We are small, friendly and informal with less than a thousand students in the Faculty. This means that the staff are more approachable and available to help, support and challenge you, as well as there being ample space for you to thrive in.
It is due largely to our students and our graduates over 150 years that we have built the reputation that we have. Many have gone on to distinguished careers in the arts, some have established multi-million pound design companies and then employed other graduates. Other graduates are working for well- known filmmakers and media producers including the BBC and HTV.
Our Facilities
We respect and celebrate our traditions. This is why we have retained traditional equipment and processes in the areas of ceramics, printmaking and photography.
We are also forward looking with specialist state-of-the-art equipment to meet the needs of individual programmes for example plasma metal cutters, digital textiles printers, laser cutters, digital ceramic print facilities and digital darkrooms to editing suites and video resources.
We have the latest Apple Mac digital equipment for all our programmes with open access suites for non-computer based courses and course specific suites for our Visual Communication courses. Our software and hardware are updated regularly in order to allow students access to industry standard equipment
Studio space is also available for students on courses that require them with large teaching rooms on those that don't.
We are also the first academic Avid Authorised Training Partner (AATP) in the UK.
So, whether you choose to work with traditional processes or new technologies, or both we have it here for you.
The creative possibilities are as exciting as they are enormous.
Our Courses
Art & Design Foundation
BA (Hons) Fine Art (Combined Media)
BA (Hons) Fine Art (Painting and Drawing)
BA (Hons) Fine Art (3D and Sculptural Practice)
BA (Hons) Design for Advertising
BA (Hons) General Illustration
BA (Hons) Graphic Design
BA (Hons) Photography in the Arts
BA(Hons) Photography in the Arts (4 year programme)
BA (Hons) Photojournalism
BA(Hons) Photojournalism (4 year programme)
BA (Hons) Surface Pattern Design (Contemporary Applied Arts Practice)
BA (Hons) Surface Pattern Design (Textiles for Fashion)
BA (Hons) Surface Pattern Design (Textiles for Interiors)
BA (Hons) Video
BA(Hons) Video (4 year programme)
BA (Hons) Documentary Video
BA (Hons) Video Arts
MA Fine Art (Contemporary Dialogues)
MA Photography (Contemporary Dialogues)
MA Visual Communication (Contemporary Dialogues)
MA Textiles (Contemporary Dialogues)
MPhil / PhD
All our courses share a common philosophy to enable you to take full advantage of creative and vocational opportunities by focusing on the following:
Individuality, Creative freedom, Academic flexibility, Professionalism and Employability.
We treat all people as individuals.
You are encouraged to develop an individual voice and personal signature in your work.
We do not prescribe or impose ideas upon you. We allow you the creative freedom to explore, experiment, discover - and always encourage you to challenge the norm.
All our courses include Historical & Contextual Studies to inform your practice.
We encourage interaction, cross-fertilisation and flexibility across all our programmes.
All our programmes are career-oriented, the Faculty has excellent industrial links and there is a regular programme of visiting speakers and professionals. Live projects are an integral part of our courses and these help you to integrate with professional bodies before you graduate.
We are serious about our subject and professional in our attitude. To maximise employability and entrepreneurship, students undertake External projects that involve real jobs- ‘live' commissions from outside organizations and/or national and international competitions.
Exhibitions and the opportunity for students to showcase their work is also one of the most important aspects of being at Art school. All course have end of year shows with many courses exhibiting throughout the duration. Graduate exhibitions take place in Swansea and at the London based Free Range and design fairs such as New Designers and New Blood and Indigo, Paris. These graduate shows all contribute towards providing students with important networking opportunities.
2011 Student Exhibition Catalogue
As a result our students have had considerable success in gaining employment and most are working in fields connected to their chosen area of study.
Our teaching strategies in entrepreneurship education have also received international acclaim and we have been formally recognised as a world leader in this field.
Our Staff
All our programmes benefit from a team of highly qualified staff who are research active, are exhibiting both nationally and abroad and/or are involved in projects with industry. Many of these staff have gained international reputations for their innovative research and creative practice.
All staff produce work which enters the public domain in a variety of ways: through exhibitions, commissions for commercial clients, conferences at which ideas and work are presented and discussed, and publications such as academic journals and websites.
In this way, lecturers' practices inform and influence the contemporary art world, and by bringing their experiences of the art world into the teaching studios, their research practices enhance the studio teaching and learning.
Information on many of our staff can be found on our Research site
We have an excellent visiting guest lecturer programme with speakers of world class standing, for example, Richard Billingham, Bill Drummond, Ken Russell, Ken Garland and Linda Florence, to mention just a few.
Our Students
Our students are continuously winning awards and competitions, from the O2 business woman of the year to the Guardian student photographer of the year award.
Employability is a main focus of our courses allowing students to follow their chosen career path. The variety of jobs our graduates enter is numerous from becoming freelance artists, designers to cameramen and lecturers.
Graduate Successes
Some Extras
Whilst studying with us students are also given the opportunity to partake in Arts in Action, which enables students to work as artists in residence in primary schools, offering a great experience for future careers.
In addition we are part of The Erasmus Scheme, offering students the chance to study in a number of Scandinavia countries, including Finland and Norway, for a minimum of 12 weeks. This allows students to experience other cultures whilst developing their work and continuing to gain university credits.
We currently have two research centres within the faculty.
These research centres provide staff with research opportunities and access to high technology resources, they provide students with placement opportunity whilst also developing the creative industries infrastructure in the region, which will benefit graduating students.
CIRIC The Creative Industries Research and Innovation Centre was established in 2005 and is a knowledge transfer centre for projects that support the creative industries in Wales.
Current projects include Moving Image Wales, which supports the digital media industry, the Textiles Technologies Project, which supports the textiles and apparel industries, CIME, which supports business through creative intervention and SATnet, which provides a link between artists and businesses in the science and technology sectors. In addition, IPCRES is also based in CIRIC and is developing and disseminating research about durational and event based practices.
Alongside the numerous projects operating within CIRIC, there is also a Design Bureau, with water jet cutting, laser cutting and fabric printing services.
CLASI The Centre for Lens Arts and Science Interaction is a research centre based within The Dynevor Centre for Art, Design, and Media at Swansea Metropolitan University. CLASI aims to encourage and promote interdisciplinary research projects, which stimulate research, innovation, and experimentation across photographic, digital and electronic arts. A strong emphasis is placed on research strands where the histories, philosophies and practices of art and science intersect. The definition of art and science is intentionally broad and the centre is aligned with SATnet and CIRIC.
Our Location
Swansea is a seaside city sitting comfortably alongside a broad sandy sweep of bay. It is a great place to live and study: big enough to offer you the space you need; small enough to make you feel that you belong.
There are all the amenities and cultural activities that you would expect to find in a modern, vibrant, University City - theatres, cinemas, galleries, museums, restaurants, bars and great student nightlife. We also have an award-winning maritime quarter, a brand-new multi-million pound Waterfront Museum and the Wales National Swimming Pool. And what's more, the cost of living here is very reasonable compared with most other university towns and cities.
The city has many artistic links including being the birthplace of poet Dylan Thomas and many of the early pioneering photographers.
Getting to and from Swansea is easy, we are just 3 hours from London and 2.5 hours from Birmingham. We have excellent motorway (M4) and mainline railway links as well as the Swansea-Cork ferry.
How to Apply
All applications to Full Time Degree Courses are made via UCAS, to apply online log on to www.ucas.com and click on the apply button.
Swansea Metropolitan University has chosen the later UCAS deadline in order to allow Foundation students time to prepare their portfolios. Early applications are still welcome (i.e. before January) and will be considered as soon as we receive them from UCAS. Places will however be 'reserved' for applicants who wish to develop their portfolios further and apply nearer to the later deadline.
Those interested in Part Time, Postgraduate and Art & Design Foundation should apply direct to the university.
To download an application form click here
For further information please contact registry on 01792 481010 or email
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Entry Requirements
Applicants are normally interviewed, when they should present evidence relating to their selected ‘Named Award'.
Applicants for all our courses are required to demonstrate that they possess the potential creative skills and intellectual ability to successfully complete the selected programme.
Our offers are not solely based on academic results. We take your skills, achievements and life experience into consideration.
Art & Design Foundation
One subject at GCE A level or a VCE award plus five passes at GCSE including English Language (or Welsh) at C or above, or other qualifications considered to be equivalent by the Academic Board.
Those who can demonstrate an aptitude for Art and Design study may be considered for entry without formal qualifications.
Undergraduate Degrees
Two GCE A levels (12 units) or equivalent and supporting AS level qualifications or equivalent including the new 14-19 Diploma, plus grade C or above in English Language (or Welsh) at GCSE level (or equivalent), together with passes in another four approved subjects, or BTEC National Diploma in a relevant subject, with minimum grades of Merit, or VCE (Vocational) A level (12 units) in an appropriate subject, or Foundation Diploma plus one GCE A level in a relevant academic subject, or other qualifications considered to be equivalent by the Academic Board.
MA
Successful applicants normally hold a first or upper second class degree in an appropriate discipline.
Research Degrees
Successful applicants for MPhil study will normally hold a first-class degree in an appropriate discipline. Applicants for PhD study will normally hold a Master's degree in an appropriate discipline.
The Interview
Applicants may be asked to provide a digital portfolio in advance of any decision to call them for interview at the University.
If you are selected for an interview it is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your commitment and self -motivation to your chosen area of study; to discuss aspects of the course and to ask any questions that you may have. Our interviews are friendly and informal and you will also be offered a tour of the faculty and facilities.
You will be required to submit a portfolio of work as part of your interview. As a general guide, portfolios should contain examples of work (both finished and work in progress) that showcase your particular skills and interests. The content of a portfolio should be presented in a logical, ordered and simple fashion. We also love to see sketchbooks.
Our Open Days
We positively encourage potential students to visit our department.
If you would like to see the Faculty before you apply our open days for 2012 entry will start in October 2011.
Contact us
Swansea Metropolitan University
Dynevor Centre For Art, Design and Media
De-La-Beche Street
Swansea
SA1 3EU
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01792 481285
