Bangor Business School

Age: 34.

History: Bangor University is a traditional established in 1884, and is home to 10,000 students.

Address: The university is situated in the centre of the city in an area of outstanding natural beauty, yet close to the cities of Liverpool and Manchester.

Ambience: The school is a leading teaching and research-focused institution, offering a full range of courses from undergraduate to doctoral level. Bangor is consistently rated highly for student satisfaction and is also one of the most economical university cities in the UK. It has a lively group of staff and students from a wide range of backgrounds, and many lecturers are active researchers. The school says there's a strong sense of community, and close links with the local area.

Vital statistics: Around 200 Masters students are admitted annually, and the school houses one of the biggest PhD schools in Europe. The school has a good reputation for banking and finance research, which attracts students from countries worldwide including Peru, Sudan, Malaysia, Iran, Vietnam and of course the UK.

Added value: The school has strong links with international partner universities worldwide, and undertakes consultancy work for industry, the World Bank and the UK Treasury. Through its business links, the school offers students opportunities for internships at leading international banking corporations. The school's open door policy ensures that students receive individual attention and that lecturers and tutors are available to discuss courses and offer support. Subjects are taught by experts in their fields, who are published regularly in leading industry journals.

Easy to get into? Entry for any of the taught postgraduate courses usually requires a good undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, such as economics, finance, accounting, business or management. However, possession of a suitable qualification or relevant practical experience may also be accepted. Decent IELTS or TOEFL scores are normally required of international candidates.

International connections: As an internationally-focused business school, Bangor enjoys strong links with universities and businesses worldwide. Staff have visiting professorships at overseas universities and undertake joint research with their overseas peers. The school has an impressive advisory board, which includes top professionals from business, industry, government and academia.

Gurus: Professors Shanti Chakravarty, economics; Ted Gardener, banking; Stuart McLeay, treasury; Philip Molyneux, banking and finance; Michael Cain, management science; John Goddard, financial econometrics; Sally Sambrook, human resource development.

Student profile: The average age of full-time MBA students is 28, and the male to female ratio is 45:55. The ratio of EU to international students is 1:4.

Cost: In 2008/09 the MBA is £8,817 for home students, or £10,250 for international students. MA/MSc: £4,825for UK/EU students, or £9,800 for international. Scholarships are also available.

Who's the Boss: Professor Phil Molyneux is the head of school.

Prospectus: +44 (0)1248 382644; www.bbs.bangor.ac.uk; postgradbbs@bangor.ac.uk