Written by Urvashi Verma, Translated by Iwan Thomas.
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I came to Aber last year in September amid Covid lockdowns. I had a lot of questions in mind:
- "What will my experience in a new country be like?"
- "How will I fit in?"
- "Will I be able to make friends?"
- "What will the weather be like?"
To begin with, I had made a last-minute application to this university, partly because I was not sure of moving to a new country amid the pandemic. I applied here because of affordable tuition, free housing for international students, and they were offering a course of my choice. Overall, the UK (United Kingdom) is an excellent choice for master’s as the courses are 1 year intensive. The visa process was quite simple, and I could do it by myself. I would like to commemorate Ms Rosa (Visa advisor of the University) for guiding me at every step. Once, I received the visa, I began preparation for the journey and booked the tickets.
The best route to arrive in Aberystwyth is through train. There are regular trains from Birmingham and Shrewsbury. For international students, Birmingham is a better option as that is where one of the international airport is. The route that I took, was from London because I wanted a direct flight from India.
When I arrived here, I had to quarantine for 10 days as per the current rules at the time. I also had to take 2 Covid tests during that period. The first few days were busy as I had to complete all the formalities like GP registration, BRP (Biometric Residence Permits), National Insurance number, NHS card, bank account and provisional license. The university staff were super helpful and guided me in every stage.
The next challenge for me was the weather. As I am from India (winter is 16°!), so I am used to tropical climate. I would advise anyone planning to come to Aber to bring lots of woollens, raincoat, big umbrella, and boots. The mix of the rain and the cold means that these are a necessity. However, there are days when the sun comes out.
Once my quarantine was over, I explored the town. It is a beautiful seaside town with a hilly side to it. There are a lot of cool places to visit like Constitution Hill, the harbour, Bookshop by the Sea, Vale of Rheidol railway and many more. The community is genuinely nice too and I have a made many local friends. It has a good night out environment too with over 40 pubs and bars in town. 53 to be exact.
I have explored other parts of UK too; I went to London and Greenwich during Easter break and to Scotland during the summer. Both these places have a lot to offer to visitors. Apart from them, I have been to many nearby places like Swansea, Cardiff, Pembroke, Aberaeron, Devil’s bridge, Caernarfon, Carmarthen, Skanda Vale. Most of these places have beautiful castles and museums. A nice getaway for a history buff!
The University has around 100 clubs and societies which cover a wide range of interests and beliefs. I have been a member of the boat club and the feminist society, both being very inclusive and enjoyable.
The university is conscious about the students’ rights and strives to make their Aber experience better. There is a Students’ Union (SU) for this, and they put in a lot of challenging work to make amends as per the students’ requirements. They have regular elections to get representation from all groups. I have been academic representative as well as faculty officer for my department and I can say that the SU encourages the international students to represent themselves.
On the academics’ front, every module has a specific assessment criteria and I feel this is efficient enough to analyse the knowledge gained. The library is open 24/7 and you can borrow up to 40 books! There are also various work opportunities available in the University, in the form of Aber forward internships and Aber works contract. I have done 2 internships through Aber forwards Scheme during Christmas and summer breaks.
Finally, I would say that I enjoyed every bit of this past one year and would recommend Aber to anyone looking for a new start.
Best wishes!
Fy mhrofiad yn Aberystwyth fel myfyriwr rhyngwladol
Deuthum i Aber y llynedd ym mis Medi yng nghanol y cloeon covid. Roedd gen i lawer o gwestiynau mewn golwg:
- "Sut brofiad fydd fy mhrofiad mewn gwlad newydd?"
- "Sut byddaf yn addasu?"
- "Afyddaf yn gallu gwneud ffrindiau?"
- "Sut fydd y tywydd?"
I ddechrau, roeddwn wedi gwneud cais munud olaf i’r brifysgol hon, yn rhannol oherwydd nad oeddwn yn siŵr am symud i wlad newydd yng nghanol y pandemig. Fe wnes i gais yma oherwydd hyfforddiant fforddiadwy, tai am ddim i fyfyrwyr rhyngwladol, ac fe wnaethon nhw gynnig cwrs o fy newis i mi. Ar y cyfan, mae'r DU (y Deyrnas Unedig) yn ddewis rhagorol i feistri gan fod y cyrsiau'n ddwys am flwyddyn. Roedd y broses fisa yn eithaf syml, a gallwn ei wneud ar fy mhen fy hun. Hoffwn gydnabod Ms Rosa (cynghorydd fisa'r Brifysgol) am fy arwain ar bob cam. Ar ôl i mi dderbyn y fisa, dechreuais baratoi ar gyfer y daith ac archebu'r tocynnau.
Y ffordd orau o gyrraedd Aberystwyth yw ar y trên. Mae trenau rheolaidd o Birmingham a'r Amwythig. I fyfyrwyr rhyngwladol, mae Birmingham yn opsiwn gwell gan ei fod yn gartref i un o'r meysydd awyr rhyngwladol. Roedd y llwybr a gymerais yn dod o Lundain oherwydd roeddwn i eisiau hedfan yn syth o India.
Pan gyrhaeddais yma, roedd yn rhaid i mi gwarantîn am 10 diwrnod yn unol â'r rheolau presennol ar y pryd. Roedd yn rhaid i mi sefyll 2 brawf covid yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw hefyd. Roedd y dyddiau cyntaf yn brysur gan fod rhaid i mi gwblhau’r holl ffurfioldebau megis cofrestru gyda Meddyg Teulu, TPB (Trwyddedau Preswylio Biometrig), rhif Yswiriant Gwladol, cerdyn GIG, cyfrif banc a thrwydded dros dro. Roedd staff y brifysgol yn hynod gymwynasgar ac wedi fy arwain bob cam o'r ffordd.
Yr her nesaf i mi oedd y tywydd. Gan fy mod yn dod o India (mae'r gaeaf yn 16°!), felly rydw i wedi arfer â hinsawdd drofannol. Byddwn yn cynghori unrhyw un sy’n bwriadu dod i Aber i ddod â digon o ddillad gwlân, cot law, ymbarél mawr, ac esgidiau. Mae'r cyfuniad o law ac oerfel yn golygu bod y rhain yn angenrheidiol. Fodd bynnag, mae yna ddyddiau pan ddaw'r haul allan.
Rwyf hefyd wedi archwilio rhannau eraill o’r DU; Es i Lundain a Greenwich yn ystod gwyliau’r Pasg ac i’r Alban yn ystod yr haf. Mae gan y ddau le hyn lawer i'w gynnig i ymwelwyr. Ar wahân i nhw, dwi wedi bod i lawer o lefydd cyfagos fel Abertawe, Caerdydd, Penfro, Aberaeron, Pontarfynach, Caernarfon, Caerfyrddin, a Skanda Vale. Mae gan y rhan fwyaf o'r lleoedd hyn gestyll ac amgueddfeydd hardd. Taith braf ar gyfer bwff hanes!
Mae gan y Brifysgol tua 100 o glybiau a chymdeithasau sy'n cwmpasu ystod eang o ddiddordebau a chredoau. Rwyf wedi bod yn aelod o’r clwb cychod a’r gymdeithas ffeministaidd, gan fod y ddau yn gynhwysol ac yn bleserus iawn.
Mae'r Brifysgol yn ymwybodol o hawliau'r myfyrwyr ac yn ymdrechu i wella eu profiad yn Aber. Mae Undeb Myfyrwyr (UM) ar gyfer hyn, ac maent yn gwneud llawer o waith heriol i wneud iawn yn unol â gofynion y myfyrwyr. Mae ganddyn nhw etholiadau rheolaidd i gael cynrychiolaeth o bob grŵp. Rwyf wedi bod yn gynrychiolydd academaidd yn ogystal â swyddog cyfadran ar gyfer fy adran a gallaf ddweud bod UM yn annog y myfyrwyr rhyngwladol i gynrychioli eu hunain.
O ran academyddion, mae gan bob modiwl feini prawf asesu penodol a theimlaf fod hyn yn ddigon effeithlon i ddadansoddi’r wybodaeth a enillwyd. Mae'r llyfrgell ar agor 24/7 a gallwch fenthyg hyd at 40 o lyfrau! Mae cyfleoedd gwaith amrywiol hefyd ar gael yn y Brifysgol, ar ffurf interniaethau Aber a chontractau gwaith Aber. Rwyf wedi gwneud 2 interniaeth trwy Aber forwards Scheme yn ystod gwyliau’r Nadolig a’r haf. Mae'n lle da i unrhyw un sydd eisiau cymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau amrywiol!
Yn olaf, byddwn yn dweud fy mod wedi mwynhau pob rhan o'r flwyddyn ddiwethaf hon a byddwn yn argymell Aber i unrhyw un sy'n edrych am ddechrau newydd.
Dymuniadau gorau!