ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF WALES

The University of Wales, which was founded by Royal Charter in 1893, is a large and distinctive federal University currently comprising ten Member Institutions, whose activities it exists to support and which are closely involved in its governance.

The University is the degree-awarding authority for its member institutions and also for around 70 other higher education institutions both within the United Kingdom and overseas, with which it also enjoys close links. Annually, it awards almost 15,000 initial degrees and more than 4,000 higher degrees, making it the second largest degree-awarding body in the United Kingdom. Almost the full range of subjects is covered in its diverse range of institutions. Together, the member institutions of the University of Wales and its validated schemes of study result in a thriving student population of nearly 90,000 from all over the world.

THE UNIVERSITY'S VALIDATION OPERATION

The University of Wales defines validation as the process by which an awarding institution judges that a programme developed and delivered by another institution is of an appropriate quality and standard to lead to its award.

While the majority of the University's students study in Wales, the University's very successful and highly regarded international validation operation is also an important dimension of its work. This enables overseas institutions to offer the University of Wales degree at an equivalent standard to the degree offered in Wales itself. Validation is important in fostering links between Wales and other countries and many of the University's graduates are now in positions of influence overseas. Last year, more than 11,000 students were registered on validated courses of the University of Wales and nearly 2,500 graduated with the University's degree. Altogether, more than 33,000 students have been awarded degrees since the validation operation began in 1975.