Bristol has a long-standing reputation as a popular city in which to study, attracting thousands of students from Britain and across the globe. With its beautiful architecture, vibrant city centre and a thriving harbourside home to a range of leisure and arts venues, it's not hard to see why so many students choose to study in Bristol.
Home to two world-class universities, University of Bristol and the University of the West of England, Bristol is the region's leading centre for business, culture and education. The two universities offer high quality teaching and excellent research facilities to prepare students for life in the working world.
Bristol is home to City of Bristol College, one of the South West’s largest further and higher education colleges, offering a range of academic and vocational courses.
Bristol is also proud of its variety of language schools, each offering students the opportunity to study English or learn another language from intensive courses to flexible programmes.
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is widely regarded as one of the UK's best universities. Based in the heart of the city, and with around 30,000 undergraduates and postgraduates, the University not only forms an important part of the city's history and heritage, but also plays a significant role in its future.
The University of Bristol is dedicated to academic endeavour at the highest levels. Its students benefit from an intellectually demanding, research-informed education that encourages independence of mind and prepares them to achieve their personal goals and serve society's needs across the globe, both during and after their time at the University.
The university is renowned world-wide for the excellence of its research and teaching. Many of its academics have international reputations in their fields and are keen to share their knowledge and insights with students, staff and the wider Bristol community.
The university offers many opportunities for local people and visitors to experience its research and teaching through it’s public events programme, mentoring and tutoring in local schools and various partnership and outreach projects.
Why not spend a year or semester in Bristol to enjoy all that the city has to offer? You can find more information about these shorter placements and studying abroad in Bristol on the University of Bristol website.
The University of Bristol's students come from all parts of society, over 28% of the students are international and from over 150 different countries. This helps to ensure a diverse and vibrant community. Highly sought-after by employers, its students graduate with an experience which is unique to the university and to the city of Bristol.
Learn more at the University of Bristol's website.
University of the West of England
The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) is a vibrant, forward-thinking university focused on solving future global challenges through outstanding learning, world-leading research and a culture of enterprise. There are around 36,000 students from the UK and around the world, UWE Bristol is one of Britain's most popular universities and is the largest provider of higher education in the South West of England.
The University offers over 600 courses at undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and short course levels and prides itself on consistently high assessment scores for teaching quality. UWE's focus on partnerships and links with major employers and a unique Graduate Development Programme offer opportunities for students to get real world experience and develop the skills they need to succeed in their chosen career.
The Partnership University
UWE has an active research community which contributes significantly to advances in industry, commerce, public services and the professions. By providing expertise for businesses, UWE also makes major contribution to the social and economic development of Bristol and the region.
UWE is made up of three main campuses in Bristol: Frenchay (the main university campus), Bower Ashton/City and Glenside.
UWE boasts first-class facilities including the largest library in the South West, a mock courtroom where student lawyers get a true taste of their chosen career, a crime scene house for Forensics students and a fully-functioning Reuters trading room in the Business School, enabling Finance and Economics students to gain hands-on experience of the latest market software.
Find out more about UWE on the University of the West of England website.
Language Schools in Bristol
If you want to study English or learn another language in Bristol, the following organisations will be happy to help you.
Language Schools in Bristol can help you build the language skills and confidence you need to communication freely and fluently.
Browse the list of schools below and get in touch to find out more about their courses. There are a number of options you can choose from including part-time, intensive and one-to-one courses. Language schools can also offer social programmes and accommodation options.
English Language Centre Bristol (ELC)
International House Bristol
International Students in Bristol
If you have come to study in Bristol from overseas, a very warm welcome to our city! We hope this page and the associated resources will help make your time in Bristol as exciting and enjoyable as possible.
You can visit our main student page to find out about student nightlife in Bristol, special offers for students, and much more. Our Ultimate Student Bucket List is a great place to start if you're looking for attractions, activities, food and drink, or new things to discover - let us know how many you tick off while you’re here!
We also have local guides to Bristol's many districts, suggested itineraries to familiarise yourself with the city’s sights, and a What’s On page listing hundreds of events happening across Bristol every month, from theatre shows to live music, walking tours to art exhibitions, and even graffiti workshops. If you're on a tight budget, it's also worth looking at our guide on 60 Free Things to do in Bristol.
Enjoy your time in Bristol - we hope you find it as wonderful as we do!
City of Bristol College
City of Bristol College is one of the South West’s largest further and higher education colleges, offering a range of academic and vocational courses. They offer full and part-time study opportunities from entry to degree level.
Educating nearly a third of Bristol’s 16-18 year olds, and a large proportion of school leavers from Bristol’s most disadvantaged communities, they also enrol school leavers with high needs and offer routes back into education for young people who have dropped out of school.
With eight campuses spread out across the city, the college is Bristol’s biggest provider of adult education at all levels and operates in partnership with local universities, running Access to Higher Education courses and university-level courses in selected vocational areas.
They also offer a diverse range of apprenticeships for young people and adults, working with hundreds of employers and large national companies such as DAF trucks, Bristol City Council and Bristol Airport.
Find out more on City of Bristol College’s website
Bristol Adult Learning
Bristol Adult Learning, part of Bristol City Council, is the perfect choice for adult leisure learning. There are over 500 courses available each year, from one-day workshops to term-long programmes. Courses cater to everyone from beginners to advanced learners, designed to help you develop your skills, learn new ones, or try something completely different.
Discover creative subjects such as Creative Writing, Drawing, Painting, Floristry and Stained Glass or learn a new language. Bristol Adult Learning, offering courses in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Adult Learning also offers exciting language days focused on specific regions, European history, or cultural aspects like music and art. Many others: Bridge, Computers, Family History, Film Studies, Gardening, History, Health and Well-being, Philosophy. Adult Learning believe courses are not just about learning new skills—they're a fantastic way to expand your social circle and meet like-minded individuals. Courses create a fun and friendly environment where you can delve into various subjects, develop fresh talents, and grow alongside others. Learning together is a unique journey, and learners consistently report it's one of the most rewarding aspects of their experience—meeting regularly, sharing interests, and forging new friendships.
Find out more about Bristol Adult Learning
Careers and Training in the Visitor Economy
If you are looking for information about careers and training in the Visitor Economy, please head over to our Visit West website, where we have plenty of information on careers, training and latest vacancies.
