University in United Kingdom
Aberystwyth, Wales, United Kingdom
University profile
Aberystwyth University, on the west coast of Wales between the Cambrian Mountains and Cardigan Bay, opened in 1872 as the first university college in Wales. It is a research-led, bilingual university with more than 6,000 students and over 2,000 staff, and its Welsh-medium provision is among the most extensive in Wales, running across subjects from agriculture and animal science to childhood studies and politics.
Teaching is centred on the Penglais Campus on the hill above the town, with the Gogerddan campus on the outskirts of Aberystwyth for plant, crop and agri-tech science, the Llanbadarn campus, the School of Art in the Edward Davies building in town, and the Grade I listed Old College on the seafront, which is being transformed into a centre for learning, heritage, culture and enterprise.
Its 22 academic departments are organised into two faculties. The Faculty of Humanities covers the School of Art, Aberystwyth Business School, the School of Education, English & Creative Writing, History & Welsh History, Information Studies, International Politics, Law & Criminology, Modern Languages, Theatre, Film & Television Studies, and Welsh & Celtic Studies. The Faculty of Sciences covers Computer Science, Geography & Earth Sciences, the Healthcare Education Centre (nursing), Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology and the Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science, the first and only veterinary school in Wales. The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), the International English Centre and Lifelong Learning complete the academic structure.
A chair of International Politics endowed in 1918 let Aberystwyth pioneer that discipline, and in 1931 it created the world's first chair of Welsh History. IBERS at Gogerddan is one of eight BBSRC-funded research institutes and provides the UK's national capability in grassland and plant breeding science.
Student life centres on Penglais, home to the Students' Union (Undeb Aberystwyth) with more than 100 clubs and societies, a Sports Centre with a swimming pool, 130-station gym, floodlit 3G pitch and squash courts, and the Aberystwyth Arts Centre with its 1,200-seat concert hall. First-year undergraduates are guaranteed university owned or managed accommodation, and Welsh-speaking students can live in dedicated Welsh-medium halls such as Pantycelyn.
The University welcomes students from more than 100 countries. International students can enter through an on-campus International Foundation Programme and pre-sessional English courses at the International English Centre, and most are eligible for the International Accommodation Award of free university housing for a year. The University gained independent degree-awarding powers from the Privy Council in 2007, and many of its degrees are accredited by professional bodies.
The tuition fee for Home undergraduate students (UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man) is £9,790 a year for courses beginning in 2026/27, the Welsh Government maximum, and also applies to Integrated Master's programmes; any change for 2027 entry is notified by the end of June. The classroom-based foundation year on selected business and social science schemes costs £5,760 for 2026/27.
International tuition fees (fixed at the entry-year level for undergraduates):
International postgraduate research fees rise annually in line with UK Research Council fees. Fieldwork trips and materials such as art supplies may cost extra.
The University also accepts U.S. federal loans and GI Bill (VA) funding. Contact: [email protected], +44 (0)1970 622990.
Awards are paid through Aber Aspire in two instalments, at the end of the first full week of December and of March, and do not have to be repaid if the terms are met. The Sanctuary Scholarship supports students seeking sanctuary. Students can also take paid part-time work through AberWorks (up to 15 hours a week in term), and the NASMA-accredited Advice and Money Service can offer financial help for unforeseen circumstances.
Postgraduate scholarships depend on subject, level and nationality, and an online Postgraduate Scholarships Calculator matches applicants to available awards. Contact: [email protected], 01970 622065.
Scholarships and bursaries | International scholarships | Tuition fees | International fees
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View scholarships for Aberystwyth University →Applications for undergraduate degrees are made through UCAS (up to five choices, with a reference and the UCAS application fee). Entry requirements vary by course and are set out on each course page as a range, usually as UCAS tariff points; when an applicant offers a mix of tariff-rated qualifications, the offer is made in tariff points. Accepted qualifications include A levels, AS levels, the Welsh Baccalaureate, the International Baccalaureate, the European Baccalaureate, BTEC and other vocational qualifications, HNDs and foundation degrees, and Access courses. Courses normally also require a minimum GCSE profile, and some carry subject-specific requirements. Integrated foundation years are available on many schemes.
Late applicants who miss the UCAS deadline can still apply for September entry through UCAS, and places are offered through Clearing.
Applicants through UCAS may receive an offer up to two grades or up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the typical requirement if they are estranged from their parents, have been in care, have caring responsibilities, live in a disadvantaged area, hold refugee or asylum seeker status, or are the first in their immediate family to go to university. Subject-specific requirements still apply. Participants in the Welsh Government's Seren Network should email [email protected] to be considered.
Nursing applicants are invited to interview and need an enhanced DBS check and occupational health screening. Applicants to BVSc Veterinary Science apply to the Royal Veterinary College (UCAS institution code R84) rather than to Aberystwyth, and the RVC's admissions criteria apply. Veterinary Nursing requires a specified amount of relevant work experience. Courses needing an interview or portfolio review are referred to the academic department.
Undergraduate applicants can sit the optional Aberystwyth University Scholarships and Merit Awards exam at their UK school or college; for 2027 entry it is held on Tuesday 2 February 2027. Strong performance can lead to an unconditional offer as well as a financial award. Veterinary Science and Nursing applicants are not eligible.
International students apply through UCAS, directly to the University if not registered with UCAS, or through the Common App (students from the USA). Country-specific pages give the accepted national qualifications and grades. Applicants for a foundation or direct-entry Bachelor's programme must normally have completed their last period of study within two years of the course start date.
The International Foundation Programme, taught on campus by Aberystwyth academics and marketed globally by David Game College, runs as a one-year programme (September start), a fast-track programme (January start) or as part of a four-year degree. Pathways cover Business, Economics & Finance; Computer Science & Technology; Humanities & Social Sciences; and Science & Engineering. Successful completion gives guaranteed progression to the chosen degree.
Tests and qualifications accepted are those that meet at least CEFR B2 in each component, and test results are valid for two years. Nationals of countries where English is an official language recognised by the Home Office, and holders of a degree from a majority English-speaking country, are exempt.
Postgraduate applications are made online through the Postgraduate Admissions Application Portal using the "Apply Now" button on the course page, with a personal statement of about one side of A4, a CV, transcripts and references (one for taught Master's, two for research degrees). Applications are accepted throughout the year while places remain. Most taught programmes start in late September, with a January intake for MBA and some MSc courses. International applicants for taught programmes should apply at least three months before the start date, and distance-learning applicants at least two months before. Research degree (PhD, MPhil, LLM by Research) applicants should apply by the end of January to be considered for a fully funded place; research study can begin in late September or late January/early February. Research applicants normally need a 2:1 Bachelor's degree or equivalent and/or a Master's degree. Applicants planning to bring family should generally apply before the end of February.
Students needing a Student visa must meet all offer conditions before a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is issued, which can be up to six months before the course starts. The CAS process runs through the Enroly CAS Shield system and may include a pre-CAS recorded interview, a tuition fee deposit (the amount is set out in the offer letter) and financial evidence. The current final deadline for paying the deposit and uploading documents is 11 December 2026. CAS requests are normally processed within 14 business days. Non-English documents need certified professional translations.
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