Welcome Week - Undergraduate - Foundation

Welcome Week

We look forward to meeting you in Welcome Week!

Your Welcome Week timetable will be available from Monday 9th September. There is a varied programme of events throughout the week, which we hope will inform and motivate you as you begin your programme of studies. You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to socialise with your coursemates and learn about the support available to you while you study.

We encourage you to get involved in as many of your welcome week activities as possible. Sessions which are compulsory for new students will be noted on the timetable.

Please note that this is different from your teaching timetable, which will take effect when lectures begin on Monday 30th September.

Welcome from your Foundation Year Programme Director

Welcome to the Humanities Foundation Year! Like many of you, I am a first-generation university goer from a working-class background. I therefore understand the importance of making you feel at home in this new environment. You’ll be seeing lots of me over the coming weeks, and I can’t wait to get to know you and to support you with your studies. The Foundation Year will be an exciting adventure through the humanities and social sciences that will set you up with everything that you will need to be successful on your chosen degree pathway. If any questions arise as you settle in, please get in touch. I’ll be very happy to help.

Dr Ryan Sweet – Humanities Foundation Year Director

Monday 23rd September

10.00 - 11:00 Welcome Talk - Compulsory

Wallace Building Room 113

Meet your programme director, who will introduce your programme of study, provide key academic information and direct you to course resources

12:00 - 13:00 First Steps - Compulsory

Taliesin Theatre

Meet your Student Information Team, who will introduce the key IT platforms and systems you’ll need for your studies, outline the academic and welfare support available, and explain further ways to get involved in student life

14.00 - 16:00 History Cafe (History/American Studies Only)

Taliesin Create

An interactive programme induction, where you'll find out more about your subject and how you’ll study. You’ll start to get to know your coursemates and get settled into your learning community.

14.00 - 16:00 Ancient World Cafe (Classics, Ancient History, Egyptology Only)

Student Study Space, Ground Floor Digital Technium

An interactive programme induction, where you'll find out more about your subject and how you’ll study. You’ll start to get to know your coursemates and get settled into your learning community.

15:00 - 16:00 Drop In - Optional

Any questions? Drop in to chat with your Programme Director:

Dr. Ryan Sweet, James Callaghan Building, Room 112

Tuesday 24th September Wednesday 25th September Thursday 26th September Friday 27th September

First Steps Sessions in Welsh

If you would prefer to attend a First Steps session delivered in Welsh, this will take place on Monday 23rd September, 11am-12pm, Keir Hardie Building, Room 431.

Arrivals and Freshers Events

Click here to see all the Arrivals and Freshers Week activities!

Any Questions?

The Student Information Team for your School are your first point of contact for advice, signposting and general information queries. You’ll get the chance to meet the team during welcome week at the First Steps Sessions and School social events.

You can contact them via email, and once you’re here, they’re based in:

Student Information Office, Ground Floor Digital Technium
Reception in the School of Management Building

Your Student Information Team

Pictures of members of the student information team

Frequently Asked Questions

What School does the Humanities Foundation Year fit within?

Though the Humanities Foundation Year prepares students for degree programmes in both the humanities and social sciences, it sits within the School of Culture and Communication. During the Foundation Year, all students (irrespective of their degree subject) will be looked after by the School of Culture and Communication.

If you are a Social Sciences student, don’t worry, though! During your Foundation Year, you’ll have plenty of contact and support from staff in your home department. You’ll have classes taught by them and your Academic Mentor will be an expert in your chosen subject area. Though some of your modules will be run by School of Culture and Communication lecturers, the emphasis will very much be on helping you to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to be successful on your social sciences degree.

How will I meet my coursemates? 

You will have lots of opportunities in induction week to meet the people on your course. Your department induction sessions will include activities which will let you interact with lots of different people. Make sure you swap contact details with people who you’d like to get to know more! As you’ll see from the welcome week timetable, there are plenty of opportunities to meet people within your programme, School and across the University. Once teaching starts, you will have even more formal contact hours where you’ll be mixing with lots of other students – don’t be afraid to suggest meeting up for a coffee, or sticking around for a chat after lectures! If you’re living in university accommodation, you will also be surrounded by other students and will have every opportunity to make friends. 

How will I meet my lecturers?

You will meet many of your lecturers during the induction programme put on by your department. Lots of the planned activities will help you get to know your lecturers and find out a little bit about them. You will also meet your academic mentor during induction week. Your mentor will oversee your academic progress throughout your degree and help to guide you through your studies. Once teaching starts, in addition to timetabled teaching, your lecturers will hold regular office hours when you will be able to contact them to discuss questions or concerns – or even just to have a chat about something interesting you talked about in class!

Who is my personal tutor?

When you start University you will be allocated a Personal Tutor, usually a member of teaching staff from your department. They will contact you via your University email to arrange regular meetings throughout the year, and will be able to support you with a range of queries including; signposting to pastoral support, academic guidance, employability and more. You can find out who your tutor is and their contact details by logging into your individual intranet page, under Course Details > Course Contacts.

Is there Welfare Support available?

Your Student Information and Experience Team provide support and guidance relating to the student experience including Wellbeing, Disability and Attendance within the College. If you require assistance, experience difficulties which are affecting your studies or personal lives, the team can offer help or signposting to appropriate support within the University. For enquiries and appointments contact: studentsupport-cultureandcom@swansea.ac.uk and once you’re here, they’re based in the Student Information Office, Ground Floor Digital Technium on Singleton Campus, and Reception in the School of Management Building on Bay Campus.

You can also find information on the University support services and some self-help information on the CampusLife web pages.

What support and information do you offer to student parents?

As University, we recognise that many of our students may have caring responsibilities. We aim to provide a welcoming environment for all our students and want to support you to achieve success.

As the University is a place of work and study and our buildings, activities and risk control measures are not generally designed for children. Please note, children should not be brought into learning and teaching spaces (unless for an organised event). The Children on University Premises policy has more information.

The Students’ Union Nursery provides high quality and affordable childcare on Singleton Campus for children aged from 3 months up to their 8th Birthday. For more information on childcare and schooling please refer to Council web pages:

City and County of Swansea Council

Neath Port Talbot Council

If you're a UK student, check out the University's guide to student finances for student parents. We have also developed a comprehensive Family Information Guide for our international students.

For information and support on student pregnancy, please visit our webpages.

Are there academic Societies?

Joining a society can be a great way to get involved in student life and meet like-minded people. There’s such a range of societies within Swansea Students’ Union there really is something for everyone! Our academic departments have their own student-led societies who play an active role in organising social activities within the School. For the full list and contact details of the societies you can get in contact with, check out the Students Union Societies web page.

Which apps and IT systems will I use?

Your “First Steps” Session in Welcome Week will introduce you to the main IT platforms we use across the University, and your lecturers will let you know about any course-specific software you’ll be using in your studies.

Before you arrive, you could prepare by downloading Canvas, our digital learning platform. Each of your modules will be hosted on Canvas, which will store many of the learning resources you’ll need. You’ll also access the School Canvas Hub, which is your one-stop-shop for key information, resources, contacts and events at the School, Faculty and University level throughout your studies.

The University use Zoom for many meetings, conferences and information sessions, so it’s a good idea to download this. Once you’re enrolled, you’ll be able to log on with your University account on your computer, tablet or phone. If you’re not yet familiar with Zoom the University have produced further information and user guides.

How do I enrol?

Please visit the University Enrolment webpages for guidance on how to enrol:

If you experience any problems with online enrolment, please contact MyUniHub myunihub@swansea.ac.uk and the team will be happy to help.

How do I find out term and assessment dates?

Want to know when you'll be expected to be at University and when you'll have your holidays? Find your semester and term dates here.

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If you have any queries regarding the above timetable please contact studentsupport-cultureandcom@swansea.ac.uk

Welcome Week - Undergraduate - Foundation

Welcome Week