Indirectly they would pay council tax via their landlords in private rentals. Not sure how it works on campus but I’m sure it would be something similar, probably via the letting agent acting for the uni. Directly, they have a huge impact on the economy as they are spending cash here. The Uni also benefits enormously from overseas students because they pay far higher fees than UK students. The pressure on local services would be partly balanced by the number of Swansea students who leave the city for study in the rest of the UK and abroad
The very same ABP who had a windfall when the "bay" in Cardiff was built at the taxpayers expense, all that derelict dock land that no one wanted then , well we all know the rest , and yet they're still considering carrying out the work after 4 years of further deterioration.
Choo-choo..... https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/tricky-question-new-swansea-railway-15991480
So Cairns preferred option is to build it in area of limited potential capacity and would in fact by pass Swansea all together but strangely enough would create a direct link between West Wales and Cardiff .
It’s the link between Ireland and Cardiff/London and the trains already bypass Swansea, Neath and Gowerton. I never catch a train in Swansea, instead travelling to Port Talbot Parkway, so it’s a thumbs up from me!
On a "serious" note, it would be no different to Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads, so it should give the population of Swansea more choice