Cardiff University

Just wondering if anyone is located in or around Cardiff, or who may have visited that can give me a little insight into Cardiff University. Anyone attended or attending? I'm curious about the feel of the school, if it feels like a massive school or if the professors try to make students feel like individuals and not a number, etc.

Any info about Cardiff in general (like stories, etc) would also be appreciated.

I'm considering doing my grad studies at Cardiff, so any grad studies experiences would be greatly appreciated also!

TIA! 


Edit: Just wanted to note that I also checked out an old post someone made regarding choosing between a college in London and one in Cardiff, the info about Cardiff was good but the post ended up focusing on London instead. 

I'm going to Cardiff this fall to do Graduate work in Politics so I will let you know when I get there.  The school is large for Undergrad but it was my impression that the graduate program (at least the one I am in) is very personal and relatively small.  The university itself has a very good reputation as well so if you are looking to just do Masters work and transfer, provided you aren't in a nationally proprietary field, you should be ok.

I can probably write more adroitly once I'm settled but the city looks inviting and it certainly doesn't have the cost of living that London does.  Cardiff does have access rail, major highways and does have an international airport.  However, I don't pretend to have any understanding of the Welsh language/accent so we'll see how much of a handicap that is in communicating around town.

I have found the university to be very receptive and accommodating sans the student loan issues although from the loan thread, I gather I got off easy thus far.  So long story short, if you go you won't be the only boisterous Yankee in town.

Well, I did my PhD in Swansea, just down the road. I can't tell you much about the university, though the library is pretty decent. (Better than Swansea) And it's a nice location, central to the city. What are you planning on studying? I think the experience really differs from department to department, and what course you'll be on. I ended up at Swansea b/c of supervision, but would've loved Cardiff. (Mind you, I'm soooo glad I went to Swansea - I met DH there!) 

Cardiff is a great city. It's not just a good-sized city, that's fairly up-and-coming, with good entertainments and shopping (and jobs I've been told - but better if you have Welsh), but it's really vibrant as the capital. There's nothing more exciting than being in Cardiff for an international rugby game. It just comes alive. Otherwise, like PP said, it's got great transport links - though Cardiff intl airport doesn't do long-haul flights, and you'll still need to go to London (or possibly Bristol, v. nearby) to fly to the US.

The Welsh language won't really handicap you at all. I studied it for three years here, as part of my research, but everyone speaks English. The accent is no harder to cope with than any other regional one, and everything is written bilingually, like with spanish in the US. The only thing I'd say is that if you're looking for a professional job in any public/cultural sector, you'll need the language - at least teh basics. But you can easily study it thru the university's adult learning centre.

I think it'd be a great place to study - good luck!!

this is an old post but decided to post anyway to help people who are going back in the archives to research.

i lived, worked and studied (through long distance with Swansea University) for three months in Cardiff in 2007. i don't know much about the uni other that it has an excellent journalism program.

the city was no london but is an exciting city nonetheless. it's nice-sized city with a friendly small town feel. the people are extremely friendly. don't worry about not knowing welsh. in fact go to the pubs and start mingling with the people, they'll be happy to teach you some welsh over a couple of pints. in south wales, welsh isn't as prominent a language as in north wales.

a train ride to london is only 2 hrs so you can make nice day trips to the city. the buses in cardiff are great - 1 pound for one-way, 1.50 pound for return. the taxis are reliable as well, but you need to call for them, especially on the weekends.

city centre is great. nice pedestrian shopping centre near the castle. the bay is gorgeous as well. check out the welsh assembly building - considered the most green legislative building in the world. you might be able to arrange a tour.

nightlife is great as well. nice selection in city centre with a couple of pubs in the bay - my personal fav. eli jenkins. most clubs and pubs in city centre are on st. mary's street.

i hope this helps anyone interested. cardiff is an exciting, safe city. while i mostly spent my time in the bay and city centre area, i never felt threatened.

all the best to anyone living in cardiff.

I didn't realize how old the post was, but since someone else resurrected it, I love life in Cardiff.  It's great!  Not overwhelming like some big cities but with every amenity and some of the best cultural access I've had (unless you count when I lived in New York, which obviously had more, but I couldn't afford most of it).  It's a city that is hugely renovated in recent years, but still has an old-world feel.  The people are way friendlier than you see in places like London.  I've never felt ostracised as an American, and the cost of living is immeasurably better than most of England.