Once in a lifetime, Cardiff

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Why did you choose to go to Cardiff, United Kingdom?

Cardiff caught my attention because it was the capital of Wales and because it seemed so different to the rest of the capital cities throughout the UK. The best thing about the capital of Wales is that it was very well connected, particularly by train, but also the fact that it was a calm city without much stress.

How long was your scholarship? How much money did you receive?

My scholarship was for 9 months and I received 235 euros a month. On top of this, I also received a grant from the ministry and some from the 'Junta de Exremadura' for mobility.

What is student life like in Cardiff?

The centre of Cardiff is made by and for students. The university is the life of the city and it practically revolves around the students... promotions in shops, bars, etc.

Would you recommend the city and the university of Cardiff to other students?

I would definitely recommend it. The city has something for everyone. It is quite small but it has something for everyone. If you are staying for more than a year I would suggest somewhere a bit bigger but it was perfect for 9 months. The university works quite well and the entire campus is well located, with the majority of the faculties near to each other, as well as to the housing available.

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How is the food in Wales?

The food in Wales is typical British food, with the exception of some sweets and Welsh cakes. I recommend that you try the typical foods, the Sunday carvery every Sunday... and the English breakfast.

Apart from that, there are lots of take away places, the majority belonging to chains like Boots or Greggs.

I recommend the Hot Chocolate fudge cake at the pubs.

How did you find your accommodation?

I stayed in one of the residences belonging to the faculty (Colum Road). There are different types of residences: with a reception, without one, shared bathroom or en-suite, with living room or with your own kitchen... or you can simply opt to find your own house.

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What were the prices of accommodation like? And prices in general?

The place that I lived was very cheap at only 240 pounds a month. The price of housing in Cardiff is more or less the same but, like in Spain, you have to pay for light and water on top of this.

The prices in general within the city were quite low compared to other capitals like London or Dublin.

What about the language? Did you go to a language course at the university?

The language was fine, because I studied English philology. In any case, they had courses organised by the university but I am not sure how they work.

What is the cheapest way to travel to Cardiff from your city?

For me, the cheapest way to travel was to get a bus to Madrid, take the metro to the airport and fly to Bristol, which is a city close to Cardiff and the ticket from Bristol to Cardiff is only 9 sterling pounds. There are flights that go directly from Cardiff airport to Malaga but this is further away from my city.

The flights are cheaper to London in general and there are cheap buses with Megabus. The price is usually between 1 and 10 sterling pounds and the journey is around 3 hours.

Which places do you recommend for partying in Cardiff?

The Spanish usually go to Cuba, however, one of the places that I really liked was Oceana and maybe Revolutions (in front of the castle).

What about eating in Cardiff? Can you list your favourite places?

Woodville in Cathays, the Prince of Wales on Queen Street and then chains like Lloyd's. In general, I liked the food in the pubs and they usually have good prices and offers.

What about cultural visits?

In terms of cultural visits there is a lot to see as the city has a lot of history. It has lots of parts that have been reconstructed and lots of new parts which are evidence of the economic prosperity in which the city has in relation to an earlier period. The bay is a little more than 20 years old, for example.

Furthermore, there are very old buildings within the city like the arcades and the castle, which are worth visiting at least once.

Can you offer any advice to future students in Cardiff?

Make use of your time and enjoy the city because 9 months goes very quickly even though at the start it does not seem that way. It is a once in a life time experience, compared to anything you will experience again.