Postgrad Welcome Events
26 September - 9 October 2011
The Graduate Centre is the home for postgraduate students at Cardiff University. As well as the events below, we also organise trips and social events throughout the year. Our licensed bar is open Monday to Saturday 17.00 until 23.00 for informal socialising.
Events are free to enter unless otherwise stated. Tickets may be purchased at the Graduate Centre Reception Desk.
Monday 26 September
University Welcome to Postgraduates
You are invited to attend the official welcome address led by the Vice Chancellor Dr. David Grant CBE. Additional speakers include the Dean of Graduate Studies, the Director of Registry, Governance & Students, President of the Students’ Union and Head of the Graduate Centre.
Start Time: 17.00
Venue: Solus, Students' Union
Open to: Postgraduate students only
Price: Free
Monday 26 September
Postgrad Meet & Mingle
Don’t miss the first night of our welcome programme! There will be lots going on to help break the ice and help you meet and get to know your fellow postgraduate students.
Start Time: 20.00
Venue: Graduate Centre Café Bar
Open to: Postgraduate students only
Price: Free
Tuesday 27 September
Walking Tour: Cardiff Culture & Popular Shopping Areas
Just arrived in Cardiff and need to get your bearings? Come along on our student-led walking tour of the cultural hotspots and shopping areas of the city centre. Find out where to buy your groceries, clothes and necessities, and where to while away the weekends on those brief study breaks!*
Start Time: 14.00 until approx 16.00
Venue: Meet outside University Main Car Park Entrance, Park Place
Open to: Postgraduate students only
Price: Free
* Please note only severe weather conditions will cancel this trip. Bring a jacket or umbrella and if in doubt, call the Graduate Centre on 029 2087 4748 to confirm we’re still going.
Wednesday 28 September
Sports Fayre
The Athletic Union's 59 sport clubs will be represented at the Sports Fayre, so if you want to get involved, turn up and check out what's on offer. Visit the Freshers' website for more details about the Sports and Societies Fayres: www.cardiff-freshers.com
Start time: 10.00 until 17.00
Venue: Great Hall, 1st Floor Students' Union
Open to: All students
Price: Free
Wednesday 28 September
Quiz & Pizza Night
A fun general knowledge team quiz with pizza included (choice of pepperoni or cheese & tomato). There will be questions on pop culture, history, geography, etc with enough international flavour to suit everyone. Come along with or without a team - individuals are welcome and we'll find you some fellow postgrads to join in with! This event will run every Wednesday throughout the Autumn Term.
Start Time: 20.00
Venue: Graduate Centre Café Bar
Open to: Postgraduate students only
Price: £2 payable in advance (limited tickets available at the door)
Thursday 29 September
Societies Fayre Day 1
The Students' Union Societies cover a broad range of interest areas. They're also a great way to meet new people. Visit the fayre and join whichever society takes your fancy.
Time: Great Hall, 1st Floor Students' Union
Venue: 10.00 until 17.00
Price: Free
Thursday 29 September
Cardiff Bay Tour & Boat Ride
You will be guided through Bute Park, stopping off along the way to learn about Cardiff Castle and its parks. You’ll then board the Aquabus – Cardiff’s very own water taxi – to the bay, stopping off to explore the Cardiff Bay Barrage. From there, you’ll head over to the famous Wales Millennium Centre’s Ffresh Lounge for some traditional Welsh refreshments, followed by an hour-long guided tour of the Welsh National Assembly – our most important civic building which is also of great architectural significance.
Afterwards, you may continue to explore Cardiff Bay at your leisure and will be instructed on where to catch the bus / train to return to the university, or you can accompany the guides back to the city by train. Please note that return travel is not included in the price.
Start Time: 13.00 until approx 17.00
Venue: Meet outside University Main Car Park Entrance, Park Place
Open to: Postgraduate students only
Price: £10 payable in advance (including refreshments)
Friday 30 September
Societies Fayre Day 2
Another opportunity to explore what's on offer from all the many societies.
Time: Great Hall, 1st Floor Students' Union
Venue: 10.00 until 17.00
Price: Free
Friday 30 September
Pub Crawl & Club Night
What better way to get acquainted with the favourite watering holes of Cardiff Postgraduates than to be shown around by current students. Explore the best venues around Cathays and Cardiff City Centre, ending at one of Cardiff’s most exciting nightclubs, Buffalo.
Start Time: 20.00
Venue: Meet at the Graduate Centre Café Bar
Open to: Postgraduate students only
Price: Free to join in (drinks & club entry is additional)
Saturday 1 October
Film Night: Pirates of the Caribbean, On Stranger Tides
Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in another action-packed adventure. This time, Jack is forced by his former love (Penelope Cruz) and the infamous feared pirate, Blackbeard, to take up a quest to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. New releases will be shown for free every Saturday throughout the year.
Start Time: 19.00
Venue: Graduate Centre Café Bar
Open to: Postgraduate students and guests
Price: Free
Sunday 2 October
Film Night: Stand By Me
Stand By Me ranks among the best of the myriad coming-of-age films of the 1980s. A disarmingly tender and subtly sublime story of four young friends, Gordie, Chris, Vern and Teddy who are on the precipice of early adulthood and embark upon a quest that will change their lives forever. Classic films will be shown for free on alternating Sundays throughout the year.
Start Time: 17.00
Venue: Graduate Centre Café Bar
Open to: Postgraduate students and guests
Price: Free
Monday 3 October
Postgrad Meet & Mingle Replay
If you missed the first Meet & Mingle or want another chance to hang out with your fellow postgrads, come along! Here's another opportunity to break the ice and get to know people.
Start Time: 20.00
Venue: Graduate Centre Café Bar
Open to: Postgraduate students and guests
Price: Free
Tuesday 4 October
Supper Club: Curry Night
Meet at the Graduate Centre and walk together as a group to a great restaurant nearby (tables will be pre-booked). There will be two restaurant choices available – one which serves alcohol, and the other which is non-alcoholic, serving Halal food.
Start Time: 19.00
Venue: Meet at Graduate Centre Café Bar
Open to: Postgraduate students and guests
Price: Advance sign up required and £5 deposit (which will be contributed to the cost of food)
Wednesday 5 October
Why Not… Wednesday
Our first ever ‘Why Not… Wednesday’. Every week we’ll be making the most of study-free Wednesday afternoons by running different activities to give postgraduates the chance to try out new things. This week, it’s Why Not… Join Our Photo Marathon! Get your camera phones ready to participate (or form a team and share a camera phone). You’ll be given different themes to find and photograph around Cardiff. You don’t have to know the city to join in, and this is a great opportunity to meet people and get familiar with Cardiff. The participant or team with the best pictures overall will receive a prize!
Start Time: 14.00
Venue: Meet at Graduate Centre Café Bar
Open to: Postgraduate students and guests
Price: Free
Wednesday 5 October
Quiz & Pizza Night
A fun general knowledge team quiz with pizza included (choice of pepperoni or cheese & tomato). There will be questions on pop culture, history, geography, etc with enough international flavour to suit everyone. Come along with or without a team - individuals are welcome and we'll find you some fellow postgrads to join in with! This event will run every Wednesday throughout the Autumn Term.
Start Time: 20.00
Venue: Graduate Centre Café Bar
Open to: Postgraduate students only
Price: £2 payable in advance (limited tickets available at the door)
Friday 7 October
Postgraduate Carnival Party
Our colourfully-themed party is for all postgraduates at Cardiff – wherever you’re from and whatever year of study you’re in! Come along and try out loads of great food, party to exciting music and enjoy a fun night out with your fellow postgrads.
Start Time: 20.00
Venue: Graduate Centre Café Bar
Open to: Postgraduate students only
Price: £5 payable in advance (ticket price includes entry & buffet)
Dress code: Dress for a carnival – the more colourful you are, the better!
Saturday 8 October
Film Night: Thor
The world has many heroes, but only one is a god. When the arrogant warrior Thor is banished to Earth from his home world of Asgard, he must fight to reclaim his lost powers. Pursued by an invasion force sent to destroy him, the fallen God of Thunder must rise to the battle and learn what it takes to become a true hero. New releases will be shown for free every Saturday throughout the year.
Start Time: 19.00
Venue: Graduate Centre Café Bar
Open to: Postgraduate students and guests
Price: Free
Sunday 9 October
Film Night: Ready
Set in Thailand and India, a case of mistaken identity leads to love; and an accountant and his family concoct a grand scheme to win over the hearts of a woman and her greedy conniving uncles. Bollywood comedy drama. World cinema films will be shown on alternating Sundays throughout the year.
Language: Hindi with English subtitles
Start Time: 17.00
Venue: Graduate Centre Café Bar
Open to: Postgraduate students and guests
Price: Free