Bradford Student Guide
The city of Bradford can be found in West Yorkshire and is home to a student population of over 13,000.
Nightlife
The abundance of young people in the city means there are several options for a night out. Tokyo is located on Morley Street and is set in a Grade II listed building. The club features a state of the art sound system, a rooftop bar and two dance floors. The club caters for students with regular weeknight parties and drink offers. Wednesdays are particularly popular and selected drinks are on offer for only £1.50. Bradford also has a small gay scene- Village is a popular bar and opens its doors for the Rainbow Disco every Friday.
Culture
Bradford has lots of galleries on offer for the more culturally minded. Salt’s Mill is an art gallery, shopping and restaurant complex in Saltaire. The gallery sits inside a former mill and showcases an impressive selection of artworks, including many by David Hockney, who lives locally. Impressions Gallery is located on Centenary Square, and is one of the UK’s leading independent venues for photography. The gallery regularly changes its exhibitions so there is always something different to see- well worth a visit.
Live Entertainment
Bradford also offers a varied range of performances at one of the many theatres and performances spaces. Alhambra Theatre has space for 1,400 people and often hosts performances from world renowned directors and theatre groups including the Northern Ballet Theatre, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and David Ian Productions. The theatre is a member of ‘The Dance Consortium’, a group of theatres who work together to bring the best in international dance to the UK. St. George’s Hall is on Morley Street and has a reputation for exceptional acoustics. Previous performances have included Jools Holland, Morrisey and Mumford and Sons. Check out the website for various gigs and performances.
Where Can I Study?
Bradford is home to one university: the University of Bradford. The university provides places of study for over 13,600 students every year.
A diverse range of courses are available at Bradford University, all divided into one of seven academic schools: the School of Computing, Informatics and Media, School of Engineering, Design and Technology, School of Health Studies, School of Life Sciences, School of Lifelong Education and Development, School of Management and the School of Social and International Studies.
The University of Bradford was the first British university to establish a department of Peace Studies in 1973. The department has a world-class reputation as a centre of excellence in peace research and international relations.
In 2005, Bradford University underwent a £84 million redevelopment to create the world’s first ‘ecoversity’: a university focused on reducing its environmental footprint, reducing waste and using sustainable materials. ‘The Green’ opened in 2011 and is a £40 million purpose built student accommodation village. The accommodation won numerous awards including a 95% rating with BREEAM, the highest award for sustainable building development and operation.
The University of Bradford has two campuses: the city campus, which is located close to the city centre, and the School of Management. The School of Management is set in parkland, a few miles from the centre of the city. The University of Bradford benefits from being situated in the middle of the UK, easily accessible from the rest of the UK with extensive transport links. Students choosing to study in Bradford have the added advantage of benefiting from living in one of the least expensive student cities in the UK.
Should I Study in Bradford?
A student’s honest opinion:
“Forgot your preconceptions about Bradford- it’s great. It might not have the glitz and glam of most cities, but it has a warm and friendly student atmosphere and just about everything you need.
There’s plenty to do in the beautiful outdoors in Bradford. The uni has some great courses and all first year students are guaranteed accommodation. It’s all really close by so freshers can just roll out of bed and into lectures!
As for going out, we might not have as much as our neighbour Leeds, but we still know how to have a good time. There lots of pubs and clubs dotted about, not to mention what the uni provides. There’s lots of sport activities and clubs at uni too, so you can’t say it’s boring in the day time either!
Student life in Bradford is great, so try to forgot your prejudices about this little gem of a city.” – Julia