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Study Abroad Center, 3224 Memorial Union, (515) 294-6792
Semester in Wales-London Pre-sessional Wales photo album &London Photo Album Program Description The Semester in Wales-London Pre-sessional is an exciting opportunity to study for a semester or year at Swansea University (SU) with a three-week orientation course in London. All students studying at SU are required to participate in a three-credit orientation class, British Politics and Culture, at the beginning of the semester. The London Pre-sessional allows students to take the orientation class in London and then be transferred to Swansea for the beginning of the academic term.
During the London Pre-sessional, students are housed in shared rooms in Kensington, renowned for its impressive architecture and location. In addition to class work, students will participate in numerous cultural events and field trips in London. At the end of the orientation class, SU arranges transportation from London to Swansea. Upon arrival in Swansea, students are fully integrated academically and socially with their British counterparts.
Students studying at SU during the spring semester will have one month
off for spring break. Many students take advantage of this opportunity
and spend time traveling in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and/or Europe. University SU was founded in 1920 and has a
student population of approximately 10,000: large enough to support a
wide range of academic and social activities, yet small enough to
ensure a sense of belonging and community.
The
university occupies a modern and compact campus. Most of the buildings overlook the beautiful
Swansea Bay. The university is a short distance from both downtown
Swansea and the scenic Gower Peninsula, a national park and area of
outstanding natural beauty.
At the heart of the campus is the
university's arts center, the Taliesin. Throughout the year, there is a mixed program of professional
and amateur drama, dance, opera, film, and concerts ranging from
classical to jazz to rock. Study abroad participants may join more than 120
student-run clubs and societies. These societies cover hobbies,
pastimes, and political and religious interests, as well as serve
social and entertainment functions. Membership in these organizations
provides an excellent opportunity to meet and
make friends with British students.
Swansea Swansea
is a modern city of approximately 200,000 inhabitants. It enjoys
excellent road and rail connections to all parts of Britain. London is
only three hours away by train, and Stratford-Upon-Avon and Oxford are
similar distances. The city offers fine shopping centers and is home to
the Swansea Market, one of the oldest markets in the country.
Sporting
activities abound at the city's well-equipped leisure center and at
various sporting grounds around the city. An international athletics
stadium recently opened, and first class rugby and soccer games are
played by local professional teams. The Grand Theater, Taliesin Arts
Center, the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, and the Brangwyn Hall, the main
venue of the now world-famous Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts,
which attracts renowned orchestras, conductors, and artists, offer a
wide variety of cultural events. Swansea also has many cinemas,
restaurants, and museums, and its lively nightlife makes it popular
with students.
The university lies on the wide sweep of Swansea
Bay and is ideally situated in a large area of landscaped parkland two
miles to the west of the city with the Gower Peninsula extending some
fifteen miles to its west. The Gower provides a wealth of natural
leisure facilities. The Gower's south coast is a succession of broad
bays and less-accessible, sheltered sandy coves divided by rugged
limestone cliffs. Some 20 miles to the northeast of the university lie
the Brecon Beacons, a national park consisting of a succession of
undulating hills and rugged mountains --- an ideal setting for hill-walkers
and mountaineers.
Academic Program SU has a wide variety of disciplines and course offerings: Arts, Business and Economics, Engineering, Environment and Society, Human Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences,
and Physical Sciences. All credit earned at Swansea may be applied toward your degree.
Students earn three ISU credits for the orientation class in London and
typically earn 12 more credits throughout the semester.
For more information on SU's courses: SU course catalog Accommodation
Students will live in the Hendrefoilan Student Village, which consists of university houses and apartments accommodating 4 to 11 people.
The Village is very popular with students, as it provides a strong sense of community in a fun environment.
Students live in a single room and share kitchen and bathroom facilities.
Male and female students may live in the same house/apartment, but requests can be made for all-male or all-female accommodation.
The Village is located approximately two miles from campus. Students may walk to campus (about 25 minutes) or take a bus. Bus service to and from the Village is excellent, running every 10-15 minutes.
If a student would like to arrange a different housing option, contact Julie Yankey, ISU Program Coordinator, to review other options.
Program Fee The spring 2010 program fee is $12,300. The cost includes tuition, fees,
orientation session in London, accommodation in London and Swansea, and a Swansea bus pass. The fee does not
include airfare, food, books and supplies, and travel expenses.
More Information To learn more about the program, contact
Julie Yankey in the Study Abroad Center to schedule an appointment. Email: jyankey@iastate.edu or Phone: 515-294-6792
Brochure
