12 Things to Know Before You Study Abroad in Wales 

Wales study abroad opportunities shouldn’t be passed up. ☆ The mention of Wales often conjures up images of dragons and medieval castles, but Wales offers a diverse range of university locations and learning experiences. Students can choose from the dynamic cities of Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, and Wrexham, as well as the college towns of Bangor and Aberystwyth with their seaside locations. With eight universities and 13 campuses spanning the length of the country, your learning adventure could start here. So take the plunge and apply to study abroad in Wales!

Are you ready to change your life? Study in Wales!

A range of options are open to you including summer schools, a semester on exchange or study abroad, a year abroad, or even full-time degree programs. The Welsh universities all have a range of partner universities across the U.S. and are also willing to consider directly-enrolled students. You may even be able to use your U.S. loans to fund your study!

Here are our best tips if you're considering attending study abroad programs or universities in Wales.

What to know before you study abroad in Wales

1. Never refer to Wales as part of England.

Or call a Welsh person English, for that matter! This is a surefire way of upsetting any proud Welshman. It’s OK to refer to Wales as part of the U.K. or Great Britain, but never England! Welsh people are proud of their national identity and often feel in the shadow of their larger neighbor. So how does Wales fit into the rest of the U.K.? Wales is one of the four nations making up the United Kingdom (U.K.) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It's bordered by England to the south and east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. With a population of 3 million, the majority of the day-to-day administration of Wales is run by the Welsh Government in the thriving capital of Cardiff. However, Wales retains political representation at the U.K. level where key decisions are made on foreign policy, defense, and more. It shares a legal system with England and uses British pound sterling as its currency (GBP).

2. Don’t get confused by the signs. 

While studying in Wales, you'll get to enjoy life in a bilingual country with two official languages—Welsh and English. All the universities, governmental organizations, and even shops in Wales have bilingual policies, so all signage and many communications will be bilingual. So, if you don’t understand what you’re seeing, just look below or to the right in order to spot the English version! Welsh is a Celtic language and one of the oldest living languages in Europe, spoken by about 20% of the population—80% in parts of North and Mid Wales. There’s plenty of opportunities to learn some Welsh (find some basic Welsh phrases here!). Being able to walk around town and hear families and friends conversing in a language much older than English is pretty magical, and something you will not find studying elsewhere in the U.K. Plus, 2019 is the “Year of the Sea” in Wales; watch this visual poem to get a feel for the beauty of the Welsh language!

Who knows the friends you'll make—whether in class, in a club, or at the corner pub!

3. A city is not always a city.

Traditionally in Wales and the U.K., a city is somewhere that has a Cathedral, rather than somewhere that has a population over a certain size. For instance, Bangor in northwest Wales is a college town, home of Bangor University, and has a population of only 20,000 (plus 11,000 students). However, it is called a city because of its ancient Cathedral. In fact, the word Bangor in Welsh means the enclosure around a Cathedral. St Davids in the southwest corner of Wales is the smallest city in the U.K. It only has a population of 1,300, but its Cathedral and cliffside location offer an impressive backdrop viewed from the city centre.

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4. 70% is excellent.

The grading system in Wales and the U.K. are very different to U.S. universities; a mark of 70% would be roughly equivalent to a GPA of 3.5+. Many U.S. students are dismayed when they get their first test results, not realizing that they have actually performed well. Your home institution will be aware of the equivalence and will be able to transfer your grades appropriately so that your CGPA is not affected. If you’re in Wales for a semester, you will also notice other differences—for instance, more independent study time rather than time in the classroom, and usually only one or two assignments or exams for each module (course) rather than weekly tests. Exams can be worth up to 70% of your entire grade. 

Don't be surprised if some of your neighbors have four legs instead of two...

5. Save the planet! 

The nature of the Welsh landscape means that many of the universities have expertise in different areas of the environmental sciences like agriculture, forestry, ecology, environmental engineering, geoscience, sustainable development, renewable energy, bio-technology, geo-informatics, geography, marine biology, zoology, animal behavior, and wildlife conservation. 

For instance, Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences is one of the largest research facilities in Europe. Its excellent facilities include a state-of-the-art, purpose-built research vessel, “The Prince Madog,” that enables students and scientists to study the biology, chemistry, geology, and physics of the seas. Designed to transport up to ten scientists and 20 students, the vessel is a teaching platform, training the next generation of marine scientists.

6. Immerse yourself in the myths and legends. 

Where better to study the history, culture, archaeology, literature, language, and identity of the Celts than in Wales? This could be through a summer school; for instance, Aberystwyth University offers a Fulbright Summer School exploring “Contemporary issues in Identity and Nationhood, through the lens of Wales” or through a semester abroad. Bangor University allows study abroad students to take modules (classes) across a range of academic schools, which could include Welsh literature, history, archaeology, Welsh language, and music. 

Participate in Wales study abroad in an area with a wide range of archaeology monuments! Prehistoric tombs and stone circles, Roman forts, native farmsteads, and medieval castles (including the World Heritage sites of Beaumaris, Caernarfon, and Conwy) can help bring what you’re learning in the classroom to life.

7. Get active. 

With sea surrounding the country on three sides, Wales is the only country in the world to have a complete coastal path that stretches for 870 miles. Together, the three Welsh National Parks—Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast, and Brecon Beacons—protect an impressive 20% of Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages, and heritage sites. North Wales is fast becoming the U.K. centre for adventure tourism and is perfect for all sorts of activities, from walking and climbing, surfing, kayaking, and kite-surfing to paddle boarding, sailing, coasteering, and cycling. Dare to try out the fastest zipline in the world, flying over an old slate quarry at 100 miles an hour, ride a wave at the inland surf lagoon at “Surf Snowdonia”, or scale Snowdon (or ‘Y Wyddfa’)—the highest peak in England and Wales.

Don't let opportunities like these pass you by.

8. Visit a castle. 

With over 600 castles (there are more here per square mile than anywhere else in the world!) and six UNESCO world heritage sites, you are always within striking distance of the rich cultural and industrial heritage of Wales. The earliest evidence of human beings in Wales dates back to about 225,000 B.C. and prehistoric monuments are still accessible to tourists across Wales. The most remarkable of the Neolithic chambered tombs in Wales is perhaps Barclodiad y Gawres (‘the apronful of the giantess’) on the Isle of Anglesey. Welsh history has left a landscape scattered with Iron Age hill forts, Roman ruins, and castles from Medieval Welsh Princes and English Kings. Offa’s Dyke, Britain’s longest ancient monument, was erected along the entire Welsh border by King Offa of Mercia in the 8th century, and is still walkable today!

9. Learn about the influence of the Welsh on modern America. 

Wales has strong historic links with the U.S. through the immigration of Welsh settlers and has influenced some important aspects of modern America. Did you know 16 of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence were of Welsh descent? Presidents including Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Abraham Lincoln, and—more recently—Calvin Coolidge and Richard Nixon had their family roots in Wales. The influence can also be seen in higher education with Elihu Yale (the son of Welsh immigrant parents who founded Yale University) and Morgan Edwards (a joint founder of Brown University), who both came from Pontypool in Gwent.

10. Pack layers. 

Wales has a moderate climate. The weather tends to be variable and you may experience all four seasons in one day! Whilst there is high rainfall at some times of the year, Wales enjoys long summer days, perfect for enjoying life on the award-winning beaches! In winter there is sometimes snow, but mainly on the mountains. The weather rarely stops people from getting out and about, whether it is for business or pleasure. Snow on lower lying land tends to come and go within a few days. The average mean temperatures are 10⁰C (50⁰F) in winter and 20⁰C (68⁰F) in summer.

It's time to explore!

11. Experience the culture. 

Wales is often referred to as “The Land of Song” thanks to the big voices of Dame Shirley Bassey and Sir Tom Jones, not to mention the Welsh international opera star, Bryn Terfel. Events include the Llangollen International Music Festival (drawing performers from over 50 countries worldwide), the Brecon Jazz Festival, and the more alternative Green Man Festival. The arts scene in Wales is very vibrant with the National Eisteddfod of Wales, a week celebrating traditional and modern Welsh arts and culture, as well as the Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to Wales annually. Wales also has a successful creative industry, and is a filming destination for TV shows such as Dr Who, Torchwood, and Hinterland.

12. It’s easy to get around.

So, you’ve decided to study in Wales but how do you get there? Lucky for you, attendees of universities in Wales enjoy ease of transportation! Wales is well connected to the rest of the U.K., Europe, and the world through its road and rail network, its ports, and through its proximity to several major U.K. airports. South Wales is served by Cardiff Airport, and is also within throwing distance of Bristol Airport (one hour) and London Heathrow (two hours). Equally, North Wales (Bangor and Glyndwr Universities) benefits from being less than two hours away from the transport hubs of Manchester and Liverpool, with Mid-Wales (Aberystwyth) best served by Birmingham Airport. 

It’s easy to get around Wales by train, bus, car, or even domestic flight. If you are keen to explore, you will find plenty of journeys that are wonderful experiences in their own right. Wales has some of the most scenic roads, railways, and pathways in Britain.

Next steps to Wales study abroad

We certainly wouldn't mind having class in a castle!

Don't pack your wellies juuuust yet. There are a few items on your study abroad to-do list you should check off first!

• Decide where to go. Figuring out where to study abroad in Wales isn’t easy. The gorgeous highlands? Somewhere in Cardiff? Don't let anything hold you back—choose a place that's right for you.
• Your major courses or something more fun and experiential? You don't only have to take classes that pertain to your major back home (though it never hurts to knock out some credits towards graduation). Look at your course options and decide what combination of required classes and just-for-fun or because-you-want-to-learn-it classes are out there. Choose from literature, the sciences, education, psychology, and more!
• Choose from the best study abroad programs in Wales. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, program/university reputation, location, and your ease of getting credits. Some schools or providers may even provide contact info for student ambassadors or past international students if you want the REAL dirt. Here’s our guide to choosing between study abroad programs. 
• Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge in travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Do your research to have an idea of how much your study abroad program will cost. Check out scholarships for study abroad in Wales too!
• Talk to your home university. Getting all your ducks in a row is largely dependent on what your home university requires. Talk to a study abroad advisor or the equivalent at your university to see what choices are available to you.

Study abroad in Wales & live your best life

Wales study abroad is your chance to get to know yourself, your goals, & your life on a deeper level.

Whether you’re looking for a short-term summer program or a semester abroad, Wales can offer a stimulating and different experience than the other better-known destinations in the U.K. and Ireland. Adventure, history, culture—you'll find them all here, and Wales has plenty of academic and social opportunities for you to explore, too. For a small country, it packs a punch! One increasingly popular way to equate the size of an area is to say “about the size of Wales,” so hopefully now you’ll have greater insight into what this means. But wherever you study in Wales, you’ll find a warm welcome in the hillsides and the beaches!

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This article was written with help from Bangor University. Bangor University was founded in 1884 and is one of the four traditional research-lead universities in Wales, with research staff also teaching at the undergraduate level. Located where the Snowdonia Mountains meet the sea, Bangor is a safe, friendly college town with guaranteed single-room accommodation and a high level of student support.