The protesters disrupted traffic

They blocked the entrance of the Penglais campus on Tuesday morning, calling for more courses to be taught through the language.

Osian Rhys, president of the Welsh-speaking students' union, said it was a disgrace students had to protest.

The students have pledged to carry on demonstrating throughout the year.

"The fact that students have to protest like this to receive their education in their own language is a disgrace," said Mr Rhys, of Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Aberystwyth (UMCA).

"UMCA has been calling for years for better provision through the medium of Welsh, but the students' voice has fallen on deaf ears, and Welsh-medium modules are still being scrapped at the whim of departments.

"A number of first-year students have come to UMCA to lodge complaints that Welsh-medium provision in different departments is abysmal."

The university has come in for criticism for its treatment of the Welsh language in recent months.

Students have vowed to carry on protesting

In March, university officials cancelled the launch of its Welsh language scheme after being criticised by the Welsh Language Board.

Rhodri Williams, then chief executive of the Welsh Language Board, said at the time that the university had taken too long to implement its policy.

He said he was concerned at the university's "unwillingness" to accept responsibility for the language.

A number of students said they were sent letters before the start of term telling them that modules they had chosen had been deleted.