Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC)

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Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) has an Official University Profile. Check it out for details of courses, facilities, accommodation, and contact details, not to mention videos and pictures of the university. The profile was written by university staff from the Cardiff Metropolitan University and gives an in-depth view of the university without the need for a prospectus.

Learning Centres

These enable access to a broad range of learning facilities for students and staff. From professional advice and guidance, well-equipped study areas, social learning spaces, and access to a wide range of learning resources and IT facilities, the centres cater for all.

Study and research areas

The learning centres provide a flexible environment including quiet study areas, group study rooms, and social learning spaces. These and other study areas allow for a wide range of study and research activities.

Learning materials and information skills

In addition to book stocks and print journals available on each campus, learners can access well-maintained electronic resources such as e-journals, databases and e-books. There is also a slide library at Howard Gardens. Multi-skilled staff on all sites take all levels of queries from users and provide information skills training sessions. Black and white and colour photocopiers and printers are all available in all the centres, often during extended opening hours. For further information including opening hours and contact details, see www.uwic.ac.uk/library.

Academic skills service

The Academic Skills Advisers often visit courses to teach core skills such as mastering academic English, critical thinking, presentation skills and note-making. The team also writes course-specific online lessons in academic skills areas such as research ethics awareness and writing literature reviews.

The team maintains a fast-growing academic skills resources website. In addition to synchronising the best available resources and advice in each skills area, the site offers interactive tutorials in essentials such as citation and referencing. Workshops, which learners can book independently, are offered during the academic year. Topics for these can also be suggested by learners themselves.

Learners seeking advice about written English may also email a writing sample to the team for evaluation, or send a query. The cross-campus academic skills team may be contacted by email on academicskills@uwic.ac.uk.

IT and Computing

Sports

UWIC is one of the leading centres for student sport in the UK. UWIC offers a multitude of excellent facilities and an extensive range of activities to cater for everyone from elite athletes to those who just participate for fun.

Facilities

Cyncoed campus UWIC offers a comprehensive range of sporting facilities all built and equipped to the highest standards including:

• National Indoor Athletics Centre
• eight lane outdoor athletics facility
• The Wales Sports Centre for the Disabled - (fitness centre)
• floodlit artificial hockey/football pitch
• national league pitches for rugby and soccer
• Olympic gymnastic training centre, dance studio
• LTA regional indoor and floodlit outdoor tennis complex
• multi-sports centre with specialist cricket provision, swimming pool and squash courts
• sports science laboratories.

Llandaff campus

The Llandaff campus is home to a fully equipped fitness centre with the latest cardiovascular machines and resistance stations, a multi-purpose hall for fitness classes and outdoor pitches for rugby and soccer.

Recreational sport

Those who wish to participate for recreation or leisure can do so by joining the UWIC Sports & Leisure Club, or by using the facilities on a pay as you go basis. A dedicated team organises various activities for all levels including the complete beginner who just wants to keep fit and have some fun. Activities include aerobics, circuit training, boxercise, lane/recreational swimming, tennis, badminton, squash, athletics and table tennis. Additionally, The Sports & Leisure Club courses include swimming, tennis, mixed hockey, netball and yoga. Annual events include the ‘Astroturf Challenge’ for those who wish to get together with fellow students and enter an 11-aside soccer tournament competing against local teams and companies. The facilities and services are excellent and a value added provision for all students studying here. With the UWIC Rider bus service operating daily between the campuses and halls of residence, sport is accessible to all.

Sporting excellence at UWIC

The Athletic Union currently supports students representing 38 different sports with many UWIC teams and individuals competing in the national leagues and at national level. UWIC has been BUSA/BUCS champions in Rugby union, volleyball, indoor athletics, basketball, trampolining, football, gymnastics and indoor cricket UWIC already has a reputation for the support and development of elite performers across many sports and the UWIC Hall of Fame includes over 350 international competitors from 28 different sports, including World, Olympic, British and Commonwealth champions. The pursuit of sporting excellence requires time, commitment, expert coaching and access to high quality training and competition facilities, all of which are offered at UWIC.

UWIC has invested, and will continue to invest, substantial sums of money in order to create an environment that ensures excellence in both sport and academic endeavours. UWIC appreciates the essential needs and requirements of elite level performers and therefore guarantees support both in sporting and academic learning. Flexible study patterns and excellent academic guidance services are provided as well as guaranteed access to extensive training and competition facilities. UWIC’s staff expertise covers the key areas of lifestyle management, physiological assessment and profiling, training programme design, sports nutrition, biomechanical analysis, performance analysis, sports psychology, physiotherapy, podiatry and biomedical sciences. The excellent facilities are augmented by substantial investment to ensure that exceptionally talented athletes receive a range of monitoring, training and sport science support dependent on individual needs.

Sports scholarships

A very successful scholarship programme operates at UWIC supporting the development of elite performers in a range of sports. What does the UWIC Scholarship offer?

• Gold card membership of the Sport and Leisure Club
• Access to Specialist coaching
• Advice on planning your academic and competitive programme
• Up to £1000 per annum for the agreed duration of your course (subject to annual review)
• Other services available in UWIC

(which may incur a personal cost): - Fitness training and monitoring - Performance analysis - Sports psychology - Nutritional advice - Physiotherapy - Additional training and competitive commitments - Podiatry. Do I have what it takes? You will need to convince us that you have the ability to perform successfully at the highest level. For example:

• Have you been designated as an ‘elite’ athlete?
• Have you represented your country in sport

Welfare

UWIC’s Student Services are designed to meet the support needs of all students and to offer help and guidance to ensure your time at UWIC is as enjoyable and successful as possible.

The Service comprises four main areas:

• Disability Service (based mainly on the Llandaff Campus)
• Career Development Services (based on the Cyncoed Campus)
• Financial Advice, Counselling and Health Services (based mainly on the Llandaff Campus with a Health Service available on all campuses)
• Chaplaincy (based mainly on the Cyncoed Campus)

All the services are confidential, impartial and staffed by professionals.

Healthcare

Counselling service

Counselling is available to students whose personal, emotional or psychological problems may be hindering their progress at UWIC. It is an opportunity to explore emotional issues with someone who is trained to listen, explore and offer honest feedback. If you feel anxious, upset or distressed because of personal difficulties during your time at UWIC, counselling can help you to focus and explore your difficulties in a safe and supportive environment and to decide how to tackle difficulties that can be solved and come to terms with those that can’t. Free, confidential counselling is available during term-time via an appointment system.

E-counselling

E-counselling is an innovative, highly accessible service for UWIC students, who have found it to be a convenient way of getting support that fits into their busy schedule. If you would like any more information about the Counselling Service, visit our website at www.uwic.ac.uk/studentservices/counselling.

UWIC Nurse

UWIC’s Nursing Officers are experienced professionals who are committed to an integrated system of care, encompassing physical, emotional and psychological health and well-being. If you need help or advice on any aspect of health or well-being, they provide a confidential drop-in service in the medical centres on each campus. They organise health education events and it’s worth remembering that they provide a useful front-line service if you are feeling upset or distressed during your time at UWIC. They can be contacted during term-time by emailing healthservice@uwic.ac.uk

In addition, a local GP practice provides regular surgeries at the Cyncoed campus for registered students. For opening times and more information visit our website www.uwic.ac.uk/studentservices/health.

Shops

Cardiff is already one of the top 10 shopping destinations in the UK, and with a major new development of flagship stores set to open; it will soon rise to the top five. The city has all big-name high street stores, from Topshop to House of Fraser and H&M, but it is in the fabulous Edwardian arcades that you can find the best of shopping in Cardiff. The covered arcades wind through the city centre, interconnecting, and house the best of Cardiff’s independent shopping scene, from top fashion boutiques like Woodies Emporium and Pussy Galore, to quirky shoe shops Eccentrixs and Buzz, interiors havens Rossiters and Nice, as well as plenty of unusual eateries. Vegetarians will love Crumbs Salad Restaurant, serving delicious pitta breads and vegan specialties, and all foodies in Cardiff follow their noses to Wally’s - a delicatessen with fantastic foods from across the world. Cardiff is also home to the world’s oldest record store - Spillers Records has been selling music since 1894, and is still one of the best places in Cardiff to pick up an obscure album or a rare copy of a classic.

Restaurants

Whether tapas, fajitas, sushi, steak, or a full Welsh breakfast is your thing, you won’t struggle to find something to eat in Cardiff. Mill Lane is the popular ‘café quarter’ of the city, where outdoor tables and terraces give the area laid back, European vibe. Popular places to eat in this area include Las Iguanas and Conti’s. Roath and Cathays have a wealth of independent restaurants, including the Aegean Tavernea, serving Greek specialties, and the Armless Dragon which offers Welsh cuisine made with delicious local ingredients. For a view with your meal, head to Cardiff Bay, where The Bosphorus Turkish restaurant juts out on stilts into the water with floor to ceiling windows, or the Bayside Brasserie, a bistro with panoramic views of the Bay. Caroline Street in the city centre is far from salubrious, but is the best place to get a portion of chips and curry at closing time, and has become one of Cardiff’s most famous and popular streets.

Banks

Transport

‘The largest University Bus service in Wales’ - the UWIC student bus service, the UWIC Rider, runs between the UWIC campuses and covers Cardiff city centre and popular private student housing areas. Operating from Monday to Friday from 8am to midnight during term-time, the bus service makes travel between the campuses easy for UWIC students, and allows safe travel into the city at night. Currently, when students purchase a UWIC Rider bus pass, they also gain free and unlimited access to all Cardiff buses within Cardiff for the whole of the Academic year (including Christmas and Easter).

Careers service

Career development services

The service helps students develop effective career management skills and provides information on employment, study and training opportunities at home and abroad. Staff are available to help you at any time during and after your course, giving guidance on career choice and personal development opportunities as well as practical help with applications. Workshops are offered on all campuses and may be available through your course. Appointments can be made with Career Advisers at any of the campuses or you can use our drop-in sessions. The main Careers Information Centre is at Cyncoed, with smaller information centres on the other campuses. Call in to browse the resources and take away magazines and directories. Or use the carefully selected resources on our website and our interactive careers education module to improve your career skills without even leaving your desk. Career Development Services can also arrange vacation work placements and job ‘tasters’ through the GO Wales programme.

Part-time jobs

Religous facilities

Chaplincy

UWIC’s Chaplain is Paul Fitzpatrick. He is open and friendly and is available for those of any faith and those of none. He can be contacted on 029 2041 7252 at ANY TIME. He is available to help with any situation and not just those relating to religion; if you need a safe ear, please feel free to call him. Paul also manages all of UWIC’s prayer rooms and the Chapel and has close links with all of Cardiff’s religious leaders and places of worship. Paul is also UWIC’s lead in bereavement

Accommodation

The Accommodation Service provides a comprehensive service allocating places in halls of residence or helping students to find privately rented accommodation off campus near to their place of study. Once you have decided to make UWIC your first or insurance choice, you will need to request details and an application form direct from the Accommodation Services office. You can request this from February onwards (Tel: 029 2041 6188 or 6189). The Service's central office is based on the Cyncoed campus and it is open throughout the year during office hours 8.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am - 4.00pm Friday if you have any queries.

Accommodation allocation

Priority for a room in halls of residence is given to first year students. When allocating rooms we take into consideration the distance they live from Cardiff and the date UWIC received the student’s application form for halls. Please note, if your home address is in the local designated area i.e. Cardiff and surrounding local authority areas (details of the local area can be found on the Accommodation Web site within the Allocations Policy) will be placed on a waiting list and allocated a room near to the start of term or once term has startedUWIC is unable to guarantee any students a place in Halls of Residence so priority for campus accommodation is given to first year undergraduate students and those who live outside the designated local area (details of the local area can be found on the Accommodation Web site within the Allocations Policy). Allocations are made in two phases: The first phase of allocations commences during June and the beginning of July – this is for students who become unconditional and apply before the end of May. Unconditional students who apply after the end of April will be placed in the second phase of allocations. The second phase of allocations commences after A level results near the end of August and continues through to the start of term. Please be aware that students who reside in the locally designated area, will be allocated rooms nearer to the start of term or once term has started.

We will not be able to allocate any student a hall of residence place without receipt of a completed halls application form. To receive the halls application pack you will need to contact the UWIC Accommodation Office direct, as halls applications are NOT automatically sent to students when applying for a course. You can request your application pack from February onwards, by telephone, email or letter. Your details will be entered on to the accommodation database and the packs sent out from the end of March onwards.

Residences

UWIC currently has 923 single study bedrooms located at the Cyncoed and Plas Gwyn campuses. Hall managers are present at each of the campuses and are supported by a team of trained student wardens who are usually final year students who have previously lived in halls. Evening and weekend duty rotas ensure that a member of staff and a student warden are always available to deal with queries or emergencies. You are welcome to visit the various residences. You might wish to do so when you come for interview. You will need to make an appointment with the relevant Halls of Residence.

Private sector

Although we give priority to first year students, UWIC regrets that we are unable to offer all first year students who apply for accommodation a place in the halls of residence. The Accommodation Service endeavours to help students make the transition from home to university as smooth as possible, therefore, in addition to allocating students places in halls, the Service also helps students find suitable accommodation off campus. If required, just after the A level results, the Accommodation Service holds a housing fair, for those students who are unable to gain a place in halls. Students and parents are invited to meet landlords and view student properties. This is a good opportunity to meet other students who also wish to secure a place to live off campus. The Accommodation Service maintains a register of student houses, which is constantly updated. This list and information would normally be sent out before the housing fair. Although these properties are not all individually inspected, the landlords are expected to provide a Gas and Electric Safety Certificate and sign a declaration, which states their property is in a good state of repair and suitable for student letting. While it is the responsibility of the student to make satisfactory arrangements, the Service seeks to give as much help as possible.

Student union

UWIC has 3 SU bars offering the usual student tipples of choice. Themed nights and events are regularly organised at all.

Environment

Few capital cities are better placed than Cardiff for blowing away the cobwebs when city life becomes too hectic.

Local area

The remote wilderness of the Brecon Beacons National Park is under an hour away from Cardiff, and home to some of Wales’ most spectacular landscapes. The opportunities for activity are endless, from hiking to the summit of Wales’ highest peak, to mountain biking, or kayaking, fishing and caving, alongside amazing rivers and waterfalls. If surfing is your thing, Britain’s first area of outstanding natural beauty, The Gower Peninsular, is also within an hour’s drive. Famous for its clean, award-winning beaches, the area has some of the world’s best surf spots, but is equally attractive for sun worshippers and walkers alike, with golden sands and a breathtaking, rugged coastline. The Taff Trail runs through the centre of Cardiff, following the route of the river from the Brecon Beacons in the north, through the valleys, before ending in Cardiff Bay, with plenty of sights on route for cyclists and walkers. Cardiff city centre also offers a wide variety of things to do and places to go out as well as a very good student nightlife that is shared with Cardiff University and neardby Glamorgan University students, you can find up to date listings on the things to do in Cardiff website. The fact that Cardiff has so many universities and different campasus in the nearby location makes a noticable part of the town centre youth orientated and very much geared towards students.

Teaching quality

UWIC provides education and training opportunities that are accessible, flexible and of the highest quality, and has been independently acclaimed for its high academic standards and for its high level of student satisfaction.

International links

UWIC places great importance on the need to prepare students for the increasing opportunities for work overseas. Language training is provided on a number of courses. Work placements and study visits outside the United Kingdom have been established together with a thriving programme of student exchange schemes.

Relationships with employers

Analysis shows that some 95 per cent of our students have found employment or are undertaking further study within six months of completing their studies. This success rate is achieved because of the emphasis we place on providing courses which lead to rewarding careers. It also reflects the close links that are maintained with employers and practitioners.

Applying to Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC)

Become a UWIC VIP. Register with us at www.uwic.ac.uk/vip and be kept up to date with the latest news and events relevant to you.

Please visit the UWIC website: www.uwic.ac.uk for more information about undergraduate and postgraduate courses. For application onto undergraduate full-time courses please visit www.UCAS.ac.uk. For part-time and postgraduate courses please contact the admissions department on 029 2041 6070