The University of Wales (or Prifysgol Cymru in Welsh) was established in Cardiff, Wales by Royal Charter in 1893, making it the first and oldest university of Wales and the second largest university in the UK.
At that point, it had three constituent colleges which were University College Wales, University College North Wales and University College South Wales and Monmouthshire - which are now the University of Aberystwyth, University of Bangor and University of Cardiff. Several more colleges were incorporated over the years, including Swansea (now Swansea University) and St. David’s College (now part of the University of Wales: Trinity Saint David).
It remained the only university in Wales until the University of Glamorgan was set up in 1992. As a federal university, its makeup is now similar to that of the University of London, with a series of member organisations. Its motto is "the best inspiration is truth".
In 2007, the University of Wales changed from a federal structure to a confederal one and many of the constituent colleges became independent universities. And since 2017, the University of Wales has been functionally integrated with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
The University of Wales’ administrative office is located in Cardiff's Civic Centre. Through the University’s support for the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies (CAWCS), Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru (The Welsh Dictionary), Gregynog Hall (bequeathed to the University in the 1960’s) and the University of Wales Press, it helped to promote and celebrate the language, heritage and culture of Wales.
Founded in 1922, The University of Wales Press publishes around 70 books a year in both English and Welsh. The university also has a study and conference centre at Gregynog, near Newtown.
