Choosing to study at ACM, The Academy of contemporary Music is a huge opportunity to not only kickstart your career in the music industry, but also a chance to experience life away from home.
ACM is situated in Guildford, Surrey and is perfectly placed for music industry professionals and artists due to its enviable proximity to London, excellent travel links, fantastic shopping and vibrant nightlife.
But don’t just take our word for it. Hear what ACM students have to say about living, studying and socialising at ACM in Guildford.
Charlie Norton – ACM Music Business School, Music Business Degree Year 1
Guildford is probably best known for its historical roots and for its cathedral in “The Omen”, so you would be forgiven for thinking it is a haven for culture – vultures and film buffs, not students; you would however, be wrong.
Guildford is a large bustling town with many avenues of education you may wish to venture down. With the Academy of Contemporary Music, Surrey University, the Guildford School of Acting and The Guildford University of Law there is something for every student.
Within the town, accommodation is plentiful and varied. Whilst some students stay within the halls of institutes that offer them, many students prefer to rent entire houses with their friends and so provide a great atmosphere and experience for themselves. With rooms going from as little as £80 per week you are sure to have a bigger budget for the entertainment that Guildford offers.
In the Town Centre you can find a massive amount of shops in the newly renovated shopping centre “The Friary” and on the high-street including popular clothes, shoes and technology shops. In the small alleys up and down the high- street you can also find great independent and niche shops.
That’s not all you will find in Guildford: the Odeon Cinema, The Boileroom, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and The Spectrum Sports Centre will provide you with all the films, theatre, music and sports you could ask for. It’s worth noting that The Spectrum has a great swimming pool and an ice-rink, which is host to the ice hockey team “The Guildford Flames”.
Nightlife is always a key part of a student’s decision of which University to go to and Guildford doesn’t disappoint. The Casino is probably the most popular of clubs in Guildford, with two floors, lots of bars and massive turnouts on its main night “Monday Night Guildford’ otherwise know as MNG it is a must for everyone looking to have a good night out. For the more sophisticated student there is the Tickled Ivory Piano Bar, where you can sit back and relax to serene music on most days. Or you can turn up on a Tuesday when the bar is lively and is supplemented by bands playing covers. As with all university towns there is the obligatory Wetherspoons Pub, Guildford’s however takes on the persona of a pub-club in the evening and is a great way to start your night.
When the inevitable hangovers and exam periods come along all students will be calling for the caffeine and Guildford has you covered; with Costa, Café Nero and Starbucks coffee shops littered around the town you will never be far from a place to study in peace with a latte in hand.
Obviously this is only a selection of what Guildford has to offer. Every student to should see it as a challenge to take the town by the horns and explore everything that this wonderfully diverse town has to offer.
Find out more about Guildford Life and studying at ACM, The Academy of Contemporary Music.
