Postgraduate Prospectus 2013 - Swansea University

History
and heritage
A brief history
The University’s foundation stone was
laid by King George V on 19 July
1920 and 89 students (including
8 female students) enrolled that same
year. In 1921, Dr Mary Williams
became the first woman to be
appointed to a Chair at a UK
university when she became Professor
of French language and literature.
By September 1939, there were
65 staff and 485 students.
In 1947 there were just two permanent
buildings on campus: Singleton Abbey
and the library. The Principal,
J S Fulton, recognised the need to
expand the estate and had a vision
of a self-contained community, with
residential, social and academic
facilities on a single site. His vision
was to become the first university
campus in the UK.
The University receives
its Royal Charter; King
George V lays the
foundation stone
at Singleton Abbey
Coat of arms
granted by
the College
of Heralds
By 1960 a large-scale development
programme was underway that would
see the construction of new halls of
residence, the Maths and Science
Tower, and College House (later
renamed Fulton House). Work began
on the student village at Hendrefoelan
in 1971, the South Wales Miners’
Library was established in 1973
and the Taliesin Arts Centre opened
on campus in 1984.
The Regional Schools of Nursing
transferred to Swansea in 1992, and
the School of Medicine opened in
2001, marking a significant increase
in Wales’ capacity to train doctors
and undertake innovative research.
In 2003, the University set out
objectives designed to secure its
long-term future as a research-led
The library, designed
by Vernon Owen
Rees, is opened by
the Duke of Kent
Kinglsey Amis writes
Lucky Jim whilst
lecturing at Swansea
1920 1921 1937 1954 1961
First campus halls
of residence
opened
institution of international calibre.
Technium Digital opened in 2005 and,
barely two years later, the University
opened its Institute of Life Science,
which commercialises the
results of research undertaken in the
School of Medicine. Work commenced
on a second Institute of Life Science
in 2009. December 2011 saw
the opening of ILS Phase Two, a
state-of-the-art centre for conducting
pioneering medical research.
Swansea University is now enjoying
a period of sustained research-led
growth, and continues to work for
the benefit of the city, its people and
industries. Further information about our
history and heritage can be found on
our website at www.swansea.ac.uk/
university/AboutUs
Mathematics and
Physics building
(Vivian Tower) and
College House
(Fulton House)
opened
1965
Your Alumni
Association
Swansea University’s Alumni
Association ensures that you can stay
closely connected to the University long
after the applause of your graduation
ceremony has faded. All our graduates
automatically become life members
of the Association, a warm, welcoming
community of graduates united by their
experiences of studying in Swansea.
The Association is a vibrant network
of 55,000 active members who are
working at every level in industry,
commerce, sport and the public sector.
They are heading divisions of
multinational companies, but they
are just as likely to be managing the
smaller, entrepreneurial businesses
that drive the economy, or delivering
healthcare in hospitals, or teaching
in schools.There is also a growing
community of international alumni,
meaning that you will find like-minded
friends and colleagues wherever you are
in the world. Make the most of this
network. You never know what
Taliesin Theatre
opens on campus
University College of
Swansea becomes
University of Wales
Swansea
doors may be opened in the UK
or overseas as a result of the
relationships forged through being
alumni of Swansea University.
Through the Alumni Association,
you can keep up-to-date with the
latest University news, services,
and merchandise, attend reunions,
and keep in touch with your friends
using the online Buddy Board.
It’s all free of charge – visit:
www.swansea.ac.uk/alumni for further
details. You’ll be in good company.
Our alumni include:
• Annabelle Apsion, actress
• Liam Dutton, Channel 4
weather presenter
• Richey Edwards and Nicky Wire,
musicians, Manic Street Preachers
• Dr Lyn Evans CBE, Project Leader,
Large Hadron Collider, CERN
• Hywel Francis MP
Richard Burton
collection comes
to Swansea
twitter.com/Swansea_Alumni
SwanseaUniversiyAlumniAssociation
£50 million
Institute of Life
Science opens
1984 1996 2005 2007 2010
• Renee Godfrey, champion surfer,
television presenter
• Sylvia Heal MP, Deputy Speaker of
the House of Commons (2000-10)
• Andy Hopper CBE FRS, co-founder
of Acorn Computers Ltd
• Rob Howley, Wales and British Lions
rugby union international
• Liz Johnson, Paralympic gold
medal-winning swimmer
• Alun-Wyn Jones, Wales and British
Lions rugby union international
• Simon Jones, Worcestershire
and England cricketer
• Sir Terry Matthews OBE,
Wales’ first billionaire
• Jason Mohammad, television presenter
• Colin Pillinger CBE, planetary scientist
• Penny Roberts, former BBC
Chief Reporter
• Urien Wiliam, Welsh language
novelist and playwright
Swansea celebrates
its 90th anniversary
1921
Professor Mary
Williams becomes
the first woman in the
UK to be appointed
to a university chair
1925
Beck Hall opened
as the first hall of
residence
1948
J S Fulton outlines his vision of a
“complete university community”,
paving the way for Swansea to become
the first campus university in the UK
1962
The University
receives its first
digital computer,
an IBM1620
1967
Professor Olek Zienkiewicz
revolutionises engineering
with the publication of ‘The
Finite Element Method for
Solid and Structural Mechanics’
1971 1985 2001 2006 2007
Work starts on a
new student village
at Hendrefoelan
Former Prime Minister,
Lord Callaghan,
appointed President
Establishment of
the School of
Medicine (initially
a clinical school)
University’s own
degree-awarding
powers granted
Swansea University
gains independence from
the University of Wales
2011
£28.8 million
Institute of Life
Science Phase
Two opens
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