Accomodation

[bethyfi]

I'm trying to decide on which uni to make my firm choice (Swansea, Barts, Warwick) and want to know about accomodation at Swansea, maybe some people who are already on the course can help me out?

Do GEM students tend to live in uni accomodation or in houses?
How much roughly is the rent? Where's the best place to live?

Bethan

[Phoenix17]

Hey Bethan,

I have a number of good friends at Swansea, and having visited a few times myself and gleaned the info on accomodation from friends and current medics. (This may be confirmed or denied by other current students)

But...as far as I am aware Medics tend NOT to go into university halls of residence, as other students attending the university have much shorter terms, leaving you on your own in halls for longer periods. Buses and facilities (laundry etc) in Halls also shutdown out of "regular" term-time.

Since there is a bit of a halls shortage in Swansea, some first years end up in private accomodation in their first year anyway (as what happened to my first year friends).

With the exception of one or two students, all GEM's go into private houses.

Hope this helps,

LJ.

[Arch_Angel]

Pretty much correct...

Myself and a few others that were in the area over summer organised the finding of houses for anyone that wanted it. Don't know of anyone that went into halls this year.

The student village (lived there first year of first degree) is nice, but a bit loud then I expect very lonely once everyone else goes home (and they go home way earlier than we do and start later).

In short, you find your own abode, the uni itself doesn't tend to have anything to do with it....although I expect they can give advice if you're very stuck, and they have a free student accom service that is based on campus that can set you up with potential landlords &c.

Currently there is more housing in Swansea than there are occupants and average rent is between £45 and £60 a week if you live in the area inbetween town and uni (Uplands/Brynmill) and more if you live in the Marina and (although i've been told this isn't strictly true) more if you live down in mumbles.

Google map the areas if you aren't familiar with them.

[bethyfi]

Thanks guys. £45 a week sounds amazing, I'm in Surrrey paying £95 a week x

[pipedreamer]

As others have said, most GEP students live in private accommodation although a few live in the postgrad halls (Beck House). Most medics live with other medics although I know a few people who lived with students on different courses and enjoyed having a bit more variety.

Some of the existing/former GEP students have houses that they let out to groups of students. I've heard only good things about them. I've seen them advertise on this site and on the facebook groups last year.

Another good way to find accommodation is to ask the students who will be moving to Cardiff next year if their accommodation is nice, and if so if it will be available in September when they move out. That would be the 2007 entrants - they probably have a facebook group where you could post.

In previous years the new students have arranged meet ups in Swansea to get to know each other and look at houses before the course starts. These again have been organised on this site and seem to work very well.

Melanie (ex Swansea GEP)