Welfare and Support
The International Office
The International Office is the main point of contact for students. The services provided include helping you with the application process, corresponding with you before your arrival in Wales, and looking after you whilst you are at Trinity.
We offer:
- Advice and guidance on courses and how to apply
- Airport pick-up (at the beginning of the course)
- Intensive orientation programme
- Weekly excursions
- Open office surgery sessions
- Dedicated staff who are there to help make your experience a memorable one
- International office events - Chinese New Year, Thanksgiving dinner, international fayre, flag signing party.
As a Church College, the pastoral care of students is central to the work of the International Office. The team of staff is responsible for providing support and guidance for students on a number of issues including practical advice on course choices, finance, visa issues and dealing with homesickness. However, Trinity also has a professional counselling and welfare services, located within the Student Services Department, that are available to all students, and are founded on the principle that no problem is too big or too small to share.
Services for Students
Careers
The Careers Service subscribes to a range of careers databases and networks to ensure that you benefit from having access to the latest information. The Careers team is able to assist you to identify and plan your career by matching your interests and course of study to relevant jobs. The service also includes assistance with writing applications and Curricula Vitae, interview techniques, as well as general careers counselling for individuals and groups. An additional service is the Job Shop which aims to help you find part-time and casual jobs during your time at University. If you wish to work during your time in University, please make sure that you have an appropriate visa.
Part-time work
During your time as a student in the UK you may wish to earn some extra money. Legally you are permitted to work for up to 20 hours per week during the term time. However, you can work full time during holiday periods. You must not use estimated part-time earnings as evidence that you will be able to support yourself. Any part-time earnings must be extra. Students are allowed to work for one year after study. (Visas may be required).
Counselling services
The Student Counsellors provide a supportive and non-judgemental environment for students to discuss any matter of concern in confidence and privacy. Students use the free Counselling Service to talk through a wide range of issues - personal and academic - and no issue is considered to be too small. These may include life events such as bereavement, relationship difficulties, personal problems and transition to University life.
Students with disabilities and additional needs
If you require additional support with learning or have dyslexia or dyspraxia, Student Services can help you. Assistance and support services are available to help you on your course, where reasonable and practicable. If you have disabilities or additional needs we would encourage you to inform us as early as possible in the application process, so that we can discuss your specific needs.
Medical services
You will need to register with a doctor soon after arrival at Trinity. Do not wait until you are unwell. A doctor’s surgery is also held in the University’s Medical Centre twice a month. Treatment for accidents and emergencies is free for everyone when they are in the Accident and Emergency Department of a National Health Service (NHS) hospital.
Childcare
The University has a nursery on the campus. Y Gamfa Wen is a purpose built facility that provides space for babies and children from birth to 7 years of age. The nursery provides a safe and welcoming environment where children receive the best care and attention. There’s ample play space, indoors and out, high quality equipment and well qualified staff... all of which combine to provide an enriching experience for children.
Chaplaincy
As a member of the family of Church Colleges, Christian values are at the core of the ethos of Trinity University College and the Chapel is at the heart of university life. Your period at University can be a time of searching for values and meaning that will enrich and underpin the whole of your life. There are many opportunities to explore and celebrate Christian faith through the various activities organised by the Chaplaincy team.
Helping you to Succeed
The University offers a range of services to help you with in your academic studies.
ESOL (English Language Support)
Study support
At the beginning of your course, you will receive a basic introduction to study skills and information technology. In addition, the Study Support Centre, within the Student Services Team, provides help to students who are experiencing difficulties. Such support includes tackling assignments, essay writing and preparing for examinations. The Centre also has its own IT facilities to enable you to complete your course work in a quiet and comfortable environment.
Personal tutors
Academic staff act as Personal Tutors to support you during your course. The type of pastoral support offered varies according to the most appropriate methods for your particular course. This support aims to ensure that you are given individual attention from your tutors to enable you to speak in private about issues that are specific to your learning.
Student mentoring scheme
Second and third year students studying the same course as you will act as mentors in your first year. They’ll help you to settle in to University life and will provide practical tips on all sorts of issues from a student’s perspective.
Network Systems
The Network Systems team is responsible for the management of a range of computer resources that are made available to help you with your studies. You will be provided with your own network login account which will give you access to the University’s e-learning environment, the World Wide Web and e-mail services, as well as applications for word processing, spreadsheets, databases and presentations.
IT facilities are available at va rious locations across the campus, and there are dedicated rooms with specialist sys tems for students of primary education and media-related degrees. The University also has a wireless network in halls of residence, and some other areas of the campus. This provides access to Web-based services.
The Blackboard learning zone
Trinity’s e-learning platform (Blackboard) is an invaluable tool to help you with your studies. You will be able to access advice and guidance from your tutors, course notes, learning resources, discussion groups with fellow students and tutors, together with chat rooms.
Learning Resources Centre (LRC)
The LRC includes the Library and Teaching Resources Centre, which holds a wide range of books, videos, DVDs, newspapers and journals to support the learning and teaching activities of the University. The LRC is also committed to providing high-quality electronic information via the Internet, and maintains subscriptions to a variety of educational databases, e-books and e-journals.
You can search through the range of materials held in the LRC using the University's information portal, HIP, which also allows loan renewals and account management both on and off campus over the Internet. A range of PCs in the LRC gives access to these and other computing facilities, and our staff provide information skills consultations at all levels to help students make the best use of resources and services.
The Library’s modern, purpose-built accommodation has a light and airy atmosphere in which to study. The recently refurbished Teaching Resources Centre contains specialist resources for education students, including religious education, early years, and primary education, and also houses children's reading books in Welsh and English. The LRC has generous opening hours and a range of self-service options, giving students the freedom to manage their studies effectively.
- Books
- Videos
- DVDs
- Newspapers
- Journals
- Online Resources
- PCs
- E-books
- E-journals
- Photocopying
Becoming a Student
Entry requirements
We recognise a wide range of international qualifications which are equivalent to two A Level passes, including the International Baccalaureate and European Baccalaureate. Trinity will normally accept students who have completed a recognised International Foundation Programme, for example those offered by UK Further Education Colleges, Universities and Colleges of HE.
If you are an international student, you will be required to have sufficient command of the English language to enable you to follow your course without linguistic difficulties, for example GCSE pass in English at Grade C or above, Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, IELTS (Score of 6.5), TOEFL (Score of 550).
Further information is available from the International Office
E-mail: international@trinity-cm.ac.uk
Fees
Cost of living
The cost of living in Carmarthen is lower than in many parts of the UK. As a guide for international students, the basic living expenses are likely to be in the region of £5,000 per year, of which the main items are rent (£2,300), food (£1,400), clothing (£500), books (£300) and travel in the UK (£300). Remember too that phoning home will cost... so please make sure that you budget.
Trinity runs a Money Doctor’s Scheme to help you manage your money whilst at University. Advice is provided on setting and keeping to your budget so that you avoid financial difficulties.
Registering for study upon arrival
When you arrive, you will need to register. You should bring the following:
- Passport
- Visa
- Original qualification certificates (with official translation if not in English)
- One passport photograph
- Completed registration forms already mailed to you from Registry.
