Trinity St David

Carmarthen: A bilingual (English/Welsh) college in west Wales, set on the outskirts of the active, attractive market town of Carmarthen. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside, perfect for everything outdoor, with beaches, mountains, rivers and castles. Swansea, with its city life, is within range (about ½ hour). Founded to train teachers but now offers a wide range of courses, attracting students of all ages and backgrounds – from all parts of Britain although there are also Irish, American, Canadian and European students. 3 halls of residence on campus offer both catered (good-quality food) and self-catering accommodation; cheap housing can also be found in town. A good place for sport with a strong rugby tradition, good facilities and some excellent teams. SU offers a wide range of active societies, excellent bar prices, regular discos, events and a good venue for touring bands. The college chapel holds daily voluntary religious services and there are very good welfare facilities. Being a small college, it is very friendly, a place where everyone knows everyone. To most, it soon becomes a home from home.

Lampeter: It's in one of the most beautiful locations in the country; the seaside is only 13 miles away where there are regular sightings of seals and dolphins. Originally a theological college, and the oldest degree-awarding institution in Wales, it now has a diverse range of arts degree programmes (undergraduate and postgraduate); most popular subjects are archaeology, theology and religious studies and most recently film and media studies. Local transport system is not brilliant but there are buses to surrounding towns and villages, and to bigger towns such as Aberystwyth, Swansea and Cardiff. Computing facilities on campus are good; internet access in all halls of residence and a variety of workstation rooms (one open 24 hrs/day). Students and staff come from all over the world, making it a very multi-cultural campus. Staff are approachable and many have an open-door policy and are welcoming to students. Students' union is the main provider of social activities, and boasts a wide variety of clubs, societies and associations - and further development and more clubs and societies planned. Union bar is the watering hole for the student population; warm and welcoming atmosphere makes it an ideal venue for bar quizzes, bands, student acoustic nights as well as the occasional slam poet. SU nightclub (The Extension) is open at least twice a week for themed discos, bands and society nights. SU also runs a welfare service, aimed at supporting students (health, finance, housing etc), running campaigns and awareness days (from breast cancer, AIDS awareness to drink-spiking and safe sex). Many sports teams (eg rugby, football, fencing, ultimate frisbee). Welsh countryside offers excellent opportunities for mountain biking, hiking, walking and camping. University provides housing for most students - mostly self-catering, some ensuite. Plenty of student housing in the town as well, generally under 10 minutes' walk from the main campus - all fairly safe as Lampeter is a safe town (but, as anywhere, insure valuable items). On-campus employability unit gives students and graduates advice on where to find jobs and work placements. It's a very welcoming and friendly community, which gives you the opportunities to make what you want of your experience at university.

Carmarthen: Housing: Campus hostels generally good. Look on noticeboards, ask accommodation officer about private rentals. Eats: Good but pricey on campus (meal from £1.50). Takeaways, pub food, Indian, Chinese etc in town (£5–£15). Drink: £1.90 a pint in SU bar. Plenty of friendly pubs in town, often with specials nights (beer £1 a pint). Nightlife: SU has best ents @ TTIC Bar and UNITY nightclub; regular discos, touring bands and DJ’s. Some 60 pubs and a cinema in town; limited clubs – Club Metro, Savannavis, Waterside. Can get SU transport to Swansea for nights out. Locals: Friendly. Sports: Good sports facilities on campus, fitness centre, swimming pool, astroturf; sports fields a short distance away, good local leisure centre. Travel: Railway station and buses. Financial help: Money doctors, very popular access fund – best to apply early. Jobs: Some jobs on campus; plenty in town. Union jobshop and Go Wales. Best features: Very friendly; good social life. And worst: We all have to leave some day.

Lampeter: Housing: First years in halls. Accommodation in town relatively cheap; country dwellings and caravans often available out of town. Drinks: Union bar, cheapest in town. 12 pubs in town so plenty of choice. Eats: Dewi's, the SU café, is reasonable and open 10am-4pm on weekdays (generous portion of chips and a big slice of pizza for modest amount). Nightlife: Regular bands; DJs incl Cash Money and Radio1 Mike Davies, DJ Yoda and the Scratch Perverts; karaoke, discos, pub quizzes, themed nights, regular trips to other universities and towns for gigs and lots, lots more. Film society has 3+ films a week (foreign, classics and blockbusters). Locals: Very friendly. Sports: Many sports teams. No charge for sports hall on campus; squash courts; town swimming pool (free student sessions). Travel: Rely on local buses. Financial help: Access (hardship) fund and hardship loan; many bursaries and scholarships available. Jobs: Jobs in SU; in town (in cafés, pubs, shops and factories), most pay minimum wage. Try local Job Centre or on-campus employability unit. Best features: Welcoming, friendly community, with many opportunities. And worst: Can feel a bit small; distance to bigger towns and cities. 

T E Lawrence (of Arabia fame); Sulak Sivaraska (Thai human rights campaigner); Sue Slipman (National Council for One Parent Families);  Barry John and Carwyn James (rugby players).

Check out the SU website on www.tsdsu.co.uk