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3 tips for living in Cyncoed halls at Cardiff Met

Josie outside halls in Cyncoed
Josie outside halls in Cyncoed

The build-up to moving into uni halls is an exciting time, but it can be a bit nerve-wracking if you’ve never lived away from home before. Here are some tips on moving in to Cyncoed Halls at Cardiff Met:

1. Don’t bring too much stuff

You don’t have to bring as much stuff as you think. Don’t worry about all those TikTok and YouTube videos on what to take to uni – you need maybe half what they suggest. These are a few things I found useful:

  • Bring slippers and/or sliders – the kitchen floor can get dirty!
  • Warm pyjamas and loungewear for the winter is a lifesaver.
  • Any more than two sets of bedsheets will be hard to store – wash one while you use the other one.
  • You only need a couple of plates and bowls, and hard plastic glasses are a good idea – stuff will get broken at some point!
  • If you can, speak to your future flatmates and work out what you might be able to share.

2. Don’t worry about making friends (it’s easier than you think!)

You will most likely feel nervous and excited when you first arrive on campus. There may not be much time to speak to your flatmates at first while you’re moving in – but don’t worry, you’ll have all night to get to know them.

Some people just put their bedsheets on, throw their clothes in the wardrobe and are socialising downstairs within a few minutes – others not so much! I personally had a lot more to do, sorting out my room décor and bathroom supplies, hanging pictures and organising my wardrobe.

Meeting people and making friends is easier than you may think. Everyone is in the same position and may feel nervous. The first thing we did in my flat did was ask everyone’s names and where they were from – strong accents are always a great ice breaker!  

You’ll probably look back in a year’s time and laugh about the first impressions you had of each other on that day. People change so much as they become more comfortable. Someone you didn’t think you’d click with on first impressions may turn out to be your closest friend by February. It’s very easy to make friends outside of your own flat in Cyncoed too. The accommodation blocks on campus are all close together, so you’ll be constantly bumping into people you know. If you get invited to the neighbours for drinks, it only takes you about 20 seconds to get there.

3. Make the most of it

Josie in Centro working
I’m in second year now – my time in Halls really flew by!

A year in halls seems like a long time, but it goes by fast, so it’s worth taking every opportunity to meet new people or try new things.

The Met Res Life Events are great for this. These are free events that the uni arranges for first years – stuff like quizzes, bingo, film nights and gaming tournaments. These are a great way to spend more time with your flat or meet other people, and their events are alcohol free, so great if you don’t want to drink. Plus, sometimes there’s free pizza!

There’s always seasonal stuff going on too – for example, at Halloween, the accommodation staff give out pumpkins and run carving competitions with prizes, and on pancake day they provide pancake mix so your flat can join in on the activities together.

The start of the summer in Cyncoed is probably the best season though – exams and assessments are mostly over and you’re celebrating coming to the end of your first year. In the middle of the catered halls there’s a green space where you can sit on sunny days and listen to music, eat ice lollies, have drinks and play games.

It’s a bittersweet feeling when you get to the end of your time in halls. The best advice is to get involved and make the most of every minute.