The Student Population Of Bristol University: How Many?

The University of Bristol is a public research university in Bristol, England, founded in 1876. It has since grown to become one of the largest independent employers in Bristol, although it enrols fewer students than the nearby University of the West of England. The university is spread over a wide geographic area, with most of its activities concentrated in the city centre, known as the University Precinct. The university offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, with a reputation for academic excellence and a welcoming and diverse environment. Bristol had more than 25,000 students as of 2025.

The University of Bristol has over 25,000 students

Bristol's approach to education is built around a research-led curriculum, with degree content and delivery influenced by the university's world-leading research. The university is also a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities, the European-wide Coimbra Group, and the Worldwide Universities Network. It holds an Erasmus Charter, sending more than 500 students per year to partner institutions in Europe.

The University of Bristol is known for its outstanding academic reputation, with teaching from academics working at the forefront of their fields. Independent thinking is encouraged, with many courses including optional units, project work, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The university is home to world-class facilities, from ultra-modern laboratories to historic libraries, and is situated in the heart of Bristol, a lively and green city in South West England.

The university is also committed to providing for the local community. This mission is reflected in the creation of the Department of Extra-Mural Adult Education, which offers courses to the local community, and a new admissions policy specifically catering to the "BS" postcode area of Bristol.

The university's undergraduate courses receive an average of 6.4 to 13.1 applicants per place

The University of Bristol is a highly competitive institution, with its undergraduate courses receiving an average of 6.4 to 13.1 applicants per place. This figure varies across faculties, with the Sciences faculty attracting 6.4 applicants per place, while the Medicine and Dentistry Faculty receives 13.1 applicants per place. This makes the University of Bristol one of the most competitive universities in the UK, with its high-quality teaching, facilities, and research-led curriculum attracting many applicants.

The university's reputation for academic excellence is well-established, with a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees on offer. Bristol encourages independent thinking and provides a welcoming, diverse, and supportive environment for its students. The university is also known for its world-class facilities, including ultra-modern laboratories and historic libraries, all located in the heart of the vibrant and green city of Bristol.

The University of Bristol's approach to education is unique, with many courses offering optional units, project work, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This allows students to tailor their degrees to their interests and gain a well-rounded education. The university also has a strong focus on research, with a research-intensive curriculum that keeps degree content and delivery up-to-date and aligned with the latest advancements in various fields.

With over 200 undergraduate courses to choose from, spanning six academic faculties, Bristol offers a wide range of educational opportunities. The faculties include multiple schools and departments, ensuring that students can find the right fit for their academic pursuits. The university's size and scope contribute to its competitiveness, as applicants recognise the value of a Bristol education and the diverse options available to them.

The University of Bristol's high applicant-to-place ratio reflects its prestige and the quality of the student experience it offers. The university's rich history, dating back to its founding in 1876, along with its commitment to research and innovation, makes it a top choice for many applicants seeking a world-class education.

Bristol is ranked 54th in the world and 9th in the UK

The University of Bristol is ranked 54th in the world and 9th in the UK, according to the QS World University Rankings 2025. This ranking places Bristol in the top 10 of UK universities and in the top 3.6% of all universities analysed.

The QS World University Rankings are based on nine criteria, including the impact of academic research, employment outcomes, and faculty-to-student ratio. Bristol performed particularly well in the 'Sustainability' category, ranking as the 17th most sustainable university in the world and 4th in the UK. The university also ranked highly in the 'Citations per Faculty' category, which measures research output, and in the 'Academic Reputation' category, based on the views of peer academics worldwide.

The University of Bristol's strong performance in the QS rankings reflects its reputation as a leading research-intensive university in the UK and Europe. With a total income of £1.06 billion in 2023-24, including significant funding from research grants and contracts, Bristol is committed to academic excellence and innovation. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across multiple faculties and departments, providing a diverse and dynamic learning environment for its students.

In addition to its academic programmes, Bristol offers a rich student life, with over 400 student groups, societies, and clubs. The university also has a strong athletic programme, with approximately 4,000 students participating in various sports clubs and competing in the British Universities and Colleges Sport league (BUCS). Bristol's sports facilities include indoor and outdoor sports centres, a swimming pool, and a boathouse.

With a history dating back to 1876, the University of Bristol has a long tradition of academic excellence and a commitment to providing a world-class education. The university's rise in the QS rankings from 55th in 2024 to 54th in 2025 is a testament to its continued growth and recognition as one of the top universities in the UK and worldwide.

The university is spread over a wide geographic area, with most activities in the city centre

The University of Bristol is spread out over a large geographic area, but most of its activities take place in the city centre, in an area referred to as the "University Precinct". The university does not have a main campus, but its central precinct is located in the heart of Bristol, a lively and green city in South West England.

The University of Bristol was founded in 1876 as University College, Bristol and received its royal charter in 1909. It is a public research university and is one of the largest independent employers in Bristol. The university is organised into six academic faculties, composed of multiple schools and departments running over 200 undergraduate courses. It offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and has a reputation for academic excellence.

The university's buildings reflect its history, with some dating back to its pre-charter days as University College Bristol. The first large-scale building project undertaken by the university after receiving its charter was the Wills Memorial Building, which now houses parts of the academic provision for earth sciences and law, as well as graduation ceremonies in its Great Hall. Other notable buildings include Royal Fort House, the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, and the Victoria Rooms, which house the Music Department.

The University of Bristol is known for its outstanding academic reputation and world-class facilities, including ultra-modern laboratories and historic libraries. It encourages independent thinking and offers many courses that include optional units, project work, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The university's approach is built around a research-led curriculum, with degree content and delivery influenced by its world-leading research.

In addition to its academic offerings, the University of Bristol also provides a range of accommodation options for its students. These are divided into residential villages located throughout Bristol, including in the central precinct, Clifton, and Stoke Bishop, known as the West and North Villages, respectively.

Bristol is one of the few UK centres for deaf studies

The University of Bristol is a public research university in Bristol, England, that received its royal charter in 1909. It is one of the largest independent employers in Bristol. The university is organised into six academic faculties, offering over 200 undergraduate courses.

The centre offered a range of courses, including Bachelor of Science (BSc), Master of Science (MSc), and research degrees at MPhil and PhD levels. It was an innovator in education, offering the first university-level certificate course in BSL for professionals in 1981. In 1985, it started a diploma course in social science in deaf studies, followed by a part-time course in sign language interpretation in 1987, which became full-time in 1990. The centre also established the first full-time, university-level training programme for deaf people taught in sign language in 1992.

In 1984, the centre coined the term "deaf studies", and in 2001, it established the first professorship in the discipline. That same year, it appointed a deaf director, making it the first European academic centre to be headed by a deaf person. The centre's researcher, Paddy Ladd, popularised the term "deafhood" in his 2003 book, "Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood".

The centre's research fell into five main areas: the language, linguistics, and literature of sign language; acquisition of sign language; community and deaf culture, or "deafhood"; cognition and psychology; and the applications of technology, such as videotelephony and e-learning.

However, in 2010, the university announced plans to close the BSc course and began gradually shutting down the centre through redundancies and staff attrition. The last students from the undergraduate degree graduated in 2013, marking the end of the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of Bristol.

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