Services for Distance Learners

This virtual introduction is intended for any students who can't attend a library tour in person. Sessions are available throughout the year and you can book a place using this form Library Tours.

All staff and students have a Librarian and a Digital Skills Advisor allocated to their subject of study or area of work. If you need some help, advice or a friendly bit of encouragement, you can book an appointment with a member of our team at a time to suit you. Further information, including how to book, is available on our Book an Appointment page.

You may be able to use and borrow items from other UK academic libraries using the SCONUL Access scheme.

If you are resident in Wales you may be able to register to use the National Library of Wales.

Please use our Need More? service to request scans of items held in our libraries.

Distance leaners are eligible to use our postal loans service for items which are not available electronically and requests for postal loans should be placed via our library catalogue. This service is only available to those students registered as Distance Leaners. Please note a small postage charge will be added to your library account for postal loan requests:

• Within the UK: £4 per package up to 2kg
• International: between £4 and £16 depending on weight. Usually £8 for one book.

On completion of your studies, you will be asked to return all materials on loan and clear any outstanding charges. If you are granted an extension, this will need to be confirmed officially and recorded with Registry before your library access can also be extended.

Postgraduates are able to borrow up to 20 items at a time and for researchers it's 25.

Postal loans are available to borrow for an initial six-week loan period and will automatically renew for up to one calendar year, unless they are requested by another library customer (or your account is due to expire).  

If you aren't able to visit our libraries to study in person, our Virtual Study Space will allow you to dedicate time to your university studies whilst being supported by library staff, recreating the library study experience in an online environment.

Please use our Need More? service to request items available in other libraries but not held at UWTSD.

If you are a registered distance learner and require items to be posted to you, please be aware that there is a small charge for postage:

• Within the UK: £4 per package up to 2kg
• International: between £4 and £16 depending on weight. Usually £8 for one book.