Swansea University is opening a branch in London. It is offering students flexible degree programmes from the UK capital from September with expansion into other English cities to follow.

The degree courses will be run in London and elsewhere in partnership with QA Higher Education. The announcement follows Cardiff University's plans to open a branch in Kazakhstan.

Universities are trying to find new students in the face of rising costs and falling applications. Branching out is a way to woo students who may not want, or be able to, come to Wales to study. You can read more about the latest university job losses here

Swansea University said its September launch in London was "the start of a long-term strategic partnership to deliver a range of Swansea University programmes across QA Higher Education campuses in major metropolitan centres of England". The courses will be taught to students flexibly with evening and weekend timetables, and blended remote working. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here

The London launch starts with students able to apply to study for Swansea University’s MSc Computer Science course in the capital. More courses will follow from January, 2026. From January, 2026, QA Higher Education and Swansea University plan to introduce more courses from the School of Mathematics and Computer Science alongside the School of Management and other subjects.

Swansea said the flexible way of teaching in London would help students "who are increasingly juggling work or other commitments". Swansea, Cardiff and other universities around Wales are cutting jobs and courses as they face deficits forecast to total at least £70m by the end of this academic year and you can read more about that here.

QA works with universities to recruit and deliver foundation, undergraduate and post graduate degrees with 10,000 students already studying with them for named university degrees. It said: "Our long-standing partnerships help universities achieve greater growth, diversity and financial sustainability."

Swansea University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for international engagement, Professor Judith Lamie, said: "We are delighted to embark on this new venture with QA Higher Education which heralds our commitment to expanding the reach of Swansea University's exceptional programmes to open new doors for students and create opportunities for growth and innovation.

"This initiative also marks a significant milestone in our evolution by extending our impact to new regions within the UK and international markets and we look forward to the positive changes and successes this collaboration will bring."

Simon Nelson from QA Higher Education said: “We are seeing considerable growth in demand from students who are seeking more flexible ways to study. Swansea University’s academic excellence combined with QA Higher Education’s innovative approach to course delivery will open doors to top-tier education that is both accessible and flexible.”

Universities have warned that next year will be tough having just been handed an extra £19m by the Welsh Government after intense lobbying. Welsh Government higher education minister Vikki Howells has suggested universities should weather some of the storm by dipping into their available reserves, but they insist this is not viable.

Just days after the Welsh Government bowed to pressure and announced tens of millions more funding for universities, the sector has now begun to press for more. In a statement, Universities Wales, which represents the eight universities here, said the Welsh Government budget announced on Thursday, February 20, did not give them enough.

“We welcomed Welsh Government’s announcement earlier this week of additional in-year funding for Welsh universities, which will provide helpful short-term support for the sector," Universities Wales said. "However, the 2025-2026 budget does not appear to have changed and offers few solutions for the higher education sector into the next academic year.

"Given the recent announcements from our universities and the financial challenges we have been outlining for some time, it is difficult to see how this budget provides a sustainable position for Welsh universities going forward. If nothing were to change, Welsh Government runs the risk of universities entering the next academic year without the required support in place."

The statement added that Wales’ universities generated more than £13m of economic impact for every £1m of public money invested and, "given the Welsh Government‘s focus on growing the economy across Wales, this budget would seem to be a backward step - not just for the higher education sector but for local economies and communities across the country".

On Cardiff Bay's suggestion they use reserves, the organisation added: ““While universities do hold reserves, these are not as substantial as they might first appear, due in part to the significant accounting adjustments made for pensions. Reserves are not a bottomless resource."

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