School of Welsh

Why study with us?

A degree in Welsh gives you the opportunity to study one of the oldest languages in Europe. You'll be able to learn more about the poetic traditions and some highlights of the prose tradition.

Above all you'll be able to do this in a University that has a reputation of excellence in its quality of teaching. The School of Welsh is one of only two Welsh Departments that's been awarded:

excellence, the highest category possible, in the recent national teaching survey
grade 5* (the highest possible grade) in the Research Assessment 2001

John Morris-Jones, one of the most important scholars and successful poets in Wales, was the first Professor of Welsh at Bangor. One of his most famous students at the beginning of the twentieth century was Kate Roberts, an author who was later crowned the Queen of Literature in Wales.

During your time at the School of Welsh you will also get the chance to study the work of many more of the departments’ graduates, some of whom are well known litterateurs of the twentieth century, such as:

Islwyn Ffowc Elis
Eigra Lewis Roberts
Angharad Tomos
Sonia Edwards
R. Williams Parry
Gwyn Thomas
Alan Llwyd
Nesta Wyn Jones
Einir Jones
John Gwilym Jones
William R. Lewis
Dewi Wyn Williams

The fact that we've had creative writers such as R. Williams Parry and John Gwilym Jones on our staff in the past, and William R. Lewis, Gerwyn Wiliams, Jason Walford Davies and Gwyn Thomas being current staff at the department, is a clear sign of our commitment as an academic discipline.

One of our main priorities as a department is our students' wellbeing. All our students are given a Personal Tutor that will be on hand to give help and advice about your academic work and personal difficulties. Also, to make sure that all our students get the best start at University, every first year student will be appointed a Peer Guide to help them settle in. The second and third year students will be there to help you during your first week as a student and beyond.

We also guarantee all first year students a place in our halls of residence. The most popular halls of residence with Welsh students is Neuadd John Morris Jones, home to centuries of Welsh students at Bangor for many years.

There are many of activities to keep you busy during your spare time at Bangor. Situated between the Snowdonia Mountains and the Menai Straights, Bangor's location is probably the most beautiful University setting in the whole of the UK.