Aberystwyth University (Welsh: Prifysgol Aberystwyth; sometimes shortened to "Aber") is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the University has over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments. The University was founded in 1872 as University College Wales. In 1894, the University became a founder member of the University of Wales and changed its name to the University College of Wales Aberystwyth. In the mid 1990s, the University again changed its name to the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. On 1 September 2007, the University of Wales ceased to be a federal university and Aberystwyth became an independent university in its own right once again. However, students who now enroll with Aberystwyth from the academic year 2009/2010 onwards (or have studied their 1st year in the academic year 2008/2009) have the choice to receive a University of Wales degree or an Aberystwyth University degree. The National Student Survey named Aberystwyth fifth in the UK in 2006 and tenth in 2007, for overall student satisfaction.