I like Aberystwyth Uni, needs better mental health support though.

Great

No

The location is fantastic but with all the works going on around campus at the moment it is making it not a nice place to study at because it’s so loud. I’ve been here a long time and loved every minute though and it’s nice to see the university finally changing its look but I feel it would have been better for them to start during the summer. I do love the library because it’s quiet for study and there are beautiful views of the sea from the top floor, the other great part about Aberystwyth university is the various places there are for students to go and do work in.

So far I have enjoyed the course, I’ve learnt things I never thought I would learn about, discussed relevant issues and how you can relate them back to documentaries and used brand new camera equipment including 16mm film cameras and processing equipment. I’m grateful for the opportunities this course has given me and for the way it has changed the way I view the world and it’s environmental issues however I feel that as this is still a “new” course with this being it’s second year running, the lectures are still trying to come to terms with what they want for us out of the course. This year two of the main lecturers on the course were on research leave during semester 1 & 2, this meant we didn’t really get the full experience of the course. I understand they need to go away and do research but as this is the first year the course is running in person due to Covid last year, I would have liked them to be there for us. The contact hours are great and we get enough time off to be able to film and read the readings however one of the courses modules is with the geography department. The module is to help us understand key ecological terms that we will be dealing with on the course however that module is badly run, this isn’t the fault of this MA, that is down to the geography department. Thankfully, the lecturers on our MA listened to our problems with the geography module and got it sorted out. That’s one of the good parts of the lecturers on this MA, they listen to you and will do what you want so you can get the best out of this MA. I love how hands on the MA is, you can get a lot of experience out of all the different cameras and equipment during contact hours but if you want to be better you have to put in the effort and take equipment out during your free time… I highly recommend doing this. Aberystwyth is a great location with so much beautiful nature surrounding it!!! USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE The course focuses more on experimental documentaries and documentaries that don’t fit the normal standard of what we see on television. This was a bit of a shock to us at first as the description made it sound like we were doing all types of documentary studies but despite the shock we have learnt so much and have been able to see ways in which we can film outside of the norm. Overall I love this MA and I’m going to be sad to leave it, I just think the one thing this MA needs is time and it won’t work if the students won’t put the effort in. Use your time at this MA wisely and make use of everything around you!

Aberystwyth is one of those places where once you come here you will never want to leave. The area is beautiful with so many hike trails, mountains and beaches around us. Plus Aberystwyth has around 52 pubs… meaning night life is great here too. They’re is plenty of places to get your shopping and if you drive you can easily go away for the weekend but if not don’t worry because with the free weekend bus you can go anywhere for free around Aberystwyth… even Cardiff!!!

I stayed in Cwrt Mawr in my first year about four years ago, it wasn’t the best accommodation with it being the cheapest option I knew not to expect much but when I first moved in my room was dirty. However the accommodation team quickly sorted it when I complained. I don’t know what that accommodation is like now because I’ve lived private in town for 3 years but I’ve heard it hasn’t changed much. I know the other accommodation options are great such as fferm and pjm.