Bangor University, Wales, UK

Ranked #38 in the UK and among the Top 350 universities worldwide by Times Higher Education, Bangor University has an enrolment of 11,000 students and 650 faculty

Founded in 1884, over the past 133 years Bangor University (BU) has built an enviable reputation for academic and research excellence. Sited in the eponymous city of North Wales, BU is ranked #38 in the UK and among the Top 350 universities worldwide by Times Higher Education. The UK’s Research Excellence Framework 2014 ranks BU among the Top 40 in the country with more than three-quarters of its research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. Moreover, a recent National Student Survey places BU among the UK’s Top 15 universities for student satisfaction.

Currently, the university’s five colleges (arts and humanities; business, law, education and social sciences; natural sciences; health and behavioural sciences; physical and applied sciences) housing 23 academic schools and over 50 specialist research centres, offer over 250 undergraduate and 150 postgrad programmes to 11,000 students mentored by 650 faculty. “We not only offer our students a safe, friendly, low-cost study environment in one of the most spectacular locations in the world, but also a dynamic system of learning, teaching, and research, which is recognised as being among the best in the UK,” says Prof. John G. Hughes, vice chancellor of BU.

BU was founded in 1884 as the University College of North Wales with a first batch of 58 students and 10 faculty. 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. In 2009, the University of Wales conferred degree-awarding powers upon Bangor University. 

Bangor. Located in North Wales between the Snowdonia Mountains and Menai Strait, the coastal city of Bangor (pop.19,000) offers breathtaking landscapes with panoramic views. This scenic cathedral city hosts the longest high street in Wales, with a mix of national chain stores and local businesses. It’s a compact city — university buildings, residential facilities and city centre are all within walking distance. The nearby Snowdonia National Park offers 25 miles of mountains, lakes and rivers and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. 

Manchester International Airport is two hours and London less than four hours by train. The weather in Bangor — as in the rest of the UK — is unpredictable. Summer temperatures average around 18°C, spring and autumn 11-15°C and in winter they hover just below 6°C.

Campus facilities. BU buildings are strewn across the city with most academic and residential facilities located within walking distance of the city centre. The university was originally based in an old coaching inn, the Penrhyn Arms Hotel. In 1911, it moved to a new building on the hill. A modern extension, completing a quadrangle on the College Road, was completed in 1969 and is known as the Main Arts Building. The recently built Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre is a multi-million pound development featuring teaching facilities, a theatre, cinema, bar, cafes and an innovation space. Pontio also hosts the university’s Students’ Union. 

The university’s four libraries offer access to a wide range of books, journals, databases, DVDs and CDs, microform material, a manuscript collection, archives and special collections. Other academic resources include the Natural History Museum, Botanic Gardens, research farm and field centre, and Multimedia Language Centre. The School of Healthcare Sciences is located at nearby Wrexham.

The university’s recently refurbished Canolfan Brailsford Sports Centre hosts a two-storey gym, state-of-the-art fitness equipment, sports halls, climbing wall, squash courts and a brand new sports dome featuring indoor netball and tennis courts. Outdoor facilities include grass pitches for football, rugby and American football, a floodlit synthetic pitch for hockey, a shared athletics track and multi-purpose facilities for tennis, five-a-side football and netball. Moreover, there are a range of cafes, food outlets, and student lounges on campus.

In addition, there are over 150 clubs and societies covering a range of interests, activities and sports. 

Admission. Applications for admission into undergraduate programmes can be made directly to the university through its online application portal or through the UK’s centralised Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (www.ucas.com). The minimum eligibility requirements are successful completion of class XII with an average of 65 percent-plus and English language proficiency — students who have scored a minimum 70 percent in English language in class XII are exempt from submitting TOEFL/IELTS scores. There is no admission deadline for international students applying directly to BU, while the UCAS deadline for application submission is January 15 for admission into term beginning September 2018.

Admission into postgrad programmes requires a bachelor’s degree and English language proficiency. Though applications are accepted throughout the year, it’s advisable to send them by end June (for September intake) or end October (for January intake).

For further information contact the International Education Centre Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG; Ph: +44 1248 382028; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.bangor.ac.uk. 

Accommodation. The university guarantees residential accommodation to all first-year international students. Currently, 3,000 rooms are on offer in its halls of residence. All accommodation is self-catered and the majority of halls are en-suite, and offer shared kitchen and laundry facilities.

Degree programmes. The university’s five schools offer 250 undergraduate and over 150 postgraduate taught programmes (see box).
 

Summiya Yasmeen