Bristol Students Guide
Bristol is a bustling university city in South West England and has a large student population of around 52,000. The high density of students in Bristol means there is always something going on.
Nightlife
The nightlife in Bristol is buzzing, and ‘Oceana’ is the biggest nightclub and contains five themed bars, 2 clubs and a restaurant! Bristol has built a reputation for producing different genres of music and has received media attention internationally for producing bands like Portishead and Massive Attack. In 2010, Bristol was named the most musical city in the UK by PRS for Music. Music lovers have a selection of live music venues to choose from including Bristol Academy and Colston Hall, which can hold 2,000 people.
Culture
Culture vultures can get their fix in one of Bristol’s many art galleries. The Arnolfini is a popular arts centre in a dockside warehouse and offers a varied programme of contemporary art, exhibitions, live art, talks and performance events. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery showcases an extensive list of exhibitions. The museum includes exhibits covering natural history, archaeology and local industry. The gallery contains seven galleries and displays works from artists like Bellini, Renoir, Pissarro and Beryl Cook.
Shopping
Bristol has established itself as one of the top retail destinations in the region. Cabot Circus is a £500 million shopping centre and opened in 2008. From the latest fashion trends to books, shoes and holidays, you are sure to find what you are looking for.
Top Things to Do
Cabot Circus is also a popular evening destination and includes many restaurants, a cinema and even an Indiana Jones themed adventure golf facility. Bristol Zoo Gardens is an award-winning zoo and is the fifth oldest zoo in the world. The Blue Reef Aquarium is always a fun day out; the aquarium is home to sharks, seahorses and stunning underwater ‘gardens’.
Where Can I Study?
The city of Bristol has two main universities: the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England (UWE).
The University of the West of England is the larger of the two, with a student population of around 30,000, and an academic staff of 3,000. The UWE (formerly Bristol Polytechnic) has its main campus at Frenchay, close to the city centre. The university also has a campus at St Matthias, a School of Health and Social Care at Glenside and a School of Creative Arts at Bower Ashton. The UWE also has regional centres in Bath and Swindon. In 2008, the Bristol Institute of Modern Music opened its doors and offers BA courses in music related studies.
The University of Bristol can be found in the centre of the city and is home to over 18,000 students. Many of the students at Bristol University come from independent and middle-upper class homes. The university is a popular first choice for student applications and there are often as many as 14 applicants for each awarded place.
The university is a public research university and is a member of the Russell Group, which represents 20 leading universities. Bristol University has a strong reputation in the fields of mathematics, medicine, engineering, psychology, economics, biology, chemistry, management, politics and law. The university consistently ranks in the top ten of British universities in the annual newspaper league tables and is often placed high in the world by The Times World University Rankings.
Graduates looking to find employment in Bristol can often find opportunities in the creative, electronic and aerospace industries, as these industries contribute significantly to the city’s economy.
Should I Study in Bristol?
A student’s honest opinion:
“I loved my time at Bristol, and wish I had another year to go.
The Triangle and Park Street have fab shops (especially BS8 and Fopp). It is only 15 minutes into the centre of town, and there are many bus links e.g. to Temple Meads Station and Bristol International Airport.
If you are an animal lover, go to Bristol Zoo; a movie lover, there are cinemas a plenty – the Watershed plays lots of arty/foreign films; a music lover, there are venues playing everything and anything; a food lover, loads of great restaurants with a variety of prices.
Recommended pub: Corrie tap, Clifton – proper cider; Club to experience (though not always an enjoyable one!) – Wedgies; Other great clubs: Bristol Academy (also lots of gigs here), Level, Creation, the Lizard Lounge for sticky carpets and pure cheese.
Accommodation in Bristol is fairly expensive – on average about £65-80 a week, but you can find places for cheaper a bit further out, and some places can be up to £100.” Katie, 21