Aberystwyth University, located in Aberystwyth, Wales, is a public research university with a global reputation for teaching excellence and ground-breaking research. Founded in 1872 as University College Wales, Aberystwyth, it became a founder member of the University of Wales in 1894. On September 1, 2007, it regained its independence when the University of Wales ceased to be a federal university.
Aberystwyth University History and Location
Aberystwyth University holds the distinction of being the first University institution in Wales to provide courses in a wide array of subjects, including Chemistry, English Language and Literature, French Language and Literature, Geography, German, Greek, Hebrew, History, Italian, Latin, Logic and Philosophy, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Astronomy.
Nestled between the Cambrian Mountains and Cardigan Bay, the university's location provides a rugged landscape of rolling hills, valleys, sand, and sea.
Faculties and Departments
The university has over 8,000 students across three academic faculties and 17 departments. These faculties include:
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Business and Physical Sciences
- Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences
Within these faculties are various departments and schools, such as the Aberystwyth Business School, the Department of Computer Science, the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), and the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences.
Achievements and Recognition
Aberystwyth University has received several awards and recognition, including:
- Being named University of the Year for Teaching Quality
- Being the first university in the world to be awarded Plastic Free University status
- Achieving an EcoCampus Silver Phase award in October 2014
- Becoming the first university campus in Wales to achieve the Green Flag Award for its Penglais Campus in October 2015
The university's crest includes the legend: "Nid Byd, Byd Heb Wybodaeth" ("A World Without Knowledge, Is No World").