OVERVIEW

We believe that finding your perfect university is all about finding the best balance between a quality education and superb student life. That is exactly what you’ll find at Aberystwyth University.

The establishment of Aberystwyth University is one of the great romantic, indeed heroic, stories of modern Welsh history. It was the work of a small group of patriots, led by Hugh Owen, a London Welshman, who sought from the 1850s onwards to raise enough money by public and private subscription to establish a college of university status in Wales. It was almost an impossible ambition. In 1872, the University was opened in a half-finished hotel building on the sea front in Aberystwyth. There were 26 ill-prepared students and a teaching staff of three.

  • UK University of the Year for Teaching Quality- Good University Guide 2018, The Times & Sunday Times 2018 
  • Top 5 in the UK and Best in Wales for student satisfaction, NSS 2017* 
  • 3rd in Wales in the Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2016 
  • A top 40 UK University according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016-17 
  • The safest place to study in Wales and amongst the 10 safest in the UK, the Complete University Guide 2016 
  • 95% of graduates are in employment or further education 6 months after graduating, DLHE 2017 
  • 95% of the University’s research is of an internationally recognised standard, REF 2014 

*Aberystwyth University’s rankings are compared against the HE institutions listed in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018

ACCOMMODATION

Home of Aberystwyth University and the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth town is perfectly nestled between the mountains and Cardigan Bay. Aberystwyth is a lively university town and a home-from-home to 9,000 students. Throughout the year the vibrant town is filled with students from around the world or buzzing with tourists, enjoying Aberystwyth’s sights, creating an evident cosmopolitan feel to this Welsh seaside town.

Everyone is made to feel welcome in this truly unique corner of the world. Very recently Aberystwyth was announced as one of the safest places to study in the UK and the safest in Wales by the Complete University Guide survey, 2016. The town’s sense of community also extends to the University, students and staff have a unique relationship and teaching staff very much pride themselves on their open door policy.The University’s exceptionality is also demonstrated by the facilities, the state of the art lecture theatres, the fully stocked library, sector leading state of the art halls of residence, not to mention the virtual learning environment with thousands of hours of recorded lectures available to support our student’s studies. Aber is set in a truly beautiful part of the world and yes it is amongst the safest places to study in the country, but what truly makes Aberystwyth University special is the students.

The University is spread over three Campuses; Penglais, Llanbadarn and Gogerddan. Penglais and Llanbadarn campuses are conveniently located within a stone’s throw away from the town, and are geared towards making student life convenient. The Gogerddan Campus is the research home of the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, and the soon to be developed £40.5m Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus.The Old College on the seafront is the original home of the University, and provides rehearsal spaces for students. The School of Art, which also has a gallery and museum, is located within the town in a beautiful Edwardian Building.The links below will direct you to various parts of the Aberystwyth University website for you to find out a bit more about our facilities.