As MPharm is an accredited course with no optional modules to choose from the choice of Universty depended on grades needed and factors other than the course. Cardiff University Pharmacy required AAB-ABB with a B required in Chemistry.  I didn’t achieve the grades needed but they allowed me onto the course – which may be due to a strong personal statement with experience in community pharmacy.

Things that makes Cardiff stand out:

• Cardiff university offer free language learning lessons for students which take place weekly or a a week crash course. I’m thinking of applying for a course next year and there will probably be a blog about it in a few months.
• Global Opportunities provide students with opportunities abroad for students as part of their degree or during the summer. They also offer grants to fund your time abroad – I have a seperatre post on this as I applied and received a grant to help pay for my time in the phillippines.
• Paid Summer internships offered by each department.
• The pharmacy department gets emails from local pharmacies about part time job opportunities.
• Maths support available.
• Give it a go scheme during freshers which allows you to try your hand at clubs and societies before joining.
• SU organizes trips throughout the year to places such as Stonehenge, Oxford, Cambridge, St Fagans, Christmas markets, etc.
• Jobshop advertises part time jobs such as during the rugby or on open days.
• Skills Development service – courses and session on transferable skills such as dealing with exam stress/anxiety, leadership, communication.
• Mentoring Scheme – all first years in the pharmacy course (I’m not sure how many in other courses) are allocated a student mentor which is a student from the years above to help with the transition to university life. It also means that you can apply to be a mentor in the subsequent years and is a hugely popular.

CARDIFF

Cardiff is a lovely city and for someone who has moved there from a farm in the countryside its not a scary jump. There are plenty of ways to get around the city from buses to bikes. NextBike is a bike rental company that has stations all around Cardiff and is a popular choice for students due to Cardiff being a relatively flat area and it having and many cycle paths. During my first year I resided at Talybont Court which has a cycle path going right behind it leading to the city centre and is right next to Pontcanna Fields. Recently I have started jogging in the morning and Pontcanna fields/Bute parks is the perfect place for an early morning run for absolute beginners – flat, great views along the river to distract you, and very few people to see you sweating and red in the face after a minute of jogging! Having a park on your doorstep is also a good break during exam season when you want a break and a bit of sun.

The city has something for everyone – clubs and pubs for the outgoing fresher, a trip to the opera at the millennium centre, a workout day with gyms spread out around or a bike ride to ICE arena wales for a shaky first time ice skating…and lets for forget the rugby.

TALYBONT COURT

I moved into my room at Talybont court on the earliest possible day and thought that everyone else would be doing the same, but I spent 2 days by myself in the flat meaning that just because that’s the ‘moving in’ date, you don’t have to go there that day. The accommodation only allows visitors a 45 minute window to drop things off – and this is the rule throughout the year. If you have parents coming to see you during the year then be prepared to have an annoyed voice at the intercom telling you that they can’t stay for long. However, if they want to avoid paying ridiculus amount that multistory car parks overnight then they can leave their can in the Talybont North car park for a £1 if there is space.

Talybont Court is one of the most sought after accommodations at Cardiff University and for good reason – its spacious, clean, and comfy.

• Kitchen – everyone gets a cupboard under the counter, and a wall cupboard, a shelf in the fridge and in the freezer. 

Something that I definitely don’t regret is buying flat plastic boxes. They can be placed under the bed. Before going down my parents had brought a whole box of storecupboard foods – pasta, pasta sauce, curry jars, tins of soup etc and it realy does help and saves you some money.

Pyrex Casserole dish (small) its great for making spag bol, meatballs, oven baked risotto. You can just leave stuff in the oven to cook and get on with your work.

Small tiered steamer – get healthy and get your 5 a day veggies.

The bedroom is spacious – a single bed, bedside cabinet, a huge desk, wardrobe, and a 3 drawer chest (x2 – a small one as part of the desk for stationary etc and a larger one for clothes), wall storage area for all your files, and has an en-suite. I’d recommend an investment in a god thick matress topper – I have always struggled to sleep in beds other than my own (which includes hotels) but getting one has allowed me to sleep easily. In the warmer months it gets quite hot in the room, and cold in the winter so id also recommend a duo duvet (which has two duvets which you can attach together allowing you to be cool in the summer but toasty in winter)

• Make sure that you have enough files – you’d be surprised at how quickly they fill up, especially if your course prints off the lecture slides for you.
• A printer isn’t necessary if lecture slides are printed off for you as you have printers in the library and in your course building.
• Bring a small extension cable just in case.

There is no TV in the flat so either bring your own (remember to get a TV license) or get a subscription to Amazon prime, Netflix, or nowtv for your ipad.

Talybont is right next to tesco Extra which is where I make my weekly shop or you could opt for Lidl on the way from from your uni building.