About Us

Since 1872, we have built a global reputation for teaching excellence and ground-breaking research. Today, we are home to students from all over the world. We pride ourselves on our welcome and inclusivity, while at the same time being a university rooted in excellence and research.

About Us

As the first University College in Wales, we have a long-standing reputation for delivering academic excellence, an exceptional student experience and world-leading research. 

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Research at Aberystwyth

Research and innovation are the lifeblood of Aberystwyth University. They deepen our knowledge and understanding, inform our teaching and enhance your learning experience, and deliver real benefits to everyday lives in Wales and the wider world. For Aberystwyth University, research really matters.

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Our Strategic Plan & Mission

Our mission is clear: to deliver inspirational education and research in a supportive, creative and exceptional environment in Wales. Building on our historical strengths and our reputation for excellence, we will contribute to society in Wales and the wider world by applying our knowledge to local and global challenges. Working within a  welcoming and bilingual community, we will use our expertise to cultivate critical thinking, independent questioning and skills that equip our learners for lives of success. 

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Our History

As the first University College in Wales, Aberystwyth has a long and distinguished tradition of teaching and research, and our establishment in the 19th century is one of the great stories of pioneering achievement in modern Welsh history.

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150th Anniversary

We're celebrating 150 years of academic heritage. 2022 marks 150 years since the foundation of Aberystwyth University – Wales’ first university - in 1872. The University and its current students and staff will join with our global community of alumni, and our friends and partners in Wales and throughout the world to celebrate our unique contribution and academic heritage. 

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A stunning location in which to live and learn

Aberystwyth is surrounded by a beautiful environment. Nestled between the Cambrian Mountains and Cardigan Bay, our location provides a rugged landscape of rolling hills, valleys, sand and sea. Even the famous national parks, of Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire, sit a short distance north and south of Aberystwyth. 

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Working at Aberystwyth University: Current Vacancies

Established in 1872, Aberystwyth University has developed into a strong academic and close-knit student community. There is nowhere quite like Aberystwyth; no other University offers the unique combination of long academic tradition, an outstandingly beautiful location, and a campus that brings together state-of-the-art facilities, a lively Arts Centre, and easy access to one of only five copyright libraries in Britain. Beneath the mountains and beside the sea, Aberystwyth is a centre of national and regional, as well as cultural and commercial, importance. 

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Environment & Sustainability

As the first university in the world to be awarded Plastic Free University status, we are committed to a net zero target by end of the financial year 2030-31. As we continue to reduce carbon emissions, we have a responsibility to contribute to a lasting change through our research and our teaching as well as how our organisation is run. 

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