ABERYSTWYTH

Although the oldest of the Welsh university colleges, it has long prided itself on a modern outlook. The modular degree system has been running since 1993, covering academic and vocational courses. Every student is offered the opportunity of a year’s work experience, either at home or abroad.

Teaching ratings have been impressive, especially in the arts and social sciences.

The mid-Welsh town of Aberystwyth is compact and travel to other parts of the UK slow, so applicants should be sure that they will be happy to spend three years or more in a tight-knit community. Most are: 94 per cent of first-year students responding to the annual satisfaction survey said they would make the same choice again.

The students’ guild is the largest entertainments venue in the region and the arts centre has been extended at a cost of £3.5 million.

Aberystwyth

ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY

An amalgamation of two well-established higher education colleges made Anglia the first regional polytechnic, but the twin bases in Chelmsford and Cambridge remain distinct. Most teaching ratings have been solid rather than spectacular.

The university has a strongly international outlook, encouraging students to take a language option and providing an unusually large number of exchange opportunities.

Each undergraduate has an adviser to help compile a degree package that looks at the chosen subject from different points of view to maximise future job prospects.

Anglia Ruskin University

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