The university was based in Pontypridd, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, with campuses in Trefforest, Glyntaff, Merthyr Tydfil, Tyn y Wern (The Glamorgan Sport Park) and Cardiff.

It originally only took women who lived locally but in 1947, when Ellen Evans was the principal, it became co-educational and in 1962 it also accepted male students.

[5] In 2007, "ATRiuM", a new facility for teaching and research in media, design and the arts was opened in Cardiff city centre.

[6] A new Students' Union building at the Treforest Campus was opened in September 2010.

The university at the time of the merger served around 21,500 students,[8] with 10,227 registered as full-time undergraduates.

The Union has also welfare, education and equality support and there was a democratic structure change to Student Council.