30,919 discussions, 145 guides
University of Huddersfield
30,919 discussions, 145 guides
University of Huddersfield
University of Huddersfield
Queensgate
Huddersfield
HD1 3DH
Tel:+44 (0)1484 472282
1841
Melt FM
Run by students and overseen by the general manager of the Students' Union this is a relatively popular radio station in the mould of many others. It provides a platform for students to learn the trade in preparation for a broadcasting career after they graduate. It operates from a brand new studio in the union and has two, month long, FM licenses per year.
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The name of this monthly magazine refers to Huddersfield's phenomenal drop-out rate. Although it's now on the decline this is a statistic that the union feels the university should be more worried about, hence their choice of it as title for the magazine. It is editorially independent but is financed by the SU. It is quite political and the first few pages are often devoted to burning student issues. The editor and writers are certainly not afraid to have a go at the university and will pick it up on any failings. The rest is filled with news, reviews and student info.
Tacked onto the side of the union is Eden. This used to be a nightclub venue but is currently under re-development. No one is quite sure exactly what will become of it but current indications suggest that it certainly won't be a nightclub any more.
Some of the cooolest alumnae I have ever seen:
Gordon Kaye - Renée in Allo Allo
Patrick Stewart - Captain Picard from Star Trek
Peter Turnbull - Leading British Crime writer
The shut down of Eden has left Huddersfield slightly lacking, but the arrival of the Club Heaven & Hell should hopefully change this.
The Union itself is qutie disappointing - there are two bars in Milton Hall, the main union building. These are open during the day and have a 1AM licence every night bar Sunday. As a general rule they are used as a starting point for a night out in town or further afield, largely because they are dirt cheap. The Storthes Hall student village also has a bar.
The union runs regular theme nights and is trying, succesfully it would seem, to claw back business lost to the big chain pubs that have moved in to the local area. Quite a few of the major functions are external. The town hall gets used fairly regularly for gigs. There is a great sports night on Wednesdays when the union runs 'double your money' night. Amazingly this means exactly what it says. You charge a card with £5 worth of credit and they will give you £10. Unsurprisingly these get ridiculously packed. Not one for the timid.
Inconsistency has been a problem with at least one large ball shelved due to financial concerns. No lack of will or good planning though.
Islamic socieites are the strongest as over 25% of the university's intake comes from this background. They don't use union premises however as they are licensed. These societies can be a little exclusive whether intentionally or not. The ski club is big and active and field sports are all well represented. Apparently the biggest drinkers are badminton though, putting rugby to shame at the last bar olympics contest. Cool.
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The university has closed some halls so capacity is tight. There are two student villages, Storthes Hall being the biggest and best, with flats of 6-8 en-suite rooms sharing kitchen and living space. This was recently sold and re-let to raise cash by the poverty stricken uni. Ashenhurst has fewer facilities and is pretty run down and out of the way. There is a new development of private halls called Uni Lodge which is lush but pricey. All halls are self-catering.
The local area is well stocked with decent accommodation and many areas of this spread out town are suitable for students. Mold Green, Birkby and Springwood have dodgy areas but are generally good. Lindley and Marsh are good student areas, with no dodgy bits, but AVOID Fartown (aka Fart-Town) and Dalton, less you get mugged.
There are stacks of good pubs and bars in Huddersfield, many of which have a late license. Inside tips are O'Neills, Varsity and Revolution. Clubbing is definitely not the town's strongpoint although there are a few. Nearby Leeds, an astonishingly cheap £2.20 return on the train, and quite nearby Manchester provide some of the best clubs in the UK so there's no need to panic if you find that Huddersfield's offerings are not up to scratch. Student nights are generally Monday to Thursday but change all the time. The union supplies plenty of information on where's best to go, which is jolly decent of them but neccessary as they do little for the partying student themselves. Our top pick is Heaven and Hell at the end of a Wednesday night - £5 all you can drink and eat.
At the Storthes Hall site there is plenty of space and permits are issued to all those who apply. At Queensgate, the main teaching campus, parking is only really possible for staff and special needs students. The town outside the campus is also pretty bad.
3 cash machines and a mini-HSBC on the main campus and there are plans for a machine in the SU. Cashback and cheque cashing are available though.
At the moment disabled facilities are poor. Combine this with the hilly terrain of Huddersfield and you have a bit of a nightmare. A committee has been set up to look at the problem and union sources expect things will get better with access and facilities installed and renewed. There are specially adapted rooms available now though.
The newsagent style shop in the SU is trying to expand but at the moment provides mostly just the bare essentials. There is a big local Sainsbury's for more serious shopping.
Poor is the only word for Huddersfield's sports facilities. There is a dilapidated sports hall and gym at the Queensgate site and some pitches at Storthes Hall. Fortunately the local area is good and students are entitled to a discount at a good range of facilities.
There's a free bus between the Storthes Hall site and the main campus. It runs until 2AM but a 55p charge is instituted for late users. A safety bus also operates, mainly for the benefit of students at the Ashenhurst accommodation site. Visage, one of the town's clubs, runs a bus to and from Storthes Hall on student night. This is well used.
There is a small park in town but a short drive will put you in the heart of the Pennines.
There is one main 'learning centre' on the Queensgate site and the town has a decent municipal library.
Machines with 24hr access all over the place and plenty in the learning centre. All rooms are linked to the ethernet but not that many students bring their own equipment. As a general rule internet access is frustratingly slow.
A decent welfare setup with just about enough counsellors. Visiting GPs and nurses.
