Before you arrive

It is really important for you to have made arrangements for the payment of your tuition fees before you start your course. The following link will provide information and guidance on the tasks you need to complete before you arrive.

Your email account and Aber Card give you access to the library, computing and media services at Aberystwyth University. You will be emailed shortly before your course begins with details on how to activate your email account. Keep an eye on your email account, in particular in the weeks prior to starting your studies as we will be in touch regularly to guide you through the process of enrolling, arriving and settling into your studies here at Aber.

Once your email account has been activated, you can apply for your Aber Card online. 

Information on when and where to pick up your Aber Card can be found at: https://faqs.aber.ac.uk/2500.

New Students

Our residences provide a variety of high quality facilities and services in a range of accommodation styles to suit all tastes and budgets. In every type of accommodation you will find a safe and secure environment in which to live, study and relax.

All of our residences are on campus. Our friendly residences team are also on hand 24/7 to support you in both your academic and residential life.

Check out our Moving In webpage for details on when and where to arrive and collect your key from plus a very handy pre-arrival checklist.

Before you arrive, have you:

1. Applied for University accommodation
2. Activated your Aberystwyth University e-mail account
3. Accepted your offer & completed your Accommodation Licence Pack
4. Got a copy of your Key Release Form – you need this in exchange for your room key when you arrive!
5. Uploaded a photo for your Aber Card – smile!

Moving into your accommodation - Frequently asked questions

Meal Plan Offer - you can now take advantage of our fantastic value ‘Eat with us, shop with us’ flexible meal plan packages even if you are living in self-catered accommodation or private housing in town! Eat what you want, when you want, where you want, from hot dinners to Starbucks on the go or just pick up some ingredients to cook yourself. For more information: https://cateringpackage.aber.ac.uk/

Finding us is easy, no matter what mode of transport you decide to use. Our Maps and Travel pages have detailed information on getting to Aberystwyth.  

Whilst many people will drive to Aber, you may wish to catch the train. During our Welcome Weekend in September we will have our brilliant A-Team (current students) on hand at Aberystwyth train station to welcome you and support you in getting up to Campus. Information about this service can be found here.

When you arrive on Campus and in the first few weeks you won’t need a parking permit. Lots of staff and student helpers will be on-hand to help out as you move in and settle in to your accommodation.  

Parking immediately next to the accommodation is limited and therefore during the main arrivals period we limit parking in these areas to a maximum of 20 minutes to ensure that we can facilitate this service for all students.  Once you have finished unloading your belongings we ask that you please move your car to another parking area in one of the designated long stay car parks. Members of staff will be on site to help you park. 

To find out all about parking on campus, and to apply for a permit if you’re eligible, please visit our Parking webpages.

The Sports Centre, located on the Penglais campus hosts a wide range of indoor and outdoor facilities. These include a swimming pool, 5 designated gym areas, climbing wall, dance studio which also facilitates an extensive selection of group exercise classes. Adjacent to the sports hall we have a full-size 3G football pitch and outdoor group exercise marquee, both encircled by a 2 lane 400m trim track. All students living in university accommodation receive free and unlimited access to the Sports Centre including the online Wexer exercise app via Student Platinum Membership. Any students not living in university accommodation can enjoy the same unlimited access by purchasing Student Platinum Membership for just £125.

If you are interested in hearing more about Sports Clubs or Societies, you can join a mailing list from the 1st August via their individual pages on the AberSU website - this will keep you up to date with their news and any events and help you to make a decision before paying to become a member of the group. 

Follow link to see the Society list - Societies 

Follow link to see the Sports Clubs list- Sports Clubs

TOTUM, previously known as NUS extra, is the #1 student discount card, which brings you over 200 UK student discounts and comes with 1 year free ISIC - accepted in over 130 countries - unlocking over 42,000 international discounts.  

This is the only discount card approved by the National Union of Students and AberSU. 

TOTUM website: TOTUM 

Student bus cards can be purchased from the Students’ Union.

For more detailed information and Health and Wellbeing, please visit our Student Health webpages.

The Student Wellbeing Service provides advice and guidance on a range of wellbeing issues. Although we work closely with local GPs and hospital services to ensure that you get good care and attention when needed, it is important that you register with a local GP on arrival in Aberystwyth. You can do so by going to our Health and Wellbeing pages at Student Health  : Student Services , Aberystwyth University and following the information provided. When you arrive at Aber there will be staff from the local GP practices on hand to support you with this process.

You can get in touch with the team in the following ways:

Phone: 01970 621761

Email: studentwellbeing@aber.ac.uk.

For more information please visit the Student Services website.

Before you arrive, have you:

• checked that your immunisations are up to date?

We recommend you make sure you are up to date with the following routine vaccinations: meningitis (MenACWY), measles, diptheria, polio, tetanus. If you are a student from a country with a high incidence of TB we also recommend that you are vaccinated against TB.

 If you have a health need and/or have already disclosed a disability/health condition, have you:

• a good supply of your prescribed medication to take with you to University to last at least a few weeks? – don’t rely on items being sent through the post!
• checked that your medication is in date – especially EpiPens?
• considered how you will store your medication safely?
• a good supply of any equipment required to help you manage your health condition (e.g. sharps boxes, BM testing kits etc.) to last at least a few weeks?
• considered how you will manage your condition independently (inform friends, ICE, awareness of emergency management/procedures, clinic times etc.)?
• considered asking your home treatment/health team to refer you to specialists in Bronglais General Hospital in Aberystwyth for term time care and treatment?
• (if you have diabetes) considered making contact with the local Diabetes Team for term time support?

Students are required to register with a GP (local doctor) of their choice within the first week of arrival at University. For further information, please see our Student Health webpages.

If you have not yet informed the University about your disability, learning difference, or long term health issue then please contact Accessibility Services where one of our Student Advisers can then advise you about the support and/or adjustments that may be available to you.

The team are on hand and happy to help – before you arrive, you can get in touch by calling on 01970 621761 / 01970 622087 or by emailing the team at accessibility@aber.ac.uk. 

We recognise that this can be a worrying and uncertain time for some. If you are facing any health barriers then please do let us know. We will work closely with you to ensure that you can return to University life as soon as practically possible for you. We will provide students with more information on this in the near future.

For more information: Accessibility Service. 

Before you arrive, have you:

• considered disclosing a disability/health condition formally, as the University may be in a position to make reasonable adjustments and provide certain types of support for you?
• considered making an appointment with the Accessibility Team (disability@aber.ac.uk) who can advise you further about support and funding options?
• if eligible, applied for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) – useful website http://www.yourdsa.com/
• checked that accommodation arrangements are in place and your chosen accommodation meets your health or disability needs?

We ask all students to check details of their University and home addresses and contact details to ensure they are correct and to provide us with an emergency and wellbeing contact. This is something that we will not likely need, but if we do have any concerns about your health and wellbeing or there is an emergency then we will be able to make contact with someone close to you and who you trust. Please make sure you have the permission of and the correct contact details for the individuals you have chosen to be your emergency contact.

Our Student Advice and Money team provides information, advice, support and referral on a wide range of issues. If you are unsure about where to go for advice or assistance please contact us. No issue is too big or too small. Our service is confidential, non-judgemental and free of charge. The Student Advisers are able to offer professional advice on money management or any issues with Student Finance. They can also give advice and guidance on any queries relating to accommodation, academic progress, University procedures or eligibility for hardship funds.

You can get in touch with the team in the following ways: 

Phone: 01970 621761 / 01970  622087

E-mail: student-adviser@aber.ac.uk

For more information, please visit the Student Services website. 

Before you arrive, have you:

• arranged to bring spending money with you as it can take a few weeks for your student loan to come through?
• arranged an overdraft facility?

Please visit our dedicated page for term dates.