Bangor University

Overview for international students

Bangor University was founded in 1884 and received its Royal Charter in 1885, making it one of the older degree-awarding institutions in the UK. It sits in the small coastal city of Bangor in North Wales, between the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Menai Strait.

It is a small university by UK standards - around 10,000 students, of whom roughly 2,000 are international, from more than 120 countries. That size is the point for many students: teaching happens in small groups and the campus is walkable rather than sprawling.

Bangor is particularly strong in ocean sciences, psychology, environmental science and forestry, and owns its own research vessel. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, 85% of its research was judged world-leading or internationally excellent.

Why choose Bangor University

• Named top in the UK for teaching quality in the 2025 National Student Survey
• 85% of its research judged world-leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021
• Among the lowest costs of living of any UK university city
• Small enough for small-group teaching and a walkable campus
• First-year students who apply before the deadline are guaranteed a room

Bangor University programmes

2 programmes in our directory. Use the course search for the full list with filters.

Entry requirements

Undergraduate entry usually asks for HSC or A-Levels, with international foundation routes available. Postgraduate entry asks for a recognised Bachelor's degree, typically at 2:2 or above, with some research-heavy programmes asking for more.

English is normally evidenced with IELTS around 6.0 overall for undergraduate and 6.5 for postgraduate study, with a minimum in each band.

These are the usual ranges. Requirements differ by school - ocean sciences and psychology, for instance, ask for specific subject backgrounds - so confirm the exact requirement for your course before applying.

Fees and scholarships

Tuition for international students is typically in the range of $11,500 – $15,500 per year, depending on the course.

Bangor offers international scholarships as tuition reductions, generally assessed on academic merit at application. Because the cost of living in Bangor is low, the total saving relative to a large city can be larger than the scholarship figure alone suggests.

Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships apply here as at any UK university, with their own separate and earlier deadlines.

University rankings

QS World University Rankings: 601-650

Bangor was named top in the UK for teaching quality in the 2025 National Student Survey. Its global ranking is mid-table; its research and teaching scores are where it stands out.

Campus and facilities

Bangor is unusual for a university of its size in owning its own research vessel, the Prince Madog, used by the School of Ocean Sciences. The university also houses the North Wales Medical School, with clinical training facilities.

Teaching, library and social buildings are grouped together, so nothing on campus is more than a walk away.

Services for international students

An International Student Welfare Office supports students and their families, and over 20 international student ambassadors help new arrivals from the day they land through to graduation.

The Study Skills Centre runs classes in academic writing, reading, statistics, presentation skills and project management - useful for students moving into a UK academic style for the first time.

Trips to London, York and other cities are organised through the year, alongside events within the university.

International student life

Around 150 clubs and societies, all free to join - a deliberate policy so that cost is not a barrier to taking part.

The setting is the draw for many students: the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) on one side and the Menai Strait on the other, with hiking, climbing and water sports genuinely on the doorstep. Bangor is also one of the safest university cities in the UK and sits in one of its most bilingual areas, with Welsh spoken alongside English.

It is a small city. Students who want a large nightlife scene will find Manchester and Liverpool reachable by train rather than on the doorstep.

Accommodation

All university accommodation is within walking distance of the campus and the city centre, across residences including St Mary's Village, Ffriddoedd Village, Bryn Eithin and Reichel. Options range from en-suite rooms to shared flats and studios, furnished with shared kitchens and social space.

First-year students who apply before the deadline are guaranteed a room. Confirm the current deadline on Bangor's accommodation pages - it is one of the few dates worth diarising early.