About Us
IBERS is an internationally-recognised research and teaching centre
The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) is an internationally-recognised research and teaching centre providing a unique base for research in response to global challenges such as food security, bioenergy and sustainability, and the impacts of climate change. IBERS' scientists conduct research on genes and molecules, whole organisms and the environment.
Our innovating and research based teaching has been recognised by The Complete University Guide in the Times & Sunday Times as top 10 UK University for teaching quality in the subject area of agriculture and forestry and top 5 in the UK for research quality. Our Animal Science courses scored 2nd in the UK for teaching quality and we are the top 10 UK University for teaching quality and student experience for the subject area of Biological Sciences. (The Complete University Guide, The Times & The Sunday Times 2018).
Our teaching excellence is recognised by outstanding scores in the , with 91% overall satisfaction (NSS, 2017). Our full set of results are as follows:
| • Top in the UK for Microbiology student satisfaction |
| • Top in the UK for Molecular Biology student satisfaction |
| • Top in the UK for Zoology student satisfaction |
| • 2nd in the UK for Genetics student satisfaction |
| • 4th in the UK for Animal Science student satisfaction |
| • 95% student satisfaction for our C100 Biology degree scheme |
| • 96% student satisfaction for our C164 Marine & Freshwater Biology degree scheme |
| • 100% student satisfaction for our C300 Zoology degree scheme |
| • 94% student satisfaction for our C400 Genetics degree scheme |
| • 100% student satisfaction for our C500 Microbiology degree scheme |
| • 100% student satisfaction for our C700 Biochemistry degree scheme |
| • 100% student satisfaction for our CC47 Genetics and Biochemistry degree scheme |
In January 2018 we received Royal Society of Biology (RSB) Accreditation for 20 of our undergraduate bioscience courses. In addition, 5 of our Integrated Master’s courses were awarded Interim Royal Society of Biology (RSB) Advanced Accreditation status (becoming Advanced Accreditation when the first cohort of students graduate from the MBiol degree courses in the summer 2018.)
The latest employability data also shows that 97% of IBERS graduates were in work or further study six months after leaving Aberystwyth University (HESA 2017).
IBERS receives strategic research funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to support long term mission-driven research, and is a member of the National Institutes of Bioscience. IBERS also benefits from financial support from the Welsh Government, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the European Union.
With 360 members of staff, IBERS is the largest Institute within Aberystwyth University, teaching 1350 undergraduate students and more than 150 postgraduate students. IBERS is home to the National Plant Phenomics Centre, and the BEACON Centre of Excellence for Biorefining - a £20 million partnership between Aberystwyth, Bangor and Swansea Universities.
IBERS was also awarded a BBSRC Excellence With Impact Award in 2011.
IBERS works both with academic and industrial partners, developing and translating innovative bioscience research into solutions designed to mitigate the impacts of climate change and plant and animal diseases, and deliver renewable energy and food and water security.
Funding Partners:
