The benefits of studying in Wales

One of the verses of the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, translates into English as:

"O land of the mountains, the bard’s paradise,
Whose valleys are fair to my eyes,
Green murmuring forest, far echoing flood,
Fire the fancy and quicken the blood."

This description encapsulates Wales perfectly. If you’ve visited Wales, you’ll have witnessed this beauty for yourself, with its plentiful rivers, awe-inspiring mountains, untouched forestry, and rugged coastline.

In amongst this beauty, Wales has eight higher education institutions, which all have unique characteristics. Studying in Wales offers you a variety of differences and advantages. This article will explore some of these to help you decide if Wales is the right destination for your university experience.

The phrase "there’s something for everyone" can sometimes be seen as a bit of cliché. However, when it comes to studying in Wales, it’s true in every sense. If you love the outdoors, you could try some of the following activities if you choose to study in Wales:

• Surfing or kayaking at our world- renowned beaches in Barafundle, Rhossili, and Tenby
• Adventurous walks in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) or Eryri National Park, where you’ll find the highest peak in Wales: Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)
• Taking a dive on the fastest zipline in the world over Penrhyn Quarry Lake
• Leisurely strolls along the 870-mile Wales Coastal Path
• Coasteering near one of the world’s smallest cities, St Davids in Pembrokeshire.

If you’re someone that enjoys the hustle and bustle of city life, the four larger cities – Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, and Wrexham – will most definitely have something for you. With a wide variety of music venues, restaurants, bars, and shops, there’s bound to be something that appeals to your tastes and interests. For more ideas about what to do in Wales, head to the Visit Wales website.

The cost-of-living crisis is having a detrimental impact on people's lives. However, studying in Wales will help many students with this issue. The cost of living in Wales is lower than the UK average. This will help you to keep more of your student loan and hard-earned money to allow you to enjoy all that Wales has to offer.

I’d encourage you to extensively research any additional funding which may be available to you in Wales. For example, you might be successful in securing a place at a Welsh university to study an allied health care profession. If so, you would be eligible to apply for the Welsh NHS bursary. This will cover your university fees and living costs. More information can be found on the Welsh NHS Bursary website.

One of the biggest misconceptions about moving to Wales is that you must speak Welsh to get by. This is not the case. However, to help you feel at home, many Welsh universities offer free language classes. You can learn some of our basic Welsh phrases which have existed for over a thousand years. This should make the road signs much easier to read as you travel around this beautiful country. Pob lwc! Good luck!