Research-led teaching comes with a hard-to-beat outdoors setting in Bangor, on the doorstep of the Eryri (Snowdonia) mountains and overlooking the Menai Strait. This is a small-town university that’s big on community spirit, and where students can feel the sand between their toes. Founded in 1884 and funded by visionary quarrymen and farmers, Bangor, in northwest Wales, now has a broad curriculum spanning three colleges: arts, humanities and business; environmental sciences and engineering; and human sciences.
In 2024 Bangor launched the North Wales Medical School in collaboration with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, aiming to recruit 140 medical students a year by 2029. Its newest addition is a pharmacy school, the first in north Wales, launching in September 2025. In line with Bangor’s standing as one of the leading universities for Welsh-medium courses, elements of the pharmacy programme can be studied in Welsh as well as English.
What is Bangor University’s reputation?
Bangor sits in the top 40 of our research quality index. Eighty-five per cent of its submission to the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) was assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent, with some of the best results in Earth systems and environmental sports sciences, and allied health professions.
Bangor’s highly rated School of Ocean Sciences has its own research vessel, the Prince Madog, while teaching and research at the School of Natural Sciences takes place among 18 hectares of botanic gardens. Bangor also has a research farm, animal care facilities, aquariums and greenhouses and a natural history museum.
Sustainable development and global citizenship are to the fore, and Bangor is working towards cutting its carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 25 per cent. The university is in the top 20 in the People & Planet league table of environmental and ethical performance.
Welsh universities did not take part in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), but in the assessment six years earlier Bangor was rated gold. The university has enjoyed a strong record on rates of student satisfaction, as expressed in successive National Student Surveys (NSS). Our latest NSS analysis shows improvement after last year’s dramatic fall: Bangor has risen from 95th to 51= for teaching quality and from 100th to 71= for the wider experience.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
The university is launching 11 courses for 2025, including creative writing, film and English literature, media and music, and modern languages and film. From 2026, dental therapy, criminology, and psychology join the course offering.
What are Bangor University’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
Entrants averaged 123 Ucas tariff points in 2024, putting Bangor firmly mid-range among UK universities for its entry standards (63=). In most cases its contextual admissions scheme offers a one-grade reduction in entry requirements.
What are the graduate prospects?
Almost all undergraduates can choose to take a year’s work placement in an organisation relevant to their field of study at the end of their second year. Studying abroad or volunteering options are also offered. The Bangor Employability Award accredits activities such as volunteering, learning a language and part-time work.
There are close links with employers such as ZipWorld, the NHS, Santander, BBC Cymru and Welsh Rugby Union. Despite these efforts — and some improvement in our analysis of Graduate Outcomes in recent years — Bangor sits only just inside the top 100 (94=), with 71.6 per cent of leavers in highly skilled jobs or further study within 15 months.
What is Bangor University’s campus like?
The university buildings form a compact coastal hub within walking distance of the city centre, creating a lively, campus-like atmosphere. The Pontio arts centre has several theatres and a 200-seat cinema. It hosts an eclectic programme of entertainment seven days a week. Radiography students are based at the Wrexham campus.
When can I visit?
bangor.ac.uk
Everything you need to know about Bangor University’s student life and wellbeing support
A high proportion of students within a small cathedral city makes for a lively and close-knit feeling, and there are more than 150 free clubs and societies. The centre at Ffriddoedd — Canolfan Brailsford (named after the cycling coach Sir Dave Brailsford, who grew up nearby) — has two sports halls, three gyms, a climbing wall, outdoor grass pitches and a floodlit synthetic pitch. There is also a fitness room at St Mary’s and gym membership is included in the fees for halls.
Students are supported by mentors, academic tutors and security staff. The university’s wellbeing services range from individual counselling and emotional resilience workshops to support groups, mindfulness training and wellbeing drop-ins.
What do the students say?
“Communities are created through our student-led clubs, societies and volunteering, and the students’ union works closely with the university to ensure students are heard and genuinely supported.”
Yakubu Abdulrahman Jidda, students’ union president 2025-26
What about student accommodation at Bangor University?
All first-years — including international and clearing students — who apply before the advertised deadline are guaranteed accommodation. Both student villages, St Mary’s and the larger Ffriddoedd, are within walking distance of university buildings.
How diverse and inclusive is Bangor University?
In our social inclusion index Bangor ranks 52nd. Helping to boost its ranking is the relatively high proportion of white working-class boys — the most underrepresented group in higher education — at 7.8 per cent, ranking 9th.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at Bangor University
The university offers about 40 merit scholarships a year, worth up to £3,000 in the first year of study and awarded to students who excel in the entrance exam. Sports scholarships — also worth up to £3,000 a year — are mostly awarded to those who will represent the university in the British University and Colleges Sport (Bucs) competitions.
Students from the UK — but excluding Wales — may qualify for a £500 or £1,000 Bangor bursary, payable over three years. Eligibility criteria include a household income of less than £40,000. There are also bursaries for student carers, those who have been in care and students who are estranged from their families.
