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A message from the Head of Development and Alumni Relations
Preparations are in place as we are about to welcome new and returning students to Bangor for the 2025/26 academic year. I’m sure that you remember the excitement and trepidation of your first days at the University; familiarising yourself with the campus, making new friends, joining clubs and societies and attending your first lectures.
I’m sure that you will join me in wishing all of our new students the best of luck and hope that their experience at the University will set them on the path to become successful and happy alumni of the future!
Yours sincerely,
Emma Marshall
Head of Development and Alumni Relations
BANGOR UNIVERSITY NEWS
Bangor takes centre stage in Parliament for 1500th anniversary celebration
The city of Bangor was celebrated in Westminster last week when Claire Hughes, Member of Parliament for Bangor Aberconwy, hosted ‘Bangor Day’ on the very day the city commemorated its founder, St Deiniol.
The special reception, part of the wider Bangor 1500 programme taking place this year, brought together MPs, business leaders from across Wales, Bangor institutions, community groups and local representatives, to shine a spotlight on the city’s present-day talent and ambitious future, as well as its proud history and rich heritage.
Several Bangor alumni attended the event which saw Prof. Edmund Burke, Vice-Chancellor, and colleagues from the School of Ocean Science, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, North Wales Medical School and Treborth Botanic Garden represent the University.
They joined a number of local organisations and cultural groups in sharing their innovative work and opportunities whilst celebrating the city, connecting with each other and discussing what’s next for Bangor.
Claire Hughes, MP said, “I’m fighting hard to get Bangor the recognition – and funding – it deserves. This anniversary is a perfect opportunity to show what makes our city so special, from its deep historic roots to its vibrant community and institutions. We had a fantastic range of local voices in the room to tell the movers and shakers in Westminster what’s so great about Bangor. This isn’t just about looking back – it’s about unlocking its potential and building a better future for Bangor.”
Professor Edmund Burke, Vice-Chancellor, said, “Bangor University is and has always been integral to the city of Bangor’s story since the University was established over 140 years ago. Through world-class teaching and research, the University has transformed lives, driven innovation, and made vital contributions to regional growth and national productivity. We’re proud, together with our stakeholders, to be part of this event which celebrates the City’s rich heritage, history, language and culture as it marks 1500 years.”
Celebrating student creativity at the Bangor Music Festival
The Bangor Fund has enabled student involvement in the Bangor Music Festival and supported members of the Bangor University Chamber Choir as they prepared and performed in a series of concerts throughout the academic year.
The Bangor Music Festival drew enthusiastic participation from 23 students across the School of Arts, Culture and Languages, many of whom were studying composition modules within the music degree.
An extended programme booklet, made possible by the Bangor Fund, enriched the concert experience and provided valuable context for both students and attendees. The festival continues to be a platform for learning, exchange, and artistic exploration.
Nominations open for 2026 Honorary Degrees
As alumni of Bangor University, you are invited to submit nominations for exceptional individuals to receive an Honorary Degree from Bangor University in 2026. Honorary Degrees are the University’s highest awards, recognising people who have made outstanding contributions to society, who embody our values and who merit special recognition for eminence in their field.
In the past, nominees have been drawn from science and technology, public service, industry, broadcasting, the academic world, the arts, industry, and sport. Our 2025 Honorary Degree recipients were a remarkable group of individuals who represented achievement and influence across Wales and beyond.
Nominations can be made by using this form. The deadline for submissions is 17:00, Friday 15th November 2025.
Researchers win APEX Award for innovative cross-disciplinary project
Bangor University has been awarded one of this year’s highly competitive APEX Awards, a scheme jointly run by the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Royal Society with generous support from the Leverhulme Trust.
The award will support a two-year collaboration between two highly acclaimed Bangor University researchers, Professor Zengbo Wang from the School of Computer Science and Engineering and Dr Ellie Jameson from the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences.
The research will develop a new way of observing viral infection by both watching and listening to cells as they are infected. With advanced technology, the team can see structures thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair.
Alongside the two-year APEX Award, the project will also be supported by Bangor University’s Development and Alumni Relations Office-administered Wynne Humphrey Davies Fund, opening the door for new research collaborations with world-leading US institutions, including MIT and Northeastern University.
Alumni profiles
We’re always pleased to hear your updates and are grateful to our alumni who are happy to share their stories which help to inspire prospective and current students. You can read some of the updates from our alumni here.
If you have a story to tell, please get in touch at alumni@bangor.ac.uk
Study UK Alumni Awards 2026
The British Council’s Study UK Alumni Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of international UK alumni worldwide, honouring international leaders who have leveraged their UK education to make significant contributions to their communities, industries, and countries.
Award categories include business and innovation, culture, creativity and sport, science and sustainability, and social action and applications are now open for 2026.
We’re very proud that Bangor University alumni have been winners of the Study UK Alumni Awards in the past and we would love to see some of your achievements acknowledged too!
If you are an international alumnus who studied at Bangor and would like to nominate yourself for the award, please see the Study UK Alumni Awards website for further information and details on how to enter.
You're Invited: United Nations Association Public Lecture
“From Taboo to Necessity: Preparing for a New Dawn in Global Governance”, Professor Augusto Lopez-Claros
In association with the Menai branch of the United Nations Association (UNA)
Date: Wednesday, 8 October
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Venue: The Eric Sunderland Lecture Theatre, Main Arts, College Road, LL57 2DG, Bangor
Join international economist, Professor Augusto Lopez-Claros, for a public lecture which will address the contemporary crises faced by humanity and the new kind of international agreement required. What should a new UN Charter look like in order for us to modernize our global governance architecture and empower the UN to help us address the myriad global catastrophic risks that threaten our future?
Professor Augusto Lopez-Claros is the Executive Director of the Global Governance Forum. He has published several books on global governance reform and is currently spearheading the Global Governance Forum’s drafting of a Second United Nations Charter. He brings more than 30 years of experience in international organizations, including most recently as director of the Global Indicators Group at the World Bank.
Attendance is free but registration is required. For further information and to register your attendance, please see our website.
Recruiting Trustees for Undeb Bangor
EXTENDED DEADLINE! Closing date 6th October 2025.
Undeb Bangor (Bangor University Students' Union) are looking to recruit two external trustees to join their Board of Trustees.
Undeb Bangor are a democratic charity led by students and primarily funded through grant from Bangor University. Whilst working closely with the University, they are a separate and distinct organisation, and decisions are taken internally by their members.
The Trustee Board plays a vital role in guiding Undeb Bangor’s strategic direction, ensuring strong governance, and championing a culture that reflects their values. They’re currently looking to build on momentum by welcoming two new trustees who share their commitment to student empowerment and organisational excellence.
The role is a voluntary role and you would give your time to ensure that they make sound financial decisions and follow legal frameworks. For further information and details on how to apply please see the External Trustee Recruitment Pack .
For an informal conversation on the roles, you are welcome to contact, Mair Rowlands, Students’ Union Director at mair.rowlands@undebbangor.com
ArtUK Alumni Discount
Bangor University has collected and commissioned a wide range of artworks since its founding in 1884. The collection now consists of over 600 works, dating from the seventeenth to the twenty-first centuries, and features artworks from many notable artists including Kyffin Williams, Evan Walters and Frederick William Hayes.
We are delighted to be able to offer the opportunity for you to bring a piece of this exceptional collection into your own home with beautiful prints of some of our collection. Even better, alumni and friends of the University can benefit of a 10% discount on your order by using the code "BANGORALUMNI". Click here to view the collection.
Alumnus' company receives AI support from Bangor University
Since launching two years ago Pelly, a company which analyses data for football clubs, is going from strength to strength; having recently received academic support from Bangor University to improve their understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Pelly is a platform that focuses on centralising information and operations for professional football clubs, such as performance data, medical information, contracts, bonuses and even what they post on social media.
One of Pelly’s founders, Tomos Owen, from Benllech began developing the platform while studying at Bangor University. Now based at M-SParc, the University’s science park in Gaerwen, Tomos and his co-founders have benefited from a collaboration with Dr Gavin Lawrence, senior lecturer in talent and expertise development at Bangor University.
Graduate Outcomes survey
Graduate Outcomes is the UK’s largest social survey, designed to capture the perspectives and current status of recent graduates.
If you’ve completed a higher education course in the UK, you’ll be invited to take part 15 months after finishing your studies.
This survey explores whether you’re in employment, further education, or pursuing other opportunities—and examines how your qualification has shaped your journey.
Keep your contact details up to date to make sure you receive your invitation to complete the Graduate Outcomes survey.
