- Libraries:
- There are four libraries. The main one is the Huw Owen Library on the Penglais Campus which includes the Celtic Collection and one of the best collections of books anywhere for International Politics and Strategic/War studies.
There are also specialist libraries including the Physics Library (in the Physics Dept.) and the Old College Library, which is in the original college building on the seafront. It holds books on Education and Welsh and Irish studies and is near these departments. Finally, the Thomas Parry Building on the Llanbadarn Campus houses books for Information and Library Studies and Rural Studies.
Also, students are able to use the facilities of the nearby National Library, one of the five great copyright libraries in the UK.
Apparently with over 5,000,000 texts in the National library and a further 1,000,000 around the university the area has in excess of 6,000,000 books. With the population at 20,000 that works out at 300 books for every person - supposedly the highest ratio of books to people in the world! Better get reading...
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- Computing:
- There is free computer access 24 hours a day at the Computer Centre, with 3 other 24 hour computer rooms scaterred around campus. There are also terminals in most Halls of Residence. Every student is issued with an e-mail address. The computer facilities are constantly upgraded to ensure the best provision of IT.
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- Sports:
- The sports facilities at Aberystwyth are excellent and both indoor an outdoor sporting activities are very well catered for. The playing fields are located on two sites and are the pride of UWA's (University of Wales, Aberystwyth) sporting facilities. The nationally renowned Vicarage Playing Fields, some 16 acres, are home to the first rugby, football and cricket teams. The fields also attract many external sports teams and competitions.
Blanendolau, the second site, occupies 34 acres and is where the majority of matches are played. Both sites are close to the town, the university and student accommodation.
In addition to the grass pitches there are 3 hard, 3 shale and 3 grass tennis courts and a floodlit artificial pitch which provides an excellent year-round surface, primarily for hockey and football.
There are also two sports centres on campus that provide a broad range of indoor facilities and are free to students.
Due to the location of Aberystwyth there is the opportunity for off-campus sporting activities, the surrounding hills offer enough bumpy ground and mud for some serious mountain biking, or if you don't mind heights there are plenty of rocks to climb with some very rewarding views at the top. With the sea so close a variety of water sports also prove popular, but don't forget the wetsuit!
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- Future Plans:
- The university is in the middle of building a new Sports and Excercise Department. Another project, to build a new International Politics building, is planned but construction has yet to begin.
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- Disabled Students:
- The disabled facilities are acceptable and there are ramps etc. in almost all departments. However, overall Aberystwyth rates poorly on wheelchair access because there are just too many steep hills.
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- Student Welfare:
- The Guild of Students has one of the most comprehensive student-led advice and counselling services in the country. They offer confidential personal counselling and the SACC also offers advice on academic concerns, harassment, finance, accommodation, immigration, sex, health, drugs and alcohol. They are also unusual in offering an NHS family planning clinic in the union building one day a week and specialist drugs and alcohol management counselling by appointment.
Nightline, part of a national network of help lines run for students by students, is open from 8pm until 8am every night during term time.
The university has a nurse and a new financial support centre which offers advice on budgeting and student loans.
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- Parking:
- The parking in Aberystwyth is ok, and there are usually spaces available. The university charges about £ 30 a year for a parking permit.
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- University Shops:
- There are two university shops serving both campuses. Prices on many items are competitive with the local area.
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- University Bookshops:
- There is a large bookshop on campus, which sells all the main course texts as well as fun books like the latest Harry Potter! Julian Shelly's is a good secondhand bookshop and has nearly everybook for every course. For new books the best place is Galloways. Both shops will buy back your book at the end of your course if it is in good nick.
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- Banking:
- There is an HSBC cash machine and a LINK cash machine on campus. All the major banks, including HSBC, National Westminster and Barclays, have branches around town.
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- Transport Policy:
- The University has a system agreed with the local 'Arriva' bus service to provide a circular service around all university sites for £ 30 a year, (this means you can avoid all the hills!). It runs all day to coincide with lectures and students show their NUS card to avoid paying. It runs from Halls on the seafront to the Penglais and Llanbadarn Campuses.
Aber has fairly good train and National Express links, but it is slightly remote! New students are met at the railway station on arrival by official student union minibuses and escorted to their rooms in halls.
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- Green Areas:
- The campus is very 'green', with lots of pine trees, large open sports fields and the beach. Also, the 'piazza' between the Students Union and the Huw Owen Library on the Penglais is very popular in summer and commands spectacular views across the whole town, Cardigan Bay and the mountains to the south. There is a lot of variety.
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