Covid-19 information for international students - January 2021 intake

We are advising our January 2021 intake students not to arrive on campus until the 8th February at the earliest, however, if you have already booked your flights to arrive before that date then the University will be open for you. The University is planning to deliver programmes through a combination of on campus face to face and online teaching, with social distancing measures implemented throughout campus.

However, if you are not able to arrive on campus in time for some reasons, for example;

a)Visa delays -  e.g.  visa application can't be submitted, or visa has not been issued on time.

b)Flight issues - e.g. nearby airports are closed or flights are not available.

c)Travel restrictions: e.g. Restrictions/lockdown imposed within your home country or in the UK

d) Concerns about my health

then you will be able to start your course online and will be expected to travel to Bangor to continue your studies as soon as you are able to during semester 1 or at the latest by the start of semester 2. 

We will be issuing an announcement on the 25th of January regarding the above so would advise any continuing September 2020 intake students to wait until this date before making any plans around travelling to Bangor.

The default teaching model of Bangor University is blended learning, with a combination of both on-campus in-person delivery and online delivery. The proportion of these delivery modes is dependent on degree programme. However, there might be reasons why you cannot attend the on-campus in-person delivery mode. So the answer to this question is YES, if you are an international student who is not able to travel to Bangor and the UK for reasons connected to Covid-19 or for health concerns, you will still be able to register in September 2020 or January 2021 (depending on which intake you have applied for) and start studying online for most degree programmes. This arrangement does not apply to Exchange / Erasmus students as they are required to attend on campus.

All January 2021 courses can be studied online for Semester 1.

You have the flexibility to arrive in Bangor during Semester 1 or in January for the start of Semester 2. When studying online, you will be fully registered and will have access to all the course materials and online teaching until you are able to join us.

During the registration process you will be able to make a request in the MyBangor Request Centre to study off campus, and online. You should make this request after completing the online enrolment forms and before you arrange an appointment for an ID check. Once your request has been confirmed you should then make an appointment for an ID check when your registration with the University will be confirmed. Your initial request will be for a 4 week period so, assuming you remain unable to travel to Bangor, you will need to make further requests every 4 weeks.

When you are able to travel, we will offer advice and support on travelling to and arriving in Bangor.

We advise you to travel to campus as soon as you can but not before the 8th February for the January 2021 intake, however, if you have already booked your flights to arrive before this date then the University will be open for you. But you must inform us of your arrival date by contacting internationalsupport@bangor.ac.uk.

If you will be arriving late due to a covid-related situation (borders closed, delays in visa issues, need to self-isolate) then please let the University know as soon as possible by contacting immigration@bangor.ac.uk, as well as informing your School.

Blended learning means that you will study by a combination of different methods. This will include:

• Attending classes online, these could be live classes or pre-recorded lectures. Arrangements will vary between degree programmes. Live online classes will enable you to use the messaging / chat function to ask questions just like in an on-campus class. You might even find that this facility makes it easier to ask questions, as not every student likes to ask questions in front of the class.
• Both the pre-recorded lectures and a recording of live classes and presentation slides will be made available to you on the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE) ‘Blackboard’ for the duration of the academic year. You will be able to watch the lectures again, as often as you wish. This will be valuable for working on assignments and for preparing for examinations.
• Participating in discussion forums, these could be live timetabled forums where you will discuss specific topics through online meeting software with the rest of the class. Discussions could also take place online over a longer period of time.
• On-campus seminars, tutorials, practicals and demonstrations in small groups, keeping to physical distancing rules as your safety will be an important part of your programme learning and teaching experience. Such sessions could also be held online using a meetings software. Arrangements will vary according to the degree programme.
• Where possible on-campus drop-in sessions to meet with the lecturer and / or tutor in-person keeping to physical distancing rules as your safety, will be part of your programme learning and teaching experience, such sessions could also be held one-to-one using a meetings software. Arrangements will vary according to the degree programme.

University rules stipulate that all registered students who are sponsored on a Tier 4 visa by Bangor University are required to live within 1 hour's travelling distance of Bangor.

The objectives and programme learning outcomes of your degree programme will remain exactly the same. The syllabus and what you will study will also be the same, subject to updates that ensure the degree remains current and up-to-date. There may be differences in the way the degree is delivered but it will be of the University's same high standard.

Our library is already in the process of trialling a click and collect service for books and we have already increased access to online resources. So the library resources will be there to support you, and we will increase access to the library as soon as possible according to Covid-19 guidelines.

We are also investing in a range of new software to support your learning experience from September. Our aim is to give you the very best experience possible, you will have more control over how and when you learn than has ever been possible before.

Student Services and Student Support services including our dedicated International Student Support service will be open on campus, so if you have any issues, needs or concerns they will be there for you.

Yes, you will be able to use library facilities through a ‘click and collect’ service, which means that you can submit an online order for books and collect the material in person from the library. For details click here: 

You will also have access to a wealth of electronic material including e-books, e-journals and electronic databases which can be accessed both on and off-campus via Library Search (Library Catalogue).

If you require further assistance our Academic support team will be able to provide online support including one-to-one subject-specific sessions via Skype for Business or Microsoft Teams. To arrange a session with the support team, you will be required to send a request through libsupport@bangor.ac.uk.  

A live chat service called “Ask the Library”  will also be available for general enquires through our library webpages. 

Yes, in order to follow online lectures, other online academic activities, online social events and to work on your assignments, you will need to have a laptop or desktop computer. If you own a laptop, it is recommended you bring the laptop with you to Bangor. 

Yes, you will be able to use one of the University’s 24/7 IT suites but you will need to use your own headphones if you intend to attend online lectures or group sessions. This facility will be available whilst maintaining rules for social distancing which means that we will ensure that your safety is given priority. 

International students in the UK will be able to access the Covid-19 vaccine, however, priority is given to healthcare workers, the elderly and individuals with health conditions, older international students or those with underlying medical conditions will fall into priority categories, in the same way as the domestic population.

The University will inform all students of arrangements as soon as details are available. In order to get access to the vaccine and to receive healthcare in the UK, international students should register with a General Practitioner (GP/local Doctor).
 
If you are already a Bangor University student, but have not yet registered with a Doctor
Students from the EU are entitled to free medical services in the UK if you have applied for the EU Settlement scheme and been given settled or pre-settled status.

International students (including those from the EU who have to apply for a Student Visa) would have had to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of the visa process - making this payment entitles you, also, to free medical attention.
 
However, to receive treatment or medication, you will have to register with a Doctor at a local Medical Centre/Surgery. It is very important that you have registered and we recommend the Bodnant Medical Centre, near our Ffriddoedd Campus: https://bodnantmedicalcentre.co.uk/
 
Once registered, you can check on the availability of the Covid-19 vaccine, along with other medical issues.  For more information contact: internationalsupport@bangor.ac.uk
 
If you are joining Bangor University in January 2021
New international students who have secured a student visa will have had to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of the visa process. This then entitles you to access medical healthcare in the UK - but you must register with a local doctor on arrival in Bangor.

We recommend the Bodnant Medical Centre in Bangor, which is close to our Ffriddoedd Campus - https://bodnantmedicalcentre.co.uk/ and once registered, you can seek advice on Covid-19 issues and vaccines, along with any other medical matter.  For more information, contact: internationalsupport@bangor.ac.uk

The fastest way to get tested and get a certificate is by paying a private company to do it. VFS Global is very popular among international students, it's done by post so you don't need to go to any centre to get tested, it costs 120 GBP and you will get a certificate with your results. You can book it here: https://www.vfsglobal.com/en/individuals/covid-test.html

Please remember that not all countries require a certificate to enter the country. You can check that by calling your flight company or Embassy in the UK.
 

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.

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.

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, please check with your home government as to the validity of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which you may already have by clicking here.

If you are studying for less than 6 months, it is advisable to purchase private medical insurance before you travel to the UK.

All of our sports clubs and societies are free to join and will be running from September 2020. 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.