bangor photo
Bangor was the perfect fit for me. I love the countryside and the natural beauty of the place. Wales is full of beautiful landscapes with mountains on one side of you and the sea on the other side. It's not a very big town, but it was just the right size for me! I felt completely at home and loved every minute of my time here.
– Emily De Jong
Central College

about bangor

Population: approximately 13,500
Language: Welsh and English

Bangor is a small coastal city located in the breathtaking landscape of northwest Wales, where nearly half of all residents speak Welsh. It is a city rich with history, culture and charm. At the heart of Bangor is the ancient St. Deiniol’s Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedral sites in Britain. The cathedral was founded in AD 525 some 70 years before the Canterbury Cathedral.

Bangor is a bustling university city, home to Bangor University, a top-ranked UK institution with a population of approximately 10,000 students. Central College Abroad students enroll in and live on the Bangor University campus alongside other Welsh, British and international students. Students can take course work from nearly any department and involve themselves in the dozens of university clubs and organizations such as the windsurfing club, rugby club and the volleyball club.

Nestled at the foothills of Snowdonia National Park, the largest mountain range in the UK, Bangor offers stunning panoramic views and is an ideal location for outdoor adventurers or even the recreational hiker. Students have the unique opportunity to take advantage of this location through the incredibly popular Central College Abroad course, Outdoor Pursuits. Students challenge themselves mentally, physically and socially through activities like mountain hiking, gorge scrambling and river and sea kayaking.