[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] The College is part of University of Wales.[EBOLD][PARA]Cardiff, over the Channel from Bristol, is Wales's largest city [PARA]and, since 1955, its capital. Around the northern outskirts is [PARA]industry and housing, built with the riches from the coal mines. [PARA]Nearer Cardiff's centre, splendid Victorian and Georgian [PARA]buildings are [ITAL]thoughtfully [EITAL]interspersed with greenery. [ITAL]Amid this [PARA]elegance[EITAL] - the museums and buildings of civic significance - are [PARA]the University's buildings, [ITAL]very attractive [EITAL]and mostly typical of the [ITAL][PARA]tasteful [EITAL]local white and grey stone architecture. Some are more [PARA]modern, but still [ITAL]very pleasant[EITAL] with gardens and walkways [PARA]between. Ornate gates and doorways abound, all clean and quiet[PARA]despite being at the city's heart.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]It's easier to say what Cardiff isn't. It isn't the home of the ancient[PARA]Aztecs and it also isn't frantic and frenetic, despite being in a city.[PARA]It isn't a place of town and gown tensions. The people of Cardiff [PARA]are friendly enough to students, who are a multifarious, relaxed [PARA]crowd if a little prepossessed with rugby and drinking. There's [PARA]plenty of ways of passing one's days with a wide range of [PARA]facilities and activities. The Students' Union spends more time [PARA]being a successful multi-million pound company than a political [PARA]fighting force.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 272, 600 [BULL] London: 143miles [BULL] Bristol: 30miles[PARA][BULL] Swansea: 40miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA]The University, along with the civic buildings, dominates the city [PARA]centre, most of which is closed to cars. But the traffic flows [PARA]through unfussed and the people leave little litter. It's just 5 miles [PARA]into the South Wales countryside. As the major urban centre for[PARA]the whole of Wales, Cardiff is well kitted out: shopping malls and [PARA]supermarkets; banks and book shops (including 2nd hand); [PARA]late-night shopping and many provisions designed for the tourists,[PARA]including lots of museums, galleries (National Museum of Wales,[PARA]Turner House Gallery, Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum, [PARA]etc) and the Castle (1/2 Roman, 1/2 Norman, 1/2 medieval, 1/2 [PARA]mathematical impossibility).[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains: [EBOLD]Direct trains from Cardiff Central: London (2hrs, 1/hr); [PARA]Birmingham; Bristol; Edinburgh; and so on.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches: [EBOLD]National Express to most places: London (ú14.75, [PARA]3:05hrs, 7/day), Bristol (ú4.35, 1:15hrs, 1/hr), Birmingham (ú16.50, [PARA]2:20hrs, every 2hrs), Swansea (ú3.25, 1:10hrs, every 2hrs).[PARA][BOLD]Car: [EBOLD]Parts of the city centre are for pedestrians only. To get to [PARA]Cardiff, there's the M4, A449 and A48. [ITAL]A car's not really [PARA]necessary since the invention of feet. Nice for the countryside, [PARA]though.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Air: [EBOLD]Cardiff Airport has flights to the Channel Islands, Ireland, and [PARA]even the USA, as well as inland trips.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching: [EBOLD]The M4's a bonus - only 5 mins walk from the campus - [PARA]and the Welsh are willing.[PARA][BOLD]Local: [EBOLD]Cathays BR station is the closest (just a couple of mins) [PARA]and ú1 takes you to Cardiff Central Station. Local bus services [PARA]run every 20-30 mins all round town. They're reliable with an [PARA]average trip costing 50p.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis: [EBOLD]Lots of firms [ITAL]will happily extort [EITAL]about ú1.50 for the privilege [PARA]of a ride it'd take 10 mins to walk.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles: [EBOLD]Everything's within cycling distance and there are [PARA]sheds at all the halls. Bikes have been known to ride off by [PARA]themselves though.[HDNG]NOS and REQUIREMENTS:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Health/Life[EBOLD] 1,501 22pts[BOLD][PARA]Phys Sci[EBOLD] 1,148 18pts[BOLD][PARA]Engineering[EBOLD] 1,610 22pts[BOLD][PARA]Business/Law[EBOLD] 2,181 22pts[BOLD][PARA]Humanities[EBOLD] 3,091 22pts[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 640,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 5,000 [BULL] Study places: [PARA]3,000 [BULL] Computer workstations: 830[ESTAT][PARA]There are 9 libraries in all, mostly open from about 9am to 9pm, [PARA]but only 3 main ones: the Arts and Social Science Library, the [PARA]Aberconway Library and the Science Library. Co-stars: Law and[PARA]Architecture.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 3full/1part [BULL] Unemployed [PARA]after 6mths (1992): 8.3%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]You know what they say: life's a beach. Cardiff is sufficiently [PARA]equipped in both the sandy and stony varieties. Surfing's [PARA]possible, even if it is a long way from Waikiki.[PARA][BULL]34% of Cardiff students are from Wales, but less than 5% [PARA]are Welsh-speaking. There is provision for Welsh-speaking [PARA]study, but it has to be arranged separately.[PARA][BULL]The University was built with money from Welsh miners.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Neil and Glenys Kinnock met here in the days when Cardiff was [PARA]more left wing (in fact, when Neil was more left wing). He rose [PARA]to become Union President. Also: Tim Sebastian (BBC); Roy [PARA]Jenkins (SDP 'Gang of 4' and now a Lib Dem Lord); Sian Phillips [PARA](actress); Sian Lloyd (weather woman); Sir Graham Day (British [PARA]Aerospace Chairman).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads, postgrads and extra-mural [PARA]students from the University. 'The Ultimate Guide' from the SU [PARA]with a Sports and Societies Supplement from the Athletic Union [PARA]is sent to Freshers upon confirmation. There's a Welsh language[PARA]handbook, and handbooks for women and overseas students, too.[PARA][PARA]
