Founded in 1884, Bangor University has a rich academic history and a strong commitment to the student experience. Bangor University currently has around 10,000 students.
Bangor offers a wide range of courses spanning the arts, humanities, and sciences. Its dedicated teaching staff deliver high-quality education in a supportive environment. Various learning pathways, including degree apprenticeships and foundation degrees are available. Every undergraduate student can gain work experience as part of their degree. This opportunity can range from a two-week placement to a year between Years 2 and 3. Most courses also give students the chance for international experience, allowing them to study or work abroad.
The latest Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), judged 85% of the research at Bangor University as world-leading or internationally excellent, making it highly regarded. The research contributes to social, cultural, and environmental advancements, from healthcare breakthroughs to tackling global environmental challenges and shaping future energy solutions.
In terms of student life, the Students' Union offers over 150 Clubs and Societies and Volunteering Projects, all FREE to join, enabling you to join as many as you want at no financial cost.
· Sport Clubs: Whether you are into traditional sports, (rugby, netball, football, tennis etc.) outdoor activities (surfing, paddleboarding, canoeing, wakeboarding etc.), or niche interests (underwater hockey, scuba diving, ultimate frisbee etc.), there will be a Sport Club for you.
· Societies: The societies range from course related (Linguistics Society, Zoological, Psychology Society etc.), cultural (Afro Caribbean, Arab Society, Indian etc.), hobbies and interests (Craft, Drama, Guides and Scouts, Photography) and gaming and appreciation (Gaming League, Table Top etc.).
· Volunteering: Undeb Bangor Volunteering facilitates around 35 student-led volunteering projects that impacts the community and enhances the students’ skill sets.
Open Days and Virtual Events
You can visit Bangor on an Open Day and get a taster for courses, student life and tour the accommodation.
You'll have the opportunity to explore the campus, check out accommodation and facilities, attend engaging subject talks and chat with the friendly teaching staff and students.
To keep up to date with all the latest Open Days and Virtual Open Days please visit the Bangor University website.
Courses and fees
Bangor is known for its quality teaching. You can choose to study from hundreds of courses across the arts, humanities, and sciences.
As well as the traditional full-time university degree Bangor also offers degree apprenticeships and part-time or distance learning courses. Students can also opt on most courses to undertake work placement ranging from 2 weeks up to a year or international experience year.
Bursaries and Scholarships
As a university that places great emphasis on student support, Bangor is eager to offer extra help to students. Bangor University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships to new and returning students.
There are approximately 40 Merit Scholarships available for new students who excel in the annual Entrance Scholarships. Students can choose to sit the exam in a range of subject areas.
Facilities
Bangor University has an impressive range of learning resources and facilities, including an extensive collection of books and journals, databases, videos; micro material; a wonderful manuscript collection and a web-based catalogue to access e-books, e-journals, subject guides and other learning resources. Bangor has over 1,000 computers for student use, a number of 24-hour access PC rooms, and social learning spaces. Each College also has its own unique facilities:
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
· Language Laboratory
· Professional Performance Spaces
· Moot Court
· Access to some of the best databases including Bloomberg
· Model classrooms
College of Science and Engineering
· Natural History Museum that includes the Irish elk antlers, which are approximately 7500 years old, the skeleton of a Tasmanian devil, a two headed lamb, a collection of New Zealand birds and a Galapagos tortoise.
· Clean Room
· Timber Collection
· Centre for Hill and Upland Management
· Treborth Botanic Gardens
· Research Vessel ‘Prince Madog’
· State of the Art science Labs
· Environment Centre Wales
College of Medicine and Health
· fMRI Scanner
· Physiology laboratories
· Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry room
· Underwater weighing room
· Climatic chamber
· Motion analysis room
· Psychology laboratory
· Brain Anatomy Lab
Sport at Bangor
Sport is big at Bangor. There are excellent fitness facilities on campus including:
· FIFA and World Rugby certified 3G pitch, suitable for Football and Rugby.
· Numerous sports hall
· Well-equipped gyms
· Squash courts
· Multi route climbing wall
· Football and rugby grass pitches
· Floodlit synthetic pitch for hockey games and training
· Athletics track
· Multi-purpose facilities for tennis
· Five-a-side football and netball
Of course, our location means that you can spend time outdoors climbing mountains, paddle boarding, kayaking, surfing and much more.
Student Support
Bangor University place s a great importance on Student Support. The Student Support team offers a wide range of services including
· Money support
· Student housing
· Support for student with families
· Support for care experience students
· Student health and wellbeing support
· Free and confidential counselling
· Specialised assistance for disabled students
· Support for students with specific learning differences (SpLDs) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).
· Peer Guides: The University assigns a second- or third-year student Peer Guide to first year students to show them the ropes, and to check in on them from time to time.
· Personal Tutors: Having a personal tutor means there is always an academic member of staff you can turn to with any problems.
Employability
Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today's job market and Bangor can help you prepare for that. The University's Careers and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions including;
· Work experience and placements; the team offers a variety of options to help you gain valuable employability skills, which includes supporting you in work placements and internships that you may wish to undertake.
· Internship schemes: Allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.
· Running the programme ‘Bangor University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Leadership Team’ (BUILT) which is an excellent way to enhance participants’ CV experiences and employability credentials.
· Facilitating the Bangor Employability Award (BEA)
· Working while you study; Career Connect is the University’s Student Employment Bureau that advertises a range of opportunities from part time, voluntary work, to paid full time career options and everything in between.
Accommodation
Bangor guarantees a room in their award-winning halls for all first year students who choose Bangor as their firm choice and apply before the given deadline.
There are two accommodation villages; St Mary’s and Ffriddoedd, both are self-catered, and both are within walking distance of all the main university buildings and facilities. Both villages have convenient amenities onsite such as a shop, laundrette, IT suites and common rooms while Ffriddoedd has Bar Uno (food, drink, Starbucks), and sports centre, St Mary’s has a café and fitness room. Included with your rent is:
• Wi-Fi and wired internet access
• All bills (internet, water, heat, electricity)
• Gym and Campus Life membership
New for 2023 is a budget accommodation option. This lower-priced accommodation will be in Bryn Eithin, St Mary’s Village, it has shared kitchen and shared bathroom facilities.
Living here
Bangor’s size and friendly nature mean it’s easy to get to know people and students tend to settle into university life quickly. Much of the University buildings are within walking distance of your accommodation and the city centre making it easy to find your way around.
The surrounding area
In the heart of North Wales, Bangor University’s location is unique. The stunning Eryri (Snowdonia) Mountains are a backdrop for the city and the sandy beaches of Anglesey are only a short bus ride away. Many attractions are nearby, such as Zip World and Bounce Below, as well as plenty of beauty spots for walking, hiking, or mountain biking.
Entertainment & Nightlife
There are great pubs, cafes, and eateries to explore as well as a couple of night clubs. It’s all in walking distance too, so no worrying about catching the last bus or train home.
Pontio, located at the heart of the campus, features a theatre, a cinema, a cafe, and a small bar for those looking to catch the latest blockbuster, enjoy a night of comedy, music, or even a circus performance.
Students’ Union
Bangor Students' Union, Undeb Bangor, is the voice of the students and the home of student life. Undeb Bangor represent, empower, and support students, setting them up for their future. Student-led opportunities at the students’ union include:
· Sports Clubs
· Societies
· Volunteering Projects
· UMCB (Welsh Union)
· Undeb Bangor Course Reps
· Student Networks
· Student Forum
The Students' Union offers free membership for Students' Union Clubs and Societies, ensuring that all students can participate in the activities.
Some of the main events hosted and initiative organised by the union or student leaders year on year includes:
· Serendipity – Welcome Week Fair
· Varsity
· Volunteering Week
· Superteams
· Cultural Fair
· Inter-collegial competition
· Clothes Swap
· Interview Clothes Lending Library
· Fancy dress lending library
Academi serves as the official student nightclub, hosting popular theme nights such as Cheese and the AU night. As well as the nightclub, Academi has two bars, a café and a shop and is a safe space for all students.
Top questions
FAQ
What grants/scholarships do you offer?
There are a range of scholarships available at Bangor University to new and returning Undergraduate and Postgraduate, Home, and International students. Please visit the website for a full list of scholarships available.
How much of an emphasis do you place on building workplace skills like presenting, project management and people skills?
At Bangor University we are committed to ensuring that our graduates can develop their skills and experiences whilst studying at the University so that you gain the transferable skills that you will need when looking for employment opportunities after graduation. The University encourages students to take part in the Bangor Employability Award (BEA) where students enhance their immediate and long-term career prospects.
What's the University’s welfare and disability support like?
We have a dedicated team who provide support for students with disability and students with a wide range of physical and sensory impairments, including specific learning difficulties, enduring health conditions and mental health difficulties. Student Services encourage students to contact them when making an application to discuss the processes to be followed by students and staff before their arrival. We provide a quality service which ensures the full inclusion of disabled students within their academic school and social community.
What support is available to students who are struggling for any reason?
The University offers a range of support for students who may be struggling at university for whatever reason. The team offers advice with money and budgeting and students can make use of a range of self-help resources available to them including podcasts and articles. The students at Bangor can attend mindfulness sessions, iCan workshops and resilience building lectures however, for students who feel as if they need more support the University offers one to one counselling sessions. The service offers opportunities to talk through personal and troubling issues in a safe environment with a professional, trained staff.
Do you offer any courses/sessions to help mature students with the university experience?
The University offers support to those who have children, are adult dependants or are pregnant. Specialised accommodation is available for families and additional financial support is available for mature students and those mentioned above.
What social events do you offer when people first join to help people make friends and settle in?
There is a Welcome Week diary that students receive which includes social and academic events. The Campus Life, International and SU teams also put on a calendar of events to help everyone make new friends and try out different activities. Activities include film nights, Sunday lunch, Meet and Mingle and a trip around the city. Serendipity, the Welcome Week Fair, happens in the first week where students can go around stall holders providing them information about SU Clubs, Societies and Volunteering Projects as well as local activities and business. Membership to Clubs and Societies are free so this is the perfect opportunity to join as many as you want and try them.
What will my first few weeks at your Uni be like?
There are no lectures in your first week at Bangor. You can go out and see the city, take part in Welcome Week activities, and make new friends. Remember everyone is in the same situation as you so take this week to get to know Bangor and the people you will be living and studying with. You do need to visit your academic school in the first week and register on to your course, however this is a fantastic opportunity to meet lecturers and staff that will be teaching you over the next few years.
The second week is a little more ‘normal’. You will have lectures and will be settling into university life. Most lectures in the first week will giving you an introduction to the subject and provide background information about the semester ahead.
Is it a campus or city-based university? What advantages do you think this offers?
Bangor is a city-based university however, the city is one of the smallest cities in the UK, so it does feel like a campus university. Being small, Bangor has the benefit of being a student centric city and there is a hugely friendly feel. Everything is within walking distance, and you have the benefit of being in a city but only a 10-minute bus ride away from stunning mountain ranges and beaches.
What sort of societies are there?
The Students’ Union offers a wide range of student-led Clubs and Societies – there are well over 100 to choose from. There are societies that will compliment your academic studies, such as the Law Society, the Geographical Society; religious societies such as the Christian Union and Sisters of Islam and societies to compliment your hobbies and interests like photography and drama. We also have Sport Clubs, and you can try out some traditional sports such as football or hockey or have a go at something new like paddleboarding or ultimate frisbee!
How far is the campus from the town centre and what is the public transport like?
University buildings in various locations around the town centre. Most of the University buildings are close by and are within a 10-minute walk from your halls of residence. There is regular public transport with the train station providing direct links to Manchester, Liverpool, and London. There are regular buses that can take you into the surrounding area for a day out with friends or to explore the Snowdonia mountains or the Anglesey beaches.
How far apart are different university buildings, and how far away is the accommodation?
All the buildings are within a 10-minute walk of each other except for buildings such as Ocean Science's in Menai Bridge and Wrexham campus. There are two main residential campuses on either side of the city both are within a 10-minute walk of most university buildings.
How much one-to-one contact time do students receive from their lecturers?
Students can make an appointment with their lecturers during their stated office hours. Each of the academic school display the lecturers’ office hours. If you choose to complete a dissertation you will be assigned a dissertation supervisor who will be seeing you on a regular basis to help guide you through the project. Students can also email lecturers to ask for additional help and arrange meetings.
Roughly how many students start each year?
The year-to-year student count varies however it would typically lie around the 2,500 - 3,000 mark. There are currently around 10,000 students studying at Bangor University.
What’s the ratio of male/female students?
The current percentage ratio is around 60% female to 40% male.
How much is a pint at the Students’ Union?
The price of a pint varies from pub to pub however students can expect to pay around £2.95 - £4 for a pint at Bar Uno the student bar located at Ffriddoedd Village with various offers throughout the week.
Travel Information
Bangor University isn’t just beautifully situated, it’s conveniently located too. There are good road links to Bangor along the north Wales coast from the M56 and M6, and direct trains from London (3.5 hours), Manchester, Liverpool, Crewe and Cardiff. The ferry service from nearby Holyhead to Ireland is also fast and frequent.
Most of the University buildings and halls of residences are within walking distance of the city centre.
Latest news
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Other Contact Details
You can contact Bangor University by filling in this short form.
Address:
Bangor University
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2DG