciences, education | £17,900 |
| MBA Global and LLM Legal Practice | £18,970 |
Course examples: MSc Advanced Computer Science and MSc Project Management are £17,900, and BEng Aerospace Engineering is £17,200 a year. USW says fees may be revised each year. For context, see our guide to UK tuition fees for international students, and compare another Welsh option in our Cardiff Metropolitan University guide.
University of South Wales scholarships
- Chancellor's International Development Scholarship: £2,500 a year for self-funded students from South Asia, Africa, Latin America, South East Asia, Central Asia, Turkey, the Caribbean and other listed regions. It replaces the standard award and is considered automatically.
- International Office Scholarship: up to £1,500 for undergraduates or up to £2,000 for master's students who are self-funded and not covered by the award above.
- Early CAS Scholarship: an extra £500 a year if you are "CAS ready" by USW's cut-off for your intake.
- Early payment: £300 off if you pay the year's fees within 14 days of the course start.
University of South Wales entry requirements and English
Master's. USW considers a bachelor's degree, and the MBA also asks for at least two years of work experience after graduating.
Undergraduate. Qualifications are compared with the UCAS tariff for each course. A Foundation Year is available if you do not meet direct entry.
English. Degree-level study needs IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component, and USW accepts the IELTS One Skill Retake. Other tests USW lists include:
| Test | Score for degree-level study |
|---|---|
| PTE Academic | 59 overall, 59 in each part |
| Duolingo English Test | 110 overall, 100 in each part |
| LanguageCert Academic | 65 overall, 60 in each part (not the online version) |
| Oxford Test of English | 125 overall, 111 in each part |
Research degrees need IELTS 6.5. Our IELTS One Skill Retake and Duolingo English Test guides explain those options.
University of South Wales intakes
USW has September and January/February intakes, but February is not offered on every course. MSc Civil Engineering, for example, lists February and September entry, while MSc Project Management and MSc Advanced Computer Science list September only. Check the course page before you plan around a February start. You can apply directly to USW, and undergraduates can also use UCAS. USW asks self-funded students for a deposit of at least 50% before it issues the CAS. Our guide on how to apply for a UK student visa covers the steps after that.
Applying from Sri Lanka
USW's Sri Lanka page confirms that self-funded applicants from Sri Lanka are considered for the £2,500 a year Chancellor's International Development Scholarship. For master's entry, a Bachelor Special degree is considered, and a Bachelor General degree with very high grades may be considered. O/L English at grade C or above, taken within five years of the course start, can be used instead of IELTS; for master's applicants who studied in Colombo District, Jaffna, Negombo, Kandy or Galle, USW extends that window by two years. USW does not list fixed A/L grades. Biometrics are given at VFS Colombo, as our VFS Global Colombo guide explains.
Frequently asked questions
How much are University of South Wales fees for international students? For the September 2026 and February 2027 intakes, University of South Wales undergraduate fees are £16,800 or £17,200 a year and most taught master's courses are £17,900.
What IELTS score does the University of South Wales need? The University of South Wales asks for IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component for degree-level study, and it accepts the IELTS One Skill Retake.
Does the University of South Wales have a February intake? Some courses at the University of South Wales start in February, such as MSc Civil Engineering, but not all. Check the course page for the start dates offered.
Where are the University of South Wales campuses? The University of South Wales teaches at Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd (Treforest and Glyntaff sites) in South Wales.
What scholarships does the University of South Wales offer? The University of South Wales offers the £2,500 a year Chancellor's International Development Scholarship for listed regions, an International Office Scholarship of up to £2,000, an Early CAS Scholarship and £300 off for paying the year's fees early.
PS: At USW the scholarship is automatic, but the start date is not: February depends on the course. Prosper can apply to the University of South Wales for you and confirm which intake your course offers. Check your eligibility with Prosper.
References
- International fees, University of South Wales, https://www.southwales.ac.uk/international/fees-scholarships/international/
- International scholarships, University of South Wales, https://www.southwales.ac.uk/international/fees-scholarships/international-scholarships/
- Sri Lanka, University of South Wales, https://www.southwales.ac.uk/international/your-country/sri-lanka/
- English language requirements, University of South Wales, https://www.southwales.ac.uk/international/english-language-programmes/requirements/
- MSc Advanced Computer Science, University of South Wales, https://www.southwales.ac.uk/courses/msc-advanced-computer-science/
- MSc Project Management, University of South Wales, https://www.southwales.ac.uk/courses/msc-project-management/
- MSc Civil Engineering, University of South Wales, https://www.southwales.ac.uk/courses/msc-civil-engineering/
- BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering, University of South Wales, https://www.southwales.ac.uk/courses/beng-hons-aerospace-engineering/
- Apply: questions, University of South Wales, https://www.southwales.ac.uk/international/welcome/apply-questions/
- Our history, University of South Wales, https://www.southwales.ac.uk/about/our-history/
- Glyntaff campus, University of South Wales, https://www.southwales.ac.uk/location/glyntaff-campus/
