Study at the University of Bristol

An academic university in a vibrant UK city

Group of students engaging in a lively d — Photo : RDNE Stock project · Pexels

Ranked among the top 10 UK universities by QS World University Ranking, the University of Bristol is a highly selective institution, with its roots harking back to a Merchant Venturers’ school founded in 1595. The University had the 8th highest average entry qualification for undergraduates of any UK university in 2015. It is the 11th most competitive university in the UK, with on average 7.7 applicants per place.

The strength of Bristol lies not only in the graduates it produces but also in the accomplished academic staff. Together, there are 13 fellows of the British Academy, 21 fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences, 13 fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering and 44 fellows of the Royal Society.

Even more impressively, the university has had 13 Nobel laureates under its wing throughout its history, including Sir Winston Churchill, Bristol’s chancellor from 1929 to 1965, awarded the esteemed prize for his war memoirs in 1953.

If that’s not enough to convince you of Bristol’s high academic standards and success, the University is also recognised as a member of the elite Russell Group of research-intensive universities, and holds an Erasmus Charter. As such, it sends over 1000 students a year to partner universities around Europe. The University is split into six academic faculties, and runs a staggering 200 undergraduate courses.

Academic Matters

Academically, the University of Bristol is extremely prestigious. In fact, the courses Computer Science (3rd), Electrical and Electronic Engineering (3rd), Civil Engineering (5th), Biological Sciences (3rd), Mathematics (3rd), and Psychology (4th) all managed to reach the top 5 in the 2008 Times ranking.

The University is not only impressive in scientific fields, however, with the QS World University Rankings placing Bristol in the world’s top 100 universities for the following 2011: Arts and Humanities (57th), Natural Sciences (40th), Engineering & IT (83rd), Social Sciences (65th) and Life Sciences (70th).

As is evident, Bristol’s reputation in engineering and the sciences, including computer science, is made!

Student Life

Scenic view of a historic university cam — Photo : Quang Vuong · Pexels

The University is known to be one of the most socially vibrant in the UK, with one of the oldest and most active Students’ Unions. The Union runs over 400 societies for its students, such as ‘cheese tasting’ and ‘skydiving’. There truly is something for everyone!

As for accommodation, students live in ‘halls’ in the central precinct of the university and two areas of Bristol: Clifton and Stoke Bishop, known respectively as the West and North Villages. There are 25 ‘halls’, all with many different features, such as self-catering facilities, or en suite bathrooms: each ‘hall’ has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some of them are just a few hundred metres from the campus so students can stay in the thick of the action, whilst others are over 2 miles away and are known for their community feel due to their distance from the centre. For instance, ‘Hiatt Baker Hall’, which is 2.2 miles from the campus, is actually regarded as one of the most sociable halls. In this type of hall, when students attend a seminar or a lecture, they often say they are ‘going into uni’, as they do not actually live on the university campus.

Another great plus of this reputed university is that the city itself is one of Britain’s greatest. It is in a great location, and it proffers many exciting facilities. Just off campus, which is located on a hill, students will find ample restaurants and pubs as well Brandon Green, a large park. A few more steps away is Bristol’s theatres district and the Old City. The city is known for its musical scene, and even has an ‘Underground Scene’ named after it. This refers to a cultural movement in Bristol beginning in the early 1980s that was characterised by a surge in the number of musicians and graffiti artists. The scene itself drew influence from the city’s multiculturalism, political activism, and the arts movements of Punk, Reggae, Hip Hop, Hippies and New Age. The city is also very beautiful, with a great mixture of red-brick buildings, gothic buildings, and slick modern ones.

How do I apply?

Bristol requires excellent academic results and rigorous preparation is needed.

What are the different stages of the application?

There are several steps:

Application
Conditional offer
Acceptance

The details of these steps are covered below.

How to begin an application:

Candidates apply via the British online platform UCAS, and upload a letter of motivation (Personal Statement), their predicted exam marks, and a letter of recommendation from one of their teachers. Students may only submit one Personal Statement for all the universities they apply for (maximum of 5 choices). The Personal Statement, no more than 4,000 characters, should explain why students want to study their chosen course, what aspects particularly interest them, what steps they have already taken to engage with the subject (reading, conferences, internships etc), and, if possible, what aspects they are looking forward to studying.

Conditional offer and acceptance:

If students succeed in all these stages, they will receive a ‘conditional offer’ of admission. This means that they will be accepted if they attain the required marks (most often a high grade in your end of high school studies, and in a standardized English exam: 6.5-7.5 in the IELTS for example).

What is the deadline for applying?

Deadlines:

The deadline for applications to the University of Bristol is 15th January of a students’ final year of secondary school or sixth-form college (Year 13).

When do you have to start preparing for the University of Bristol?

It is strongly recommended that students begin preparing from the end of Year 11 or beginning of Year 12. If possible, start any reading and thinking about what to write about in a Personal Statement as early as possible. Some candidates, particularly those with a weaker level of English, need to consider preparing even earlier.

It is recommended that students try to find aspects of their chosen course that genuinely interest them and to think deeply about why they wish to study this subject : after all, students are applying to study this subject full time for at least 3 years.

Is it possible to visit the campus?

To visit the Bristol campus, open afternoons are organized. For more information, see this page.

To go further, read our guide: UWE Bristol: Admissions, Entry Requirements & Fees.

What is the deadline for applying?

Deadlines:

The deadline for applications to the University of Bristol is 15th January of a students’ final year of secondary school or sixth-form college (Year 13).

What is the profile of the students at the University of Bristol?

Because of the high selectivity of the university, we recommend to apply to this university only if you can show excellent academic results and you are sure to obtain a ‘Tres Bien’ grade in the Baccalaureate.

For more detail, see also: Imperial College London: fees, admission (2026).

Fees

EU Students: The Department for Education has announced that students from Europe will be unable to access home fee status or financial support to study at universities in England from academic year 2021/22. For more informations see this page

International students: If you are an international student, your tuition fees will depend on the course you study.

Bristol’s fees are expected to be confirmed and published on their website in summer 2021.

To go further, read our guide: Study at the University of Warwick.

Are you ready to study at Bristol University?

We’re here to help you succeed in your application.

Our Google reviews

      
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   Annaé Aviges 
 74 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I received support from Your Dream School, particularly from Adam and Lawrence, throughout my final year of high school for my applications to universities abroad, especially through UCAS. Thanks to their personalized guidance, availability, and responsiveness, I was accepted into most of my UCAS choices. They were perfectly able to adapt to my profile and goals. I highly recommend Your Dream School to all students wishing to attend selective international universities. A huge thank you to Adam and Lawrence for their help!

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   Frederic P 
 83 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We are extremely grateful to the Your Dream School team for the exceptional support our daughter received throughout her applications to American and British universities. Adam and his team demonstrated remarkable professionalism, availability, and expertise at every stage of the process. Thanks to their wise guidance and personalized support, our daughter was accepted into the Ivy League university of her dreams. We wholeheartedly recommend Your Dream School to any family wishing to confidently prepare applications for universities abroad.

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   Frederic Asquiedge 
 97 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Delighted with the support from Adam, Lawrence, and the entire team in helping us navigate European programs and prepare rock-solid applications! Excellent results in the end!

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   Anne WILTZ 
 101 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I wanted to express my immense gratitude to My Dream School for their support throughout Grégoire's university application process in England and Spain. From the very beginning, they were present, available, and remarkably professional. Thanks to their guidance, expertise, and support, Grégoire was delighted to receive offers of admission from prestigious universities such as UCL, King's College London, and IE University. We would especially like to thank Adam for his support during the release of the Baccalaureate results. Grégoire's score on the Grand Oral exam, well below our expectations, jeopardized several of his admissions, particularly that of IE, which requires a minimum Baccalaureate level. This was a particularly stressful time for our entire family. During this difficult period, My Dream School provided invaluable support. They guided us calmly and efficiently, prepared the necessary letters, advised us on the steps to take, and helped us present the situation in the best possible light. Their responsiveness, experience, and commitment made all the difference. Today, Grégoire is preparing to join IE University, after considering King's College London, where he had also been accepted. This is a fantastic opportunity for him, and we know that your support greatly contributed to this success. Thank you, Adam and Laurence, for your availability and dedication. We are very grateful. Grégoire is thrilled to begin this new adventure, and we share his joy completely.

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   juliette Tisne 
 125 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A very responsive coach who did a fantastic job preparing my daughter for her interviews with different universities in France and abroad!

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   anne hindermeyer 
 134 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I highly recommend Your Dream School to help your children/teenagers succeed in their exams. My son was accepted to Sciences Po Paris. Adam is not only very responsive and available, but he also immediately understands your needs. He will connect you with various tutors who are Sciences Po students themselves and will perfectly optimize your oral exam preparation. This is essential preparation because the oral exam is very specific. You will benefit from a great deal of flexibility in choosing the students, scheduling, and frequency, for example. It's a tailor-made approach that allows you to feel confident for the oral exam. My son was fortunate to be able to train in the best possible conditions with Emma and then Jeanne. Their dedication was crucial. My son was accepted to Sciences Po on his preferred campus. I can only thank Adam and his entire team!

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   Chloe Ramel 
 135 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had the opportunity to work with Yash and Jess throughout this year, and I couldn't have asked for better coaches. Yash guided me through my Personal Statement for the UK, while Jess helped me with my Common App and additional essays for the US. They were both incredibly supportive, backing my ideas while also pushing me to develop them further. We spent countless hours working and reworking my essays until we were all happy with the final result. Even outside of our calls, they took the time to give me detailed feedback so I could continue to improve my applications. They dedicated an enormous amount of time and energy to my application, and I am deeply grateful. They helped me rephrase certain sections to make them clearer, while still preserving my voice and authenticity in my writing. I highly recommend Jess and Yash to any student applying to the UK and USA!

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   Matthieu Demaude 
 135 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We are absolutely delighted with the support our daughter received. Thanks to their professionalism, expertise, and dedication, she was able to take top-quality English lessons and successfully prepare for her IELTS exam. Beyond English, the team also coached her for her business school entrance interviews. Their advice was invaluable, relevant, and perfectly tailored to her goals. They helped her build confidence, structure her presentations, and highlight her strengths. The results far exceeded our expectations: our daughter performed exceptionally well in her interviews and gained remarkable confidence. We particularly appreciated their availability, attentiveness, kindness, and ability to personalize their support. They are a passionate team truly committed to their students' success. A huge thank you for your help and support. We wholeheartedly recommend their services to all families who want to give their children the best possible chance of academic and professional success.

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   Othman Ouali 
 149 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had the opportunity to be primarily guided by Adam for the academic guidance and Lawrence for building my application. Like my brother a few years ago, I am delighted with the results we achieved, particularly SOAS for my brother and King's College London for me. YDS adapts to each individual's profile and was very responsive whenever I needed help. I also greatly appreciated the teaching methods and support of my coach during my GRE preparation. I highly recommend them!

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   Elia Azencot 
 181 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am so glad I chose to work with Your Dream School. Thanks to their support, I was able to gain admission to universities like IE University and ESCP Business School, as well as other programs through UCAS. I received exceptional support from Adam and Lawrence, who played a vital role throughout the entire process. They were always available, incredibly dedicated, and encouraged me to give my best. I highly recommend Your Dream School to anyone wishing to gain admission to selective international universities. Their dedication and expertise truly make a difference.

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5-star reviews

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★★★★★

« I felt their authentic and personal engagement and involvement when it came to my daughter, which was extremely precious throughout the process. »

Mother of Chiara L.

Parent · UCL, Bath, Durham & King’s College

★★★★★

« Your Dream School offers very thorough support: help with drafting essays, preparation for English exams and interviews. I wholeheartedly recommend Your Dream School. »

Marie Jablonski

Admitted to ESCP Europe, CASS Business School & Westminster

★★★★★

« Thanks to Your Dream School, the work was perfectly well done, which allowed us to have an intelligent dialogue with our son. »

Laurent Strichard

Parent · University College London (UCL)

★★★★★

« I was very satisfied with the care delivered, with the mentoring and the administrative procedures, particularly drafting the personal statement. I highly recommend this mentoring. »

Mother of Anaelle B.

Parent · UCL & King’s College (maths)