University of Wales Aberystwyth - Definition and Overview

The University of Wales, Aberystwyth, a Member Institution of the federal University of Wales, was the first university institution to be established in Wales. As of 2005, the university has around 7,000 students spread across eighteen academic departments. It is often known simply as "Aber" to its students.

History

The university was founded in 1872 as University College Wales and in 1894 joined the University of Wales as a founder member. (Prior to this students had been submitted for examinations of the University of London).

Past professors include R. Geraint Gruffydd and Bobi Jones.

Geography

The main campus of the university is situated on Penglais Hill, overlooking the town of Aberystwyth and Cardigan Bay. Just below is the National Library of Wales. The original university building, next to the sea, is still used and is known as "Old College". A further campus is located to the east of Aberystwyth in the small village of Llanbadarn Fawr this campus hosts courses in Information and Library Studies, Agriculture and other land-based studies.

Departments

• Art
• Biological Sciences
• Computer Science
• English
• European Languages
• Geography & Earth Sciences
• History & Welsh History
• Information Studies
• International Politics
• Law
• School of Education & Lifelong Learning
• School of Management & Business
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Rural Sciences
• Sport & Exercise Science
• Theatre, Film & Television Studies
• Welsh

Alumni

• Alan Cox, programmer (1980s)
• Carwyn James, legendary Welsh and British and Irish Lions rugby coach (1949?-1951)
• Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (1969)
• Neil Hamilton, MP (1960s)
• Alhaji Kabbah, president of Sierra Leone (1956?-1959)
• Waldo Williams, poet
• D. J. Williams, writer
• Frederick Soddy, Nobel Prize Winner (1890s?)

See also

• Ankst

External links

• University of Wales Aberwystwyth website (http://www.aber.ac.uk)
• Maps of campus and town (http://www.aber.ac.uk/publications/maps/)