[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] The College is part of University of Wales.[EBOLD][PARA]Squeezed between the [ITAL]magnificent [EITAL]mountains of the Snowdonia [PARA]National Park - an official area of outstanding natural beauty - and[PARA]the Menai Strait (the broad stretch of water, cutting off the Isle of [PARA]Anglesey from mainland Wales), is the city of Bangor. Officially,[PARA]it's a city (it has an 8th century cathedral), but with a tiny [PARA]population [ITAL]who all seem to know each other, it's more like a small[PARA]town[EITAL]. Whichever, it's a pretty fishing port with a few shops ([ITAL][PARA]although the Ivana Trumps of this world may find it insufficient[EITAL]) [PARA]and - as the estate agent said - [ITAL]some delightful features[EITAL]: the [PARA]harbour, pier, scenic views of Anglesey and the mountains. The [PARA]main University buildings on a hill in town are a cross between a [PARA]grand Victorian hotel and a prison. The rest of the buildings [PARA](almost all within 1/2 mile of each other) are a mixture of more [PARA]modern stone and concrete constructions. The University [PARA]provides just about the only cultural focus of the town.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Bangor students are definitely not at the cutting edge of fashion, [PARA]but they're quite alternative nevertheless. Strong on [PARA]environmental courses and well stocked locally with the wonders [PARA]of nature, the University attracts the outdoor type, more at home [PARA]in a cagoule than a blazer. They're fairly relaxed - although not as[PARA]laid back as the academics who're horizontal almost to the point [PARA]of inefficiency - and politically disinterested. But they keep [PARA]themselves fairly busy and know how to have a good time.[EITAL][HDNG]THE TOWN:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 17,000 [BULL] London: 215miles [BULL] Caernarfon: [PARA]9miles [BULL] Manchester: 85miles[ESTAT][PARA]Bangor is a [ITAL]truly sublime[EITAL] rural harbour town which attracts plenty[PARA]of tourists. [ITAL]Such a cosy community and such beautiful scenery [PARA]make it a fine place to live as well as visit, although there's a [PARA]strong Welsh nationalist element and it'll go down well if students [PARA]learn how to swear in Welsh. Its amenities are okay for [PARA]everyday needs, but it more or less ends there[EITAL]: a museum, the [PARA]recently renovated Victorian pier, supermarkets, 1st and 2nd [PARA]hand book shops, a few shops open as late as midnight, banks, [PARA]and a street market. The School of Ocean Sciences is based at [PARA]Menai Bridge, on Anglesey.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains: [EBOLD]Bangor station is 1/2 mile from the main buildings. To get [PARA]almost anywhere, it's got to be via Crewe (1:40hrs), but without [PARA]changing it's possible to go to London (3:30hrs, 3/day), [PARA]Birmingham and Manchester.[PARA][BOLD]Buses: [EBOLD]National Express services to London (ú19.00, 7hrs, [PARA]2/day), Cardiff (ú12.00, 4:45hrs, change at Birmingham, 2/day), [PARA]Bristol, (ú21.00, 7hrs, change at Birmingham, 2/day) and other [PARA]destinations .[PARA][BOLD]Car: [EBOLD][ITAL]Despite being a bit out on a limb, the roads to Bangor [EITAL](A5, [PARA]A55 and A487)[ITAL] are quite direct and very scenic[EITAL].[PARA][BOLD]Hitching: [EBOLD][ITAL]Quite easy.[EITAL] The A55 to Chester and then the M56 [PARA]which goes within 2 miles of the city centre.[PARA][BOLD]Ferries: [EBOLD]ú6 returns to Ireland are offered from Holyhead (1/2hr by[PARA]train).[PARA][BOLD]Local: [EBOLD]The buses are fairly regular and, for 70p, it's possible to [PARA]get about 7 miles out of town till 11pm. They also go all over [PARA]Gwynedd (the county). Trains run every hour to towns all along [PARA]the coast of north Wales and there's an [ITAL]incredible[EITAL] journey by a [PARA]single carriage steam train up Wales's highest mountain on the [PARA]Snowdon Mountain Railway -[ITAL] a journey to absolutely nowhere, [PARA]but worth it.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Taxis: [EBOLD][ITAL]Bangor's small enough to make taxis a viable option for [PARA]group trips or for getting home after the buses.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles: [EBOLD][ITAL]Bangor is hillsville, but for those with thighs with a [PARA]mission, a bike is handy. There are plenty of sheds and stands [PARA]and theft is a rarity.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]NOS and REQUIREMENTS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Arts/Soc Sci[EBOLD] 1,773 18-20pts[PARA][BOLD]Science/Eng[EBOLD] 1,431 16pts[PARA][BOLD]Health Studs[EBOLD] 548 14pts[PARA][BOLD]Theology[EBOLD] 47 18pts[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 500,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 1,700 [BULL] Study places: 350 [PARA]Computer workstations: 350[ESTAT][PARA]6 big faculty libraries.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 3full/2part [BULL] Unemployed [PARA]after 6mths (1992): 10%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]There are plenty of opportunities to learn and/or use the [PARA]Welsh language.[PARA][BULL]Deck those Raybans, jump in the jeep, play 'em Beach Boys [PARA]and get down to the local beaches for a bit of sunny sand or over [PARA]the Telford Menai Suspension Bridge to Anglesey.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Ann Clwyd MP (Lab); Dr Robert Edwards (of test tube baby [PARA]fame); Lord Elis-Thomas (former President of Plaid Cymru); John[PARA]Sessions (comedian/actor); Roger Whittaker (singer).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads, from the PR unit.
