University of Wales
The University of Wales is a federal university founded in 1893.
Organisation
The University's members are organised into the following categories:
Member Institutions
Affliated/Linked Institutions
Cardiff was once a full member of the University but has now left (though it retains some ties). When Cardiff left, it merged the University of Wales College of Medicine (which was also a former member). Currently Cardiff still awards University of Wales degrees, but will award its own degrees to students admitted from 2005 except in Medicine and related subjects where University of Wales degrees will continue to be awarded.
Validated Insititutions
Coleg Sir Gâr is not a member of the University, but has some of its degrees validated by them.
History
The University of Wales was composed of colleges until 1996, when the University was reorganised with a two-tier structure of member institutions in order to absorb the Cardiff Institute of Higher Education (which became the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC)) and the Gwent College of Higher Education (which became University of Wales College, Newport (UWCN)). The existing colleges became constituent institutions and the two new member institutions became university colleges. In 2003, both of these colleges became full constituent institutions and in 2004 UWCN received permission from the Privy Council to change its name to the University of Wales, Newport.
Cardiff University and the University of Wales College of Medicine (UWCM) merged on August 1 2004. The merged institution, known as Cardiff University, ceased to be a constitutent institution and became a new category of 'Affiliated/Linked Institutions'. While the new institution will continue to award Wales degrees in medicine and related subjects, students joining Cardiff from 2005 to study other subjects will be awarded Cardiff degrees.
At the same time, the University admitted four new institutions, helping to fill the void left by the loss of Cardiff and UWCM. Thus, North East Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI), Swansea Institute of Higher Education and Trinity College, Carmarthen (who were all previously Associated Institutions) along with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (which was previously a Validated Institution) were admitted as full memebers of the University on July 27 2004.
See also
