Friendly locals and very easy to get jobs

I had never considered going to Britain to study until I got my Leaving Cert results back in 1995. I grew up on a dairy farm near Kanturk, Co Cork, and wanted to do a degree in agriculture. With just 285 points, I was unable to get the courses I wanted. A friend who had gone to the University of Aberystwyth recommended the agriculture course and my mother knew about the UCAS clearing system, so I thought it was worth a try.

I rang up and got an interview with the admissions officer. My father and I went over and they offered me a place on the HND in agriculture.

The HND is a three-year programme, which includes one year's work experience. I went to New Zealand and worked for a farm relief service. You could choose your own jobs, which meant that I was able to travel around.

The great thing about the HND is that you can go on to do a degree in two years. I'm now about to go into my final year of the degree programme in agri business - and I had 12 agriculture-related courses to chose from.

Aberystwyth is brilliant. There's something on for students every night. The locals are very friendly and it's easy to get jobs. We're right beside the beach and during the summer - in May and June - it's fabulous. Even in September, it can be quite nice. It's a great surfing spot - especially in winter when it's stormy.

I didn't know anybody else at Aberystwyth when I arrived, but discovered that 11 out of the 31 in my class were Irish. Agriculture students are based in the Welsh Institute for Rural Studies, a mile outside the town. There's 400 agri and equine students there and by the end of the first semester, you know everybody. The cost of living is cheap. You can get very good accommodation for £40 per week and if you live on campus, you get free evening meals. Going out is very cheap. Students get 20 per cent off drink in the town. You pay £1 per pint in the student bars and £1.40 downtown.

The love-sick boys get lonely, but most people don't have the time. Once you get to know the Irish crowd, it's very easy to get home. Cars are going over and back every two weeks.

People mix really well. The Institute is 50-50 male and female. Equine science is mostly girls. Everyone has a half day on Wednesday and in the afternoons we play team games and then go to the pub. This is when you get the chance to meet people from other faculties.

At the Institute, most people are from the country - the majority from farming backgrounds - so we have a lot in common, although it's a very international crowd.

The lecturers are brilliant if you have any problems. There isn't a lecturer who won't stop and talk to you if they meet you in the town and they're very helpful with projects. There's no excuse for anyone to go over and fail.

Kevin Lyons spoke to Yvonne Healy