Cardiff University Main Campus - Student Life

Housing: Halls of residence relatively inexpensive. Private sector (difficult to find Sept-October), look through Student Advice Centre, union noticeboards and agencies.

Eats: Meal £3.50 average on campus. Seren Las cafe bar (£2.50 for baguettes) in Union. City of 1000 curry houses, excellent french and italian, not to mention american, food outlets like TGI's and Fatty Arbuckles; legendary Ramones (best greasy spoon and very cheap. £2 for huge all-day brekky).

Drink: SU consistently cheap, beer from £1.20 a pint.

Nightlife: Plenty happening in SU with big name bands eg Chemical Brothers, JJ72, SuperGrass, Badly Drawn Boy, Doves, Cold Play, Travis. Good clubs including The Welsh club, Forum, Emporium.

Locals: No student animosity in Cardiff and no problem areas in town; cheap area to get insured; good local taxi services.

Sports: Gyms and sports centres range from free SU/university facilities to excellent but more expensive Cannons fitness centre. Swimming pools, velodrome and an ice rink.

Travel: Discounted travel from STA Travel (in partnership with SU).

Financial help: Small access funds.

Jobs: Best apply early for jobs (as soon as possible after arriving). Unistaff scheme gives students up to 15 hours work a week. Plentiful agencies in town; jobs in SU bars and shops. Informal name: Cardiff Uni.

Best features: Amazing SU; great atmosphere (always something on, night and day).

And worst: The welsh weather.

Good news: SOLUS nightclub in SU refurbished with state-of-the-art lighting and sound system.

More info: Cardiff University Students' Union (Park Place, Cardiff CF10 30N), Tel: 029 2078 1419, Fax: 029 2078 1407, or email: studentsunion(at)Cardiff.ac.uk

Past students: Neil Kinnock, Glenys Kinnock MEP, Tim Sebastian, Vincent Kane, Mark Lamarr.