University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public university which opened in 1876 as University College Bristol and took its present status by royal charter in 1909. It is a member of the Russell Group and issues a CAS for student visa applications.
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One record matters more than any ranking when reading a university page: the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits an institution to issue the CAS a student visa requires. University of Bristol is on it. The visa itself is set out at UK visas and immigration.
01
What kind of university is University of Bristol?
University of Bristol is a public university in Bristol, founded in 1909 by royal charter, having opened in 1876 as University College Bristol. It is a member of the Russell Group, and its buildings form a city campus spread through central Bristol.
The landmark is the neo-Gothic Wills Memorial Building completed in 1925, which houses the law faculty and earth sciences. Rather than a single enclosed site, the campus is a set of buildings across Clifton and Tyndalls Park.
02
Which subjects stand out at University of Bristol?
The subjects University of Bristol is known for are engineering, medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, law, economics, social sciences and physical sciences. Each programme carries its requirement, syllabus and fee on its own page in the course catalogue.
engineering
aerospace, mechanical, electrical and electronic, and computing
medicine, dentistry and veterinary science
health sciences across three faculties
law
the faculty based in the Wills Memorial Building
economics
alongside finance and management programmes
social sciences
social policy and sociology
physical sciences
physics, chemistry, mathematics and earth sciences
Programmes are searched from the university's own course catalogue, where each page carries the entry requirement, the syllabus and the fee in one place.
03
What are the entry requirements at University of Bristol?
University of Bristol admits undergraduates on A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification; a Turkish high school diploma alone is not accepted for direct entry. Postgraduate admission rests on a bachelor's degree and each programme publishes its own requirement.
On English language ability the admissions pages take IELTS Academic at 6.5 as the baseline for undergraduate programmes; some departments publish a component score requirement or a higher threshold. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Which documents are required?
Degree certificate and transcript
with a certified English translation
Proof of English
IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic
Personal statement
your own account of why you chose the course
Reference letter
one at undergraduate level, usually two at postgraduate level
Passport
so the identity details match the application
04
How much are tuition fees at University of Bristol?
University of Bristol publishes the international tuition fee on each programme's own page; there is no single central tariff. The student visa fee and the annual immigration health surcharge are added on top, and the university offers its own scholarships to international students.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa application (from outside the UK) | £558 |
| Immigration health surcharge (per year) | £776 |
| Maintenance to evidence, outside London (monthly) | £1,171 |
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05
What is campus and student life like in Bristol?
The University of Bristol is a city university, with teaching rooms, the library and union buildings gathered between Clifton and the centre. Halls sit partly in the centre and partly towards Clifton and Stoke Bishop, linked by the university bus service.
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is within walking distance of the campus, and the harbourside with its museums, theatres and cafes is the social centre of the city. Bristol was European Green Capital in 2015, and London is under two hours by train.
06
How is an application to University of Bristol made?
Undergraduate applications to University of Bristol go through UCAS with up to five programme choices, and the equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Postgraduate and doctoral applications are submitted through the university's own online portal.
- Programme choice: the course catalogue gives the department, the requirement and the fee.
- Documents: transcript, diploma, personal statement, references and English language evidence.
- Submission: UCAS for undergraduate study, the university's portal for postgraduate.
- Offer: conditional or unconditional, with the conditions stated.
- CAS: issued once the offer is accepted and the deposit is paid.
The step after the CAS is the student visa itself, and its published conditions are set out at UK visas and immigration.
How does the application timetable run, month by month?
| Period | Step |
|---|---|
| May–September 2026 | Researching courses, sitting the English test and preparing documents |
| September 2026 | UCAS applications open |
| 15 October 2026 | Deadline for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, Oxford and Cambridge |
| 13 January 2027 | Equal consideration deadline for undergraduate applications |
| February–May 2027 | University decisions and firming up choices |
| June–August 2027 | Meeting conditions, receiving the CAS and applying for the Student visa |
07
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to University of Bristol directly with a Turkish high school diploma?
A Turkish high school diploma is not accepted on its own for direct entry to an undergraduate programme. Applicants complete a foundation year, or hold A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification.
Which English language tests are accepted?
IELTS Academic is accepted and the level required is published on each programme's page, with 6.5 as the undergraduate baseline. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Does University of Bristol issue a CAS for a student visa?
Yes. University of Bristol appears on the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits it to issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies a student visa application requires.
When is the undergraduate application deadline?
The UCAS equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Applications arriving after that date are considered where places remain on the programme.
Sources
- University of Bristol — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
- Russell Group — The institution is one of the 24 research-intensive universities in the Russell Group. — 26 August 2026
- UCAS — The equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027 and an undergraduate application carries up to five programme choices.
- GOV.UK — The student visa application fee, the annual immigration health surcharge and the maintenance figure an applicant evidences are published by the Home Office. — 26 August 2026
- University of Bristol — The institution's founding dates and its campus are described on its own pages. — 26 August 2026
