Social Sciences Undergraduate eProspectus 2013-14

Bangor School of Social Sciences

bangor.ac.uk/so

2013/2014 UNDERGRADUATE PROSPECTUS

WelcoMe At Bangor’s School of Social Sciences we offer you a wealth of challenging and lively courses that are relevant to the changing needs of society. These include Criminology and Criminal Justice, Health and Social Care, Sociology and Social Policy, courses which will prepare you for a wide variety of career opportunities.

All our courses provide a thorough training in the principles of social science and the practice of social research and enquiry. our staff undertake national and international research, which ensures they are aware of the latest knowledge and contemporary debates, and our courses draw on this expertise to equip you with a deep and critical understanding of your field of study.

TOP OF THE CLASS FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE Bangor is the best university in Wales for its teaching, and is placed in the top 15 of uK universities for teaching excellence according to the Sunday times university guide for 2012.

from the beginning of a degree with us, you will be challenged to look at things from different perspectives, to question taken-forgranted facts and to construct your own theoretical view of the subjects you are studying. By the time you graduate, you will have developed research skills that enable you to interpret complex patterns of social life, evaluate policies and propose creative solutions to problems. you will be able to apply these skills in the world outside the university as well as within it.

Professor Catherine Robinson Head of School

A WORLD-RANKED UNIVERSITY Bangor university has risen substantially in the times higher education World university rankings, and is now placed amongst the world’s top 275 universities.

CONTACT US

Tel: +44 (0)1248 382221 Email: socialsciences@bangor.ac.uk www.bangor.ac.uk/so

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Bangor School of Social Sciences

www.viewcreative.co.uk

School of Social Sciences Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG UK

BangoR uniVeRSity Bangor University was established in 1884 and the University enjoys a long tradition of excellence in teaching and research.

Students from all parts of the UK and many countries worldwide choose to study at Bangor every year, creating a student population of over 10,000 students.

We find that our specialist programmes, the safety of the area and the lower cost of living make bangor a popular choice amongst students – with the added bonus of the beautiful location on the North Wales coast, close to the Snowdonia mountains.

Bangor is a student-oriented and studentfriendly city. its compact nature means that student facilities, university buildings, accommodation and the city centre are all within easy walking distance. as it is easy to move around the city, our students find it easier to settle down and meet up in the evening with new friends.

you and your family will naturally be concerned about safety and living costs. you can have peace of mind, as Bangor is considered to be a relatively safe place to study as the crime rate for north Wales is one of the lowest in the uK and Bangor has recently been rated one of the top 4 best value university cities according to a cost-of-living survey published by The Independent newspaper.

lOCATiON bangor is a regional commercial centre and has all the facilities students would expect from a university city. the a55 expressway along the north Wales coastline means fast and easy access from the main uK motorway network. for example, much of north West england is little more than one hour away. Manchester international airport is within a one-and-a-half hour drive along the expressway. Rail connections to crewe and london are direct. ferry connections from nearby holyhead to ireland are fast and frequent.

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the School of Social ScienceS There is a long tradition of teaching Social Sciences at Bangor.

The School was established in 1966 as the Department of Social Theory and Institutions and sociology and social policy have been taught here for over forty years. iN THE SCHOOl Of SOCiAl SCiENCES...

WElSH-mEDiUm STUDy

you will study within a multi-disciplinary school that employs specialists in a broad

the School offers Welsh medium

range of subjects our degree schemes offer thorough training in the basic principles of social science,

a choice of specialised subjects and training in the practice of social research the School has over 30 academic staff, with an annual intake close to 150

undergraduate students

undergraduate degrees: bA Cymdeithaseg a Pholisi Cymdeithasol and associated joint honours programmes. full details are provided in a separate booklet. for a copy of this booklet contact the School – see inside front cover for details. www.bangor.ac.uk/gc/isradd

our staff are active researchers in their subject areas Students registered for english medium We place emphasis on friendly and informal relationships between students and staff under the personal tutor scheme, a member of lecturing staff will monitor your

academic progress and will offer help, advice and support on an individual basis if you decide to study for an extra year after completion of your Ba degree we offer

Ma programmes in comparative criminology and criminal Justice, language Policy and Planning, Social Research and Social Policy, Policy Research and evaluation, criminology and Sociology, Social Work, and criminology and law

programmes also have the option of studying individual Welsh medium modules as part of their degree.

Students who study part of their degree

through the medium of Welsh may be eligible for funding from the coleg cymraeg cenedlaethol. for further details: www.colegcymraeg.ac.uk/myfyrwyr/ cy/cyllid

“the flexible structure of the course has enabled me to figure out what subjects are of most interest to me. this year i’ve been able to study linguistic planning, crime and criminal justice alongside the core subjects of Sociology and Social Policy. i’ve also been able to take practical modules in subjects like research skills, information literacy and core police skills. all the lecturers are extremely supportive and the School library is well-stocked, meaning that i have all the support i need for assignments. i’ve always been very interested in joining the police, and as part of the course, i have been fortunate to secure 6 weeks of work experience with north Wales Police. i’m really looking forward to this and i hope it will open my eyes to what i want to do after i graduate. overall, i feel my future is much clearer since i came to Bangor.”

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Bangor School of Social Sciences

Sophie Ann brierley Hughes ▲ Ba Sociology and Social Policy (Welsh medium)

ReSeaRch & couRSe StRuctuRe Effective teaching goes hand in hand with active research.

The School has an excellent record of research achievement and staff have international reputations in their particular field. the staff also supervise Ma and Phd candidates in their own specialist areas. this means you will be taught by tutors who are researching and publishing in the areas you will study.

The research interests of current members of staff include: iN CRimiNOlOGy & CRimiNAl JUSTiCE:

iN HEAlTH & SOCiAl CARE & SOCiAl POliCy:

Political violence & terrorism

iN SOCiOlOGy: the shaping of european identities

Media and public opinion

ageing & later life

local food cultures

Begging in north africa & South asia

Mental health & psychiatry

civil Society in Wales

Popular legal culture

health inequalities

the use of technological aids in coping

Violence in intimate relationships

housing & social exclusion

Rural criminology

health & the citizen consumer

Postcolonial societies, crime & deviance

lifestyles in consumer society

theoretical criminology

carers & caregiving

the impact of migration on rural Wales

criminal justice systems

assessment & care management

Welsh language socialisation in the

with medical conditions & emergencies cultural changes in post-Soviet

societies

family

lay participation in courts

the negotiation of ethnic identities

courSe Structure in each academic year you will register for modules valued at 120 credits.

Usually 60 credits are taken in Semester 1 (September – January) and 60 credits in Semester 2 (february – may). most modules offered are valued at 20 credits. for most degrees in each year, there is a combination of compulsory and optional modules.

NEWS fROm 2012...

immigration StuDy maKeS the newS a Welsh government-funded study carried out by researchers at the School of Social Sciences, as part of WiSeRd (the Wales institute of Social and economic Research, data and Methods), has provided new data on what people in Wales think about immigration and how this compares to other parts of the united Kingdom.

in year 1 there is the opportunity to choose optional modules from either within the School of Social Sciences or from other academic schools.

Modules are taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops. you will be expected to undertake library based research and background reading.

in years 2 and 3 of all single and joint honours degrees within the School, you will undertake a piece of independent study leading to a dissertation under the supervision of a member of academic staff.

Please note that the following lists of modules and other details concerning our degree programmes are subject to revision from time to time.

examining questions about immigration

reducing immigration and hold relatively

asked in large scale surveys over the last 5 years, the study found that whilst people as

more negative views on the impact of immigration. on the other hand, in london,

a whole strongly support the reduction in the number of immigrants to the uK, there

Scotland and northern ireland there appears a different pattern where support

are also notable regional differences on what people think about immigration.

for reducing immigration is not so high and views on the impact of immigration are more favourable.

the results appear to suggest a trend whereby people in Wales, the Midlands and north of england report higher support for

Bangor School of Social Sciences

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Why Study Social ScienceS? CRimiNOlOGy & CRimiNAl JUSTiCE

HEAlTH & SOCiAl CARE

SOCiOlOGy

crime is always in the news. hardly a day goes by without a major incident or debates relating to the way the criminal justice system is run in this country. crime and deviance and the way society deals with those who break the law are at the heart of our understanding of societal structures, power relations and community cohesion.

all of us experience health and illness in many forms. at various times in our life each of us will require health care and may have to depend upon others to provide for our basic needs. our health care system is under strain and facing many challenges and so there is an urgent need in the 21st century for more graduates with a wide range of skills and knowledge of health and social care issues to enter this expanding and changing field.

Sociology is the study of the social nature of human existence, how societies are organised and how we experience life.

People are always involved in social relationships with one another. Relevant to every aspect of organised life, Sociology asks challenging and exciting questions such as:

in the study of criminology and criminal Justice you will examine questions such as: What exactly is crime? do we have a ‘crime problem’? have we entered a period of escalating

violence and lawlessness? can the media be considered

sensationalist, providing a distorted image of crime, criminals and those who are victims?

What is ‘justice’? how effective and fair can we expect

our criminal justice system to be?

Bangor is one of the few universities in the uK that teaches health & Social care from a social science perspective. this allows students to study theoretical approaches, and acquire research skills and methodologies unique to the social sciences. of interest to students studying health and Social care are questions such as: What is health?

Why are social inequalities in health

it is the task of criminology to examine the concepts of crime and criminality; and of criminal justice studies to explore crime control, from policing and imprisonment to legislation, crime prevention and social control.

such a problem?

What are the needs of children, adults

and older people?

What is disability?

What is mental illness? how do we organise care in the

community? how is the national health Service

organised?

how does your occupation still affect

how long you will live? how do gender, religion and ethnic

background affect your chances in life? is conflict inevitable?

What gives a person ‘identity’?

Where do beliefs and values come

from? does the media affect personal lifestyle

choices? has technology outrun our capacity to

control it?

Students find that Sociology makes them look at the world in new ways.

SOCiAl POliCy Social Policy entails the study of the social relations and systems that maintain and promote human wellbeing. it addresses the provision of shelter, the promotion of health and the avoidance of discrimination.

Social Policy requires an understanding of the processes through which social policies are articulated within society and the theoretical and ideological environment within which these policies are formulated. among the many things of interest to social policy students are the following questions:

“i have every confidence that a student graduating with a Sociology degree from Bangor university would have a very good and solid foundation for Postgraduate studies or to enter the workplace.”

External Examiner’s Report

Why provide welfare? how should health services be paid for?

What should the balance be between

rights and obligations? are welfare systems becoming similar

in europe?

What is to become of social housing?

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Bangor School of Social Sciences

degReeS offeRed Within the School Our undergraduate degrees have been designed to meet the interests of a wide range of students. you may choose a single honours subject or a combination of two to enable you to undertake a joint degree. The range of courses offered makes it possible for you to do your whole degree, whether single or joint, within the School.

Single honours in one of our subjects will enable you to concentrate on one area for your degree while also studying other subjects in year 1. there are also joint honours courses available which enable you to combine two subjects within the School.

Degree courSeS (3 yearS) offereD By the School Ba Sociology

l300

Ba criminology & criminal Justice

M930

Ba health & Social care

l510

Ba cymdeithaseg a Pholisi cymdeithasol* (Welsh medium programme in Sociology & Social Policy)

l3lK

Ba health & Social care/Social Policy

ll54

Ba Sociology/criminology & criminal Justice

lM39

Ba Social Policy/criminology & criminal Justice

lM49

Ba criminology and criminal Justice/health & Social care lM52 courses offered by the law School include the llB law with criminology and the llB law with Social Policy. for details of these courses please request a copy of the law School brochure: prospectus@bangor.ac.uk or phone 01248 383561.

Ba Sociology/health & Social care

ll53

* Please ask for separate brochure

Joint honourS Ba Degree courSeS (3 yearS) offereD with other SchoolS criminology & criminal Justice/french

MR91

criminology & criminal Justice /german

MR92

criminology & criminal Justice/ english

MQ93

criminology & criminal Justice/italian

MR93

criminology & criminal Justice/Spanish

MR94

criminology & criminal Justice/history

MVX1

criminology & criminal Justice/Psychology

Mc98

health & Social care/Management

ln52

Social Policy/childhood Studies

lXl3

Social Policy/economics

ll14

Social Policy/history

lV41

Social Policy/Psychology

cl84

Sociology/economics

ll13

Sociology/linguistics

lQ31

Sociology/english

lQ33

Sociology/history

lV31

Sociology/Welsh history

lVh2

Sociology/Psychology

cl83

Sociology/childhood Studies

lXh3

english language/Sociology

lQ3J

Media Studies/Sociology

lP33

Welsh/Sociology

lQ35

Bangor School of Social Sciences

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oVeRVieW of degRee couRSeS Every degree course consists of 360 credits spread over 3 years. modules normally count for 20 credits each. *Please note that course content and structure are currently under review and may change.

criminology & criminal JuStice

health & Social care

year 1

year 1

in your first year you will study a variety of modules designed to give you a basic grounding in different aspects of your chosen course of study. the number of modules you select from the following list will depend on your chosen degree scheme.

Remaining modules to make up your 120 credits may be chosen from modules offered by the School and other departments.

in your first year you will study a variety of modules designed to give you a basic grounding in different aspects of your chosen course of study. the number of modules you select from the following list will depend on your chosen degree scheme.

Remaining modules to make up your 120 credits may be chosen from modules offered by the School and other departments.

(Modules are 20 credits unless otherwise stated)

(Modules are 20 credits unless otherwise stated)

introduction to criminology & criminal Justice

health & Welfare issues

doing Social Research understanding Society Social Science Perspectives health & Welfare issues

Plus 20 credits from either: language/technique for Social Sciences a module or modules outside of the School

year 2

introduction to criminology & criminal Justice doing Social Research understanding Society Social Science Perspectives

Plus 20 credits from either: language/technique for Social Sciences a module or modules outside of the School

year 2

at level 2 you will continue the study of core subjects related to your discipline, begin your dissertation study and select a limited number of options.

at level 2 you will continue the study of core subjects related to your discipline, begin your dissertation study and select a limited number of options.

Methods of Social Research

Methods of Social Research

dissertation Preparation theories of crime & control crime & Justice in Modern Britain contemporary Social debates

(compulsory for single honours, optional for joint honours) the remaining credits to be taken elsewhere in the School.

year 3

dissertation Preparation Personal Social Services Sociology of health contemporary Social debates

(compulsory for single honours, optional for joint honours) the remaining credits to be taken elsewhere in the School.

year 3

you will complete your degree with a more detailed study of core areas, select optional areas and complete your dissertation.

you will complete your degree with a more detailed study of core areas, select optional areas and complete your dissertation.

dissertation

dissertation

Regulating Society

Mental illness

crime & Punishment

comparative health & Welfare

crime & Power

housing Policy (10 credits)

crime and the Media

issues in Social housing (10 credits)

the remaining credits to be taken elsewhere in the School.

the remaining credits to be taken elsewhere in the School.

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Bangor School of Social Sciences

Sociology

Social Policy

year 1

year 1

in your first year you will study a variety of modules designed to give you a basic grounding in different aspects of your chosen course of study. the number of modules you select from the following list will depend on your chosen degree scheme.

Remaining modules to make up your 120 credits may be chosen from modules offered by the School and other departments.

Social Policy is available only as a joint honours degree with another subject. this can be with Sociology, criminology and criminal Justice and other subjects. full details on page 7.

Please see below for details of Social Policy modules.

(Modules are 20 credits unless otherwise stated)

doing Social Research

(Modules are 20 credits unless otherwise stated)

health & Welfare issues doing Social Research

understanding Society

understanding Society Social Science Perspectives

Plus 60 credits in the other joint honours subject.

health & Welfare issues introduction to criminology & criminal Justice

Plus 20 credits from either: language/technique for Social Sciences a module or modules outside of the School

year 2 Personal Social Services Poverty & Social exclusion

Plus 20 credits to be taken elsewhere in the School and 60 credits in the other joint honours subject.

year 2 at level 2 you will continue the study of core subjects related to your discipline, begin your dissertation study and select a limited number of options.

Methods of Social Research dissertation Preparation identity & diversity Sociological theory

year 3 housing Policy (10 credits) issues in Social housing (10 credits) Mental illness comparative health & Welfare

Plus 60 credits in the other joint honours subject.

contemporary Social debates

(compulsory for single honours, optional for joint honours) the remaining credits to be taken elsewhere in the School.

year 3 you will complete your degree with a more detailed study of core areas, select optional areas and complete your dissertation. dissertation Sociological theory today ethnography

Remaining credits to be taken from: comparative health & Welfare Regulating Society Mental illness housing Policy issues in Social housing Survey design & analysis crime & Punishment crime & Power other approved School modules

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fReQuently aSKed QueStionS a chance to Study aBRoad Bangor has strong links with a number of european universities. they include exciting opportunities for student exchanges which are financially supported by the lifelong learning programme of the european union, known as erasmus.

WHEN Will i STUDy? the academic year is divided into two 15 week semesters, with the final three weeks of each semester set aside for revision and assessment.

HOW mANy HOURS A WEEk Will i SPEND iN lECTURES AND ClASSES? you will have around 6 hours of lectures and 6 hours of seminars each week. you will be expected to spend at least twice this amount of time reading, preparing for seminars, preparing for and writing up assignments and on revision for examinations. at university, it is your responsibility to organise your time when you are not in class. at an early stage it is important to strike a sensible balance between the time you allocate to your academic and your nonacademic activities. good time management is one of the most important keys to having both a successful academic record and an enjoyable social life as a university student.

CAN i CHANGE my DEGREE COURSE AfTER my STUDiES HAvE bEGUN? yes, but only if you have taken the compulsory modules required for the proposed new degree scheme. you have the flexibility to change your degree course at any time up to the start of year 2.

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Bangor School of Social Sciences

HOW Will i bE ASSESSED? our modules are assessed by various methods including essays, projects, presentations, formal written examination and in your second and third years a dissertation. you will choose a dissertation topic in consultation with your dissertation supervisor.

CAN i viSiT THE SCHOOl Of SOCiAl SCiENCES? the university open days in the summer and autumn give you an opportunity to visit the School as well as view halls of residence, the Students’ union etc. if you are interested in these open days please contact the Student Recruitment unit on 01248 382005 or email: openday@bangor.ac.uk or online: www.bangor.ac.uk/courses/visit if it is not possible for you to attend on one of these days please contact the school on 01248 382221 for further information or email: socialsciences@bangor.ac.uk once you have applied through ucaS you will be invited to one of several open days that are run throughout spring by the School of Social Sciences. at this departmental open day staff members are able to discuss details of the course on a more personal basis. you will also have the opportunity to visit halls of residence and the surrounding area.

Study abroad attracts credits and is recognised as part of your degree. it will enrich your education, expand your horizons and be attractive to future employers.

Social Science students can apply to study in denmark, finland or germany under the erasmus exchange scheme. our partner in finland is the faculty of Social Sciences at the university of Kuopio where there are modules available in criminology, sociology and social policy. in denmark our partner is Den Sociale hojskole i Kobenhavn, and our german partners are the institute of Sociology at otto von guericke university, magdeburg; otto friedrich university, Bamberg; and georg Simon ohm university of applied Sciences, nuremberg. tuition is available in english. other opportunities exist for study abroad – for example in north america.

Whatever your destination, don’t miss out on the experience of a lifetime!

aSSeSSMent

most modules are assessed by mixture of coursework and examination. The pass mark in all assessments is 40%. at the end of year 1 students must achieve marks of 40% or more in modules worth at least 80 credits (with no mark in any module below 30%) in order to progress to year 2. if you fall short of this overall pass requirement, it is normally possible to take supplementary assessments in august to bring you up to the required standard. however, there is a minimum threshold, below which supplementary assessment is not permitted. at the end of year 2, a similar set of rules determines progression to year 3.

HOW Will my fiNAl DEGREE ClASSifiCATiON bE DETERmiNED? Your final degree classification is determined by your overall mark as follows: OvERAll mARk %

fiNAl DEGREE ClASSifiCATiON

70+

first class honours or 1st

60 - 69

upper Second class honours or 2:1

50 - 59

lower Second class honours or 2:2

40 - 49

third class honours or 3rd

35 - 39

ordinary degree or Pass degree

at the end of year 3, your final degree classification depends on your overall mark: a weighted average of your year 2 average mark (one-third weighting) and your year 3 average mark (two-thirds weighting).

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Student SuPPoRt & caReeRS STUDENT SUPPORT

CAREERS WiTH A DEGREE iN SOCiAl SCiENCES

Our annual intake of students is approximately 150 and with around 30 members of staff, this gives us the ability to teach small groups. The size of the School therefore ensures that you are educated in an academic environment which is not only stimulating, but caring and encouraging at a personal level.

Employers today need analytical and lateral thinkers who can play a part in almost any working environment. As a result, the breadth and flexibility of a Social Science degree makes it attractive to almost any employer.

When you arrive at the School you will be allocated a member of academic staff who, as your Personal tutor, will be on hand to advise you on academic and personal matters during the whole of your three years at the university. you will be urged to develop a good relationship with your Personal tutor throughout your course, ensuring that your individual needs are recognised and that you receive the necessary support to achieve your full potential. there may of course be some things that you would rather not ask a member of staff and that is why we have a Peer guide Scheme for first year students. during Welcome Week, second and third year students who are trained Peer guides are allocated groups of around 10 first year students; they meet regularly during the first months of Semester 1 to iron out any teething problems, and then occasionally during the rest of the year. the important thing to remember is that during your first year there is always another student you can turn to should you need advice. the university also has professional counsellors who offer a confidential service to students. the staff of the Welfare office have access to a wide range of information and can advise you on all aspects of student welfare.

graduates from the School have followed a wide range of career paths and some of these are listed here under the different disciplines offered within the School.

Criminology & Criminal Justice there are a wide range of options open to students following graduation including careers in social work, the police force, the prison service and the legal profession.

Health & Social Care health and Social care graduates will enter professions such as health service management, care provision, public information, research and evaluation of the health and social care services.

Sociology Sociology graduates enter a full range of occupations including management, journalism, public relations, personnel, teaching and research.

Social Policy Social Policy graduates enter a wide range of occupations within the policy field including public housing, health service, local government administration and the voluntary sector.

Centre for Careers & Opportunities in today’s highly competitive employment market, it is important to take advantage of the academic, recreational and work-related activities available to you as a student. Whether or not you know what career path you want to follow, the centre for careers & opportunities supports students and recent graduates to make appropriate choices about their futures, by providing high-quality information, workshops, individual advice and guidance as well as offering workbased opportunities such as a student employment bureau, work placements and work shadowing.

Tel: +44 (0)1248 382071 Email: careersopps@bangor.ac.uk www.bangor.ac.uk/careers GRADUATE DESTiNATiONS of our most recent graduates, 70% have gone straight into paid employment, while 10% have progressed to further study. of those who go on to study for a postgraduate qualification, many choose to stay at Bangor. Some of the organisations that our recent graduates have found employment with include: north Wales housing Bank of america armstrong Solicitors cartrefi cymunedol cymru British council cheshire home care Services Barchester health care Pro care Wales ltd gwynedd county council cancer Research uK fairways care ltd

Bangor university also operates a service called ‘night line’ in case there are any problems or information you need outside of normal hours.

Mencap conwy county council Social Services yr urdd Menter iaith

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Bangor School of Social Sciences

entRy ReQuiReMentS & hoW to aPPly

ENTRANCE REqUiREmENTS

HOW TO APPly

The School of Social Sciences welcomes applications from both traditional and mature students. See below for our list of entry requirements.

all uK and european union applicants must use the ucaS application form: www.ucas.co.uk

A-level 240 – 280 points. the points total can be made up in a variety of ways including aS levels but must include at least two full a-levels.

ACCESS Course Pass access course University of Wales Diploma Pass diploma irish Highers 240 – 260 ucaS points from at least 4 irish highers international baccalaureate 24 points bTEC National Diploma average Merit overall

international applicants may use the direct application form: www.bangor.ac.uk/international/applying/undergrad once we have received your application we will inform you of our decision and issue an offer of entry. We will also send you an invitation to attend a Social Sciences open day. mATURE STUDENTS We have a policy in the School of accepting mature students (aged 21 and over) whenever possible. it has been our experience that mature students are highly motivated to study and are making an informed choice to change their current career. the most usual entry route for a mature student is via an approved access to higher education course. however, we do consider applications from individuals who have few formal qualifications and are always pleased to interview such individuals. for an informal discussion, please contact Sioned davies on 01248 382221 or email socialsciences@bangor.ac.uk

Welsh baccalaureate accepted Scottish Highers 240 – 260 ucaS points from advanced highers Bangor School of Social Sciences

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Student accoMModation

UNivERSiTy mANAGED ACCOmmODATiON & HAllS Of RESiDENCE Moving away from home can be a big step so you don’t want to be worrying about finding a place to live. that’s why first year students who choose to study at Bangor university are guaranteed a place in one of the rooms available in our halls of residence. after accepting an offer at Bangor, you’ll be able to apply for accommodation. living in student accommodation is a great opportunity to meet new people from different backgrounds and make friends for life. there’s always a warden on call 24 hours a day. you’ll get your own private space because all our rooms are single study bedrooms. you can also hook up to the internet using your own Pc, as internet access is now available in all single study rooms. the university’s location is superb and although we can’t guarantee you a room with a view, many of our students wake up every morning to see the Snowdonia Mountains or the sea. not only that but you’ll be glad to know that Bangor has one of the lowest living costs in the uK. halls fees compare very well with other universities. and if you wake up late you don’t have to worry about missing that lecture because all halls are within

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Bangor School of Social Sciences

walking distance of the main university departments and city centre. all accommodation is self-catered, and kitchens are shared with fellow halls students. equipment provided in the kitchens varies from residence to residence, but all will have basic facilities, such as cookers, fridges and freezers.

Students need to bring their own cutlery, pots, pans and crockery.

STANDARD ACCOmmODATiON (SHARED fACiliTiES) Standard self-catered accommodation has private bedrooms and shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. there are always baths and showers available. the bedrooms in the standard accommodation are usually larger than the en-suite accommodation.

EN-SUiTE ACCOmmODATiON Self-catered en-suite rooms feature bedrooms with a private shower and toilet in a more recently built residence. you will share your kitchen facilities with fellow students from the same corridor. all en-suite rooms have data points, which enable residents with personal computers to connect to the university’s network and the internet.

Bangor has a lower cost of living than many parts of the uK and the university’s accommodation fees reflect this. fees are calculated for the full academic session. the rent for university managed accommodation is between £2,990 (£75 per week) and £4,039 (£101 per week) for a 40-week period. the rent covers water and electricity. for further information about accommodation fees and how to apply for halls: www.bangor.ac.uk/accommodation PRivATE ACCOmmODATiON Students wishing to live in private accommodation may receive assistance from the Student housing office which provides information and advice about private lodgings, flats, cottages and houses available locally: further details: Tel: +44 (0)1248 382032 / 382034 Email: studenthousing@bangor.ac.uk www.bangor.ac.uk/studentservices/ studenthousing

inteRnational StudentS Students from countries worldwide choose to study at Bangor every year, and make up 10% of the student population.

The lower cost of living and safety of bangor make it a popular choice for both students and their families.

We welcome applications from students from all over the world and are proud to have a multinational student body. We are aware of the challenges that face international students in moving away from home to study. the university’s dedicated international Student Welfare adviser offers support prior to your arrival and throughout your time at Bangor. www.bangor.ac.uk/international iNTERNATiONAl STUDENT SCHOlARSHiPS for details of scholarships and bursaries offered to international students, please visit www.bangor.ac.uk/international/ future/scholarship_ug

ENGliSH lANGUAGE COURSES international students are generally required to provide evidence of english language proficiency. We normally require ieltS 6.0 or equivalent. if you have not yet achieved the level required by the university, you can undertake english language and Study Skills courses at the university’s english language centre before starting your academic programme.

Additional tuition can be taken as follows: iElTS 4.5 - 30 week course September – June iElTS 5.0 - 20 week course January – June iElTS 5.5 - 12 week course July – September

at the end of the course, you are not required to undertake a further external english test. our highly experienced and qualified staff will conduct a test and provide an official report for the university. you can also receive english language support throughout the year in courses specially organised for international students. further details of English language courses can be obtained from: elcoS Bangor university Bangor gwynedd ll57 2dg uK Tel: +44 (0)1248 382252 Email: elcos@bangor.ac.uk www.elcos.bangor.ac.uk

Bangor School of Social Sciences

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BangoR & noRth WaleS Bangor is very much a University city. The entertainment and nightlife is student-oriented and student-led. The cost of living is lower than in most UK cities, so you can make the most of your money in what is a very pleasant environment in which to work and study.

The opportunity to find part-time work is important to some students, and the student employment bureau within the Centre for Careers and Opportunities can help you find suitable work (see page 12 for more details). Also worth bearing in mind is the fact that, compared to many other University cities, bangor is considered to be a relatively safe place to be a student. The crime rate for North Wales is one of the lowest in the Uk.

While Bangor itself is compact and convenient, the surrounding area offers plenty of wide open spaces. the mountains and coastline of Snowdonia is an area of outstanding natural beauty, offering you wonderful recreational opportunities whether you’re interested in outdoor activities or just want to enjoy the scenery.

Bangor is exceptionally well-situated and well-equipped for students interested in sport – especially those involving the great outdoors. Rock climbing, sailing, diving, mountain biking, canoeing and surfing are just some of the activities available, as well as team sports such as rugby, hockey and football. indoor sports are also well catered for. however, don’t think you need to be sporty to come here – many of our students just like the fact that Bangor is in such a scenic location: safer, cleaner and far friendlier than many larger places.

for those not interested in sports, there’s plenty to do in and around Snowdonia. historical towns such as Beaumaris, conwy and caernarfon (which all have their own castles) or picturesque places such as Beddgelert, llanberis and Betws-y-coed are well worth a visit. for day trips, the Victorian resort town of llandudno and historical chester are both easy car or train journeys away, while the fast ferry service from holyhead to ireland means a day trip to dublin is also a popular option.

School of Social Sciences Bangor University Bangor Gwynedd LL57 2DG UK + 44 (0)1248 382221 socialsciences@bangor.ac.uk www.bangor.ac.uk/so