The University of Bristol has been around in some form since 1876. It originally existed as the University College Bristol before becoming the establishment we know it as today. Nowadays it is seen as one of the UK's top universities and regularly rankly highly in university league tables.
The city of Bristol is situated in the South West of England and is the largest in the surrounding area. It's known for its friendly atmosphere, quirky culture and independent nature. The main university campus sits in the heart of the city, making it a key part of its make-up.
It's known to have a vibrant nightlife with plenty of pubs, music venues and nightclubs, as well as independent cinemas, theatres and comedy venues.
An active Students' Union means there are over 300 societies and 60 sports club to join, as well as various on-site facilities, including a pool and theatres.
Bristol is an easy city to get around to get around on foot and by bike or bus and no journey within the city will be too taxing. There is an international airport and two well-connected train stations, meaning there is great access to and from Bristol. You can get to London in around two hours for example. It's also easy to get to Cardiff and to explore the English and Welsh coastlines, especially if you have access to a car.
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4.1The University of Bristol does not have a separate campus. The main university site is at the heart of the city and is a key part of its make-up. Clifton campus has a mix of historic and contemporary buildings. This is reflected in its world-class facilities, which include historic libraries and ultra-modern labs. You'll also find sports facilities, including a swimming pool.
At the centre of campus is Senate House, a student hub that includes the SU Loft and Living Room. The Richmond Building houses the SU's Balloon Bar, a great place to catch up with friends or take a break from your studies. Other SU facilities include theatres, a dance studio, a pottery studio, and a sensory room. And to help you find your tribe, there are plenty of SU groups to join – with over 350 societies, sports clubs, and volunteering projects that cater for a wide range of interests.
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3.9You'll find a range of accommodation options at the University of Bristol that cater to different budgets and requirements. A number of the residences are situated in the heart of the city, giving great access to the university and everything Bristol has to offer.
All residences have a dedicated facilities team, and the university has its own security services and police officer. Rooms vary in size and facilities. You can choose from basic, standard and standard plus room categories and will have the choice between single-occupancy, en-suite, twin-occupancy and studios.
Most of Bristol's halls of residence are self-catered, meaning you'll have access to kitchen facilities and will prepare all of your own meals. It should be noted that you'll have to bring your own pots, pans, crockery and cutlery in the self-catered options. If you don't want to cook for yourself, there are also catered accommodation options, providing two meals a day – breakfast and dinner during the week and breakfast and lunch at weekends.
If you don't want to stay in halls, the university will give you in-depth advice on how to go about renting private accommodation.
A number of residences at the University of Bristol are situated in the heart of the city, giving great access to the university and everything Bristol has to offer. We list the main locations below.
Prices are from £122 to £299 per week for self-catered halls; most rooms are available at the £200+ price range. Contracts are for either 38 or 42 weeks, depending on the site.
For catered accommodation, fees range from £192 to £343 (38-week contracts only).
Utility and internet bills are included in all accommodation fees.
If you live in a university residence, you can join social events that will help you connect with other students. These include a range of activities, such as crafts, or outings to explore the city. All residences have a facilities team, and the uni has its own security services and a police officer.
The best way to get a feel for a university is to go to an open day or check out Bristol on Whatuni's City Guides.
There are plenty of scholarships and bursaries available for students who meet the required criteria at Bristol, to contribute towards the payment of student fees and living costs. Scholarships and bursaries are given on top of student loans and provided directly by the university. They don't need to be paid back.
Scholarships and bursaries can be awarded to students who excel in various areas, like academia, sports, music and drama. They are also given out based on personal circumstances, such as household income, background and geographical location.
The University of Bristol Bursary is paid to thousands of students every year, with awards for every year of the course. Eligibility for this funding includes being a Home (UK) undergraduate student, who is eligible for and has applied for a means-tested government maintenance loan, and has a household income below the given threshold.
All scholarships and bursaries have their own eligibility criteria that must be met to receive them. You can find out more about the funding opportunities, and their eligibility criteria, on Bristol's online funding pages.
All scholarships and bursaries have their own eligibility criteria that must be met to receive them.
For example, the University of Bristol Bursary is for lower-income students, providing you with funding for each year of your course. You must be a Home (UK) undergraduate student with a household income of £50,000 or less. You must also have applied for a student loan and consented for the details to be shared with the uni. The bursary is awarded automatically if you meet the criteria – you'll be emailed about it when you start your course. This bursary is paid to thousands of students at the University of Bristol each year.
You can find out more about the funding opportunities and their eligibility criteria on Bristol's online funding pages.
A top-20 university in the Complete University Guide league tables, Bristol also has around 25 subject areas that shine in the rankings. These range from Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering to Theology and Religious Studies. General Engineering stands out especially, claiming a place at or near the top of its subject ranking for over five years.
The university is also a leader in AI research and education, which could prove useful for your future career.
The University of Bristol offers a wide range of undergraduate courses, making up both single and joint honours degrees, allowing you to tailor your studies to your interests. Single honours degrees give the chance to specialise in one subject, while joint honours programmes combine two or three subjects.
Joint honours often provide a broader level of learning. For example, it's fairly common to study a humanities course, like history, alongside a language, such as French or Spanish.
The length of your degree depends on what you choose to study.
Many of Bristol's courses include a year in industry, usually in third year, and some courses can involve a year spent abroad, either studying or working. In these instances, your degree length will be increased.
Some degrees include optional modules, as well as core modules, meaning you can study the degree topics you're most interested in.
With its great academic reputation, Bristol likes to encourage independent thinking. The curriculum is research-led, meaning that what you learn and how you learn are influenced by the uni's world-leading knowledge.
Many courses include optional units, project work, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The uni encourages you to explore your interests to study the degree topics you're most interested in.
Your learning will include online as well as in-person learning. Sometimes you'll work on your own, or you might collaborate with other students. Each week, lectures and seminars will lay the groundwork for your course, offering you inspiring teaching and engaging discussions.
The University of Bristol teaches in two blocks, with a ‘consolidation week' midway through each, and assessments at the end.
Fees for UK-resident undergraduates (Home students) are currently £9,535. If you're an international student, you can find the course fees in our course listings.
Bristol, in the South West of England, is a city that's known for its friendly atmosphere, quirky culture and independent nature.
The city offers a vibrant nightlife with plenty of cosy pubs, live music venues, and stylish clubs. It's also a cultural hub, with independent cinemas, theatres, and comedy nights. Bristol has a great reputation for sustainability, but it's green in more ways than one – with over 450 parks and open spaces to enjoy.
It's an easy city to get around on foot, by bike or by bus, and no journey within the city will be too taxing. There is an international airport and two well-connected train stations, providing great access to and from Bristol. You can get to London in around two hours. It's also easy to get to Cardiff and to explore the English and Welsh coastlines, especially if you've got access to a car.
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3.9The University of Bristol has a Careers Service that supports its students and graduates in a number of ways. For example, it has several resources to help you explore different career options based on your degree. A specialised course is available to help you better understand yourself and what career is best for you.
There are plenty of resources to teach you about networking, the Bristol Connects service even allows you to connect with previous students to help find a mentor who's been through it all already.
The Careers Service can also help you look for internships, part-time work and work experience while you're studying at Bristol. This can give you valuable experience and help you find employment once you've graduated. The SME Internship Scheme allows you to find paid internships and the City Challenges programme sets students up to help work on real-life challenges in the local community.
As a student at Bristol, you'll also be able to get plenty of support writing CVs, cover letters and job applications, as well as preparing for interviews and assessment days.
The University of Bristol is a top-ranking university in the Complete University Guide league tables. This is reflected in its graduate outcomes – particularly in the subjects where it ranks highest.
There are lots of chances to meet and talk to employers. Each year, more than 300 employers from a range of sectors attend presentations, networking events, workshops, and careers fairs. You can gain paid work experience through its internship scheme; part-time internships are also available.
Co-created between students, employers and advisers, the Bristol Skills Profile explains the key skills that employers seek. It helps you identify your skills, and you can use it to track your personal development.
Other skills development opportunities include the City Challenges programme, which sets you up to work on real-life challenges in the local community.
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