Second year International students recently celebrated their A2 Graduation at our Sketty Hall Business School.
Welcome to Gower College Swansea
The leading A level College in Wales
Gower College Swansea is one of the highest performing colleges in the UK and is located in the UK’s first designated area of outstanding natural beauty. We are renowned for our A Level programme, with outstanding results and progression rates to the UK’s finest universities.
View our International Prospectus to see why you should study A level at Gower College Swansea!
Excellent pass rates for International A Level students
An amazing 76% of the 2023 cohort of international students achieved A or above
Over 90% of international students in the last 6 years progressed to Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
See the university destinations of our international students from 2016 to 2022
Aim Higher!
We run specialist university preparation programmes for gifted and talented students. There are specific entry requirements and costs associated with these programmes.
Please contact the international office for further details: international@gcs.ac.uk
English Academy
General English
This course offers entry at various competency levels and gives students the opportunity to expand their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Useful English is taught in realistic situations for students to learn and practice language in everyday life. The course is taught Monday to Friday for 16 hours a week.
Assessments are carried out when students have reached the required standards to achieve the City and Guilds modules in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students are able to apply for A Level or higher level courses at Gower College Swansea once they have reached the appropriate competency level for their chosen study programme.
IELTS and A Level preparation course
This course will develop a student’s performance across all key English Language skills to maximise their success in IELTS exams. Its engaging content provides ample practice in fundamental study techniques for the transition to A Level learning. Students have an opportunity to trial subjects of their interest and benefit from College buddies. Inclusive social and cultural activities complement lesson topics and give a real insight into student life in the UK.
The course has three, six or nine month duration options, depending on individual learning requirements. Regular classroom hours with additional extra-curricular activities. Students are guaranteed entry onto A Level programmes at Gower College Swansea once they have met the minimum required IELTS standard.
Academic English
Academic English is an extra curriculum course available to Gower College Swansea A Level students who would benefit from language support. The course leader liaises closely with curriculum staff to identify students’ specific development areas. The classes incorporate one-to-one review sessions as well as generic language progression tasks. Comprehensive practice helps students to succeed in both their academic studies and IELTS preparation.
The course runs once a week for 2.5 hours throughout term time and students are expected to complete allocated self-learning activities and assignments. Extra support is offered through the College’s book a librarian system where one-to-one subject research and language organisation is available.
International foundation programme
This one year programme is designed for 17-19 year olds who would like to progress to university in the UK. Students will follow the Level 3 Access Programme which is available in a range of subjects including business, applied computing, humanities, law and science. In addition to this, students will receive English tuition which is tailored to the individual’s needs, ensuring students achieve the required level of English for successful progression to university.
Students attending this programme will not be tied to a particular university. Instead, every student will be given excellent individual careers guidance to enable them to choose the right university to suit their particular interests. Most universities in the UK accept our international foundation programme students, however acceptance will depend on the final result, English language level and UCAS application. Students have recently progressed to Cardiff University, Swansea University and Bangor University, to name but a few.
To be eligible, students should have a minimum of 5.5 IELTS.
Accommodation
Gower College Swansea takes the safety, wellbeing and happiness of our students very seriously. We place all of our students, aged 16 – 18, with one of our carefully selected and approved host families for the duration of their studies.
We offer homestay accommodation for all our international students. This accommodation is with a local family in a safe and private environment. Living in a Gower College Swansea-approved homestay will provide a truly unique experience. Students will have the opportunity to experience British culture, improve their use of the English Language and receive advice and guidance about living in Swansea, Wales and the United Kingdom.
Gower
Gower College Swansea takes its name from the Gower region, Britain’s first designated area of outstanding natural beauty. Gower is home to some of the most beautiful bays and beaches in the UK and has also featured in many TV programmes and movies. We regularly take our students to the Gower region for outdoor activities such as walking, climbing and surfing.
Where is Swansea?

Driving times to Swansea
3 hour to
London
2¾ hour to
Birmingham
1½ hour to
Bristol
4 hour to
Manchester
With its links to the wider transport network, Swansea is strategically located for access from the UK, Europe and beyond.

On the Roads
The M4 motorway connects London with Swansea and is a 3 hour drive. The national bus company operates a direct hourly service from Swansea to all London international airports.

By Train
Direct trains are available every hour from Swansea to London and take 3 hours.

By Air
It takes just under 3 hours to drive from London Heathrow Airport to Swansea. It takes 1.5 hours to drive from Bristol International Airport to Swansea. It takes about an hour to drive from Cardiff Airport to Swansea.