Applicant Support - Frequently Asked Questions

You can browse all our current vacancies, or filter jobs by Academic OR Managerial, Administrative and Technical roles.

To see a list of all current job opportunities, please visit our vacancies pages.   

In order to apply for jobs at Aber Uni, you must submit your applications online. You can see all our current openings online at vacancies pages.    

All job vacancies specify and describe the essential and desirable Welsh level required.   

Welsh Language Levels

The Welsh language levels used by Aberystwyth University correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) which is widely used in Europe but also on other continents and is available in over 40 languages including Welsh.  Welsh for Adults qualifications were mapped to the Framework in 2014.

The CEFR describes language proficiency at six levels: A1 and A2, B1 and B2, C1 and C2. Aberystwyth University has added a seventh level: A0, to denote the requirement for ‘the ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually’.

We have academic and non-academic jobs at Aber Uni. All job descriptions specify the educational qualification or equivalent required. 

We do not have a graduate scheme or internship opportunities currently but are in the process of developing them. Nevertheless, we have Year in Employment Scheme, AberForward placement scheme that assists in practical work experience. 

The UK left the EU and free movement law ended on 31 December 2020. There was a grace period of 6 months to allow EU, EEA, Swiss citizens, and their family members resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). This grace period ended on 30 June 2021.

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen beginning work in the UK from the 1 July 2021, you will need some form of permission to work, whether through the EU Settlement scheme or otherwise, such as a visa under the UK points-based immigration system.

Please note Irish citizens continue to have unrestricted access to work in the UK and do not need permission to work here.

For further information please see the UK Government webpages on the points-based system.

When you apply via our online system, you'll be asked if you are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you're subject to immigration control, a series of additional questions will appear in relation to your eligibility to work within the UK.

More information on certificates of sponsorship, license holders responsibilities and job suitability can be obtained at the UK Visas and Immigration website. You can find useful information on living and working in the UK on the British Council Euraxess website.

Visas

If you are neither a citizen of the UK or an Irish national, you may need to apply for a visa before you are legally allowed to commence work in the UK.

If you are unsure whether or not you need a visa, check on the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Applying for a visa can take time, so it's important to apply well in advance of when you intend to travel. Find out about visa processing times in your country.

Proof of your right to work

Once you have a visa to enter the UK, you must provide us with proof of your entitlement to work in the UK and your passport/biometric card before you start work. If you don't provide us with these before your first day, you won't be able to start work on the date stated in your contract.

On or before your first day, you will need to let us know:

• your current residential address in the UK
• your phone number (landline or mobile).

If you are sponsored by the University under the Points Based System, you must update us every time your address or phone number changes.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

You may need to obtain an ATAS certificate from the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) before you make your visa application.

An ATAS certificate is free of charge.

You do not need an ATAS certificate if you are a national of:

• an EU country
• the European Economic Area (EEA)
• Australia
• Canada
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• United States of America.

You will need to apply for an ATAS certificate if:

• You are not a national of one of the above countries AND;
• You are working in a role with a relevant occupation code AND;
• Your role involves research at postgraduate level and above in certain sensitive subjects where knowledge could be used to develop, advance or support Advanced Conventional Military Technology and Weapons of Mass Destruction, or their means of delivery.

If you are subject to the ATAS requirement, your contract and offer letter (for new staff) or your contract extension letter (for existing staff) will inform you and contain details of how to apply for a certificate.

You must obtain an ATAS certificate before you make your visa application, otherwise the visa application will be refused. We recommend you apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as possible to avoid any delays in your start date with us. The FCDO can take at least 4 weeks to process an ATAS application (longer between April and September), so you should remember this when arranging your start date with your line manager.

Find out more about ATAS on the UK Government website
Apply for an ATAS certificate from the FCDO
Check if you need an ATAS certificate

Extension to stay in the UK

If you are already employed by us and have obtained an extension of stay in the UK we will need to see your new biometric card when you receive it.

We will carry out a follow-up check on your passport or biometric card and will contact you when the check is needed.

You’re required to submit their application online via the jobs portal. There are no additional mandatory documents required. However, if you’re applying for Grade 6 or above, you can supplement their applications with CV, published papers, etc. 

We don’t accept cover letters, however, you’re required to demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria located in the job description. You’re welcome to supply this information in a word document or pdf and upload it to the application form.  

No.  The application form and person specification are key tools in our short-listing and selection process. You must provide evidence of meeting criteria using the Supporting Information page of the application form. 

Additional information section can be used to state how candidates meet the essential and desirable criteria from the personal specification located in the job description. Inability to provide written evidence of meeting the criteria in this section, we may not have sufficient information to progress your application.  

Yes – internal candidates go through the same recruitment process of application, shortlisting and interviewing to be hired. However, internal candidates are able to view and apply for the job vacancies a week prior to the vacancy opening for external candidates. This is in line with the agreement with the Trade Unions. 

Candidates can visit the HR Office to fill out a paper application form and submit in person. Please note – the process thereafter (shortlisting and interviewing) stays the same.

Candidate are requested to email any special requirements as a response to the “Invite to Interview” email. 

Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with health conditions. It has replaced the previous Two Ticks Positive About Disabled People scheme. It is voluntary and has been developed by employers and disabled people's representatives. 

Prior-con applicants will be shortlisted and interview before any other candidates. Internals will be shortlisted and interviewed before externals.

Interviews are conducted in person or online depending on the team requirement as well as mutual convenience of candidates and interviewing panel.  

We request that you make yourself available for your interview at the date and time you’re invited. However, in special circumstances, we’re happy to review your request and re-schedule you interview. Please contact hr@aber.ac.uk  

We’re unable to provide feedback at application stage, however candidates who have been invited to interview and were unsuccessful are welcome to request feedback by e-mailing hr@aber.ac.uk  

You will need to create an account with a personal email address to apply for any jobs on the website. https://jobs.aber.ac.uk/en/page/How%20to%20Apply-2882.html  

No, you must create an account to be able to apply for a job. 

We’re unable to reset your account over the phone or via e-mail. We request that you visit jobs.aber.ac.uk and select ‘log in’, on this page you will need to press ‘forgotten log in details’ and the system will ask for your e-mail address. You will receive an e-mail which will allow you to re-set your log information.  

No – your progress can be saved in parts as you complete and save a section of the application form.

Yes – you can apply for more than one role at a time. 

Currently, applications can only be submitted via a desktop whilst mobile compatibility is being worked on. All required entry fields need to be filled for an application to be submitted. We’re working with developers to allow for mobile and tablet applications.

After you’ve submitted your application, you can log into our jobs portal and see the status of your application. We also email you to confirm which stage your application is at. 

To review your application at any stage, simply click on the area of the application and you will see the information that you’ve inputted. 

Once submitted, you will automatically receive an acknowledgement advising that the application has been submitted successfully.  

If you do not receive this conformation, check your junk mail and that the email address you have provided is correct.  If the email has been sent to junk it is advisable to set our email address as not junk, so any further emails sent to you do not go to your junk mailbox 

Alternatively, use the “My Applications” link on the recruitment Portal and ensure the application is listed. If your application is listed under the ‘In progress applications’ section, click on ‘Update’ ensure that all sections of the application form have been completed, then click on “Apply”

No changes can be made to the application once submitted. Nevertheless, the applicant can withdraw and reapply. Please note that this should only be actioned before the closing date.  

We will e-mail you to confirm that you’ve been shortlisted for interview.  

Currently, applications can only be submitted via a desktop whilst mobile compatibility is being worked on. All required entry fields need to be filled for an application to be submitted.  

Currently, applications can only be submitted via a desktop whilst mobile compatibility is being worked on. All required entry fields need to be filled for an application to be submitted. 

Candidates can change personal details online once the account has been created. 

The candidate details data for inactive users is retained for 395 days (13 months) within the system. Thereafter, the data is anonymised and all documents are deleted.  Please note however, active users will remain on the system indefinitely. 

Typically, we will contact you within two weeks of the closing date. 

Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date

Information regarding the right-to-work process can be accessed on the below link: 

https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work