Our role in the community

The University enjoys a close relationship with the community locally, regionally and nationally and is committed to developing its civic mission activities.

The University plays a key role in the economy, as a major employer and vital economic and cultural hub in the region. Much of its unique character comes from the combination of a diverse and cosmopolitan staff and student body, with a safe environment and sense of community shared by the University, the town and surrounding areas.

Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Located in the heart of our Penglais campus, Aberystwyth Arts Centre is one of the largest arts centres in the UK and attracts more than 700,000 visits every year from the town and surrounding counties. The award-winning centre is supported by the Arts Council of Wales and is recognised as a ‘national flagship for the arts’. It has a wide-ranging artistic programme, both producing and presenting, across all art forms including drama, dance, music, visual arts, applied arts, film, new media, and community arts. The centre’s facilities include a concert hall (The Great Hall), a theatre (Theatr y Werin), a performance studio, exhibition spaces, a boutique cinema, bookshop and café bars.

Aberystwyth University Sports Centre

Based on Penglais campus, Aberystwyth University Sports Centre (SportAber) is open to students, staff and the wider community. Every year, it welcomes more than 250,000 people to use its wide range of indoor and outdoor facilities. These include a fully-equipped gym, a swimming pool and saunarium, a climbing wall, an all-weather 3G pitch, squash and badminton courts, as well as a host of fitness and wellbeing classes. The University also has playing fields at Blaendolau and Vicarage Fields in Llanbadarn Fawr.

University Music Centre

The University Music Centre promotes a wide-ranging programme for performers and listeners. The Centre provides facilities for students and the local community. It has numerous pianos, a two-manual electronic organ, harp, harpsichord and chamber organ, as well as percussion and other instruments. The Music Library houses a large sheet-music collection with particularly strong holdings of chamber and orchestral music. Music books can be found in the Hugh Owen Library and, of course, the enormous resources of the National Library of Wales are close at hand.

The National Library of Wales

Situated next to the University’s Penglais campus is the National Library of Wales, one of only five copyright libraries in Britain entitled to receive a copy of every book published in the UK. Students at Aberystwyth have free access to the National Library’s 6 million books and journals, 5 million digital images and electronic resources, 30,000 rare manuscripts, 1.5 million maps, and 7 million feet of film, 15km of unique archives, and much more. 

Public Services

Local services in Aberystwyth are provided by Ceredgion County Council and Aberystwyth Town Council and include education, a public library and recreation facilities.

Healthcare is provided by the NHS Wales Hywel Dda Health Board and includes Bronglais Hospital and a number of general practitioner surgeries. Dental services are available both privately and on the NHS.

Schools

Primary Education

Six primary schools cater for pupils aged 4 to 11, with a choice of English or Welsh as the main language of teaching.

Within Aberystwyth itself are:

  • Comin Coch Primary School
  • Plascrug Primary School
  • St Padarn Primary School (Roman Catholic)
  • Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg (Welsh language)

Secondary Education

There are two schools covering ages 11 to 18, including sixth form (years 7 to 13).

Penglais School

Penweddig School

Large, primarily English-language, comprehensive school.

Waunfawr, Aberystwyth, SY23 3AW

(01970) 624811

Website - Map

Primarily Welsh-language comprehensive school.

Llanbadarn Road, Aberystwyth, SY23 3QN

(01970) 639499

Website - Map

 

 

 

 

 

Further Education

Coleg Ceredigion 

Local further education college with campuses in Aberystwyth and in Cardigan, in the south of the county.

Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth, SY23 3BP

(01970) 639700

Website - Map

Healthcare

Hospital Services

  • Bronglais Hospital located on Penglais Hill, provides a broad range of hospital services.
    • Caradoc Road, Aberystwyth, SY23 1ER
    • Telephone: (01970) 623131
    • Map

General Practitioners

There are three doctors' practices which accept NHS patients in Aberystwyth. If moving into the area either long-term or as a university student, you are encouraged to register with a doctor (or 'GP') as soon as possible after your arrival.

  • Church Surgery
    • Portland Street, Aberystwyth, SY23 2DX
    • Telephone: (01970) 624855
    • Website
    • Map
  • Padarn Surgery
    • 26 North Parade, Aberystwyth, SY23 2NF
    • Telephone: (01970) 624545
    • Website
    • Map
  • Ystwyth Medical Group
    • Parc-y-Llyn, Aberystwyth, SY23 3TL
    • Telephone: (01970) 613500
    • Website
    • Map

Dentists

Aberystwyth has five registered dental practices.

  • Denticare
    • 61 North Parade, Aberystwyth, SY23 2JN
    • Telephone: (01970) 612266
    • Website
    • Map
  • Eastgate Dental Surgery
    • 29 Eastgate, Aberystwyth, SY23 2AR
    • Telephone: (01970) 621457
    • Map
  • Friars Dental Practice
    • Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, SY23 1PB
    • Telephone: (01970) 623369
    • Website
    • Map
  • Portland Street Dental Practice
    • 23 Portland Street, Aberystwyth, SY23 2DX
    • Telephone: (01970) 612581
    • Website
    • Map
  • Ystwyth Dental Practice
    • Parc-y-Llyn, Aberystwyth, SY23 3TL

Vibrant Welsh Community

Croeso! If you’re new to Ceredigion we’d like to welcome you to one of the most vibrant bilingual communities in Wales. Welsh is one of the oldest languages in Europe and here in Ceredigion there is a vibrant bilingual community and a broad range of lively cultural and community events and activities for you to enjoy. As an employer Aberystwyth University is compliant with the Welsh Language Standards and accepts the principle of treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language.