Welsh

If you want to study the Welsh language at university, Bangor is the obvious choice to do so as the city is located in Gwynedd, the county in Wales with the highest percentage of Welsh speakers. Studying in Bangor University is an opportunity to immerse yourself in Welsh culture. You'll often here Welsh spoken and be able to live your life through the medium of Welsh. The opportunities to socialise here are second to none, with UMCB, Bangor's Welsh Students' Union, organising a variety of events for students, you'll also find many Welsh events here in the City of Bangor and in the surrounding area too, from plays to gigs and comedy nights.

A degree in Welsh from Bangor University is a strong and solid foundation for a successful career in a variety of different fields. Our recent graduates have gone on to become teachers, lecturers, journalists, authors, editors, Welsh language tutors, civil servants, politicians, researchers, translators, language enterprise and local government workers, librarians and workers in museums and in the heritage industry.

There is no such thing as a 'traditional' career for people with a degree in Welsh. By studying Welsh at Bangor University you'll cultivate and refine excellent transferable skills, such as writing confidently and accurately, leading and participating in discussions, understanding and analysing information and presenting ideas and arguments, all of which opens doors to many different jobs. 100% of our graduates are either in work or following postgraduate courses 15 months after graduating, which is proof of the value of a degree in Welsh from Bangor in the world of work (Discover Uni 2024 - BA Welsh degree).

At Bangor University the lecturers who will teach you are experts in their respective fields, and that the department is one of the most prestigious in the field of Celtic Studies, not only in Wales, but across the whole world. Our lecturers are regularly invited to judge the main competitions at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, to lecture to local societies all over the country, to discuss various topics on television and radio and in magazines, and to deliver papers and lectures in conferences. Bangor was the home of the XVIth International Celtic Studies Congress, the world's largest and most important Celtic Studies conference, in 2019, and over the past few years our lecturers have been lecturing and taking part in conferences in places as diverse as Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States of America. 

As the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies is a relatively small department, everyone here knows each other, and we have a close community of students and lecturers. Socially, studying in Bangor University will give you the opportunity to meet hundreds of new people, but academically, you will have lectures and seminars in small groups in an intimate atmosphere. You will know your lecturers, your lecturers will know you. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to receive individual attention in order to discuss your academic work or other matters. We take great pride in the fact that we know our students individually, and give them every possible support to see them succeed.

There has never been a time when there was a greater need for bright and enthusiastic graduates in the Welsh language. The Welsh Government has announced a target of one million speakers by 2050, and that is not going to happen without teachers, tutors, journalists, writers, civil servants and many other Welsh-speaking people. The language needs people who are going to inspire other people and organisations to embrace the language and strengthen it in every corner of Wales. Studying Welsh is an unforgettable experience, an opportunity for you to get to know the language, literature, history and culture of Wales better. It is an opportunity for you to be excited by books and ideas. If you choose to come and study Welsh in Bangor University, you can be absolutely sure that whatever career you choose to follow after graduating will make a real difference.