How much of an impact does accommodation at UWE influence your student experience?

I found Student Village to be painfully isolated.. even though there are '000s of you there, its design and layout mean it doesnt lend too well to mass socialising, and the on campus SU facilities really arent that great... Its also SO damn expensive, you cant have a car there and unless you online shop, its a trek to sainsburys...

Also, dont even bother having a party in the Student Village accom, security will be up to close it down before you've got onto the second track on your iPod...

Marketgate is more sociable, but milessss from Frenchay, and can get pretty loud/grim at times from what friends thought. Also, not much in the way of food shops nearby, and the security is worse.

Its up to you, if you want to have a big nightlife experience, the city accommodation is better, but commuting into campus and back is a ball ache and can take an hour each way during rush hour... depends what course you are doing.

The uni is also banning ALL students, beginning in September, from commuting to uni in a car (in any academic year), if you live basically anywhere near Bristol itself. They are trying to promote sustainable transport, based on their buses, but the buses are awful, and the city is too congested for that to work, also the buses don't run in a lot of areas that they need to to serve everyone. It is an out of city campus trying to act like an inner city campus and it will struggle to work IMO.

From other uni's ive visited, and friends who've visited me, the general consensus is that it is a pretty quiet and dull uni, although the facilities are decent. I personally think i would have done better going to Trent.

Bristol is a beautiful city, possibly one of the best in the UK, esp. the city center, but, Frenchay is out on the North edge, away from any real hub, or 'life' its surrounded by estates, motorways and industry.

The nightlife is nice too, but not as big as i thought it would be, although there are many gems if you know where to look!!

Its up to you... but bear in mind Frenchay is isolated and the student village is expensive.

I found Student Village to be painfully isolated.. even though there are '000s of you there, its design and layout mean it doesnt lend too well to mass socialising, and the on campus SU facilities really arent that great... Its also SO damn expensive, you cant have a car there and unless you online shop, its a trek to sainsburys...

Also, dont even bother having a party in the Student Village accom, security will be up to close it down before you've got onto the second track on your iPod...

Marketgate is more sociable, but milessss from Frenchay, and can get pretty loud/grim at times from what friends thought. Also, not much in the way of food shops nearby, and the security is worse.

Hi, I'm also stuck at choosing which accommodation to apply for. I've accepted my offer from UWE to do Fine Art a couple of weeks ago now but i'm still having difficulties at choosing accommodations. i'm going to be based at the Bower Ashton campus but more so Spike Island which from what i've read about, Marketgate would be the better choice for me according to my course. However, as you've mentioned above, it is more sociable, can get "loud/grim" and a friend of mine also mentioned that they get away with lots of parties and there's a lot of drug taking (which i might find an issue, but then i kind of expected that being uni and all). Is Marketgate as wild as it seems? I'd like to be able to get to my lectures and studio fairly easily (20-30 mins max), close to places employing part-timers, be able to meet new friends, enjoy the night scene now and again (but i'm not really that crazy about going out to clubs, i'm more of a pubs and bars kinda girl) and i'd like to be able to have some  serenity at sorta decent hours to get some sleep and to also get some work done from the comfort of my own room if i'm feeling a little lazy for the library and studios, and preferably an en-suite. I know that all sounds very particular ahahaha but thank you, i'd appreciate any help! Oh and does anyone possibly know if Marketgate comes with the gym membership?


I can't wait to meet people and rent with new friends next year!! ������

Personally, I disagree with this. I think you benefit more from living on campus, it gives you a chance to meet so many people and to meet people on your course. The SU is great for meeting people, plus it's cheap drinks too. However, I agree with the trek to Sainsburys, it's only 15 minute walk but when you have bags and stuff it's annoying. Shopping online would probably save you money though, as I go to Sainsburys for loaf of bread and milk and I come back with a years worth of Ben and Jerrys because it was half price.

As for parties, my flat have a flat party every Tuesday without fail. We had one last week with 30+ people. Security came up and we just all hid in my room because they're not allowed into your rooms. So far I've only had 1 noise complaint. Yeah they can come up to your flat and knock on, but what else can they do? Ask for your name and you say no and walk off.

I thought Marketgate was waaaaay more relaxed in terms of security, or so I've heard.

These are all good points especially concerning grocery shopping and the Student Union in all fairness, but the SU just doesn't appear very lively; more of a place to chillax haha.

Haha you seem like quite the rebel when it comes to throwing parties in the SV.

Would you recommend living at The Student Village 1st year then Jodianne?

Thank you for the very helpful response btw

I've applied for the Carroll Court accommodation, this is the cheaper option and would leave me plenty of money spare from my student loan My friend who I work with graduated in 2011/12 at UWE and did say to stay on Frenchay Campus. She said the welcome week and freshers week around the campus are very fun and you meet hundres of new people. She said she made friends for life and stayed in accommodation with them in years 2 and 3 so it all seemed positive. I think it depends what you want out of Uni life, the price and location sound like Frenchay is a good option! People did say on the open day that you're a bit out the way if you're off campus but it depends what course you do I guess... I'm doing the LLB so obviously Frenchay is best but I've heard nothing but positives about it, so up to you what you, it's down to what you think would make you happier. Either way you get a free bus pass so not a problem getting to town etc if you wanted to.


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Hopefully mate! Hope you make a decision soon


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I live in brecon which is very, very loud!

Hi, I'm also stuck at choosing which accommodation to apply for. I've accepted my offer from UWE to do Fine Art a couple of weeks ago now but i'm still having difficulties at choosing accommodations. i'm going to be based at the Bower Ashton campus but more so Spike Island which from what i've read about, Marketgate would be the better choice for me according to my course. However, as you've mentioned above, it is more sociable, can get "loud/grim" and a friend of mine also mentioned that they get away with lots of parties and there's a lot of drug taking (which i might find an issue, but then i kind of expected that being uni and all). Is Marketgate as wild as it seems? I'd like to be able to get to my lectures and studio fairly easily (20-30 mins max), close to places employing part-timers, be able to meet new friends, enjoy the night scene now and again (but i'm not really that crazy about going out to clubs, i'm more of a pubs and bars kinda girl) and i'd like to be able to have some  serenity at sorta decent hours to get some sleep and to also get some work done from the comfort of my own room if i'm feeling a little lazy for the library and studios, and preferably an en-suite. I know that all sounds very particular ahahaha but thank you, i'd appreciate any help! Oh and does anyone possibly know if Marketgate comes with the gym membership?


I can't wait to meet people and rent with new friends next year!! ������