Senate House
Tyndall Avenue
Bristol
BS8 1TH
Tel 0117 928 9000
ug-admissions@bristol.ac.uk
www.bristol.ac.uk
Open days: contact the university

PERFORMANCE

Sunday Times ranking 10 (16)

Student satisfaction 73.8%
Head teacher ranking 3 (6)
Peer ranking 8 (9)
Research quality 68.1%
A-level/Higher points 443
Unemployment 5.8%
Firsts and 2:1s 81.5%
Student/staff ratio 13.1:1
Dropout rate 4.2% (5%)
World ranking 32

Multimedia

• The Times University Guide table

VITAL STATISTICS

Undergraduates 12,134 (835)
Postgraduates 3,086 (1,755)
Teaching staff 1,049
Applications/places 42,633/3,735; 11.4:1 (-3.4%)
Clearing entry 1%
Live in 32% (99%) £58-£162
Bursaries 33%: £310-£1,200
Scholarships 12: £3,000

SOCIAL MIX

EU/overseas 3.9%/10.3%
Mature 5.9%
State school 61.5%
Lowest social classes 13.9%
Low-participation areas 3.2%

Bristol is one of the world’s foremost research-led universities. Last year’s research assessment exercise (RAE) was a triumph, with 61% of the work assessed across 48 subject areas earning one of the top two rankings, denoting world-leading or international excellence. The RAE success came as Bristol entered its centenary year, launching a £100m campaign to sustain its academic ambitions.

Satisfaction ratings in the annual national student survey (NSS) have been consistently poor, however, with Bristol ranking in the bottom 20 institutions in the UK last year. Indeed, a protest letter signed by 600 economics and finance students earlier this year alleged teaching standards had declined as tuition fees had risen.

This year’s NSS results have shown a slight improvement (up from 70.3% to 73.8%) but the ranking of 88= is out of kilter with the rest of Bristol’s provision, in particular its outstanding research ratings, which rank it 11= under our analysis. The combination of both, however, has been sufficient to pull Bristol back into our elite top 10.

In our unique surveys of opinion among head teachers at Britain’s leading academic schools and among 2,500 university heads of department, Bristol still scores consistently highly. This year it achieves its highest rank of third among head teachers, with only Oxbridge ahead, while ranking eighth among academics.

All this translates into pressure on places. Although applications are down 3.4%, bucking the national trend of an average 8.2% rise, there are still more than 11 applications per place.

STUDENT VIEW

Owen Peachey, students’ union president:

First impressions Bristol trumps a lot of other institutions when it comes to non-academic activities.
Worst feature The distance between student rooms and the campus.
Facilities Work starts soon on new mathematical sciences and biological sciences buildings.
Deal clincher Bristol offers an excellent academic record as well as scope for personal development.

Rated excellent (25)
Anatomy and physiology; applied social work; archeology; chemistry; civil engineering; drama, dance and cinematics; economics; education; electrical and electronic engineering; English; geography; Iberian languages and studies; law; maths, statistics and operational research; mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering (aerospace engineering); mechanical engineering; molecular biosciences; organismal biosciences; pharmacology and pharmacy; philosophy; physics and astronomy; politics; psychology; teacher training; veterinary medicine.

Student satisfaction
Human and Social Geography 85.1; Physical Geography and Environmental Science 83.7; Biology and related Sciences 83; Civil, Chemical and other Engineering 82.3; Computer Science 80.9; Psychology 79.5; Physical Science 78.3; Medical Science and Pharmacy 77.4; Law 75.3; Veterinary Sciences 74.8; European Languages and Area studies 74.3; Electronic and Electrical Engineering 74.3; Mechanically-based Engineering 73.1; Technology 73; Finance and Accounting 72.2; Philosophy, Theology and Religious studies 70.8; Agriculture and related subjects 70; Performing Arts 69.2; English-based studies 68.6; Medicine and Dentistry 67.9; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 67.9; Economics 67.8; Social Work 66.9; Mathematical Sciences 66.6; History and Archaeology 66.3; Politics 64.2; Other subjects allied to Medicine 56

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