Student Charter

Bangor University's Student Charter

Bangor University and Students’ Union have worked together to develop this Charter. We know that in partnership we can achieve more and this Charter outlines our shared commitment to continually improve the educational experience of all students. It is intended to provide an overview of the responsibilities and expectations on all partners – the University, Students’ Union and every student. It is reviewed each year to make sure that it remains relevant.

Bangor University will:

Provide an excellent academic programme inspired by the latest top-quality research.
Ensure students receive appropriate academic guidance.
Provide quality teaching, learning and research facilities.
Provide well-organised modules that commit to releasing learning resources in a timely manner so you can plan appropriately.
Setting deadlines for the provision of assessment feedback, making available to students clear, easy-to-access information on how and when feedback will be provided.

Make all reasonable efforts to ensure the continuation of students’ chosen modules, inform, and work with students to mitigate any potential impact when continuation is no longer possible.
Operate an effective system for assuring academic quality and standards.
Provide relevant staff development.
Commit to providing up-to-date and transparent information to students regarding the costs of study.

Bangor University Students’ Union will:

Operate a free, independent advice and guidance service.

Students are expected to:

Complete the online enrolment and registration in a timely manner and when emailed to do so.
Attend all timetabled sessions and seek support when it’s not possible to attend.
Read your course and module handbooks.

Prepare for classes and read set texts in advance.
Undertake independent study and, where appropriate for the level of study, engage in research to support learning and outcomes
Complete and hand in your assessments by set deadlines.
Collect your marked work promptly and reflect on feedback to improve your future work.
Register with Disability Services if you require disability-related adjustments to be put in place.

Bangor University will:

Ensure that through our bilingual policy, you can choose to:

Study wherever possible through the medium of Welsh .

Have a Welsh speaking personal tutor offered at the beginning of the academic year. 
Submit assessments and receive feedback (wherever possible) through the medium of Welsh, irrespective of the language of tuition.
Have access to professional support services through the medium of Welsh. 
Interact with the University through the medium of Welsh.
Learn Welsh or further develop Welsh language skills through classes and specific modules.

Bangor Students' Union will:

Hold elections to elect an UMCB President from among the students to work full-time to represent Welsh-speaking students
Represent the interests of all Welsh speakers and learners at Bangor University through the Bangor Welsh Student Union (UMCB).
Provide and support activities through the medium of Welsh which promote Welsh culture and heritage.

Students are expected to:

Embrace and respect the bilingual ethos of Bangor University, as guided by our Bilingual Policy, recognising that all official written communications from the University will consistently be provided in both languages.

Bangor University will:

Ensure that Wednesday afternoons, after 12pm, are free from timetabled academic study, with any unavoidable exceptions published.

Help you to develop skills to support your learning and employability.
Give you opportunities to develop your employability within the curriculum and through the Bangor Employability Award.
Provide access to professional careers advice and publicise employment opportunities.
Provide you with global study, placements, and volunteering opportunities.
Provide you with opportunities to develop graduate skills and attributes.

Support Bangor Students’ Union to provide personal development and extra-curricular activities.

Bangor Students’ Union will:

Provide you with the opportunity to create, join and lead athletic union clubs, student societies and volunteering projects, and UMCB, the Welsh Students Union.
Support and provide activities that further your extra-curricular skills and contribute to your employability.

Students are expected to:

Engage with opportunities available across the university relating to their employability and personal development.

Bangor University will:

Provide appropriate academic and pastoral support.
Provide a Peer Guide scheme to support the arrival and induction of new students during Welcome Week.
Provide high-quality and accessible learning and social spaces for you across campus.
Ensure easy access to general information about the University and its organisation.

Foster an inclusive university environment based on mutual respect and free from discrimination and harassment. 
Provide you with a safe and confidential space, free from judgement if you experience any form of sexual violence or harassment, and support you to move forward in whatever way you feel is best for you.
Provide a range of professional preventative and supportive services and interventions, and signpost you to external services where appropriate.
Work to ensure student safety on campus and in the community.
Evaluate and develop our support services in response to student feedback.

Provide all student-facing staff with regular equality & diversity and safeguarding training.

Bangor Students’ Union will:

Ensure that everything they do upholds their commitment to equal opportunities and the diverse student body.

Students are expected to:

Abide by all University regulations, including the Code of Conduct for students.
Uphold a culture of fairness and respect towards your peers and University staff, fostering an inclusive and collaborative academic community.
Treat our diverse student and staff community with courtesy, dignity and respect, including when using social media.
Respect your environment on and off campus and be considerate towards the local community to which we belong.
Keep the University informed of anything affecting your studies so that we can support and advise you.

Proactively seek personal support, should you feel you need it.
Make full use of our personal tutor system.

Bangor University will:

Work in partnership with the Bangor Students’ Union to have an effective Course Rep system by engaging with course representatives and ensuring information on Course Reps is published for you to view.
Regularly ask for and respond to your feedback on teaching and learning, and use your feedback to continually develop and enhance your learning experience.

Ensure regular and well-documented Staff-Student Liaison meetings are carried out in line with the Course Representative Code of Practice. (link https://www.bangor.ac.uk/regulations/codes/code16.php.en)
Ensure that students’ interests are protected and work closely with the Students’ Union.

Bangor Students’ Union will:

Employ elected student officers who work full-time to extend and defend your rights across all campuses and modes of study as students at the University. If you wish to contact the Students’ Union Sabbatical Officers, you can find their contact details here.

Campaign on issues relevant to you by gathering evidence and proactively seeking your views on their work.
Facilitate a University-wide Course Representative system and providing adequate training for these representatives.
Work with the Doctoral School and Postgraduates to represent postgraduate students across a variety of student-led engagement and voice opportunities.
Provide you with opportunities to get involved in its democratic forums.

Students are expected to:

Engage with their Course Representatives and Student Network Leaders and use appropriate channels to provide feedback.
Take responsibility to keep informed about the feedback channels and democratic opportunities that are available.

Bangor University will:

Provide information on welcome and registration to new students, prior to their arrival.
Provide clear information about your modules and course / research programme assessment details.
Communicate with you as quickly and effectively as possible.
Give you advance notice of your timetable and any changes to it.

Respond to any complaints promptly and fairly.

Bangor Students’ Union will:

Provide information about engaging with student opportunities and student voice work.

Keep students informed of their representation work.

Students are expected to:

Regularly check and engage with your University e-mail account, MyBangor, and Blackboard.
Regularly engage with the Student Bulletin (the University’s weekly newsletter for students) and the International Student Newsletter.
Keep your personal information up to date.

At Bangor University we are proud of the close partnership we have with our student body and the way in which we work together to develop the unique Bangor student experience.

Your time at Bangor will bring with it a range of opportunities to develop your skills, become an active member of our learning community, and contribute to the local environment. We firmly believe in the value of engaging with your studies, but also in the benefits brought by taking advantage of every opportunity you have to build your knowledge and experience outside of the academic domain.

Bangor University is committed to providing excellent Welsh Medium provision, developing strong bilingual administration, and continuing to contribute extensively to the cultural and linguistic development of the area. To further develop and enrich its Welsh medium provision, the University is fully committed to play a full role in the activities of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, and take full advantage of its initiatives.

We aim to be sustainable in everything we do. The University is collectively committed to student well-being, including mental health, and the well-being goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, Bangor University is committed to meeting our statutory responsibilities regarding equality, diversity, safeguarding, and protected characteristics. The University’s Strategic Equality Plan and Action Plan have been developed within the context of the University’s legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the Duties Specific to Wales, and is a statement of Bangor University’s on-going commitment to the promotion of equality and diversity. The University is committed to student wellbeing and health, including mental health and suicide safer approaches. Further information on our goals can be found in our Student-Led Mental Health Strategy.

The University undertakes to disseminate this charter annually to all students and staff via on-line means, in Welcome talks and meetings with personal tutors.

The University will service its contractual obligations to students and comply with its commitments under consumer law as outlined by the Competition and Markets Authority. In doing so, universities will work to protect the student interest when responding to circumstances such as significant changes to how a course is delivered or course closure. The University has in place procedures to respond to these circumstances which will mitigate the potential impact on students and which recognise the different needs of its diverse student body. The University is committed to providing up-to-date and transparent information to students regarding the costs of study.

Students wishing to make a complaint should follow the procedures outlined here.

Last updated: 23/09/2024.