Bangor University

[Quatrepotatoes]

Not a mumsnet favourite I know, but anyone have experience of Bangor? DS considering a Music degree there. Likely grades of A star, A, A so able to look at most places. However, definitely doesn't want a big city and somewhere like this would suit. Has visited lots of places, including Durham and York, but hasn't been so enthused by anywhere else. How is being an English non-Welsh speaker there? How are the winters!

It's a nice university. I spent time there with their marine science side. The town is small and hilly and the college is way up the hill. It's v rural, almost at the end of the train line and rainy like only North West Wales can be.
The students and staff I met were all not from Wales and they were very happy there.
I know nothing about the music side, would the remoteness and lack of music venues be an issues for your DC?

It's a really odd choice for Music- surely she wants venues??

Loads on non Welsh speakers there.
I know a few masters students at Bangor, not in the music dept.
It's on horrible hill and the new building is built onto it, so inside there are never ending stairs all the way to the top. The old building at the top is lovely inside.
The accommodation is very nice. and on a whole estate at the top of town.
The staff seemed very friendly.

My DS is there currently, in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

Bangor is a nice, small place - very different feel from being in one of the big uni cities (where I went and where we live). Learning some Welsh is encouraged but not required. It's quite remote, have a look at driving/train options and factor that into your thinking.

You've just missed an open day but these are definitely worth attending - well organised and informative.

Cost of living is low, the uni accommodation is good value for money. DS was in one of the unrefurbished flats in Ffriddoedd Village last year and is now temporarily in one of the refurbished ones whilst he does an internship. The refurbished ones are a lot nicer.

Very active Students Union and lots of clubs and societies. DS hasn't found it very easy to get to know people but I think that's partly shyness, being on a very large course and the modern life/post-Covid effect.

It is very hilly. And EV charging there (unlikely to be an issue for your DS but potentially for you) is a royal pain in the arse. Doable but needs planning.

Worth a visit for sure.

It’s a good course and there are enough venues to play in - you do know a music degree isn’t just about performance?

Thankyou, esp for those with direct experience. He's already been on an open day where it came across really well.
Not sure venues are an issue? Not looking at majoring in performance.
Journey is long but not worse or more complex than Durham.

Have one there now and he loves it. It’s small town, feels very safe and the cost of living is as low as it gets for a student. Ffriddoedd halls are good and close to the main buildings. It feels remote but the trains are good, many students are from just over the border in England but some from much further so a good variety. It’s not a uni for posers or those that want a huge choice of nightclubs and bars and shops, nightlife is fairly limited but they seem to have a lot of fun.

Yes I do, but it's not about performance for the student its about going to watch performances.

We did look at Bangor and although it was pretty we thought it was necessarily insular and a bit depressing. Note we thought! Our opinion only!

I think the point about watching others is valid. Obviously it's hard to weigh up all the competing aspects when choosing somewhere.

Plenty of opportunities to watch others on any music degree 🤷‍♀️

I did my degree in a major city and most of the “watching others” ended up being in-house performances or day / evening trips to other major cities - both of which would be possible at Bangor. (Bangor was actually my insurance choice, and I slightly preferred the course there, but I wanted to have a more city living experience - OP’s son seems to want a slightly less busy place)

If someone likes the course and likes the environment it’s probably a good fit for them.

I had the best time at Bangor doing music. In Wales there is a tradition of the Eisteddfodau where prestigeous competitions are held and many of the music lecturers have won those prizes and they are very well-known in Wales. Amongst Welsh people, music at Bangor is very highly regarded, and is the place to go for Welsh students wishing to remain in Wales. Many of their graduates go on to become well-known in their field in Wales. The majority on my course were English students and their lives were filled with all the different music ensembles and societies that are there.

Yes, absolutely agree that if you can imagine yourself somewhere doing the course then this bodes well. Esp if you haven't had that feeling elsewhere at places which others would see as "better".

What a lovely post.

It's got a good place to do music.
It's a small university and city. There are loads of non welsh speaking students. He will need a decent waterproof for winter.
About an hour train ride to Chester, 1.5-2h to Liverpool so not exactly isolated.

Ps direct trains to London also available which take about 3.5h

I live in north wales and know lots of people who came to Bangor uni and never left because they love the area so much!

My son, who was very quiet and shy, studied at Bangor. He then went on to study for an MSc at Leicester University and a Ph.D at University of Liverpool.
He had a fabulous time there and it allowed him to grow in confidence and move on to study in larger city based universities.
He lived in a quiet hall for his first year and moved out into private accommodation with his friends for the remainder of his degree. He had a fantastic time there.

A slightly random question (hope you don’t mind me butting in, OP), DD is interested in Bangor for Marine Biology or Geography. She’s also a very keen musician. Are there opportunities for music-making for students on other courses?

I was there about 90 million years ago.😄Music was always very highly regarded and I remember there being a lot of opportunities for performance and to see visiting performers. From what I gather, student accommodation (which was very patchy) is much improved. Top College (the old buildings) are indeed beautiful. Transport OK, the station is small but on the line to Holyhead so well served for its size. Good mix of Welsh students and those from elsewhere. I made lifetime friends and not just among those on my course, because there is more opportunity to mix and small enough in numbers to do so.

If your son is in any way sporty or outdoorsy, it's perfect, mountains on the doorstep and next to the sea, easy access to Ynys Mon and lovely beaches. It is never going to compete with a city for nightlife, but it doesn't sound like that's his priority. Plenty of pubs and perhaps a bit more of a "make your own fun" ethos than somewhere with loads on tap.

Downside; it rains. It rains a lot. You do get used to it!

Feeling v nostalgic now.

(Edited as missed the fact he's been to an open day)

I was there a zillion years ago too, and went back for a reunion with friends last year. The city isn't in the best state at the moment, but the students buildings are looking great, and the place is all about the people you meet there. As a location, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Great for outdoorsy folk.

And yes, forgot to say, the first, and best, advice we were all given as freshers was to ensure we had a decent rain coat. Winters are on the warm and wet side.

Sorry, have denigrated by saying that it can't compete with a city when of course it is a city. Sorry, Bangor. It has more of the feel of a town though, IMO and the fact everywhere is pretty much close to everywhere else (even if vertically) makes it quite cohesive.

Also a fantastic opportunity to learn a language!

@ClaudiaWinklepanda not something I know much about, but there is a Music Society , a String Orchestra , a Rock and Metal Society , some more choirs and orchestras

Had a fabulous time at Bangor. Very friendly. The mountains and the sea on your doorstep. Absolutely loved it.

I went to Bangor Uni and loved it. The town is small and very student dominated during term times, not speaking Welsh is not a problem. For anyone who enjoys outdoors activities this uni is perfect. Everywhere is within walking distance and wherever I went I bumped into people I knew. I later went to Manchester Uni to do my PhD and hated the big city, it's so easy to be "lost" there and it's so busy.