NOW in its 16th year, Aberystwyth’s Summer University has once again provided an enjoyable, inspiring and hardworking summer for the staff and students alike.

The Summer University is a flagship widening access programme, featuring young people from all over Wales who come together to experience university life and study academic subjects of their choice. This year’s cohort of 78 young people have now ‘graduated’ in a glittering ceremony celebrating their hard work and achievements.

Priority for places at the Summer University goes to students who live or go to school/college in a Welsh Communities First area, or are from a care/care leaver background.

Consideration is also given to young people who are the first from their family to go to university, those who have a disability or long-term illness, those from an under-represented ethnic group, those wishing to study a subject where one gender is under-represented, or those who have had a traumatic event which has affected their education.

The six-week programme of lectures, research and presentations allows students to gain a grounding in key skills such as academic researching, writing, and presenting; study academic modules from a wide range of subjects from chemistry to creative writing, from physics to philosophy; and partake in a full programme of sports and social activities.

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online tomorrow