[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] Formerly Polytechnic of Wales[EBOLD][PARA]In south Wales, up the Taff Valley from Cardiff, is the market [PARA]town of Pontypridd. A mile away is the slate and stone village of [PARA]Treforest and overlooking it on a steep hillside are the 70 acres of[PARA]the University of Glamorgan campus. It's a mixture of building [PARA]styles with a few attempts to prettify the place, such as concrete [PARA]ponds. [ITAL]The main attraction isn't the University itself, but the [PARA]extraordinary views it affords over the valley, especially when it's [PARA]not raining.[EITAL] Those who are struck with a desire to listen to Tom [PARA]Jones singing 'Green Green Grass of Home' will be forgiven.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Students at Glamorgan could be said to get the best of both [PARA]worlds: the advantages of the peace and intensity of an academic[PARA]community on the one hand; the convenience of local amenities [PARA]with Pontypridd just 1 mile away on the other. Alternatively, it's a [PARA]boring place without the saving grace of proper seclusion. It's a [PARA]question of attitude. Most of the students actually living on the [PARA]campus are 1st years (2nd and 3rd years mostly live out), and [PARA]fun fixes come from frequent visits to Cardiff. The high [PARA]proportion of mature students obviously has an influence, too. [PARA]Local relations could be better, but generally, there's a pleasant [PARA]tone and a complete lack of pretension.[EITAL][HDNG]THE TOWN:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 35,000 [BULL] London: 145miles [BULL] Cardiff: 15miles [PARA]Birmingham: 90miles[ESTAT][PARA]There are 3 towns to consider: (i) Treforest. Corner shop, post [PARA]office, train station. Consider it considered. (ii) Pontypridd, which[PARA]is, of course, Welsh for 'the bridge near the earthen cottage', and[PARA]is familiarly known as 'Ponty'. It's an old town, built mainly on the [PARA]money of local coal mining in the last century which has now [PARA]been spent, leaving a depressed, working class community. [PARA]Although it's still small, Ponty's got enough amenities for daily [PARA]needs: shops (none stay open late), supermarket, book shops, [PARA]banks, market and a local history museum for the sizable tourist [PARA]trade. And (iii) Cardiff. Only 20 minutes away by train. See [ULNE][PARA]Cardiff, University of Wales[EULNE].[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] From Treforest station, only 400 yards from the campus [PARA]trains go every 20 mins to Cardiff (ú1.90). Unfortunately the last [PARA]return train is just after 10pm. From Cardiff, it's possible to get [PARA]trains all over the country (see [ULNE]Cardiff, University of Wales[EULNE]).[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express to London (ú17.00, 3:35hrs, 2/day), [PARA]Cardiff, which is a better bet for getting elsewhere, (ú1.10, [PARA]30mins, 2/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] Treforest is on the A470, and about 8 miles off the M4.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] The Welsh take pity on hitchers and once on the M4, [ITAL][PARA]prospects are good (except if dropped in the home counties).[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] There are local bus services going every 20 mins to Ponty [PARA]for 25p and every 25 mins to Cardiff (cú2) - last bus from Cardiff [PARA]is at 11.30pm. A free shuttle bus within a 10 mile radius of the [PARA]campus is run for students after 10.30pm.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] Cabs to Ponty work out at about ú1.50.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] The roads have hills and holes and bike theft is a bit of a[PARA]problem.[HDNG]FACULTIES and STUDENT NOS:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Business[EBOLD] 2,672[BOLD][PARA]Hum/Soc Sci[EBOLD] 1,308[BOLD][PARA]Law/Finance[EBOLD] 1,014[BOLD][PARA]Computer Studs[EBOLD] 814[BOLD][PARA]App Sci[EBOLD] 759[BOLD][PARA]Civ Eng[EBOLD] 754[BOLD][PARA]Electronics/IT[EBOLD] 531[BOLD][PARA]Property[EBOLD] 433[BOLD][HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][EBOLD][PARA][BOLD][STAT][BULL] Books: 140,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 1,000 [BULL] Study places: 750 [PARA]Computer workstations: 1,000[ESTAT][EBOLD][PARA]The Learning Resources Centre contains the main library (open [PARA]until 11.45pm), a book shop, complete TV and sound studios and [PARA]photographic darkroom.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 5full [BULL] Unemployed after [PARA]6mths (1992): 16.8%[ESTAT][PARA]Students often find jobs in computing, chemical engineering and [PARA]other areas linked to the many vocational courses.[HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]There's a multitude of sheep, some of whom have been [PARA]spotted around University accommodation.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Max Boyce (Welsh funny man); Ian Hamer (Olympic athlete); [PARA]Nigel Davies, Rupert Moon (Welsh Rugby Union caps).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]There is an official prospectus and, by way of a more alternative [PARA]guide, The Union Handbook produced by the SU.
