Aberystwyth University is a public research university in Aberystwyth, Wales founded in 1872 as University College Wales, Aberystwyth. The university complex which was initially a hotel started with just 26 students and was regarded as the people's University by the people of the town of Aberystwyth. Prided as the first University in Wales to offer courses in Chemistry, Natural Sciences, and Astronomy, Comparative Philology, Mathematics, English Language and Literature, among others, the school now holds a top position in the list of UK universities for drawing international students through its reputation, exceptional students experience, and teaching excellence

Rankings

RGU is ranked:

  • 401st – 500th in 2023 World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
  • 57th in the list of 2023 Best Global Universities in the United Kingdom by U.S. News and Report
  • 327th in the list of 2023 Best Global Universities in Europe by U.S. News and Report
  • 733rd in the list of 2023 Best Global Universities by U.S. News and Report
  • 484th in 2023 QS Global World Ranking

Highlights

Type of Institution Public
Campus Setting Urban
Endowment £48.4 million
Official Website https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/
Number of campuses Three campuses
Number/Percentage of International Students 18%
Total number of Professors 395
Student Satisfaction Rate 90%
Graduate Job Rate 92%
Number of Residence Vacancy 3100
International Fee £13,200-14,750
Number of Academic Programmes Undergraduate & Postgraduate
Mode of Programme Full time, online and distance learning
Scholarship Investment £40,000
Average Graduate Salary £18,500 a year
Residential Investment £45 million
Admissions Helpdesk +44 [0] 1970 622021,
ug-admissions@aber.ac.uk

Campus

  • Aberystwyth University is housed on three Campuses; Penglais, Llanbadarn, and Gogerddan
  • The Penglais campus located in Penglais, Aberystwyth SY23 3FL, United Kingdom and acts as the main campus of the university
  • Penglais often referred to as cultural capital of Wales is some distance away from the historic seaside town of Aberystwyth
  • Penglais campus is also home to the largest Arts Centre in Wales with a boutique cinema, theatre and live music venues
  • The campus is locked between the Cambrian Mountains and Cardigan Bay.
  • The Penglais campus location is characterized by the rugged landscape of rolling hills, sea, valleys, and surrounded with colorful Victorian architecture
  • With over 50 competitive sports clubs and 100 societies along with Aberystwyth’s location, provide the perfect avenue to share interests, make friends and grow in community
  • The Gogerddan Campus meets the research need of the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, as the facilities for these programs are located there
  • The Gogerddan Campus is proposed to also be the home to the 40.5 million GPD Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus
  • The original home of the University - the Old College on the seafront is used as rehearsal spaces for students.
  • The University Sports Facilities include floodlit 3G pitch, over 50 acres of green playing fields, a gym, swimming pool and samarium, spinning room, dance room, climbing wall, and others
  • Lecture halls are installed with lecture capture technology which records classes for students to watch again during study or revision

Residence

  • There is guaranteed accommodation at University-owned or managed residences for all freshmen and first-year graduate students
  • The residence halls and apartments are located a short distance away from lecture theatres, laboratories, and sport facilities
  • There are seven halls of residence on campus with several types and styles of rooms like studios, studio flats, standard bedrooms with shared kitchen, apartments, etc.
  • Annual accommodation fee for 2023/2024 academic session ranges from 3,721 GBP to 6,360 GBP
  • Accommodation fee is included in the normal tuition fees
  • The provision of a network connection, energy, personal contents insurance and Sports Centre membership are all included in the accommodation fees
  • Freshmen living at Pantycelyn Hall for 2023/2024 academic sessions enjoy 100% accommodation fee waiver
  • Students who choose not to live on campus can live in private sector accommodation
  • The university housing also have facilities for students with disabilities

Programs

  • Aberystwyth University offers pre-professional degree, single honors, joint honors, major/minor, distance learning, bachelors, masters, integrated masters, M.Phil, doctoral, and other specialized certificate programs
  • Aberystwyth University also offer fee-paying Study Year Abroad program to students from all institution in the world to study at Aberystwyth for a semester or full academic year
  • The university offers an excellent Study Abroad scheme at one of Aberystwyth Universities' partner institutions to give students an international experience
  • The school also offers some free courses for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students such as Art and Design, Creative Writing, Photography, Philosophy, etc.
  • Summer programs are also offered in the school
  • From Mars exploration to the study of medieval history to the development of bioenergy crops, Aberystwyth University is widely known for its research prowess.

Application Process

International students seeking admissions at the University can follow the below-mentioned admission details:

  • Application portal:

Undergraduate: UCAS and Direct Undergraduate Application

Graduate: Online Postgraduate Application Portal Or Offline Application by post or mail

  • Application fee: Undergraduate: UCAS applicants pay 13 GBP.

Graduate: Free

  • Application Deadlines
    • Undergraduate: June 30th
    • Graduate: February 28th

Supporting documents:

Undergraduate:

  • Academic transcripts and Education History
  • personal statement
  • References
  • Proof of English Language proficiency
  • Copy of Passport with photograph page
  • Proof of Sponsorship or Scholarship
  • Specific program requirements

Graduate:

  • Two to three References
  • Copies of University transcripts (certified translated copies are required if the original document is not in English or Welsh)
  • Copies of Degree certificates (certified translated copies are required if the original document is not in English or Welsh)
  • A personal statement within 1-2 pages
  • Curriculum Vitae (optional)
  • English language certificates
  • Further supplementary documents are required by the Department of English and Creative Writing.

English language requirements: The English language test accepted and the required scores are presented in the table below:

Test Undergraduate Graduate
IELTS 6.5 6.5
PTE Academic 59 62
TOEFL iBT 88 93
Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) 155 162

Note:

  • Masters program like English Literature and Creative Writing (Masters), Geography and Earth Sciences, International Politics, Psychology, and Theatre, Film and Television Studies requires a higher language score
  • For other tests accepted, applicants should check the application page

Cost of Attendance

Presented in the table below is the estimated cost of attendance for the 2023/2024 academic session

Cost Amount per annum (GBP)
Tuition fees 13,600 – 16,800
Food, Laundry & Toiletries 1,800
Books, Equipment & Stationery 150
Social 1,170
Clothing 200
Travel Home 200
T.V. Licence 150.50
Extras 400
Total 17,670.5 – 20,870.5

Note: The cost of attendance given above is just an estimate. Costs may differ due to the student's choice of accommodation, program, level, nationality, social activities, or lifestyle.

Financial Aid

  • Several forms of financial aid to aid students to scale through financial hurdles are available
  • On-campus part-time jobs are offered to international students with remuneration ranging from fee waivers, stipend, and others.
  • International students can also partake in Year in Employment scheme
  • Financial aid in the form of free accommodation is also offered to international students
  • Some Scholarship available to international students at Aberystwyth include:
    • International Excellence Scholarships worth 8,000 GBP for three years
    • Chevening Scholarships with varying worth
    • CommonWealth Scholarship with varying worth

Alumni

63,000 alumni living across 158 countries of the institution stay connected in the network

Aberystwyth University alumni benefits include:

  • Network
  • Volunteering opportunities.
  • Alumni events

Notable alumni:

  • Charles - Prince of Wales
  • Lisa Surihani – Malaysian Actress
  • Hugh Owen - Educator

Placement

  • According to a study by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in 2018, 96.8% of graduates were either working or engage in further study six months after graduating from the University in 2017
  • 97% of graduates from the Business School and School of Art were employed, self-employed or engage in further study within 6 months, 3% more than Business and Administrative Studies and Creative Arts and Design graduates nationally
  • Internships are integrated into the program curriculum to allow students to gain experience in a company in their chosen field of study.
  • The school also offer Year in Employment Scheme which is an opportunity for students to engage in 12 months paid job in the U.K or overseas between the second and third year of study
  • The University also offers Careers Service to help mentor and guide students in making career choices
  • According to PayScale, the average salary of Aberystwyth University graduates is 29,000 GBP