[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 National Park - an official area of outstanding natural beauty - and the Menai Strait (the broad stretch of water, cutting off the Isle of Anglesey from mainland Wales), is the city of Bangor. Officially, it's a city (it has an 8th century cathedral), but with a tiny population [ITAL]who all seem to know each other, it's more like a small town[EITAL]. Whichever, it's a pretty fishing port with a few shops ([ITAL]although the Ivana Trumps of this world may find it insufficient[EITAL]) and - as the estate agent said - [ITAL]some delightful features[EITAL]: the harbour, pier, scenic views of Anglesey and the mountains. The main University buildings on a hill in town are a cross between a grand Victorian hotel and a prison. The rest of the buildings (almost all within 1/2 mile of each other) are a mixture of more modern stone and concrete constructions. The University 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, but they're quite alternative nevertheless. Strong on environmental courses and well stocked locally with the wonders of nature, the University attracts the outdoor type, more at home in a cagoule than a blazer. They're fairly relaxed - although not as laid back as the academics who're horizontal almost to the point of inefficiency - and politically disinterested. But they keep 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: 9miles [BULL] Manchester: 85miles[ESTAT][PARA]Bangor is a [ITAL]truly sublime[EITAL] rural harbour town which attracts plenty of tourists. [ITAL]Such a cosy community and such beautiful scenery make it a fine place to live as well as visit, although there's a strong Welsh nationalist element and it'll go down well if students learn how to swear in Welsh. Its amenities are okay for everyday needs, but it more or less ends there[EITAL]: a museum, the recently renovated Victorian pier, supermarkets, 1st and 2nd hand book shops, a few shops open as late as midnight, banks, and a street market. The School of Ocean Sciences is based at Menai Bridge, on Anglesey.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains: [EBOLD]Bangor station is 1/2 mile from the main buildings. To get almost anywhere, it's got to be via Crewe (1:40hrs), but without changing it's possible to go to London (3:30hrs, 3/day), Birmingham and Manchester.[PARA][BOLD]Buses: [EBOLD]National Express services to London (ú19.00, 7hrs, 2/day), Cardiff (ú12.00, 4:45hrs, change at Birmingham, 2/day), Bristol, (ú21.00, 7hrs, change at Birmingham, 2/day) and other destinations .[PARA][BOLD]Car: [EBOLD][ITAL]Despite being a bit out on a limb, the roads to Bangor [EITAL](A5, 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 which goes within 2 miles of the city centre.[PARA][BOLD]Ferries: [EBOLD]ú6 returns to Ireland are offered from Holyhead (1/2hr by train).[PARA][BOLD]Local: [EBOLD]The buses are fairly regular and, for 70p, it's possible to get about 7 miles out of town till 11pm. They also go all over Gwynedd (the county). Trains run every hour to towns all along the coast of north Wales and there's an [ITAL]incredible[EITAL] journey by a single carriage steam train up Wales's highest mountain on the Snowdon Mountain Railway -[ITAL] a journey to absolutely nowhere, but worth it.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Taxis: [EBOLD][ITAL]Bangor's small enough to make taxis a viable option for 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 mission, a bike is handy. There are plenty of sheds and stands 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 [BULL] 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 after 6mths (1992): 10%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]There are plenty of opportunities to learn and/or use the Welsh language.[PARA][BULL]Deck those Raybans, jump in the jeep, play 'em Beach Boys and get down to the local beaches for a bit of sunny sand or over the Telford Menai Suspension Bridge to Anglesey.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Ann Clwyd MP (Lab); Dr Robert Edwards (of test tube baby fame); Lord Elis-Thomas (former President of Plaid Cymru); John Sessions (comedian/actor); Roger Whittaker (singer).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads, from the PR unit.
