[1] In the middle of the 19th century, eminent Welsh people were advocating the establishment of a university in the principality of Wales.

[11] Incorporated by royal charter in 1893, the university installed Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, as chancellor in 1896, the same year it awarded an honorary degree to the former British prime minister, William Gladstone.

[13] By 1977, the university's staff included eight Fellows of the Royal Society, such as Gwendolen Rees, the first Welsh woman to be elected an FRS.

In 2011, the university appointed a new vice chancellor[14] under whom the academic departments were restructured as larger subject-themed institutes.

Jan Pinkava, another graduate, won an Oscar for his short animated film Geri's Game.

[18] The College of Librarianship Wales (CLW) was established at Llanbadarn Fawr in 1964, in response to a recommendation for the training of bilingual librarians that was made in the Bourdillon Report on Standards of public library service in England (HMSO, 1962).

The college grew rapidly, developing close links to the Welsh speaking and professional communities, acquiring an international reputation and pioneering flexible and distance learning courses.

[19] The independent college merged with the university in August 1989 and the department moved to the Penglais campus a quarter of a century later.

French, German, Italian and Spanish courses are taught at both beginners' and advanced levels, in a research-active academic environment.

Physics was first taught at Aberystwyth as part of Natural Philosophy, Astronomy and Mathematics under N. R. Grimley, soon after the foundation of the University College.

[26] E. J. Williams was appointed to the Chair of Physics in 1938 where he continued his research into sub-atomic particles using a cloud chamber.

[27] Following the Second World War, research was concerned with mechanical and nuclear physics, later moving into the fields of air density, experimental rocket launching equipment and radar.

The department has over 550 undergraduate students, with degrees accredited by the British Psychological Society and is home to an MSc in Behaviour Change.

Additionally, the Llanbadarn Campus is the site of the Aberystwyth branch of Coleg Ceredigion (a further education college, and not part of the university).

The School of Art is located between the Penglais Campus and the centre of Aberystwyth, in what was originally the Edward Davies Memorial Chemistry Laboratories.

The university also owns several houses, such as Penglais Farmhouse (adjacent to Pentre Jane Morgan) and flats in Waun Fawr, which are let on an assured shorthold tenure to students with families.

[50] Aberystwyth University was shortlisted in four categories in the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards (THELMAs) (2015).

[53] In 2007, the university came under criticism for its record on sustainability, ranking 97th out of 106 UK higher education institutions in that year's Green League table.

[56] Following the university's initiatives to address sustainability,[57] it received an EcoCampus[58] Silver Phase award in October 2014.

The economist John Cable resigned his emeritus professorship, describing the university's management as "disproportionate, aggressive and confrontational".

The singer Peter Karrie resigned his honorary fellowship in protest, he said, at the apparent determination to "ruin one of the finest arts centres in the country", and because he was "unable to support any regime that can treat their staff in such a cruel and appalling manner".

[60] In Autumn 2024, students protested the reduction of opening hours at Hugh Owen Library, a cost-cutting measure.

[61] Presidents and chancellors Principals and vice-chancellors Academics Royalty Academia Law Civil servants Politics Business Sports Arts and entertainment Journalism