Coleg Menai

(MENAI COLEG)

History: Established in 1994 when colleges in Gwynedd and Anglesey merged.

Address: Set in the calming reflection of the Menai Straits with a view of Snowdonia to the south and the hills of Anglesey behind. The college is spread across five sites in Gwynedd and on the Isle of Anglesey with the main site at Bangor.

Ambience: Urban (well, Bangor urban), business park and rural. The buildings vary from ultra-modern to listed Victorian former school. Several are purpose-built.

Who's the boss? Dafydd Evans is principal and chief executive.

Prospectus: 01248 370 125 or visit the website here.

UCAS code: M65

What you need to know

Easy to get into? Yes - keen on widening participation.

Foundation degrees: Full-time in art and design, and hospitality and tourism management. Part-time courses in management of care, learning support, and hospitality and tourism management.

Vital statistics: 10,000 students and 500 staff. The college has academic and vocational courses from A levels, national diplomas and NVQs to degree level, and links with other higher education colleges. The college is bilingual with Welsh and English used across the board.

Added value: A newly opened £6.4 million construction skills centre at the Llangefni site. Recent investment in technology leading to an upgrade of facilities. University level courses are validated by Bangor University, Glyndwr University and the University of Wales Newport.

Teaching: A 2008 Estyn report ranked the college as 'good with outstanding features' - the highest grade - in every area. The college won the Wales Quality Award overall prize in 2006 and holds a Beacon Award for its use of IT.

Any accommodation? There are a limited number of places in Bangor University halls of residence.

Cheap to live there? Yes - around £60 per week for a room in a shared flat.

Transport links: This is Britain's wild west, and you'd expect transport to match, but getting from one college to another is not a problem. Buses are free for most, bringing students from all over Anglesey and Gwynedd to the sites at Llangefni and Bangor.

Fees: Range significantly but full-time undergrad courses are £7,200 per year. Welsh students are eligible for a fee grant of £3,375. Part-time costs around £1,000 per year.

Bursaries: None offered by the college to external applicants.

The fun stuff

Nightlife: For music and mayhem there is the Octagon in Bangor or the university students' union.

Sporting facilities: Watersports available due to the coastal location, plus facilities including a sports hall, courts and a gym.

Glittering alumni: Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals.