(Welcome, Orientation, Airport Pick-up, Food, Accommodation and Local Travel)
If you cannot arrive on campus in time for the start of the course starting in September 2020 or January 2021 , you will be able to arrive at a later date. Refer other FAQs listed on this page for more details.
The nearest International Airport is Manchester. There is information on our website about How to get to Bangor.
We will be running an airport pick-up service on the following dates:
For more information and to book a place please visit: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/international/support/airport-pickup/
Please note: The details provided below about Self-isolation are applicable for Sep 2020 intake students only. We are currently reviewing these details for Jan 2021 intake students, so please revisit this page at a later date, as some of the details might change over the next couple of weeks.
Will I need to Self-Isolate on Arrival?
The UK and Welsh governments currently require travellers arriving from many countries in the world to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in the UK. Please see the list of countries exempt from the 14 day self-isolation rules in Wales. Please check this list before you travel as the countries listed may have changed.
Please note: if you come from a country that does not need to self-isolate on arrival, but you transit through a country on your journey to the UK that is not on the exempt list, you WILL be expected to self-isolate on arrival. So please check your flights route carefully.
The aim of the self-isolation policy is to keep the transmission rate in the UK as low as possible by helping prevent the re-introduction of the virus through travellers arriving from overseas.
If you do need to self-isolate on arrival, the University has put in place a number of services to support you to ensure that you are safe and well looked after during your period of self-isolation. Please read the following information carefully.
What does Self-Isolation mean?
The University will do all we can to support you during this self-isolation period to help ensure that you are safe and well.
Please read this document: How to self-isolate when you arrive in Wales
What do I need to do before I travel?
What do I need to bring with me when I travel?
You will need to bring:
Self-isolating in University Managed Accommodation
If you have pre-booked a room in University managed accommodation (Halls) then you can self-isolate in the room that you have booked. As students will be expected to remain in self–isolation in their room for this 14 day period the University will provide:
**The student accommodation contract with the university will start on 27th September 2020. But if you wish to arrive early to complete your self-isolation then students can arrive up to 14 days before this date i.e. any day between 13th-27th September. The University will not be charging any accommodation fees for early arrivals before 27th September. The International Orientation Programme will be available from the 13th September to support those who wish to arrive early.
International arrivals after the 27th September will not benefit from free accommodation days, but will be provided with the free food service and the starter pack for the 14 day quarantine period.
It’s important to inform the Halls office of your planned arrival date so that they are able to ensure that your room is ready, and all the support services are in place. Email halls@bangor.ac.uk
If you experience the symptoms of Covid-19 during the 14 day quarantine period please alert a member of the accommodation staff who can advise you on what to do next.
If you have additional questions about Self-Isolating in University Managed Accommodation please email: halls@bangor.ac.uk
Please note that the information above only applies if you have pre-booked a room in University managed accommodation for the year (or a semester for Exchange/Study Abroad students).
If you have not managed to secure accommodation before your arrival in the UK the University may have some short-term accommodation available for students and may also be able to provide a food service for students booking this short-term accommodation that need to self-isolate. However, you will be required to pay for the room, starter pack* and the food, at a cost of £438 for the 14 day period. You should book this short-term accommodation before you arrive by emailing: halls@bangor.ac.uk.
*Starter pack contents:
• bed pack (duvet, pillows, bed linen) size dependent on room.
• a toiletry tack (shampoo, shower gel, soap etc)
• crockery pack (all crockery, cutlery and glass tumbler)
• toilet roll 2 ply x2
• towels x 2
• mini kettle.
Self-isolating in Private Accommodation
If you have booked a place in Private Accommodation check what support your accommodation provider will be able to provide during your self-isolation period.
You should also ensure that you inform both the University and your accommodation provider of your arrival date.
The University has been liaising with private accommodation providers to enquire about what support they can offer and to ensure that they understand the requirements around self-isolation.
The International student support team will be able to offer you help, support and advice while you are self-isolating in private accommodation. internationalsupport@bangor.ac.uk
Because you will need somewhere safe and comfortable to self-isolate on arrival and you need to provide your address in the UK on the passenger locator form, it’s essential to arrange at least temporary accommodation before your arrival in the UK.
If you have not managed to secure accommodation before your arrival in the UK the University may have some short-term accommodation available for students and may also be able to provide a food service for students booking this short-term accommodation that need to self-isolate. However, you will be required to pay for the room, starter pack* and the food, at a cost of £438 for the 14 day period. You should book this short-term accommodation before you arrive by emailing: halls@bangor.ac.uk.
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide accommodation for couples and families in University managed accommodation. If you are coming with your family please contact our Private Housing Office for advice: studenthousing@bangor.ac.uk
*Starter pack contents:
• bed pack (duvet, pillows, bed linen) size dependent on room.
• a toiletry tack (shampoo, shower gel, soap etc)
• crockery pack (all crockery, cutlery and glass tumbler)
• toilet roll 2 ply x2
• towels x 2
• mini kettle.
Sep intake - There was an on-line orientation programme which ran from the 18th September until teaching started on the 28th September. The orientation programme included a mix of social events, information sessions and practical advice on living and studying in Bangor. The sessions were organised by Academic Schools, the International Student Support Office, Campus Life (University accommodation social programme), the Students Union and the University centrally. Sessions were run using Microsoft Teams, and other platforms such as Zoom, Skype and social media.
Jan intake - Yes, there will be an orientation programme in place. This will start with an airport pick-up service from Manchester airport on Monday 18th September, and will be followed by a series of information and welcome sessions. Full details will be published on our webpage: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/international/support and the programme will also be emailed to you prior to arrival
If you book University accommodation, you will most likely be living in a shared building with other students, so you will have the opportunity to meet fellow students and make friends. We will ensure that you are briefed on government regulations for social distancing in force at the time, so you and your friends can live together safely. Please note, university will keep your safety and fellow students safety as our top priority, so may impose required restrictions from time to time.
Please note: The details provided below about Accommodation are applicable for Sep 2020 intake students only. We are currently reviewing these details for Jan 2021 intake students, so please revisit this page at a later date.
The start of the term will be on the 28th of September.
If you will be arriving to Bangor using our Airport Pick-up service then you will move into your accommodation on the same day.
However, if you decide to travel to Bangor on your own then we advise you to arrive at the university on the move-in date assigned to you by Halls office, which can be any day between 18th and 27th September.
All accommodation contracts will start from the 27th September (you will not be charged until the 27th September even if you move in before that on the 18th September or onwards), but to enable physical distancing, the move-in process will be staggered over several days.
If you are unable to move into your accommodation during this period due to Covid-19, then your room will be held for you for a maximum of 12 weeks and you will only be charged for the period in residence.
(Social, Safety, Discrimination, and Healthcare)
Social distancing is the term used in the UK about the steps to reduce social interaction between people. This helps reduce the transmission of coronavirus from one person to another. In other countries, this is sometimes called ‘physical distancing’.
This new way of University life will also mean changes on the campus to ensure that we all stay safe. As the Covid-19 rules and guidelines keep changing, we will be letting you know more specific details about how moving around the campus will work and what facilities will be available. Our aim is to enable physical distancing in and around our buildings, to comply with the health and safety rules and recommendations for matters such as cleaning and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks etc.
Bangor University will be complying with the policies and procedures of the Welsh Government, more information can be found here. We do also recommend that you visit the UK government Covid-19 webpage also, which is updated regularly to understand the current situation and risk level in the UK.
During this difficult period, the International Student Support Office, Student Services and your School will provide support for your academic studies and any non-academic issues you may have. This will mainly be done online, by telephone, skype and email. Depending on the situation and rules in place for social distancing, some face-to-face support may also be available.
In addition to support for your studies from your School, we will also advise you on practical issues such as visas, financial matters, health, registration and general issues concerned with living in a new country and environment. For further details visit the international student support page.
If you have any questions or need advice on anything, please contact us at: internationalsupport@bangor.ac.uk
We understand how important it is to maintain a sense of community throughout this global crisis and we are taking every possible step to support your studies, your mental health and wellbeing, and your relationships with other students and staff. From the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the university has been offering Online Chat Sessions with our staff, conducting free webinars to help resolve any queries you may have, offering advice on health, travel, accommodation, visa, and study-related matters, and also providing hardship funds to some of our students in need. We will continue with these during semester 1 - please check your Bangor email for details.
All international students studying courses which are longer than 6 months are required to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge which allows them to benefit from free NHS treatment if they get sick while studying their course within the UK.
For students from the European Union, they have access to the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which entitles them to free NHS treatment. However, from the 1st of January 2021, the rules will change and it is, therefore, advisable to check the validity of the card for use in the UK with your home government, prior to travel to the UK.
All of our sports clubs and societies are free to join and will be running from September. Bangor is luckier than many other universities, in that we have an amazing location, with a range of outdoor space on our doorstep which we will be using to provide a programme of socially-distanced sports club and general activities, as well as an online offering.
Specific details about the range of activities on offer will be available nearer the time and we are absolutely committed to ensuring that your experience at University is not just about your academic studies and that it includes all of the other elements which make being a student such an amazing adventure while also keeping you safe.
The University strongly recommends that all staff and students wear face coverings within buildings. In certain circumstances there may be a requirement to do so.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and face coverings are two different items. The University will provide PPE for those activities which require their use, such as close interactions and laboratory work. The need for PPE will be specified in individual risk assessments or protocols. With regards to face coverings, the University will not be providing face coverings for staff or students. In line with Welsh Government recommendations, the use of (washable) three-ply face coverings is recommended.
We will be scheduling a number of Live Chat sessions over the coming weeks so that you can speak to academic staff and support staff.
If you like you can chat with our current students through Uni Buddy or contact our International Student Ambassadors.
You can also contact us through email: Admissions related queries or Student Support queries