Students at Aberystwyth University will miss out on graduation ceremonies for the second year running due to the coronavirus pandemic, the institution has announced.

The university is hoping that the ceremonies will be able to return in 2022 - a year that coincides with its 150th anniversary - and aims to invite the hundreds of students who missed out to take part next year.

Like other major events planned for the summer, the university has had to change its graduation plans as a result of the pandemic restrictions.

Instead of holding its formal graduation ceremonies in July this year as normal, the university says it aims to hold them for 2020 and 2021 graduates next year instead.

Last year’s event was cancelled as the pandemic gripped the country.

Prof Tim Woods, pro vice-chancellor for learning, teaching and student experience, said: “It is expected that significant Covid-19 restrictions will continue in Wales for some time to come.

“In 2020 we made the hard, but necessary, decision to postpone our traditional graduation ceremonies in light of the developing coronavirus pandemic.

“Given the ongoing pandemic and continuing restrictions this year, we find ourselves in a similar position and have taken the difficult decision to postpone our traditional graduation ceremonies this summer.

“We recognise that this decision will be disappointing to many, not least our students, graduates and the wider local community.

“We do hope to be able to resume our traditional ceremonies in 2022, the year we celebrate the University’s 150th anniversary.

“Our intention is that students who have not been able to attend ceremonies in 2020 and 2021 will be invited back to join us for a traditional ceremony in 2022.

“For this year, we are discussing other ways to mark our students’ collective academic achievements over the summer months and we will let students know of these as they develop.

“All graduating students deserve recognition of their achievements, particularly given the unprecedented challenges posed by the global pandemic.”