[HDNG]IN COLLEGE:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]A2[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Catered: 25% [BULL] Cost: ú51 (31wks) [BULL] Self-catering: 9% [BULL][PARA]Cost: ú28-ú45 (42wks)[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Availability: [EBOLD]All 1st years are guaranteed accommodation in halls, [PARA]after which only about 15% of students live in. There are 16 halls [PARA](with 2 more planned), including 5 catered halls, 1 on campus, 3 [PARA]about 2 miles out and another on the coast (about 4 miles away) [PARA]with a free bus service, morning and evening. [ITAL] The standard's [PARA]pretty good[EITAL]; mostly single rooms and bars, gardens and [PARA]recreational facilities. One of these halls, Aberdare, is female only.[PARA][ITAL]The newer halls are better yet[EITAL] - 5 built in the last 2 years. They're[PARA]self-catering and 1,500 rooms have a bathroom [ITAL]en suite[EITAL], but there[PARA]are twice as many applicants for these rooms as places. The [PARA]fact that they're a bit more expensive than the usual self-catering [PARA]halls (single rooms with kitchen and bathroom shared between [PARA]about 5) hasn't dented demand. The self-catering halls are [PARA]based in two principal complexes: Cartwright Court (10 mins walk[PARA]from the campus but convenient for the city amenities) and the [PARA]larger Tal-y-Bont (Field Hall, further out by the river with [ITAL]excellent [EITAL][PARA]facilities). There are 26 flats for married couples, but apart from [PARA]this, there is no shared accommodation.[PARA]Plans are afoot to provide housing for a further 1,240 students by [PARA]September 1995 (at a cost of ú13million) to accommodate the [PARA]University's expanding numbers.[PARA][BOLD]Catering: [EBOLD]In addition to the shared kitchens, some of the [PARA]self-catered halls have snack bars in the common rooms. In [PARA]catered halls, breakfast and evening meals during the week are [PARA]in the cost as are breakfast and lunch on a Sunday. On [PARA]Saturday, though, students fend for themselves or starve.[PARA][BOLD]Car parking: [EBOLD]There's limited parking and cars need permits.[HDNG]EXTERNALLY:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Renting: 60% [BULL] Ave rent: ú35[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Availability: [EBOLD]It's quite difficult to find appropriate housing although [PARA]the search is least hopeless on the north side of town (eg the [PARA]Cathays ghetto and Roath) in shared houses and flats. [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL] [PARA]recommends avoiding Ely and [EITAL]nearby [ITAL]Riverside (none too safe [PARA]and none too near). Splott looks brilliant as an address, but, [PARA]again, it's a hell of a hike.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][BOLD]Housing help: [EBOLD]The University operates an Accommodation Office[PARA]with 2 full time staff who provide vacancy and landlord lists. They[PARA]also help students get legal advice.
