University of South Wales

Higher Educationsouthwales.ac.uk

Company typePrivate
Founded1992
HeadquartersPontypridd, United Kingdom
Headcount1,001–5,000
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

University of South Wales firmographics

Firmographics

Name: University of South Wales
Legal name: University of South Wales
Website: https://southwales.ac.uk
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1992
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1,001–5,000 employees
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

University of South Wales industry classification

Industry

Product category: Higher Education
NAICS: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
SIC: Services-Educational Services (8200)
akta.pro primary industry: Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
akta.pro secondary industries: Business & Management Research Universities (EDAHABAE), STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB), Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE)

Keywords

Higher education
Undergraduate degrees
Postgraduate research
Professional development
University courses

Where University of South Wales is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Pontypridd
HQ country: United Kingdom
HQ region: Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

University of South Wales business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

Tuition fees (undergraduate and postgraduate): The university generates primary revenue from tuition fees charged to UK and international undergraduate and postgraduate students. Fees vary by student domicile (UK vs international) and level of study. Financial support in the form of loans, grants, and bursaries is available to eligible students.
Research grants and contracts: USW receives funding for research projects from external bodies such as the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council), as demonstrated by the WHEY2BUILD project funded by the EPSRC Place Based Impact Acceleration Account. Research income supports staff, facilities, and project delivery.
Professional development and continuing education: The university offers continuing professional development (CPD) courses, short courses, and taster courses for healthcare professionals and other sectors, generating revenue from fee-paying participants seeking skill upgrades or career progression.
Alumni services and merchandise: USW maintains a global alumni network of over 250,000 members and offers alumni discounts (20% reduction in postgraduate tuition fees for eligible USW graduates), which serves both as a retention mechanism and a revenue driver for postgraduate enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Annual	20% postgraduate alumni discount for USW graduates
Other	One time/ perpetual license	Clearing Package worth up to £3k

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

University of South Wales product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The University of South Wales is a higher education institution offering undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and research degrees (PhD, MPhil, professional doctorate) across disciplines including Business, Computing, Engineering, Health Sciences, Creative Industries, and Sciences. It also delivers continuing professional development (CPD) courses, degree apprenticeships, and vocational qualifications (HND/HNC), supported by employer partnerships and research-led teaching across five campuses in Cardiff, Newport, and Pontypridd.

Product overview

The University of South Wales is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services across undergraduate, postgraduate, and research degree levels. The core offering consists of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes spanning subjects including Business, Computing, Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Creative Arts, and Sciences. Supporting products include Foundation Years for academic preparation, Degree Apprenticeships for work-based learning, Top-Up degrees for qualification advancement, and Distance Learning for flexible study. The university operates Research and Innovation Groups aligned with four strategic accelerators (Crime/Security/Justice, Health/Wellbeing, Creative Innovation, and Sustainable Environment) and participates in the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). Additional services include Sport and Leisure Facilities, Clearing processes with financial support packages, USW Careers and Enterprise Services, student accommodation, and the Research and Innovation Development Programme for researcher training. The institution has multiple campus locations (Cardiff, Newport, Pontypridd) and collaborates with industry partners including First Milk for research projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Undergraduate Degrees First-degree programmes across a wide range of subjects including Accounting, Business, Computing, Engineering, Health, Science, and Arts, available full-time and part-time across USW campuses and partner colleges in South Wales.
Postgraduate Degrees Master's, doctoral, and professional qualifications for career advancement and specialised study across multiple disciplines, with flexible study options including online and part-time delivery.
Research Degrees (PhD, MPhil, Professional Doctorate) Postgraduate research programmes including PhD, Master of Philosophy, Professional Doctorate, PhD by Portfolio, PhD by Publication, and Masters by Research, conducted under expert supervision across strategic research areas.
Degree Apprenticeships Earn-as-you-learn programmes combining workplace experience with university study for professional career paths across various industries.
Short Courses and CPD Continuing professional development courses, particularly in healthcare, plus free taster courses designed for prospective students and working professionals seeking skill upgrades.
Vocational Courses (HND/HNC) Hands-on qualifications earned while experiencing real workplace environments, including courses in mechanical engineering and other fields.
Distance Learning Online study options allowing students to balance work or home commitments without full-time campus attendance, available for various postgraduate and CPD programmes.
Clearing Clearing application process for students who did not receive expected grades, with a Clearing Package worth up to £3k in benefits including VIP Clearing access and one-to-one support.
Student Accommodation University-owned accommodation at Cardiff, Newport, and Pontypridd campuses with over 1,200 rooms and guaranteed accommodation for new students.
USW Careers and Enterprise Services Career support services including CV workshops, placement opportunities, startup support through Startup USW, Bright Ideas Den funding (up to £1,000), and Freelancers Academy for students and graduates.
Research Excellence Framework (REF) Participation Assessment of research quality and impact across 14 Units of Assessment including Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Creative Arts, supporting the university's research profile.
WHEY2BUILD Research Project EPSRC-funded research project partnering with First Milk to convert dairy-processing whey waste into sustainable construction materials, advancing low-carbon building technologies and supporting regional net-zero construction.

Quantifiable outcome

94% of graduates in employment and/or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022/23)
+8 more outcomes

Companies that use University of South Wales

Customer profile

Named customers11 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

University of South Wales technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

University of South Wales partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

First MilkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Milk, one of the UK's leading dairy co-operatives, is partnered with USW on the WHEY2BUILD research project. Funded by the EPSRC Place Based Impact Acceleration Account, the project converts dairy-processing whey waste into sustainable construction materials. The partnership offers Welsh dairy producers a potential new income stream from by-products that are currently costly to manage, advancing low-carbon building technologies and supporting the transition to net-zero construction at regional scale. Led by Dr Rhys Jon Jones as his first grant as Principal Investigator.
FAW Trust (Football Association of Wales Trust)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAW Trust is a key sport partnership of USW. The partnership supports the MSc Advanced Performance Football Coaching programme and provides students with industry connections, placement opportunities, and real-world coaching experience through Welsh football.
Welsh Rugby Union (WRU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRU is a key sport partnership of USW, providing collaboration on sport programmes, research, and student opportunities in rugby across Wales.
Swansea City Football ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwansea City FC is an external partner in the design of the MSc Advanced Performance Football Coaching programme, which provides professional and evidenced-based academic training for coaches, performance analysts, and fitness coaches associated with performance player pathways.
Cardiff City Football ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardiff City FC is a sport partnership of USW, supporting sport programmes and student opportunities in football.
Wigan WarriorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWigan Warriors is a sport partnership of USW, supporting rugby league-related sport programmes and research.
Sport RCTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSport RCT is a regional sport partnership supporting sport delivery and student opportunities across Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Wales NetballcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWales Netball is a sport partnership of USW, supporting netball-related sport programmes and student opportunities.
Hockey WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHockey Wales is a sport partnership of USW, supporting hockey-related sport programmes and student opportunities.
EFL TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEFL Trust is a sport partnership of USW, supporting educational football initiatives and student opportunities through the English Football League network.
ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACCA accreditation provides exemptions from professional exams for USW accounting and finance graduates, enhancing graduate employability in the accounting profession.
CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIPD accreditation for HR and people management courses, providing professional recognition and exam exemptions for graduates.
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRICS accreditation for surveying and built environment courses. USW is the largest provider of industry-accredited surveying courses and project management courses in Wales.
IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIET accreditation for engineering programmes, meeting academic requirements for Chartered Engineer status.
HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCPC accreditation for health professional courses, ensuring graduates meet UK registration requirements to practice.
ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAEW accreditation for accounting programmes, providing exemptions from professional exams for graduates.
Cloth Cat AnimationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCloth Cat Animation collaborates with USW researchers, providing real-world animation projects and industry exposure for postgraduate research students.
Diploma MScminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiploma MSc partners with USW to deliver postgraduate diploma courses in medical specializations such as Acute Medicine, enabling online, flexible postgraduate medical education.
Colleges across South WalescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUSW works with colleges throughout South Wales, enabling students to study university courses at college full-time or part-time. This extends USW's reach and allows students to save time and money while continuing to work and juggle family life closer to home.

Scale indicators25 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

University of South Wales competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

University of Wolverhampton: UK post-92 university with multiple campuses and a similar focus on widening participation, professional/vocational pathways, and applied research in the West Midlands/Welsh borders region.
University of Huddersfield: UK modern university known for enterprise and graduate outcomes (similar ranking profile to USW in Guardian guides), with comparable employer-linked and applied research portfolio.
Cardiff Metropolitan University: A fellow Welsh post-92 university operating in Cardiff with a similar mix of undergraduate, postgraduate, and applied research programs; competes directly for the same South Wales student catchment and employer partnerships.
Swansea University: Welsh public research university offering multi-disciplinary undergraduate and postgraduate courses across South Wales; competes for the same Welsh-domiciled students and research grant funding.
University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD): Welsh university with multiple campuses across South and West Wales offering a comparable mix of undergraduate, postgraduate, and vocational programs; directly competes for similar regional student segments.
University of the West of England (UWE Bristol): Large UK post-92 university with strong employer engagement, professional accreditations, and applied research focus; closely comparable on mission, scale, and student outcomes positioning.
University of Derby: UK post-92 university with comparable applied research, professional accreditations, and a multi-campus model focused on regional impact and employability outcomes.

Broad incumbents

Open University: UK-wide distance and blended learning provider with extensive CPD and part-time postgraduate offerings; competes for mature, working, and online learners in the same flexible-study segments.
Nottingham Trent University: Top-ranked UK modern university with broad professional course portfolio, high graduate employment outcomes, and significant industry partnerships; a tier above USW but operates the same applied, post-92 model.

Emerging players

BPP University: For-profit UK higher education provider focused on professionally accredited programmes (law, accounting, healthcare, business); competes for fee-paying and CPD learners in overlapping vocational segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

University of South Wales compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance2 records

University of South Wales financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

University of South Wales leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

University of South Wales funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

University of South Wales M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of South Wales

What does University of South Wales do?

Is University of South Wales a public or private company?

University of South Wales is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was University of South Wales founded?

University of South Wales was founded in 1992. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.

Where is University of South Wales based?

University of South Wales is headquartered in Pontypridd, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.

How does University of South Wales make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition fees (undergraduate and postgraduate) is the primary driver. The others are research grants and contracts, professional development and continuing education and alumni services and merchandise.

Who are University of South Wales's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are University of Wolverhampton, University of Huddersfield, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Swansea University, University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and University of Derby. Broad incumbents are Open University and Nottingham Trent University. BPP University is listed as an emerging player.

Does University of South Wales have an API?

No public API is recorded for University of South Wales.

What industry is University of South Wales in?

University of South Wales's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools, with a secondary code of EDAHABAE, Business & Management Research Universities. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.