I am currently a student at Cardiff university, and I felt the need to comment on this post as my experiences couldn't be more different from that of the author! Firstly the staff by and large are wonderful, helpful and knowledgeable. The author comments 'they expect 100%', I feel they expect 100% of what you are capable of, as an individual, because they want you to maximise your potential and do well!
I have contacted several different members of the faculty regarding different issues and whilst responses aren't always quick (they have lives too you know!), I have never been ignored or made to feel like I can't approach them. During exam periods several members of the team have put on additional tutorials to go over areas of concern, and on more than one occasion lecturers have given up their lunch breaks to assist me. I couldn't disagree more about the course lead being incompetent. I have had medical and personal issues for which I was fully supported through, and really he couldn't have done anymore to help with these issues!
The comments about the facilities are inaccurate, they comment there are 40 computers in the library, there are actually 85 in the library and another 15-20 in the IT lab in TDS the building where most lectures are and 95% of the times I've been in has been empty. The library also has loads of areas where you can plug in your own laptop and study, its also open 24 hours which is a great facility to have. The heating most definitely is on in the winter and aside the lift sometimes being out of action (although I believe that has been fixed) there are really no issues with the building. The rooms are only dark when we have film viewing sessions, for obvious reasons!
I don't see what the problem with the male to female ratio is...THATS LIFE. You can't pick and choose in the work place the number of men and woman you work with and why does it make any difference?
Another point they are way of the mark with is clinical placements. I was at *Withybush for my first year academic placement, and yes it is the furthest hospital on the course away from Cardiff. But by car it takes 1 hr 45 mins max. The clinical lecturer there is also super flexible, and would let us work slightly different hours so we were able to finish early on a Friday to travel back to Cardiff and miss the traffic. I'm not sure what all this moving house business is, what they also don't mention is the university arrange accommodation for you if you are on placement somewhere not commutable, which is paid for by the NHS. The admin staff arrange this for you, and I have never had any problems with them either!
I can't comment on results for people who receive extra time for assignments, but for those that don't results have been on time and in many cases early, bar one instance when there was a slight which was clearly explained and was due to an issue with the submission portal. All assignments have a marking rubric which we have access to and which is used to mark our work, so it should be a fair reflection of our work.
The other thing that confuses me is the comment about placement hours etc. I admit in the second year the second 5 week placement isn't ideally timed as it just before our exams, however there was a 3 week holiday prior to the placement so plenty of free time to start revision. Our placement hours are 7 hours a day, if you are doing 12 hour shifts then that would be for 3 days not 5, which would leave you with plenty of time to revise!
So far I have loved my experience at Cardiff university and the hospitals I have been on clinical placement at.