This year has been an exceptional year for applications. Such is the demand that Aberystwyth University has experienced a 16.6% increase in applications and successful applicants are accepting Aberystwyth as their first choice in greater numbers than ever before. It is clear even at this early stage and before A level results are announced that Aberystwyth will have no need to enter Clearing.
The particular experience of Aberystwyth is in marked contrast to the general experience of Wales where the increase is only 1.4% and the UK, where growth in numbers is only 0.8%.
The Director of Admissions has written to all students holding an offer to say that the University can only guarantee acceptance this year if the terms of the offer (the grades achieved) are met squarely.
Professor Aled Jones, Pro Vice-Chancellor, said: “This has been a remarkable year. 2010 broke all records, but, so far, 2011 has surpassed all previous landmarks in student applications. The number of people who apply to us, and are selecting the University as their first choice and then go on to accept our offers are all up significantly on previous years. This is very good news for the University and for the economy of the region.”
“The growing popularity of Aberystwyth reflects the excellent teaching and support provided to students by our staff, and the superb range of facilities that are available to them. Academic, sporting and cultural resources at Aber are excellent, and we all constantly work hard to try to enhance them. Evidence of our popularity with applicants is shown in that 2010, we were the only Welsh university not to enter clearing.”
Aberystwyth University has achieved consistently high rankings in national surveys of student satisfaction. The results of the highly important National Student Survey are consistently good with Aberystwyth always highly placed.
The Complete University Guide 2012 which was published on-line and in the Telegraph Newspaper in April 2011, places Aberystwyth University Top in Wales for Student Satisfaction and joint third in the UK, alongside such institutions as Cambridge, St. Andrews and Loughborough.
The Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey published in February 2011 also places Aberystwyth University high in the league table just below Oxford and Cambridge for having well-structured courses (joint 4th in the UK).
With the University now full for 2011, applicants for the 2012/13 academic year are encouraged to visit the University on the next Open Day on Wednesday 14 September 2011. Details of the Open Day can be found on the University website www.aber.ac.uk/en/open-days
