Ratings and Reviews
I feel very safe and welcome here, even as an international student. The international team does not stop giving opportunities to us and help throughout the year. Every department goes above and beyond to be as involved with students as they can. It makes me feel very welcomed.
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Aberystwyth University Hall Rankings
| Fferm Penglais | #1 |
| Pentre Jane Morgan | #2 |
| Rosser | #3 |
| Cwrt Mawr | #4 |
| Trefloyne | #5 |
| Pantycelyn | #6 |
| Alexandra Hall | #7 |
*Minimum 10 reviews required to be ranked.
Students' Union at Aberystwyth University
StudentCrowd Students' Union score: 3.67 / 5
Ratings and Reviews
I feel very safe and welcome here, even as an international student. The international team does not stop giving opportunities to us and help throughout the year. Every department goes above and beyond to be as involved with students as they can. It makes me feel very welcomed.
Applying to Aberystwyth University
- Entry Requirements
96-144 UCAS Points
Average range for Aberystwyth University entry requirements. Varies depending on the course.
Aberystwyth University Reputation
Aberystwyth University is located in the town of Aberystwyth, in the county of Ceredigion in West Wales. 8,415 students are enrolled at Aberystwyth University:
- 7,070 of these students come from the UK
- 445 come from EU countries
- And 900 are students from non-EU countries.
(Source: HESA 2022/23)
The graduate outcomes for Aberystwyth University show that six months after leaving university, 90% of graduates are in work or further study. The typical graduate salary six months after leaving Aberystwyth University, is £18 - £21K a year.
(Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes Data Survey 2023 for 2020/21 graduates)
Updated: 4th October 2024
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The uni is not designed for mobility issues, some attempts have been made to address this, although certain areas require much more attention. They need to employ more one to one support tutors, I didn’t mine until 2 weeks before my final Reserch paper was due. There needs to be consideration given to neurodiversity, sadly this wasn’t the case when they upgraded the gym, making it unbearable for some neurodivergent people. The staff on the whole are extremely kind, as always you get the odd one. Some of the buildings require major maintenance. Tutors are very knowledgeable and keen to impart their skills, as well as coaxing personal development. For the most part I have been satisfied by my time here. Library and tech staff are outstanding and a tremendous asset to the university.
Thank you so much for your valuable feedback. We’re really glad to hear your thoughts, and we’re committed to making our facilities and services more accessible and welcoming for everyone. We’ve made a few updates at the new gym: we now offer specific quiet gym inductions, and the music volume has been turned down at all times. If you’d prefer a completely quiet environment, feel free to reach out to the sports centre team - they’d be happy to organise some music-free times for students. Additionally, we’ve dimmed the lighting since the gym first opened and added colour to the walls, giving the space a more welcoming and visually varied look. We also have a Safe Space Gym available, a dedicated area designed for students who may feel anxious around noise or crowds. This smaller gym space is ideal for individual workouts or training with a buddy. You can book this room through our app, and it’s open during the same hours as the main gym. Thanks again for helping us create a more comfortable and inclusive space. Best wishes, Del.
Aberystwyth, whilst being a fantastic educational institution, does lack behind others in aesthetical points. But that doesnt take away from the services it provides. The Arts Centre is a really interesting place, the cafe and then bar on the top floor offer great services and drinks, whilst exhibits like the 'On Divorce' one currently on are really striking experiences that leave you feeling satisfied all the while still asking questions and being even more curious than before. The SU is also to a very good standard, with Uni and Independent events being held in the main room and the social spaces being adequate for simply meeting with mates after a long day on the books.
Hi, thank you for sharing your thoughts! I'm glad to hear you’re pleased with the education you’ve received, especially since we were voted Top in Wales and 3rd in the UK for Teaching Quality (Good University Guide 2024, The Times and Sunday Times). We take pride in our Arts Centre, which features exciting exhibitions, and our Students' Union, which hosts numerous events and supports over 130 societies. We hope you continue to enjoy all that Aberystwyth has to offer. Cerys
If you’ve got needs of the special acquiring like ADHD or dyslexia, although you autistic they will help you and they’ll go above and beyond what they need to do for you
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience. We’re glad to hear you feel so well-supported. Our student support team and the wider university staff work hard to provide personalised support and accessibility services, helping every student engage fully in university life, both academically and socially. It’s wonderful to know you’ve felt the benefits. Cerys
I feel very safe and welcome here, even as an international student. The international team does not stop giving opportunities to us and help throughout the year. Every department goes above and beyond to be as involved with students as they can. It makes me feel very welcomed.
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience It’s great to hear that you feel safe and welcome here at Aberystwyth. Supporting students and creating a warm, inclusive community is a top priority for us, so your positive feedback about the international team and the departments means a lot. Cerys
Very good facilities and the university staff are also well available to help with water issues.
Hi, I’m glad to hear you got the help you needed with the water issues and thank you for the positive feedback on our facilities. We’re really proud to have been ranked in the top 5 for our facilities in last year’s WhatUni? Student Choice Awards. Del
Great experience, so far. I'm really enjoying my time here. The university is doing it's best to make us feel like home. They take the student experience very serious.
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience. Great to hear that you're enjoying your time here. Student support is a top priority for the University, so your positive feedback about student experience is really valuable. Best wishes, Del
Overall very good for a small uni
Hi, thank you for the great feedback! Del
Overall, a really good uni, with very good facilities and teaching staff are helpful and engaging. The SU is very well run, with the Officers being very approachable and kind.
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience with us — I'm glad you’re enjoying Aberystwyth and getting involved with the Students’ Union. The SU is student-led and supported by staff to offer a variety of benefits and opportunities, like over 100 sports clubs and societies, spaces to study and socialise, and opportunities to campaign on issues that matter to you. It’s a fantastic place to meet new people, make friends, and build a sense of community. Plus, SU staff are here to provide independent support, whether academic, welfare, or financial, if you ever need it. Best wishes, Del.
The university makes it clear to me that they care about graduate employment. I feel like I am given a good foundation, a strong support network for reaching my ambitions. Tutorship is plentiful in all regards, career advice is practiceable and accessible, and student life on-campus is enjoyable, even if not quite as good as (for example, from personal experience) UoB.
Hi, thanks for sharing your experiences on campus and with our career services. We have an online portal called ABERcareers just for Aber students and graduates. It offers access to employer events, career and skills workshops, a database with over 7,000 global job opportunities (including placements and year-in-industry roles), 1:1 career guidance, a Q&A section, and resources to help you with career planning. Best wishes, Del
Just don’t go if you don’t like going out at night and drinking, otherwise it’s very good. Also it’s not the best for sports. It is also a pain to travel to. If I knew this 3 years ago I would not have gone. On one hand I kind of regret going, but I also learned so much (not academically, but about myself).
Good facilities, wide range of clubs and societies so everyone is likely to be able to find something that suits them
Marking criteria depends upon ethnicity and skin colour. Courses are more focused on theory rather than practical and as an international student I felt more attention and focus is only on home students and marking them nicely .
University is lovely with cafes on campus (more expensive than in town) many clubs and societies and very welcoming people.
For international students it very bad University and waste of time and money
The Welsh and Celtic department is amazing, and the arts centre is a calming environment when there aren't dozens of children running around. The libraries are good, especially the Physical Sciences library which needs a bit more love and attention but is otherwise peak library vibes.
it’s good but not a lot to do and it’s a very small town
It's a great learning experience I feel like every year I have a favourite lecturer who is standout and makes classes feel really fun and the schedule is usually is great too.
I love it here but some of the accommodation is a bit sh*t. A bit rough they put the forgein exchange students in the black mould filled cheapest accom. Nice seaside view.
aber is a good uni, very fun and wild but so remote.
Great place to be overall. Teaching styles are fantastic and lecturers make an effort to help you understand if you need more support.
Pros: Good value accommodation (choose Fferm Penglais) Relatively safe town - watch out for bad driving Plenty of shops and cafes in town Beautiful surrounding countryside and beach Cons: University campus is soulless at first encounter and doesn’t get much better Lectures are rushed through so you may as well just stay home and watch the lecture recordings at your own speed, to be able to learn and create decent notes Lack of engagement from the lecturer with students in the lectures, you just sit and listen to somebody read through a PowerPoint presentation, with no opportunity for questions and feedback Accommodation is soulless and you will feel incredibly isolated, even if you love peace and quiet A predatory male flat resident was reported to the Accommodation Office, and they could not take any action unless they had CCTV footage of an incident - you have to wait until someone gets assaulted on CCTV before they will do anything
Aberystwyth is a great place for students from around the world. You get a unique learning experience in a small town with the sea right outside your door (beware of the hungry seagulls).
I am thoroughly enjoying my time at Uni and would highly recommend!
Aberystwyth University have amazing course options and excellent online resources
The university offers over 100 clubs and societies and have state of the art facilities such as a running track, an arts centre and a well-equipped gym
Nothing short of absolutely amazing.
not been on campus at all but great sesh
I studied a bachelor's degree in a business department in 2017-2020, and as an international student, I really enjoyed the way teachers approached me. I was lucky enough to be assigned a very caring tutor who helped me plenty of times. Teachers, in general, were very helpful and were always trying to make sure that the class understands what's going on during or after the lecture. Lectures were published on the internal blackboard mostly on time. I want to emphasize I was not a sociable person and therefore I enjoyed a small picturesque town and its landscapes. It may be quite boring for demanding students who look for an entertainment. I had no experience with students union. Great internet in the university accommodation + immensely helpful when something gets broken. Easy to contact. The only thing I was dissatisfied was the careers service in terms of personal consultations. The careers service is strictly focused on job hunting but rarely mentions about personal development.
The university is lovely. Staff are incredibly helpful and supportive. The students are are also really very nice. It's a safe environment to be a part of.
Good University with good teachings..
Student union poor, societies often neglected
Great supportive University Sadly not very enviromentally friendly, still cutting down dress and plants.
I went to Aber between 1993 / 1994. I have been reading some of the reviews from students over the last 5 yrs, in particular about the poor quality of teaching and lack of support, favouritism/ nepotism towards the Wels, poor facilities, accommodation/ counselling problems, poor provision for mental health, lack of entertainment and things to do. I absolutely agree with what's been written as I too experienced the same things all those years ago, and was shocked to discover that things have not changed in 27 yrs. There was an anglophobic ethos to this University when I studied there ( not sure if things have changed today), the tutors merely critised me but did not help me to gain teaching skills so as to pass my PGCE. The schools I attended where just as bad and there was a feeling that one was being socially rejected for being English. This University was not good for post graduate study or in regard to supporting students having mental health issues. I do not recommend this Uni
Campus is awful, SU are essentially bankrupt and staff don’t know what they’re talking about half of the time
What the uni lacks in size it deffo makes up for in location and teaching quality.
Great smaller university. SU could be better
Completely underwhelmed by the whole Aber uni experience. Aber the town is amazing, can't fault it. But the uni is another matter. From disengaged personal tutors to blatant favouritism in workshops, the whole BA experience was, looking back, one that should be totally avoided. The culmination was on Graduation Day when one of the "lecturers" walked on stage to receive his MA. Put in an appeal re. several issues including the strike and lack of lectures/help in the final semester, to be told that the "strike had had absolutely no effect" on final grades (only 30% of lectures took place for some modules!). Ludicrous, ostrich-like attitude and quite frankly totally arrogant. Hope they can sleep at night, knowing what a poor deal was delivered in the 2017-18 academic year.
I love this university! Main campus is only a 5 min walk from the town and then another 5 mins on top of that to get to the beautiful beaches. I only thing I can think of that can make this uni lose points is the union, they used to be amazing but this past year have gone down a bit. The surrounding areas are stunning!
I am a first year student who needs extra help with my English being dyslexic Aberystwyth allows that extra help and contact I need. It being a smaller uni the lecturers get to know u all personally which makes learning easier. There is also a club for everything u can imagine from rugby to car enthusiasts from waterpolo to tennis there is a club for u
Fantastic University. I have loved every minute of it so far and don't want it all to end. I don't want to leave Aberystwyth as it is such a beautiful place and the people are so welcoming.
I'm going to be blunt with you DO NOT LIVE IN FFERM PENGLAIS. Constant inspections where the accommodation office will fail you for absolutely ludicrous things (dishes should not be left on the draining board is one of my personal favourites.) They will find any excuse to charge you, or take your deposit away. If you do decide to live here PRAY that you end up with nice people because the accommodation office will do absolutely nothing except patronise you if you complain to them about a hall mate. If you are living here, then good luck is the only thing I can say to you.
In the nicest possible way, Aberystwyth and its staff were useless - they discontinued my course and only notified me via one email, then gave me a form to switch to a different course at that university, and not one to switch to somewhere else. I rang Aberystwyth three times trying to sort out a place at a different university but they said it basically wasn't their problem and they wish me the best of luck. Long story short I'm now enrolled at York St. John University after an unconditional offer from them, and am starting in September. Aberystwyth caused me an unnecessary amount of stress, and I pray they sort themselves out soon.
Facilities are either brand new or old but perfectly reasonable. The Hugh Owen library especially is brilliant, and open 24/7. There's huge amounts of support from a variety of different sources, from a dedicated student wellbeing building, student finance, careers advisers and drop ins, personal tutor groups and friendly lecturers. The student union tries really hard but unless you're really into partying it all gets a bit too much, but there have been some cool stuff like vintage kilo sales organised. There's masses of societies, but some can be a bit expensive. In this location there's opportunities you wouldn't get elsewhere, like kayaking and mountaineering.
Internet is just awful and inconsistent, it has significantly reduced my video game time to about 4 hours which still infuriates me, but everything else is fantastic but expensive (compared to Birmingham prices if that helps)
Careers are rude but other than that everything is fantastic
Lovely place amazing people and location
A great choice of activities, big halls and accommodations, friendly staff
Great selection of clubs/ societies however the union isn't fantastic, it tries to create events and an atmosphere but due to the size of the building and budget the events aren't plentiful.
Lovely location with good facilities Warm and friendly, everyone knows each other and is a real community
This is honestly really good for such a small town.
Great uni, great people, amazing views, hilarious societies, slightly repressive SU, internet likes to drop for 3 or 4 seconds every hour or so (Not much of a big deal but when playing games that's a pain)
Great location, good atmosphere.
The union isn't great, but that's just due to funding.
Aber is, overall, a close-knit, welcoming place to study. The campus and town are easy walking distance, and you don't need a car. Being by the seaside is also a plus. If you can endure the harsh winter tides, you'll be rewarded with beautiful sunsets and summer barbecues. The campus is ugly, no doubt, but it has all of the facilities you could need, including libraries, computer rooms, food shops and the union restaurant, which also does good takeaway, sports facilities, and more. There are clubs and societies for most things, but some are much better run than others. The union could use better marketing, as often, when they hold events, we don't hear about them until they're over or they're scheduled for when everyone has assignments to do. Internet connectivity is generally good around campus. The careers services are definitely a drawback. I went in once and they just referred me to a website. I was the only one there, but they rushed me out like they had better things to do.
Plenty of good clubs to choose from. Difficult to be in a sports team if you don't fancy getting drunk every wednesday.
Plenty of societies and sports clubs to be involved in, the campus is pretty with lots of green spaces and communal areas.
Really enjoy the uni, a few issues but nothing major, the societies are awesome
I've loved my first semester here, it's been hard at times but the support network for students is always there and they're great. Everyone here is generally lovely and the accomodation is pretty nice too!
I've been here for just over two months now and I'm having an amazing time. I've joined some great clubs including WUOTC (Officer training corps). You can swim in the sea when it's calm and it's a great experience.
Nice, close nit community of students, but the resources and facilities of the university just aren't that good
There's no place on Earth like Aber, beside the homicidal seagulls it's a brilliant place to live and study!
Really good university, with good lecturers and resources. Be careful with where you choose to live though, do your research !!
Good uni for social interaction
Great array of activities for students in a town so small that you have to make your own entertainment. ABER Rag put on the best socials, not forgetting the May Ball. Space Female of the Species were our grad ball headline act.
Aber is the Welsh Cambridge....fact
Overall the facilities aren't bad, SU has lots of options for food and drink, the Arts Center has access to new movies and exhibitions, the campus isnt hard to get around, internet everywhere (but the 12GB cap is a pain). Societies are great if you plan on drinking. ALOT. Or just doing specific non-drinking activities (like cards, or D&D, sports if you're into that, even just hanging around people with the same interest as you...) but usually aa drinking component will be a pretty instrumental part of the social. Career Services are not taken very seriously, and I don't have much experience using them myself just yet, but they will become a big part of your life in 3rd year and can help find jobs around the town during the year if you want/need one. Overall, Aber is a great uni to be at (if you dont like cities, prefer countryside, are prepared for strong winds/rain and for the occasional mix ups with people speaking welsh to you).
the Union could do with updating and better events
Overall a decent uni could do with modernising alot of stuff
One of the greatest unis in the country and a lovely town to live in too
overall a satisfactory university. No more, no less
I still live there... that's say it all really. The best years of my life and it really prepared me for adulthood and the big bad job world. I'm successful in my career now and I have Aberystwyth University to thank for that.
Computer facilities are plentiful and fast, there is a society for everything and the union regularly hosts big events worth going to. The careers service appears to largely sit in the background, what little has been heard from them is usually about services or events that can only be attended at specific times. The one time I dropped in, I was turned away with a URL to go to that had nothing of use on it when I visited it. Despite this, they are friendly people working there and I'm sure that with enough digging, appropriate help could be found. The internet can be patchy, there have been a couple of outages/major drops in speed since arriving, and the internet cap is something that very few other universities enforce. The automatic blocking of all ports is also an unusual practice and is a complete pain at the best of times. When all working properly, through allowed ports, it is a fast connection though.
I couldn't have found a better university. I love living in Aber, and I love the uni. We are a relatively small uni, but for the size they try and do their best for us.
The campus is overall an okay campus, the buildings are quite dated from the outside, but on the inside, most have been refurbished so they look nice. In terms of facilities, they are lots off different things skattered around the campus, such as the su, pubs, shops, takeaways, clubs, lounges, cafes, theatres etc... In terms of clubs and societys, they are lots of things to do - I strongly recommend going to the freshers stalls, and talking to and signing up for as much stuff as you can - you don't have to commit to it or anything. The union is great, and they put on lots of events, and give off a feeling that they genuinely care about the students. The career opportunity's are great - they is a careers department, that can help you with things like CV's etc, but they also help you with finding temp placements inside the uni if you need a little bit of money. The internet throughout campus is great, and they are hardly anyplaces you can't get any wifi (maybe in the middle a carpark)..
Campus is reasonable, union is nice for pool and big sports games. IBERS cafe is good for food just very pricey.
Universities campus provides a good service!
Aberystwyth is an absolutely amazing university. The courses that I and friends study are varied, interesting, and engaging. So many different clubs and societies to join and all have incredibly friendly students running them. Internet isn't the best, and it's not the easiest place to get a job, but it is in an absolutely beautiful area of the UK as a whole, with lots of pubs and nightlife. Love it.
Facilities situation is getting silly, not enough places to train so using roads to run on at night, AstroTurf is a safety hazard!
Great uni, great people, wonderful scenery, plenty to do. Can't fault it.
The Theatre, Film and Television Studies department supports it's students throughout the three years and even after they have graduated. The staff are friendly and approachable and so encouraging.
Amazing place everyone's friendly and helpful, staff are always willing to help you if your stuck, courses are well layed out and explained to you before you choose one. Wide variety of module choices for 2nd and 3rd year to help get into what your interested in. The towns brilliant with all your shopping/ eating needs and the place is also on the seafront, whats more to love!
I love my university, it's like a mini family. Everyone in my department is so helpful and the new 'tell us now' system is very useful.
A fantastic close knit community in an amazingly beautiful place. A surprisingly vibrant social life is possible.
Really nice town, very safe for living. University have various of schemes and courses which cant be easily found anywhere else!
Very subdued but peaceful and nice place to be
People slate this university and I'm not sure why, I can't imagine being anywhere else!
The campus itself is nice, but the buildings don't look particularly attractive, and the library facilities aren't very good - but they are being improved constantly! The town is lovely, as are the townsfolk, and most of the other students I've met have been very nice. Another positive is that because Aber is in the middle of nowhere, few people want to go there, so they tend to ask for quite low entrance grades. Also, frequent trains to Birmingham, which is very useful for returning home!
You have to travel a bit to get a job that's not retail. The accommodation is s*** at uni, and they didn't help me at all when I had a problem with my flat/flatmates. The private accommodation is extremely high for the s*** you get. You have to dish out 600 for a one bedroom flat that's not completely run down. Only way to live semi -reasonable is in a massive house share. My department was really good, though (Criminology). Teachers amazing, understanding, kind, helpful and very intelligent.
Very good all round facilities, occasional wifi problems
Best university experience ever! Aberystwyth is like living in a unique bubble with everything you could possibly need or want within one town. The social life is brilliant; 53 pubs within walking distance and fancy dress is an everyday occurrence. Living by the sea is beautiful, what better way is there to spend your evenings than bonfires on the beach looking out for Dolphins?! We have so many clubs and societies too, many unique to Wales (sea rowing is a must!). The halls of residence are a great way to meet new friends and range from stunning hotel standard to simply a place to sleep...something to suit everyone! Living costs are ridiculously cheap here too, accommodation is substantially lower than other unis both in private accommodation and uni halls. Nights out are cheap too; Vodka Tuesday's are an experience and shots are 60p everywhere! It is a student town and therefore everything is geared around student living. Easily the best 3 years of my life! :D
Lovely seaside town, but halls are not brilliant in the first year.
A great, safe laid back university by the sea, with high academic standards in teaching & learning for all students, in my experience as an Economics student, 3 fantastic libraries on it's campuses, & a great social scene.
Aberystwyth is unlike any other university, the number of societies for a small town is amazing. The people are great and the beach!
Great uni, everyone is welcoming!
Very good, enjoyed it very much
It is amazing and got me a amazing job so who can say bad things about it
Not a lot wrong with Aberystwyth University really, its a warm and welcoming place, the Union isn't fantastic but town compensates on that with interest!
I absolutely love Aber. Plus there's Wifi pretty much EVERYWHERE.
I love spending time on campus as you get the most amazing views. The union is a great place to drink if you live on campus and fancy a cheap night.
I had a great time. Lots of great teaching. Lots of practical experience. Lots of help to get a job. A great start to my career.