Although Carmarthen School of Art is a small campus, it has excellent facilities and the teaching is exceptional. The tutors are lovely, helpful, and creative people themselves who are actually passionate about what they’re teaching. As students we have access to studio and workshop spaces with two full days a week on campus to work independently, making use of our studio spaces and the facilities available to us, as well as the time outside of teaching on days we have it timetabled. Tutors are friendly, supportive, and encouraging, and technicians are always available to help too. Learning support at the college is excellent and the Access Centre who handle DSA assessments are fantastic too, if I had this much support while I was at school I would have had a much better experience. The school of art doesn’t have its own students Union but seems to share one with neighbouring UWTSD campus which is fine, but I feel out of place going there as someone who lives at home and commutes to college rather than living in student accommodation nearby. Many students do this (live at home not in student accommodation) and it feels like we miss out on some of the student experience as we’re not on or nearby campus/the students Union, so it’s harder to find time or feel like it’s my place to be part of SU activities. If you expect somewhere big and busy like London you’ll be disappointed, but as someone who finds large cities overwhelming CSoA is perfect for me. Overall I’m really enjoying my degree, there are lots of trips to galleries (within the local area and further afield like London), I feel supported and encouraged by my tutors and learning support, studio spaces and facilities are excellent, students are listened to through student reps, and I wholeheartedly recommend Carmarthen. Before my degree I also did a foundation course here which was fantastic and set me on course to find the degree and career I want.

Tutors are friendly, encouraging and supportive. The course content includes a wide range of skills and room for developing your own style and creative practice. Though the college is small, the facilities are excellent, and students have access to workshop and studio spaces 5 days a week. Even when there isn’t timetabled tutor contact time, tutors are always contactable and are very supportive if you miss anything or feel behind and need a tutorial or some support to catch up. Compared to other art colleges I’ve heard people’s experiences of, there is a lot of tutor contact time here.

I live at home and commute, so I don’t live in the town. There’s a Tesco, and Aldi, a Lidl, and a Morrison’s (if you’re willing to go to the other side of town), as well as a health foods shop in the town, Home Bargains, Wilko’s, Poundland, etc. On Abergwili road there’s a shop called Chris Thomas & Sons which sells fruit and veg at very reasonable and affordable prices. For nights out there are a few nice bars in town like Cwrw which will often have live music. The town is nice for charity shops and shopping.

No