Hillside/Martindale

I'm becoming slightly concerned that these two are never mentioned in threads about accomodation! I know they're reserved for 'mature' students (I'm only 23), but there must be SOMEONE here who has either stayed/is staying/is about to stay in one of these. Any opinions or information would be appreciated! (just nothing too terrible please, I don't want to dread moving in. Humour me :smile:

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Reply 1

atomicpenguin

I don't know if you'll see this as the thread is pretty old, but I'll be staying at Hillside/Martindale Court too. :smile:

I'm 22, I guess "mature students" has a broad definition.

I don't know anything about the place though, maybe someone will come along and give us some information. (please? :biggrin:

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Reply 2

asparagus64

Woohoo! I really was beginning to think it was gonna be me and a lot of empty rooms! Do you know yet which one you're in? I haven't heard, but I put Hillside as my first choice. What are you studying?

I have asked on numerous forums for info from people who have stayed or are staying in these halls, and so far you're the ONLY person who has replied - so I think it's unlikely we're going to find anyone to tell us what it's like, we'll just have to find out for ourselves in a couple of weeks :smile:

Reply 3

atomicpenguin

I'm pretty sure that it'll be Hillside Court. That's what it said on my residence licence agreement, anyway.

I'll be studying Linguistics. My year in Reading will be the 3rd year of a bachelor's degree I started in Norway. And I'm Canadian.. "international" student indeed :smile:

I'm coming to Reading on the 29th. Would sure be nice to know more about the room.

What about you then? What are you studying?

Reply 4

asparagus64

I'm doing speech and language therapy - which includes linguistics, so you never know, we may even be in some of the same lectures! Have you received anything from the accomodation office since you returned your student residency licence agreement? Mine didn't state whether I was in Hillside or Martindale, I'm just hoping for Hillside.

I'm moving in on the 1st october, can't wait! Why did you choose to leave norway, or is it a compulsary part of your degree?

Reply 5

atomicpenguin

I sent an email to the accommodation office last week asking them if they'd received my licence agreement, and asking for more information about the room (dimensions, which furniture is provided, etc.). This is what I got back:

With regard to information about rooms at Hillside Court, all are furnished with a single bed, wardrobe, desk, chair, lamp and internet access. Regrettably, I do not have photographs or the exact dimensions for the rooms since these do vary somewhat.

I'm not 100% sure I'll be staying at Hillside Court, but there was a sticker with my name, student number and "HILLSIDE COURT" on my licence agreement, so I figured that that's where I'll be living. Maybe that sticker didn't mean so much though.. I think I'll send another email just to make sure.

Would be quite a coincidence if we ended up in the same lectures! I know that I'll be taking some modules that sound language therapy-ish, such as "first language acquisition", "child language development" and "psycholinguistics" (that's IF my "learning agreement" doesn't change).. recognize any of those? :smile:

I left Norway for various reasons, mostly I just felt like a change. Norway can be pretty strange. :biggrin:

I've been to England many times and always thought that it'd be fun to live there someday. Everybody in Norway has a right to take a year abroad during their bachelor's degree, so I jumped at the chance. Also, I'm taking a degree in Languages, specializing in English and Linguistics, I felt a bit silly being a Canadian and studying English in Norway.. English in England makes more sense. :smile:

Reply 6

asparagus64

Yeah, sounds to me like you're in Hillside - my sticker said 'Hillside/Martindale'. Ah well, either will be fine! Those modules you mentioned certainly sound like they could be a part of the speech and language therapy degree, although if you're in the 3rd year we may not be in the same lectures, as I'm just starting my first year.

So are you in Norway at the moment, or have you already moved to england? I visited Norway a few years ago, and it's a beautiful place, but I'm not sure I'd want to live there - especially in winter. I've never been to Cananda, but it's one of the places I'd most like to see. Do you miss it much?

Reply 7

atomicpenguin

I'm in Canada right now for the summer holiday.. I'm in Canada once or twice a year, depending on my finances. Norway is beautiful, I was living in Bergen, which is on the west coast. Bergen is surrounded by seven fjords and seven mountains, so everywhere you look it looks like a postcard. The winters in Norway aren't that cold, at least if you're below the polar circle.. then again I'm from Canada and used to -40 in the winter so my definition of cold weather is probably different than yours. :smile:

I'll be taking 2nd year and 3rd year modules in Reading.. we probably won't be in the same lectures, but I'm sure we'll see each other around! When do you find out where you'll live?

Reply 8

asparagus64

I'm not sure when I find out which hall I'm in - I'm kinda hoping they might tell me before I actually get there! :confused:

Where in canada are you from? England will probably seem positively tropical in the winter compared to canada. What date are you moving in? I'm going up to Reading on the sunday 1st, so hopefully I'll see you there if I am at Hillside - it's not a big place after all!

Reply 9

atomicpenguin

I called Redlands group (responsible for Hillside/Martindale Court and Wantage hall, I think) earlier, and they were able to tell me my house number and room number at Hillside Court. If you call them ((0118) 378 7383) they might be able to give you some information. :smile:

The place I come from is about 500 miles northwest of Montreal, if that tells you anything. We're not that far up north but it does get very cold in the winter (and very hot in the summer, too, for some reason).

I'm moving in on the 29th, house 14! Let me know when you know more about where you'll live.

Reply 10

asparagus64

Thanks, I will try calling them tomorrow because I STILL haven't heard!! You'll be moving in in a couple of days then! Let me know what it's like. As soon as I get my house number, I'll let you know. It'd be nice to meet up sometime! Good luck with moving and everything :smile:

Reply 11

asparagus64

Woohoo, finally!! I just rang that number and they told me I'm in House 4 at Hillside!! I'm so pleased I got into Hillside rather than Martindale - it's much closer to uni! So if you want to meet up sometime in fresher's week, let me know. Hope it all goes well for you!

Reply 12

atomicpenguin

Glad you got into Hillside!

I'm in England right now, just got myself a brand new phone number.. I'm going to send you a private message.

I'm moving in tomorrow, I'll let you know what the room's like!

Reply 13

erickvg23

Hi people,I know that this post is old, but I would like to know if anyone around here has an opinion about Martinadle Court in Reading. I am planning to stay there and, as the OP says, there are no reviews about it. Your opinion is appreciated. Thanks a lot!

Reply 14

UniofReadingPG

Official Rep

Original post by erickvg23

Hi,

Some of my PhD colleagues and a few of Masters friends have been staying at Martindale. So, my own perception for this hall is it is suitable for mature students. Almost all of my PhD friends have been living there for more than 1 year which means they are happy with the hall. It's surrounded by trees! It's located in a good location- in the middle between the town and the main campus. It's near our London Road campus, the Museum of English Rural Life, and the hospital. You could hang out in the Dairy, one of the University's pubs on London Road Campus and that's where I like to go and watch sports and for cheap drinks. :wink: