Let’s face it: Aberystwyth is a small Welsh seaside town, which most of you probably hadn’t heard of before looking for universities. It isn’t a big city like Liverpool or Manchester, we don’t have 15 nightclubs or a big shopping centre – we don’t even have a Nando’s. Instead we sport our two fairly average clubs, a ‘retail park’ (consisting purely of an Argos, an Iceland, Lidl and a Mountain Warehouse) and a Weatherspoon’s as our only big chain restaurant.
But isn’t that the point? For me, moving away from home was half of the point of going to university – and not living with my brother was only half of that appeal. I was sick of the big city where I had spent my whole life: It was dirty and it smelled, and walking along the road became an obstacle course, mainly avoiding cigarette ends and angry teens on tiny bicycles. I couldn’t even say it boasted some excellent bustling nightlife. Most of the excitement of any night out was trying to avoid the middle aged men who stumbled nightly out of the ‘gentlemen’s club’ on the way home.
Don’t take this the wrong way – Aberystwyth isn’t some washed up wasteland, whose only inhabitants glue in their teeth and stand by the gate all day on the off chance anybody passes and is willing to give up 40 minutes of their day to talk to them. It is just very small. The thing about Aber is that there is never anything I need which isn’t here (with the exception of a Primark – but now I’m just being picky). It’s good for shopping, and has a number of pubs and bars which make it easier to ignore the fact that you’re rolling into Yoko’s at 3am yet again. And knowing that you will never want for anything, you can focus on what Aber really does offer.
I can say with absolute honesty that Aberystwyth is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Firstly, obviously our prospectus is littered with photos of the Old College, which is fantastic (and happens to be directly outside of my front door). And if you’re studying on Penglais campus – which most of you will be – the National Library of Wales is only a two minute stroll away, which is both stunning and an incredibly useful resource. Plus, in the summer (and in the winter, if it takes your fancy) you can take your laptop down and study on the beach! The general area is beautiful, and there are loads of woodland paths and coastal walks if you’re the outdoors-y type.
Being a student town, there are plenty of bars and shops who have student jobs for grabs, which is great if you’re in a lower bracket for your loan, or if you just want to earn some extra cash. The University also puts a lot of money into facilities which they think are lacking in town: Notably the Arts Centre and the Gym, which has a really good student discount.
So if going to university for you is about having 15 clubs and a shopping centre and a Nando’s I’d say no, Aber probably isn’t for you. But if you want to spend the next three years of your life in a beautiful seaside town, safe in the knowledge that ‘going out for dinner’ can never cost you more than £10, why not come to an open day?
Patience Allen
Second Year History
History @ Aber 