This year Bangor stood out for its strong balance of affordability and student experience, with relatively low everyday living costs alongside high ratings for social life and sustainability. From its low crime rate to the cost of an Uber ride, a McDonald’s meal, and even a pint of beer, Bangor scored high in every category. The compilers based their guide on UK institutions listed in The Complete University Guide.
Bangor also took the top spot in the same league in 2023, reinforcing its reputation as a relatively affordable and safe place to study.
Unlike traditional university league tables that focus on grades, enrolment, and graduate prospects, Unifresher’s ranking compares factors reflecting real student life, including cost of living, crime rates, sustainability efforts, and the quality of the social scene.
Bangor University’s commitment to sustainability — and its ambition to lead the sector in this area — also contributed to its high score. The University ranked particularly strongly for being a cost-effective and safe place to live and study, while the final element of the ranking draws on student opinion data about social life at their universities.
Bangor University achieved the highest overall score of 539, placing it firmly at the top of the table ahead of Cardiff Metropolitan University and Newcastle University.
The Alternative University League Table can be seen by clicking on this link.
