Aberystwyth Applicants - Student Q&A

I've applied for the entrance exam but got no offers or interview and I can't sign up for a visiting day till march and at that it says for fine art I require an interview but haven't been given one :/ so worried cause Aber is the main uni I wanna get into... Someone help please?


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I was wondering do we get a list of books and equipment for our courses? if so, will it be after we confirm our place in August? I was also wondering about what things I'll need to bring when I move in and what's provided? I know that I want single self catered, I might apply for ensuite.

I would like to ask about summer accomodation. The university told me I can't ask that from them, because I'm new student. Is there any hostel or any cheap accomodation to stay in whole summer?

Hey, everyone.

I'll be travelling from the States, and believe I'm allocated two 70 pound bags plus a carry on. I'm curious as to what all of you found worth bringing with you to Uni, what you wished you had brought with you that you didn't originally, and what could be left behind and just acquired in town upon arriving.

I went to Disney a few years back and could only bring one 50 pound bag, and that was only bare, bare essentials for a week and half. I'm quite worried since I'm moving across the Atlantic for 9 months! Maybe I'm worried for nothing and those two bags will be plenty, but any input from those already there would be great!

Thanks!

In not at Uni yet but my cousin has just left after completing his bachelors and he says itlk depend on how much money you have to buy things in the uk for example bedding cutlery etc maybe even leaving some clothes behind and buying them here. he thinks you should take things like pictures, sentimental stuff, a laptop etc hope this helps you

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If you want cheap clothing then your best going into a nearby city the uk has soo many shops that sell clothes for so little such as primary! It's the best ever you can get jeans from about £5 - £15 tops from about £2 - £10! Happy shopping yard hope to see you at aber in September!

I'm sorry to bother again.

How is it with private accomodation in summer? I believe not everybody stays in Aber for summer. Is it possible to "fill" in for someone? I hope you can understand what I'm trying to say, lol.

I'm a Second year at Aberystwyth doing Film and Television Studies as Joint Honours alongside French.

If you want cheap clothing then your best going into a nearby city the uk has soo many shops that sell clothes for so little such as primary! It's the best ever you can get jeans from about £5 - £15 tops from about £2 - £10! Happy shopping yard hope to see you at aber in September!

You could very very very (yes three verys!) easily bring just yourself and your wallet/purse and buy everything you need here in Aberystwyth. On the odd occasion you can't find what you want there's always online shopping but by no means is it a necessity. Sure bring some items from home to make your room homely but don't think you have to tell to Birmingham all the time to go shopping, in fact that's the last thing I'd do!

Hey, everyone.

I'll be travelling from the States, and believe I'm allocated two 70 pound bags plus a carry on. I'm curious as to what all of you found worth bringing with you to Uni, what you wished you had brought with you that you didn't originally, and what could be left behind and just acquired in town upon arriving.

I went to Disney a few years back and could only bring one 50 pound bag, and that was only bare, bare essentials for a week and half. I'm quite worried since I'm moving across the Atlantic for 9 months! Maybe I'm worried for nothing and those two bags will be plenty, but any input from those already there would be great!

Thanks!

Prices seem pretty comparable. That's good. And you'll definitely see me in September! Thanks!

I wasn't too worried about what I could or couldn't acquire at Aber, though it's good to hear there's no lack of variety. Was just curious as to what other students found helpful to have that I wouldn't think of. Though I don't relish shopping so soon after arriving, I guess it's really unavoidable.

And thank you. Every question I've had has had a quick and helpful answer. Though, I never did hear if you ran into any Belhaven Scottish Ale in town. There's only one restaurant here that I've ever seen it on tap, and it's availability over there could quite possibly be the thing I'm most excited for!

For private accommodation in 2nd and 3rd years, the time to get your house or flat sorted is around the December to February time. Contracts usually run from sometime in June for 12 months however some run for 10 months September to June. Almost certainly all of the student houses will be let out over the summer, some on a reduced rent basis where the students cannot live in the accommodation but are allowed to have their belongings there. Other students will be living in their house/flat and working in the town during the busy summer season.

The other houses and flats that will be available for short term let will be holiday lets which will be very expensive (£300-500 per week). The best thing is to stay in the university halls that I linked to previously through the conferencing department.

I'm intrigued to why you would want to stay in Aberystwyth over the summer prior to becoming a student here. If it's to work then it'd cost you similar amounts in rent and bills to that you'll get in wages, it might be a better idea to work in your home town and live at home.

If you want to live in Aberystwyth over the summer to get to know the place better then there isn't much point as again it would be extremely expensive. I'd very much recommend signing up to Sports Week when it is publicised, as that gives you a few days before everyone moves in to explore the town without it being too busy and obviously lets you try out the sports on offer here. If you're worried about not being sporty don't be, I tried sports that I'd never done before to learn something new or sports that I was terrible at to improve my skills....while sea kayaking I managed to sink numerous times!

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Clothes, laptop, iPod probably the best things. If you have DVDs and CDs then that's cool, just don't bring too many as a) you won't have much time to watch them - always something going on for you to join in with! and b) your luggage allowance for your flight. c) Most American DVDs don't work on European players as they are NTSC and Europe has Pal. The US is Region 1 and Europe is Region 2, however if you have any region 8 DVDs they work worldwide.

As I believe you will most likely be entering and leaving the UK via Heathrow or Gatwick, apply for a railcard too; www.nationalrail.co.uk. Get a 16-25 railcard (if you're between those ages) as it can save 1/3 on fares. Your route will either be

FOR HEATHROW: Aberystwyth - Birmingham New Street, Birmingham New Street - Reading, Reading - Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3 & 4 OR Heathrow Terminal 5.

FOR GATWICK: Aberystwyth - Birmingham New Street, Birmingham New Street - London Euston, Take a tube (Or a couple) across London until you reach London Victoria and London Victoria has a train that will run you to Gatwick.

Here it is fairly easy to acquire plates, bowls, cutlery etc. from Matalan or Argos. They also do have shops which sell bedding stuff here too. As for your mobile, leave your US cell phone back home and get a UK mobile. It will be much much cheaper. What you can then do is get a deal with a UK company to call all your UK-based friends, and as for calling your parents and family in the states, sign up to www.jajah.com. You create an account on there, put your phone number in. Put some credit on it and you can make calls to the US for about 1p per minute instead of £1 + which is a hell of a lot cheaper!

I'm still waiting to stumble across Belhaven Scottish Ale that's why! Admittedly it isn't the first thing that I look for when I'm out and about but when I'm at a bar I try to have a look on what's on offer as I usually have social drinks/meals with a ale drinking friend.

Regarding what you should bring over, obviously bring like a suitcase of your favourite clothes and other small pieces but there's no point bringing over heavy items if you can get them in Aber.

I have a Canadian friend who shipped over his TV and Xbox from his home in Canada, all the shipping and other fees it cost him was a lot more expensive than buying a new TV and Xbox at Argos in town.

Any delicate items such as plates, glasses etc you should probably buy them here, as well as any heavy items as there isn't much point struggling with extra heavy bags coming all that way!

Actually, I'm trying to find flights into Birmingham, as they have a meet and greet there. But for some reason, flights there seem far and few between for some reason. Thank you for the information anyway on the railcards (and everything else), as I may just end up flying into London.



On the subject of the Xbox, and this may be a dumb question, but I thought that those here in North America don't work in the UK as you have different power outlets? My uncles brother lived in Scotland for a few years and said he had to buy a different Xbox and games when he moved there.