University of Wales, Bangor

Overview 

• A long established university (founded in 1884) and dedicated to academic excellence. Over half of the departments assessed to date in the teaching quality assessments have received the top rating of 'excellent'
• We have over 10,000 students, 26 academic schools and over 600 teaching staff
• Bangor University has the fairest workload of any UK university according to the now annual Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey published this week (15-21 January 2009). The University was also ranked 15th overall in the UK for Student Experience.
• We’ve been ranked 10th in the UK for Student Experience in a survey published in The Times Higher Education Supplement (December 2007)
• A £20m redevelopment of the campus has recently taken place, including a £10m business and management centre and a new building for environmental sciences
• To meet the high demand of contemporary living accommodation, the University opened 6 brand new halls of residence in September 2008 with more halls opening their doors in September 209. The work is part of a £35M upgrade at the Ffriddoedd Site.
• Low cost of living - cheaper accommodation and lower living costs than in most university cities. According to The Independent's A-Z of Universities and Higher Education Colleges, Bangor is "one of the cheapest places in Britain". Bangor is the second cheapest place for students to live, according to a table compiled by the independent university guide, Push.co.uk.
• Bangor University was recognised as the best in the UK for fostering successful partnerships with business at the KTP Awards in 2007.
• We have close links with the NHS in Wales. The University is a major provider of training and education for the NHS and is also one of the main partners in the new North Wales Clinical School
• As a major provider of teacher training in Wales, we have close links with schools, local education authorities and the teaching profession
• We have one of the largest widening access programmes in the country called the Talent Opportunities Programme involving over 1500 pupils in schools across North Wales
• We are involved in the Reaching Higher, Reaching Wider programme operating in the region
• We have one of the largest Peer Guiding schemes and one of the lowest drop-out rates compared to other UK universities
• The crime rate in North Wales is considered to be one of the lowest in the whole of the UK
• Our Centre for Careers and Opportunities Careers is recognised nationally as being one of the most active careers services in the UK

The University was founded as a direct result of a campaign in the late nineteenth century for higher education provision in Wales . Funds were raised by public subscription to establish a college of university rank in Bangor . An important feature of its foundation was the voluntary contributions made by local people, including farmers and quarrymen, from their weekly wages over a period of time.
The University was founded as the University College of North Wales. It opened its doors on 18 October 1884 in an old coaching inn with 58 students and 10 members of staff. The students received degrees from the University of London until 1893 when the University of Wales, Bangor became one of the three original constituent colleges of the University of Wales.

Location

The University was originally based in an old coaching inn called the Penrhyn Arms. In 1903, the city of Bangor donated a 10-acre site overlooking the city at Penrallt for a new building, and substantial sums of money were raised by local people to help meet the cost. The foundation stone for this was laid in 1907, and four years later in 1911 the main building was opened, together with some arts and social science buildings and part of the Library.
The Science Departments remained in the Penrhyn Arms for another fifteen years. In 1926 they moved to new purpose-built accommodation which had been constructed with the assistance of funds raised by the North Wales Heroes Memorial.

Services for International Students

Once you've been accepted onto one of our courses and begin your studies you'll also need advice and support in a range of aspects concerned with living and studying in the Uk.
At Bangor the International Student Welfare Office provides advice and guidance on a range of welfare related matters to all international students and their families.

Please contact the International Student Welfare Adviser if you have any problems or concerns regarding yourself or your family or if you need information on any aspect of your stay here in Bangor.

Ranking

Today, the university has over 10,000 students and 2,000 members of staff. Bangor University affirms committment to providing teaching of the highest quality, conducting research of the highest quality, taking good care of its students and playing a full role in the wider community of Wales. The University of Wales, Bangor was ranked 54th in the Times Good University Guide 2010.

Accommodation

Bangor is ranked amongst the top 4 University cities in the UK in terms of cost of living (accommodation, food etc).  Leading newspaper The Independent placed Bangor amongst the most cost effective locations for students in their Student Living Index Guide for 2008.
We are aware that your accommodation is incredibly important to you; as a result, the University Halls Office employs highly trained staff who are happy to help students with their accommodation needs.
URL: www.bangor.ac.uk