Hello there! Welcome back 🙂
As we progress through the series, we have tackled issues regarding the financial aspect of studying abroad, finding the right place to stay and picking the right University.
However, what about another aspect of studying abroad?
It is the City! The city in which your partner University is located would be where you will be spending the majority of your time. Hence, today we will be looking into this aspect as well as how to commute within the City itself.
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City
Q: What were the best things about the City you lived in?
Wei Li:
One of the best things about Belfast is – the people! Northern Irish people are famous for being some of the friendliest on earth, and this stereotype is definitely true! You will feel welcomed from the moment you step off the plane, and you’ll be astonished by the sincerity of strangers everywhere you go.
Belfast also has one of the best natural assets to explore, love and enjoy. Being a true national icon, natural wonders don’t get more naturally wonderful than the symmetrical stones of the Giant’s Causeway.
Aradhna:
I’ll answer this question along with the next question.
Clement:
In my opinion, Reading is perfect for a final year student as it is a small town, it is quiet and a nice transition from the hustle and bustle from PJ and KL.
However, that does not mean the town is dead. Reading has the largest on-campus University club (if you are into that). The town area of Reading is just a is within walking distance. It takes 10 minutes to reach by bus.
The main shopping mall in Reading has a river that runs in between the mall! I mean, how cool is that?
Brandon:
Everything you could want is there and it is within walking distance too! We have a great market, filled with many vendors selling cakes, pastries, buns as well as fresh produce. There’s a large array of things to keep yourself occupied with, ranging from restaurants to casinos (gamble responsibly kids), cinemas to clubs. If you can think of it, we probably have it.
Since Cardiff is a very closed community, you would see your friends everywhere too which was great! It really felt like a university experience, saying hi to your friends on the way to the city and back or at the grocery store.
Archie:
Living in Colchester which was about an hour train ride away from London, Colchester offers the serenity and calmness which London does not offer. You feel that you are one with Colchester as the town is filled with lots of warm and happy vibes, especially when it is nearing Christmas.
Q: Why did you choose to live in that City?
Wei Li:
Belfast is the capital and largest city in Northern Ireland. It is a small city and yet not too small. Belfast is unique for a number of reasons – fabulous restaurants, great bars, more arts and culture than you can shake a stick at.
However, what really sets it apart from other cities is an overall lively sense of humour and our cool, friendly vibe. It is something we like to call, ‘the craic’. It is a prominent term in Ireland which is used interchangeably to describe what’s fun or happening at the moment.
Aradhna:
The thing I loved most about Liverpool was the people who were all so warm and welcoming.
Additionally, the city boasts amazing restaurants, nightlife, and tourist attractions like Albert Dock and not to mention Liverpool Football Club’s world-famous stadium – Anfield.
In fact, the year I lived there was the year Liverpool won the Champions League and I was able to attend the Champions League parade and see the manager and players up close and it was undoubtedly one of the best experiences I have ever had. It was unbelievable to see an entire city come to a standstill and celebrate so uproariously together.
Clement:
Honestly, I wasn’t really picky about the City the University was based in. I am really flexible in a sense that so long as the basic necessities are there, I would do just fine throughout the whole academic year.
Reading was a nice place to live in and I generally enjoyed my time there. That’s all there is to it.
Brandon:
I think Cardiff is a lovely city to live in for a multitude of reasons, but primarily because of how student friendly the entire city is. It’s extremely accessible, with most places being reachable on foot without ever having to utilize public transport.
With that said, the public transport system in the city is also very helpful in getting around and even to other parts of the UK, with trains going in and out of the city daily. The city centre is literally a 5 minute walk from the university, and maybe a 10 minute walk from most accommodations as well.
It is an ideal balance between the hustle and bustle of a city, yet the quaint serenity of a small town and tight-knit community. Whilst is a perfect middle ground for both the adventurous as well as those who like the calm. There are always things to do, should you so choose to explore the city, and it never feels suffocating or overbearing, unlike in bigger cities such as London.
I loved taking a short trip to the grocery store and meeting so many of my friends along the way, or bumping into my classmates at the same restaurants or at the cinema. It really felt like my home away from home, so much so that my heart was happy and satisfied that I chose Cardiff as my abode in the UK.
Archie:
Compared to London and other cities I’ve visited in England and Scotland, Colchester has a balance of scale between serenity and convenience to commute to the metropolitan.
Transportation
Q: How do you commute from your accommodation to the places you need to go?
Wei Li:
Belfast is an extremely walkable city with flat streets and wide sidewalks. We like to walk a lot when we travel so that we can experience a city while burning off some calories at the same time. It took around 15 minutes to walk from my accommodation to the campus. If I wanted to go shopping or to get some groceries, I would just walk 10 minutes to reach Belfast’s city centre.
Aradhna:
Due to the proximity of my accommodation to classes and town, I was able to walk everywhere. However, if the place was too far I simply took an Uber or Alpha Taxi instead. When visiting other cities like London or Coventry I just took the bus or a train.
Clement:
Most of the time I walk. If needed, the bus is always available to go to town and it has a stop at the main campus.
Brandon:
I usually traverse on foot because you can literally go anywhere in Cardiff by walking. This is not to say it’s small, but everything is very accessible and not confusing so it’s easy to walk from one place to another.
Archie:
Since the University campus was about 1.6 km away from my apartment, walking would take me about half-an-hour whereas it is a 10 minute bus ride from my place to the campus.
Q: Was it easier to travel and visit other places that were to the City you were living in?
Wei Li:
Belfast is also a good city to take a bus tour to learn the fascinating history of The Troubles and to see the peace walls. It is pretty easy to travel within Belfast by bus and it is always punctual.
The Troubles refers to a violent conflict that started during a campaign by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association to end discrimination against the Catholic/nationalist minority by the Protestant/unionist government and police force. The Peace Walls are an effect of the Troubles in which these two parties would live in separate gated communities.
Aradhna:
Yes. It was because there was a large Bus Terminal and Liverpool Lime Street Station (the train station) located quite conveniently and close to the city center.
Clement:
The bus is really efficient in Reading for a few reasons:
- They have built an app where all buses are GPS tracked – so you know the bus timings and if they are delayed – which they rarely do.
- All bus stops are equipped with a digital timetable of the buses.
- The bus maps are user-friendly.
- There is no need for a metro as Reading is small enough to get around by buses.
Brandon:
It was alright. Traveling on a bus coach to London took roughly 3.5 hours. I would think that you’d probably have an easier time if you were studying closer to London or another part of England, but either way it’s not excessively difficult.
Archie:
I live across the bus station and the train station was nearby so it was convenient to commute at any time.
Q: How much did you spend on transport (if any)?
Wei Li:
Like I’ve mentioned, I was able to save up on transport since I usually walk a lot. If I were to take the bus, we would buy tickets from the driver. Change is given and fares within the city are £2.
Aradhna:
Practically nothing since I walked everywhere but the cost of taking the train varies a lot depending on where you want to go. I would recommend getting a 16-25£ railcard, using the trainline app and booking as early as you can to save as much as possible when buying tickets.
Clement:
An all-day ticket cost is cost around 3 pounds. If you are traveling in a group, it may be cheaper.
Brandon:
10-20£ if I stayed within Cardiff that month, maybe more if I was traveling around the UK with the coaches. I barely used any trains during my time there because I personally prefer to sit in coaches but it’s a matter of preference.
Archie:
Around £40. It depends on whether I am visiting London.
I would strongly recommend prospective students to apply for a railcard which offers 1/3 discount for train tickets in the Trainline apps (regardless of destination). This is the railcard Aradha mentioned earlier in this article.
However, it is advisable to check the train schedule to look for a cheaper rate to travel without breaking your bank.
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Well, yet again another end to the series. The key to getting around the City you are living in is to secure a convenient accommodation. As for me, I lived in BT2 in Belfast (the newly furnished student apartment) and it was really nice the City Hall, bus and train station.
One of my favorite cities to visit in Northern Ireland would be Bangor! The main highlight would be the walk through the Irish North Coast which allows you to enjoy a great view and scenery.
As usual, if you have any questions or thoughts about pursuing a UK Transfer Degree Programme, let me know in the comments below! If you liked this series so far, do stay on for more. In the meantime, do let me know your thoughts about the series!
Till then, see you next week in the next part of ‘UK Transfer Tips’. 🙂
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