University of the West of England

UWE Bristol is one of the largest higher education providers in the UK. Spread across three campuses in Bristol, UWE Bristol is home to over 30,000 students and welcomes international students from around the world.

The university houses ten schools across three colleges which offer over 600 courses at professional, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Students can choose from a wide variety of courses in subject areas including arts, journalism, business, law, architecture, engineering, computer science, environment, health and social sciences.

Bristol is well recognised for its top-quality education and training. A University Alliance university, UWE Bristol's collaborations with leading employers like Rolls Royce, CERN and the BBC further enhance students' learning experience and exposure to industrial opportunities.

Students at UWE Bristol can benefit from its modern facilities including the latest learning spaces and accommodation, which are part of the GBP 300 million campus development over the last six years.

With 91 percent of its students in work or further study 15 months after graduation, UWE Bristol is considered as the ‘go to' university among employers. Students can make use of the university's strong career support (career fairs, recruitment events), its industry links (internships) and its 310,000-strong alumni to build a network of professional contacts and kickstart their careers.

UWE Bristol offers over 600 courses across a huge breadth of subjects, at undergraduate, postgraduate, professional or short course level, and teaching across these disciplines is rated as excellent.

The university's expert academics are leaders in their field, and a number of them have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships to recognise their work. The teaching staff represent an international team of academics with superb communication skills, who are enthusiastic about the success of their students.

As well as dedicated staff, UWE Bristol provides excellent facilities to support students in a productive learning environment, from libraries and workspaces to practical laboratories. There are also extensive online resources and mentoring and tutoring options to help students tailor support to their academic needs.

Entrance requirements vary based on where a student is applying from and what course they are applying for. There are some general guidelines for applying across the university, including English language requirements:

Undergraduate

Students will need an IELTS score of 6.0 (with 5.5 in each component), a TOEFL iBT score of 80 or above (including a minimum of 17 in Listening and Writing, 18 in Reading and 20 in speaking), a Cambridge CPE or CAE at grade C if taken before 2015 or 169 overall (with no less than 162 in each skill) if after 2015 or a Pearson score of 50 (with at least 51 in each component).

Postgraduates

Students will need an IELTS score of 6.5 (with 5.5 in each component), a TOEFL iBT score of 90 or above (including a minimum of 17 in Listening and Writing, 18 in Reading and 20 in speaking), a Cambridge CPE or CAE at grade C if taken before 2015 or 176 overall (with no less than 162 in each skill) if after 2015, or a Pearson score of 58 (with at least 51 in each component).

A number of other qualifications will also be considered and UWE Bristol offers a Pre-Sessional English course for students who don't meet the requirements.

As well as English proficiency, students will also need to have relevant qualifications, and applicants will need to check by country which qualifications are accepted.

Pathway Courses

UWE Bristol works in partnership with Kaplan to offer pathways to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through the UWE Bristol International college which is integrated into the university campus.

There are excellent student support services available at UWE Bristol, and with the new students' union bringing all support networks together, it's easy for students to get the help they need. The university was rated Gold for student experience (Teaching Excellence Framework, 2023), highlighting the superb level of support which enhances the student experience. Services include:

Wellbeing Services

There are a number of ways students can get help. With professional services on site, as well as partnerships with the NHS, UWE Bristol can help students get counselling, crisis support, advice and help or even online and text support.

Student Support Advisers

UWE Bristol Student Support Advisers help students with any complex issues that arise while they're studying to help them get the most out of their university experience. Students can get support with everything from personal circumstances to course issues and coping with workloads. Students can make appointments online or have their appointment over the phone if they need to.

International Study Support

Before students arrive, they'll already have support from the Global Centre student support team, helping to find accommodation and applying for visas. On arrival, International Student Orientation helps to settle students into their new home. Throughout their studies, international students can take advantage of day trips, events, help and advice in adjusting to a new home and a new academic experience.

UWE Bristol also encourages students to engage in preparation programmes, like Thrive, PrepUWE and Starting Block. Several of these are online and can be started before students arrive in the UK.

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)

This student-to-student support scheme can offer tailored and personal support, mentoring or workshops. Some students prefer to receive the help they need from students their own age, or students who have had similar experiences to them. The PAL scheme offers that, and for participating students, is a great way of gaining new experiences and meet new people.

Courses at UWE Bristol are designed to include hands-on and practical experience, so students begin thinking about possible career paths from the moment they start their degrees.

A number of courses include partnerships with employers, and over 10,000 placements were undertaken by UWE Bristol students in 2022/2023. Some courses, such as construction, computing and engineering, include opportunities for mentoring and a chance to get to know potential employers in a more substantial way, providing invaluable insight into their future industry.

The annual careers fair includes over 180 employers from a number of sectors, and the InfoHub advertised over 3500 vacancies for UWE Bristol students and graduates in 2020/21.

These opportunities mean UWE Bristol students can leave university ready for the workplace, with 91 percent of graduates in work or further study 15 months after graduation.

UWE is also home to GradLink, a free, award-winning careers website for international students and graduates from universities across the UK, including the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).

GradLink connects international students, scholars, and graduates with employers from different countries. It also helps users enhance their skills to enter the global employment market.

University Growth and Improvements

UWE Bristol is continuously improving its offering to students, both in terms of teaching and courses, and the campus environment, with over GBP £300 million being invested in facilities in the last six years, including:

• GBP 7 million redevelopment of the university's science labs, for student research and undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
• GBP 55 million investment in a new business school building, which offers 5,500 students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and work in a collaborative space.
• GBP 5 million investment in a new optometry and clinical skills centre, providing students with a practical learning space for trainee optometrists, paramedics and occupational therapy.
• Over GBP 10 million investment in the university's City Campus, bringing cutting-edge resources to its award-winning film studios.
• A brand new multi-million pound Engineering building.
• New student accommodation is being built on Frenchay Campus for over 2,200 students, with the first 900 rooms available from September 2023.

There are 10 schools at UWE Bristol, across three colleges:

College of Arts, Technology and Environment

• This college is home to over 6,000 students and 445 staff.
• The School of Architecture and Environment offers subject areas such as architecture, construction, property and surveying, design, geography and environmental management and planning.
• The School of Computing and Creative Technologies offers subject areas such as audio and music technology, computer science and creative technologies and mathematics.
• The School of Engineering offers courses such as mechanical engineering, engineering, electronics, robotics, aerospace engineering, civil and environmental engineering and mechatronics.
• The School of Arts offers subject areas such as Art, Design, drama and acting, English, history and writing, fashion, filmmaking, animation, photography, journalism and media.

College of Business and Law

• The College of Business and Law is based in a GBP 55 million building.
• Bristol Business School offers subject areas such as accounting, finance, business management, economics and marketing.
• The Bristol Law School prepares students for a future practising law, with courses such as European and international law, and business and law.

College of Health, Science and Society

• The College of Health, Science and Society is home to over 8,000 students and 450 staff.
• The School of Health and Social Wellbeing offers subject areas such as health professions, nursing and midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and sport rehabilitation, social work, environmental and public health and music therapy.
• The School of Applied Sciences offers subject areas such as biosciences, environmental science and forensic science.
• The School of Social Sciences offers subject areas such as philosophy, politics, international relations and psychology, sociology and criminology.
• The School of Education and Childhood offers courses such as early childhood and primary education.