Preparing for your time in Aberystwyth

To help you prepare for your time at Aberystwyth University, The Global Opportunities Team will be hosting two pre-departure webinars in the months leading up to your arrival.

Each webinar will be held twice to allow students to join from different time zones, you only need to attend one of each session.

Tuesday 19^th November 2024: Pre-Departure Webinar: Accommodation & Student Support

Morning Session – 10am GMT

Afternoon Session – 4pm GMT

Tuesday 10^th December 2024: Pre-Departure Webinar: What to pack & what to expect

• Morning Session – 10am GMT
• Afternoon Session – 4pm GMT

Before you make your way to Aberystwyth, it’s important to make sure you have purchased adequate travel and health insurance.

You should make sure you are covered for the duration of your stay in Aberystwyth.

There are three main airports we encourage students to arrive to when travelling to the UK. These are Birmingham International (BHX), Manchester (MAN), and London Heathrow (LHR).

Birmingham International is the nearest airport to Aberystwyth and is also where we run our Meet & Greet service from (for September intake only).

This service includes coach transfers from Birmingham International Airport to Aberystwyth University, with onboard refreshments, a designated comfort break, accommodation key allocations and assistance in moving into university residences.

If you are arriving from another UK airport or at a time when our Meet & Greet service isn't available, there are plenty of ways for you to get to Aberystwyth University.

Find out more about our Meet & Greet service and how to get to Aberystwyth, by train, coach, or taxi, visit the Your Arrival webpages.

However you decide to get to Aberystwyth, you will be sure to receive a warm welcome when you arrive.

During Big Welcome and Orientation Week, there will be lots of people on campus to help direct you to where to collect your keys and where to find your accommodation.

You should receive the details on which accommodation you have been allocated and your move in date in your accommodation offer and licence pack.

You may also find it helpful download and have a read over our Residents' Handbook.

The Residents' Handbook provides all the information needed during your stay in University accommodation and covers a wide range of topics including: Pre-Arrival, Maintenance, Cleaning, General Safety, Fire Safety, Travel Information, Living with others, and Health & Support.

You can find more information on moving into your accommodation, including where to pick up your accommodation keys on our Moving In webpages.

Moving to a new country can be a bit hectic so to help you prepare, we’ve made a Pre-Arrival Checklist.

We also asked some of our international students what items they found essential and most comforting during their time in Aberystwyth, which included:

• Walking boots
• Raincoat
• Camera
• Family photo's
• Journal

Many international students also chose to purchase through Unpacked, which offer Essential Student Packs with 15% discount when using the code #aber15 at the checkout!

Student Support Services

Our Student Support and Careers Service provides a wide range of services to assist you to develop the skills needed to make the most of your time at Aberystwyth University.

If you have disclosed a disability during your application to Aberystwyth University, our Accessibility Service will contact you before your time in Aberystwyth to see what types of support they can offer you during your time in Aberystwyth.

If you would like to discuss the types of support available at Aberystwyth before you arrive in Aberystwyth, please feel free to do so via the contact information provided in the below links.

Find out more about our services:

• Accessibility Service
• Advice, Information & Money Service
• Careers Service
• Wellbeing Service
• Visa Support & Advice Service

Signpost Mentor Scheme

All Study Abroad an Exchange student will automatically be signed up to Aberystwyth’s signpost mentor scheme. The scheme designed to enable students to make the most of their time at university.

Signpost Mentors can help with any aspect of life at university, whether academic, social, or financial. Acting as a link to services available for students within the university, the Mentor can also help with organising your studies and finding motivation.

Your Signpost Mentor will be in touch with you via your Aber email account during the first week of teaching to introduce themselves.

UK Higher Education Grading System

In the UK, the grading system in higher education typically involves a scale from 0 to 100%, with classifications that categorize the level of achievement. The common classification system includes:

• First Class (1st): 70% and above
• Upper Second Class (2:1): 60-69%
• Lower Second Class (2:2): 50-59%
• Third Class (3rd): 40-49%
• Fail: Below 40%

These classifications are important as they often determine the opportunities available to graduates, such as eligibility for postgraduate study or certain employment positions.

Differences Compared to Other Countries

United States

In the US, the grading system is typically based on letter grades (A, B, C, D, F) with corresponding grade points on a 4.0 scale:

• A (Excellent): 90-100% or 4.0
• B (Good): 80-89% or 3.0
• C (Average): 70-79% or 2.0
• D (Poor): 60-69% or 1.0
• F (Fail): Below 60% or 0.0

It is important to note that the US system generally awards higher numerical marks than the UK system for work that would be considered of equivalent quality. Thus in the USA a B grade mark of 80-89% would be broadly equivalent to a UK Upper Second mark of 60-69%. In the UK too, marks above 70% (considered ‘excellent’) are typically rare, especially in arts and humanities subjects, and marks over 80% (considered ‘outstanding’) are only reserved for the very best work.

Europe

European countries often follow the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), which may differ slightly from country to country but generally includes the following grades:

• A (Excellent): Top 10% of passing grades
• B (Very Good): Next 25%
• C (Good): Next 30%
• D (Satisfactory): Next 25%
• E (Sufficient): Lowest 10% of passing grades
• F (Fail): Insufficient

In many European countries, grades are awarded on a scale of 1 to 10, or 1 to 5, with 10 or 5 being the highest, respectively. The thresholds for these grades can be stricter compared to the US, and more similar to the UK system where very high marks are less common.

Key Differences

1. Percentage Thresholds: The UK grading system sets a relatively high standard for top classifications, making high percentages less common. This contrasts with the US, where 'A' grades are more frequently awarded.
2. Classification Impact: In the UK, degree classifications (e.g., First Class, 2:1) are crucial for academic and career progression. This structured classification system differs  to the US and Europe, where the focus might be more on GPA or specific grade percentages.
3. Assessment Style: UK assessments often emphasize essays, written exams, and projects, with a strong focus on critical thinking and analysis. In contrast, US assessments may include a mix of continuous assessment, such as quizzes and homework, alongside major exams. European assessments can vary widely but often include both written and oral exams, depending on the country.

Understanding these differences is vital for international students or for those planning to study abroad, as grading systems can affect academic expectations and outcomes.