ABERYSTWYTH University has seen the joint biggest drop-off in student numbers in Wales since 2013, figures have revealed.

As the Cambrian News reported last year, student enrolment at the institution has fallen year-on-year in the last five years - and has dropped 24 per cent between 2013 and 2016.

The number of accepted students at Aberystwyth fell to its lowest level since 2006 – with 2,190 starting studies at Aberystwyth in 2016, down just five from the previous year, but over 1,000 down from the peak in 2011.

Wales-wide figures for 2016/17, released this week, show that Aberystwyth is tied for the biggest drop in student numbers with Glyndwr University.

The data also shows that five out of Wales’ eight universities have seen a drop in student enrolments of up to a quarter over the last three years.

Aberystwyth University said its recruitment patterns had been affected by changes to how much universities could charge.

“The introduction of high tuition fees in 2012 marked a sea-change for the sector and saw a record intake at Aberystwyth University in 2011 - a large cohort which carried through to 2013-14,” a spokesperson said.

Dr David Blaney, chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, admitted there was a degree of volatility around the UK universities sector.

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition on Wednesday