Aberystwyth University was founded in 1872 in the Welsh seaside town after which it is named. On the west coast of Wales between Cardigan Bay and the Cambrian Mountains, students will become part of a historic, vibrant, friendly and outward-looking community. As the first university in Wales, Aberystwyth’s reputation for research power, teaching excellence, student satisfaction and our incredible location are what set it apart from other universities. The University’s main Penglais campus was the first in Wales to achieve a Green Flag Award for the high quality of its environment.
In addition to helping students to develop discipline-specific knowledge and critical thinking, courses at Aberystwyth aim to equip students with the life skills they will need for their careers after graduation. As a testament to this, the institution has been named the best university in the UK for both Teaching Quality and Student Experience by the Times and Sunday Times, Good University Guide (2021).
Why Aberystwyth University:
International Accommodation Award: International fee-paying students can receive either free (up to £4,000) or discounted (by £2,000) university accommodation – for every year of study.
Student Life: Be it a wander around its Georgian and Victorian streets, or a barbecue on the beach, Aberystwyth has a lively social scene, and its Students’ Union runs more than 100 clubs and societies from canoeing and computer gaming to moot debates and musical theatre. The Penglais campus is home to Wales’s largest Arts Centre with a boutique cinema, theatre and live music venue as well as exhibitions, classes, cafes, and a bar. If you love to read, the National Library of Wales is right next door to campus, providing a copy of every publication printed in Britain and Ireland.
Research Excellence: From understanding Politics and International Relations to developing sustainable bioenergy crops, or from the study of medieval history to the exploration of Mars, Aberystwyth has a long-standing reputation as a research led university. Lecturers include academics who are leaders in their respective fields of study who will share with students the latest thinking and discoveries in their subject area. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014), 95% of the research submitted by Aberystwyth University academics was considered world class, and the institution continues to build upon historic strengths in addition to exploring new frontiers of knowledge and understanding.
Employability: Alongside the modules students study for their degree, they will also be offered opportunities to help them to prepare for life after graduation. The Careers service provides a programme of workshops and training sessions to help students develop the skills they will need for their futures. Many courses will give students the chance to expand their horizons by spending part of their degree course studying abroad or in an industrial placement. And it works! with 97% of first-degree students in work or further study six months after graduating (Higher Education Statistics Agency 2018).
Student Satisfaction: Aberystwyth is recognized as one of the top 10 universities in the UK for student satisfaction according to the latest National Student Survey (2021). Outperforming the UK average figure by 8 percentage points.