University of Glamorgan (University of Glamorgan in general)

Member Name: chris212

Product:	University of Glamorgan in general
Date:	20/06/09 (111 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: More student orientated than other universities

Disadvantages: Difficulty parking - Less of a reputation than other universities

The University of Glamorgan is a former ploytechnic that was turned into a university in 1992. Originally the university consisted of a single campus, although the university expanded in subsequent years. The university is suited to both students that will reside either at the univeristy, the surrounding areas or students that are willing to travel.

I am one of those students that was willing to travel, as I live in Cardiff, just a half and hours drive away from the university along the motorway; I did not want to pay to stay in one of the universities halles of residence. There are a number of ways in which a student can travel to the university, this is by car, by bus or by train.

If a person wanted to travel to the university by car there are a number of way. If you are traveling from Cardiff like I am, there is the option of travelling along the M4 and the to the university, or straight to the university along the A470 from Cardiff City centre; as the university is only about half a minute from the A470 at the Gyntaff turn off. Although I find this is the easiest and most comfortable form of transport to the university if does have its problems, most notably parking your car at the university. Although the university have a car park for students there is not enough to meet demand. If you are not at the university early, spaces are at a premium and you will have to wait for another student to leave to enter. Or even sometimes the car park staff turn you away which is really annoying to say the least.

There is another option of parking at the Glyntaff campus, the former home of the law school, but this is a ten to fifteen minute walk away from the main campus. The university lay in a shuttle bus, but this stops at 6.00pm, which is not very helpful for someone like me who finished at seven or eight in the evening and it is the middle of winter, freezeing and raining.

This annoyed me a bit, as before my course was moved I was able to park easily at the Glyntaff campus, but now it is more difficult at the main campus and it is not what the university advertise themselves as. As in their brochure they stated that they are a car friendly university, unlike other such as Cardiff University where there is no university car park. But it is just the same if there are not enough car park space.

A good point that I can say about the universities car park is the cost of use, which is £1; which is extremely good value for money. Although the university is in discussions about increasing the number of avaliable spaces, through the building of a multi story car park instead of a single level as is currently present. Although the price of parking will increase if the development will go ahead.

There are also certain bus operaters that operate a service that goes to and stops at the university as part of it route. I have not take this option of travel to the univeristy, but it is avaliable.

The third option that is avaliable to students that travel to the university is train. If like I am, a student based in Cardiff, a student can take a train from Cardiff Central Station all the way to Treforest station, which is right outside of the university. Although I do not take the train, I know friend that do use the train and say that it ok to use. Just that at peak times the train can become packed which is a pain, but it is quicker than the bus. Although so far I have found the easiest way to travel to the university is by car.

In terms of the different campuses I can only comment on the main treforest site and Glyntaff campus as I have not visited the Atrium campus in Cardiff. The Glyntaff cmapus is very spartan when my course was there, although there were two places that served food, that was the main place other than a small library. Although the site is being redeveloped to accomodate more course within a particular faculty.

In terms of the main campus, Treforest, it is the main hub of the university. This campus is almost a small village as it is contained within boubdary walls unlike Cardiff University, which is spread out through the city centre. One of the problems that I found in terms of my course was the size of the campus, if you have lectures that are back to back and you are on opposite ends of the campus, you can be late for the next lecture which can be a pain.

One of the problems that I have, being a student that travelled to the university from Cardiff, was using the facilities on the campus, such as library, It facilites or even the Students Union. As I either have to visit the library while I am at the university for lectures and make sure I do not forget anything or I have to make an hour round trip. Secondly, as I drive, I can't drink alcohol at the student union, which is a real shame. Although I could take another form of transport, it would cost more money, which as a student I cannot afford. I am not alone with this problem, as some of my other friends have the same problem.

In terms of the food that is served at the university, there is a number of options that are avaliable to student. They range from the main Gallery resturant to the Student Unions food outlets. The food is good value for money, as you get what you pay for, because as a student you do not want to be paying too much for food. Although some of the time I do take my own lunch, as alot of my friends do. One of the problems is that a large number of the food outlets close at around 7.00 pm, which is a pain if you are at the university that late because of lectures and you are feeling a bit hungry, as you either have to go to the nearby shops or take food.

Also on campus is a book store, Blackwells, from which you can by books for your course or stationary. A good point is that books that are recommend textbook on my course, the law degree, were all stocked at the store as the lectures made sure the books were avaliable. Although saying this the prices of the books are a bit more expensive than online retailers such as Amazon. Although some of the books that are solded in the store, that you need, are not always sold online or else where. In which cases sometimes I was willing to pay a bit more to get the book.

Overall I rate the univeristy highly, as it is one of the best for student care, as the staff in the Student Services department are extremely helpful, and will either sort the problem for you or help you find the person that will help you. Although the university may have its problems such as parking, it does have its good points. One of the problems that does become an asset for the university is the closeness to Cardiff. As a large number of students will stay in Cardiff, rather than the surrounding areas of the university. For the night light and the avaliable facility in the city.

There will be obvious comparisons with the other nearest university Cardiff, which is a red brick univeristy, which means that it holds more prestige than Glamorgan. Although in my opinion in this is the only different, as teaching of the same standard, or even better. As the lectureers work more closer with the students, meaning you get better value for money. Therefore I would advise a person to seriously consider choosing Glamorgan as your university of choice, as I did.

I have haven't gone into detait about the course I am doing, the law degree, as it is in its own seperate review.

Summary: Would advise you seriously give a consideration