International Student Ambassadors

Who are the Ambassadors?

Click on the Ambassador’s name to read their full profile and find out why they wanted to represent Bangor as an International Student Ambassador:

Starting university can be a daunting experience to say the least but for international students it doesn’t just mean leaving home. Students from over 70 different countries choose to study at Bangor and therefore have to leave their native homeland, their families and friends and move to a foreign country. They not only have to adjust to a new culture and surroundings but in many cases face the challenge of adjusting to a new language. Bangor University strongly believes in looking after their students and making sure that everyone is made to feel welcome and settles in with ease. That’s why Bangor has nine International Student Ambassadors to support international students from the application process right up to their graduation day.

What is an International Student Ambassador?

The scheme was initially set up as a pilot in 2008/09 and received highly positive feedback from overseas students and the Ambassadors themselves.

Nine current international students have been chosen to represent the University as Ambassadors and will play a key part in recruitment activities both within Bangor and on overseas visits as well as contribute to the support programme offered to students during their studies at Bangor.

Alan Edwards, International Students Welfare Adviser said,

"The International Student Ambassador scheme is a very important part of the University’s work in offering a welfare service which is both welcoming and informative. The Ambassadors are students who have already been through the process of adapting to life in a new country and culture and can therefore give prospective students advice on what to expect, as well as being able to offer support to students who are already here.

"Many prospective students commented last year that they found it very helpful to be able to contact an Ambassador and obtain information on what student life is really like at Bangor. As students themselves, the Ambassadors can provide a better perspective on what being a student here is like. Several students have said they would not have settled in so well if they hadn’t met the Ambassadors when they first arrived. The social events organized by the Ambassadors also went a long way in helping students to make friends at Bangor."

2010/11 International Student Ambassadors’ contribution recognised

Bangor University’s International Student Ambassadors were thanked for their dedication and hard work throughout the academic year at a reception hosted by the Vice-Chancellor.

In September 2010, nine international students were chosen to represent the University as ambassadors. International ambassadors play a key part in recruitment activities both within Bangor and on overseas visits as well as contributing to the support programme offered to students during their studies at Bangor.

Ambassadors Reception At the reception, Bangor’s Head of International Student Welfare, Alan Edwards, who has worked closely with the ambassadors, formally thanked them for their contribution.

Alan Edwards said, “The ambassadors have a very important role to play in assisting international student at Bangor, as many students find coming to a new country daunting.

“They often go above and beyond the call of duty and have made a difference to the lives of many students, especially in helping them to settle at Bangor.”

Presenting the ambassadors with their certificates, the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John G. Hughes also praised their work, adding, “My hope is to turn Bangor into a preferred destination for international students, as a place that’s known for its friendliness and its warmth. This means looking after our students throughout their time at Bangor, and the ambassadors play an incredibly important role in that.”

Pictured are the International Ambassadors with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor John G. Hughes (centre) and Alan Edwards, Head of International Student Welfare (right).

Watch the video of the Reception.