Regulations for Approval of Qualifications and/or Relevant Experience for Admission to Higher Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates of Aberystwyth University

1. These Regulations relate to the admission of candidates to postgraduate study or research.

2. The minimum periods of candidature required for a master's degree of the University are one calendar year (full-time) and two calendar years (part-time). Aberystwyth University shall satisfy itself as to the candidate's fitness to pursue postgraduate work and master's degree candidates may be required to study for longer than these minimum periods.

3. Foundation degrees are of a standard below that of bachelor's degrees and thus do not enable holders of such qualifications to matriculate for postgraduate study with Aberystwyth University.

4. The University has approved the admission of the following to candidature for:

(a) The degree of PhD, pursued as a full-time or part-time candidate.
(b) Master's degrees, pursued as a full-time or part-time candidate.
(c) All postgraduate diplomas and certificates, pursued as a full-time or part-time candidate.

4.1 Graduates of degree-awarding Higher Education Institutions in the United Kingdom.

4.2 Graduates holding a degree awarded by the Council for National Academic Awards.

4.3 Graduates of any University, College or other Institution which is currently recognised by the UK ENIC (www.enic.org.uk) and whose degrees are considered comparable to at least UK Bachelor’s (Ordinary) standard.

4.4 Non-graduates with qualifications in Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Surgery, which are registrable in the UK.

4.5 Other non-graduates admitted on the basis of relevant experience:

(i) The University may also approve the admission to candidature of non-graduates whose relative lack of formal qualifications is compensated for by their relevant experience. Such a candidate must have held a position of responsibility of relevance to the proposed scheme of study for a minimum period of 24 months. This is to be verified at the decision stage of the application process by checking the application materials, particularly the references.

(ii) Non-graduates may be admitted in this way to candidature for Master's degrees, including MPhil, pursued as a full-time or part-time candidate.

(iii) Non-graduates may not be admitted to doctoral schemes.

5. Assessment of non-UK HE qualifications:

5.1 Applicants who possess qualifications that are considered below UK Bachelor’s (Ordinary) degree standard from Institutions recognised by the UK ENIC are not normally eligible to matriculate. However, if they have acquired additional HE experience since obtaining their qualification so that their cumulative learning experience is comparable to that of UK Bachelor’s (Ordinary) degree their cases may be considered by a Pro Vice-Chancellor if recommended by the AU Admissions Office and relevant academic department.

5.2 The AU Admissions Office asses the qualifications of applicants who possess non-UK qualifications.

5.3 The main source of reference is the UK National Information Centre for recognition and comparison of international qualifications and skills, which provides a web-based reference system and enquiry service (www.enic.org.uk).

6. The Award of AU Qualifications to incoming Exchange Year:

6.1 Awards of postgraduate qualifications of the Aberystwyth University may be made to incoming exchange students in cases where each of the following criteria are satisfied:

(i) the student possessed, at the time of entry, qualifications which were recognised for the purposes of admission to study (in the case of students following a postgraduate scheme, therefore, the provisions of these Regulations must be applied);

(ii) the appropriate tuition fee had been paid;

(iii) it is clear that the learning acquired by the student in pursuit of their AU qualification would not contribute in any way toward the scheme of study being followed at the ‘home’ institution.

 

Updated: June 2025