30,962 discussions, 145 guides
Cardiff University
30,962 discussions, 145 guides
Cardiff University
Cardiff University
PO Box 921
Cardiff
Wales
CF10 3XQ
Tel: +44 (0)29 2087 4000
1883
XPress FM
XPress FM is Cardiff University's radio station, and it now broadcasts on 87.9FM. They have just updated the station's website, which is part of the SU's website. The radio station plays music for all tastes and welcomes students who want to get involved.
Gair Rhydd
Gair Rhydd, meaning Free Word, is the Students' Union's newspaper, published on a weekly basis. It is also distributed around Cardiff's other colleges and can be up to 100 pages long! It is full of information on life at Cardiff, current affairs, movies, etc., and encourages students to get involved in all parts of its production, including writing, photography and proof-reading. Head straight for the letters page where amusing and heated debates are played out.
Huw Edwards - BBC News man
Karl Hyde, Rick Smith - Underworld
Lord Jenkins - Liberal Democrat
Neil Kinnock - European Politician (ex Labour Leader)
Sian Lloyd - Weather Presenter
The Tafarn - This is a very popular bar with a pub atmosphere. It is so popular that it has been extended 3 times in recent years and refitted in Summer 2002 and refurbishd in Sumeer 2005. It is full of all types and open from 11am until 1am Monday to Saturday with a very lively atmosphere.
Solus - Formerly the Terminal, but recently refurbished and rebranded, this is the Student Union's nightclub, with a capacity of 1850. It often has live bands, DJs playing a variety of music and theme nights like 70s nights. It has a 1 or 2AM licence on function nights throughout the week.
The Seren Las - This is a new cafe bar in the style of a modern wine bar. It is very popular during the day and serves fresh coffee and snacks, like fresh filled baguettes. They often have MTV playing during the day as well as episodes of Friends and South Park. It is open from 10am until 3pm, Monday to Friday. Comedy club is often held in Seren Las which is certainly worth a look.
The Games Room - This is full of pool and snooker tables, computer games and fruit machines. Open until midnight most nights of the week. Cheapest snooker in the area (£1.60 for half an hour) .
There are bars in Uni Hall and Talybont, both have a good atmosphere, especially on Sunday evenings. They get very busy during rugby games.
Mondays, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are the largest nights during the week, when there is a late licence until all hours. On these function nights there are a variety of live gigs, DJ music and themed nights with novel names such as Fat Friday and Rubber Duck, the latter being voted the best themed night in the South of Wales! There are also comedy club nights on a Tuesday and Sunday quiz nights.
Average entry to the Union is £3.00 - £3.50 but the kind hearted union have made Monday nights free. Another way to save money is to make use of the regular drinks promotions at the bar.
There are a variety of Balls throughout the year, but the largest by far is the Summer Ball. For the last two years it has taken place at Cardiff Indoor Arena and this year is being held at Cardiff Castle. People tend to party on until at least 2am.
The Freshers Ball and Christmas Ball are in the first term. Individual subject departments tend to hold balls throughout the year also.
The 96 clubs and societies on offer at Cardiff cover a broad range of different interests. From politics and campaigning to numerous sports and fun activities there is no excuse not to join in. Societies at Cardiff are well funded and play an important role within the life and structure of the University. The Athletic Union also has 50 clubs. As is usually the case, if none of the existing opportunities appeal, all the help needed is given by the Union to start a new society.
Guaranteed to all non-clearing students = 100
Halls of Residence The Halls of Residence at Cardiff are on the whole very good. There are 11 halls including an all female one, Aberdare Hall, within a mile of campus and a futher 7 within two miles of campus. £40 million has been spent on University accommodation in the last 6 years and it shows. The best looking halls are the new ones with en suite facilities such as the village that is Talybont, offering an on-site shop, launderette, pub, gym and sports centre. Safety is paramount throughout with CCTV in all Halls. The smart money is on Sengennydd halls as providing great all round accommodation.
Private Accommodation
The best place to look is at the University Accomodation Office which provides landlord lists. A great example of private accommodation is the lovely Victoria Hall. The area of Cathays is virtually all students. Try to avoid Grange Town and Riverside.
Cardiff is a vibrant city, with plenty to do in the way of shopping and museums (try the National Museum of Wales and the Turner House Gallery. Most of the city centre is pedestrianised, and the buildings tend to be in a Victorian or Georgian style with some swanky new areas such as The Docklands and Cardiff Bay. There are also trendy bars aplenty on Mill Lane. The north of the city is industrial and grew up around the famous Welsh coal mines. The city is definitely small enough to walk around.
The Welsh Capital is well situated for travel. The airport has both domestic and international flights, the M4 takes you direct to London and there are train links throughout the UK most notably the easy journey (30 mins) across the water to party mecca Bristol.
Now the important bit: Unusually for a city university Cardiff has it's own unofficial student village situated in the Cathays area. Private accommodation, but might as well be a campus as it's all students. This means there's a campus-like atmosphere in the very centre of the city. Among the great bars to choose from try: The City Social, Molokos, HA HA's! and The Yard which have a late licence on many nights. The general theme of these pubs/bars is lively/studenty with prices not that much more than the Students' Union.
Clubbing-wise the scene has been developing rapidly for the last few years and there's something for every clubber. For a casual and stylish cluber out for late night drinking and partying the all new Tiger Tiger is the best option with music for all tastes. For the commercial clubber Creation provides the thrills. For the hardcore student night Liquid and Bounce are ideal.
There are plenty of bars with dance floors and late licences, too numerous to mention. For the cheapest beer in town head to The Prince of Wales, the local Weatherspoon. For something a bit different Bar Cuba is particularly popular with international students. Verdict: Friendly atmosphere, top notch clubs and great bars to rival great towns such as Manchester, Birmingham and London
Parking is limited, and permits are needed. These cost £11 per term, thus £33 per year. Your best bet for getting one is if you are in Uni Hall where you will always get a space and can park right outside. You don't really need a car though.
There is a branch of HSBC and Barclays on campus and a Natwest on Park Place nearby. There are also cashpoints situated at the union itself and which handily give out £ 5 notes!
Access is fair, but there is still room for improvement in the Halls of Residence and the Student Union. There is a good dyslexia advice centre.
There is a general shop in the Students' Union which sells stationery, snacks and newspapers. There is also a travel shop a jobshop, a Blackwell's book shop and a branch of Endsleigh Insurance.
There are both new and second hand bookshops available.
The University have just built a new sports hall. This is to add to the one that already existed. There are 4 sports centres, 44 acres of sports fields, a floodlit artificial pitch, tennis and squash courts. Virtually all sports are catered for.
Other facilities such as a swimming pool, shooting range, sailing centre, and boat house are rented locally by the university. The local area also provides a ski slope, an ice rink and mountains!
There is a uni bus service that runs from University Halls to campus every hour. Other than that the city has a good bus system, but its also easy to walk.
There are plenty of green areas all around the city. The mountains, or hills to the Welsh, (and sheep) of South Wales are 5 miles away. There is the stunning Bute Park, equipped with the famous Taff Trail - great for those who run! Just outside the city centre there is another park with fountains! In the winter it is transformed into a Winter Wonderland with an outdoor ice-rink. The famous Gower coast line is only about half an hour away for those who are into surfing, watersports and sun-bathing!
The University boasts 10 libraries, but only 3 of these are main ones. There are over 1.5 million books and periodicals in the impressive libraries and research centres as well as over 3,250 study places. All in all the students describe the library facilities as good.
There are over 2,500 PCs, in numerous computer labs throughout the main campus. While some are up to date others are described as dated. Some computer rooms have 24hr access. There is a large new computer centre opened in the business school block with great new machines and sexy flat screen monitors. The Halls of Residence have an increasing number of computer network connection points for internet access.
Both the Students Union and the University provide welfare provision. A crêche can be found on campus, but places are limited. The University also has a health centre with 3 doctors and 3 nurses. Counselling is available as is advise about finacial issues and accommodation. Nightline, the confidential student run helpline is only a phonecall away.
