University of Bristol facts for kids
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| Latin: Universitas Bristolliensis | |
| Motto | Latin: Vim promovet insitam |
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Motto in English
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[Learning] promotes one's innate power (from Horace, Ode 4.4) |
| Type | Public red brick research university |
| Established | 1595 – Merchant Venturers School 1876 – University College, Bristol 1909 – received royal charter |
| Endowment | £86.1 million (2023) |
| Budget | £902.2 million (2022/23) |
| Chancellor | Sir Paul Nurse |
| Vice-Chancellor | Professor Evelyn Welch |
| Visitor | Rt Hon. Penny Mordaunt MP (as Lord President of the Council ex officio) |
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Academic staff
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3,595 (2021/22) |
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Administrative staff
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4,690 (2021/22) |
| Students | 31,485 (2021/22) |
| Undergraduates | 23,055 (2021/22) |
| Postgraduates | 8,425 (2021/22) |
| Location |
,
England
51°27′23″N 02°36′16″W / 51.45639°N 2.60444°W |
| Campus | Urban |
| Students' Union | University of Bristol Union |
| Colours | Pantone 187 |
| Affiliations |
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The University of Bristol is a well-known university located in Bristol, England. It is part of the Russell Group, which means it's one of the top research universities in the UK. The university officially received its special permission from the King (called a royal charter) in 1909. However, its history goes back much further. It started from a school for merchants founded in 1595 and a college called University College, Bristol, which began in 1876.
The university has six main areas of study, called faculties. These faculties have many different schools and departments. They offer over 200 courses for students who are just starting university. Most of these courses are taught in the Tyndalls Park area of the city. In 2022–23, the university had a total income of £902.2 million. A big part of this, £203.3 million, came from money for research projects. The University of Bristol is the largest independent employer in the city of Bristol. Many smart people work there, including experts who are part of important national academies. Also, 13 people who studied or worked at the university have won Nobel Prizes.
Bristol is a member of several important groups for universities. These include the Russell Group in the UK, the Coimbra Group in Europe, and the Worldwide Universities Network. The university also takes part in the Erasmus Programme. This program allows over 500 students each year to study at partner universities in Europe. Many students want to study at Bristol. For every spot in an undergraduate course, there are usually between 6 and 13 students applying.
Contents
History of the University
The University of Bristol has a long and interesting past. It grew from several older schools and colleges.
How the University Started
The very first part of what would become the university was an engineering department. This was part of the Merchant Venturers' Technical College, which began as a school in 1595. Later, this became the engineering faculty of Bristol University. Before the university officially started, there was also the Bristol Medical School (from 1833). Then, University College, Bristol was founded in 1876. Its first lecture had only 99 students.
The university was able to get its royal charter in 1909. This was thanks to a lot of money given by the Wills, Fry, and Colston families. These families had become rich from different businesses. The University College was special because it was the first college in the country to let women study on the same terms as men. However, women were not allowed to take medical exams until 1906.
The royal charter was given in May 1909. In October of that year, 288 undergraduate students and 400 other students joined the new university. Henry Overton Wills III became its first leader, known as the chancellor.
Growing Over Time
Since it officially started in 1909, the university has grown a lot. It is now one of the biggest employers in the Bristol area. It is a member of important groups like the Russell Group and the Coimbra Group.
Early Years of the University
After the university college was founded in 1876, the government started giving it money in 1889. More funding came from joining with the Bristol Medical School in 1893. Then, in 1909, it merged with the Merchant Venturers' Technical College. This allowed new medical and engineering schools to open. These subjects are still very strong at the university today.
In 1908, the Fry and Wills families gave large donations. Henry Overton Wills III gave £100,000, which would be about £6 million today. This money was given to create a university for Bristol and the West of England. The only condition was that a royal charter had to be obtained within two years. In December 1909, the King granted the charter, and the University of Bristol was officially created. Henry Wills became its first chancellor.
Henry Wills passed away in 1911. To honor him, his sons George and Harry built the Wills Memorial Building. Construction started in 1913 and finished in 1925. Today, this beautiful building is home to parts of the earth sciences and law departments. Graduation ceremonies are also held in its Great Hall. The Wills Memorial Building is a very important historical building.
In 1920, George Wills bought the Victoria Rooms. He gave them to the university to be used as a students' union. This building now houses the Department of Music and is also a protected historical building.
When the university was founded, it was also meant to help the local community. Because of this, the Department of Extra-Mural Adult Education was created in 1924. This department offered courses to people in the local area. This idea continues today, with special policies to help students from the Bristol area join the university.
One famous person linked to Bristol from this early time is Paul Dirac. He finished his engineering degree in 1921. He then got a second degree in mathematics from Cambridge in 1923. He later won the 1933 Nobel Prize for Physics for his important work on quantum mechanics. In the late 1920s, the H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory was opened by Ernest Rutherford. This lab has been home to several other Nobel Prize winners: Cecil Frank Powell (1950), Hans Albrecht Bethe (1967), and Sir Nevill Francis Mott (1977). The lab is still in the same place today.
Sir Winston Churchill became the university's third chancellor in 1929. He held this important role until 1965. During World War II, the Wills Memorial Building was bombed. The Great Hall and its organ were destroyed, along with 7,000 books that had been moved there for safety. It has since been rebuilt and restored.
After World War II
In 1946, the university started the first drama department in the country. In the same year, Bristol began offering special entrance exams and money (grants) to help soldiers returning home from the war. The number of students kept growing. The Faculty of Engineering needed a new building, which became the Queen's Building in 1955. This large building housed all the university's engineers until 1996. That's when the electrical engineering and computer science departments moved to the new Merchant Venturers' Building. Today, Queen's Building is used for most of the teaching for "heavy" engineering subjects like civil, mechanical, and aerospace engineering.
As more and more students joined in the 1960s, the Students' Union needed a bigger space. In 1965, they moved into a new building in the Clifton area. This building was much larger than the Victoria Rooms, which then became home to the Department of Music. The University of Bristol Union building has many rooms for practice and performances. It also has three bars. While it's big, some people think the Union building doesn't fit in with the older buildings in Clifton.
The 1960s were a time when many students in the UK protested for changes. Bristol students were no different. In 1968, many students marched to support higher student grants. This led to an 11-day sit-in at the Senate House, which is the university's main office building.
As more people started going to university, Bristol kept increasing its student numbers. The student homes (residences) were expanded many times. More recently, some homes for postgraduate students have been built. These newer homes are often funded and run by other companies working with the university.
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One of the few places in the UK for deaf studies was started in Bristol in 1981. In 1988, the Norah Fry Centre for research into learning difficulties was also established.
The 21st Century
As the number of postgraduate students grew, especially those doing master's degrees, they needed their own group. So, the Postgraduate Union (PGU) was created in 2000. Universities are now expected to use the new ideas and inventions that come from their research. In 2000, Bristol started the Research and Enterprise Division (RED) to help with this.
In 2002, the university opened a new Centre for Sports, Exercise and Health. This center is in the middle of the university area. Local people can also use its facilities for a fee.
Brenda Hale, who was the first female Law Lord, became the university's chancellor in 2003. Sir Paul Nurse took over as chancellor on January 1, 2017.
The university continues to grow its teaching and research. In 2004, the Faculty of Engineering finished building the Bristol Laboratory for Advanced Dynamics Engineering (BLADE). This £18.5 million project helps with the study of dynamics and is very advanced in Europe. It was added to the Queen's Building and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in March 2005.
In January 2005, the School of Chemistry received £4.5 million to create Bristol ChemLabS. This is a special center for excellent teaching and learning in chemistry. It is the only chemistry center of its kind in the UK.
September 2009 saw the opening of the university's Centre for Nanoscience and Quantum Information. This £11 million building is known for being extremely quiet. It also has other cool features like self-cleaning glass. Important research into quantum computing, nanotechnology, and other areas is done here.
There are also plans to make big changes to the center of the university area in the coming years. The first step began in September 2011, with the start of building a new Life Sciences building. In 2018, the Fry Building caught fire while it was being built.
In 2024, the university updated its emblem. They removed the dolphin symbol because it was connected to Edward Colston, a slave trader. They added an image of moving pages and a bookmark instead.
University Campus
The University of Bristol doesn't have one main campus like some universities. Instead, its buildings are spread out across a large area. However, most of its activities are in the city center, in an area called the "University Precinct."
Buildings and Places
Some of the University of Bristol's buildings are very old. They were built even before the university officially received its charter. These buildings were designed by Charles Hansom. The first big building project the university started after getting its charter was the Wills Memorial Building. This building has special windows that show symbols of the families who helped found the university, like the Wills and Fry families.
Other important buildings and places include Royal Fort House and the University of Bristol Botanic Garden. Many large Victorian houses have also been changed to be used for teaching in the Faculty of Arts. The Victoria Rooms house the Music Department.
Goldney gardens became part of the University of Bristol through George Alfred Wills. He wanted to build a home for male students there. But this was stopped because the head of Clifton Hill House didn't like the idea of male and female student homes being so close. University records show that Miss Starvey was ready to quit over this issue. Eventually, land was bought in Stoke Bishop. This allowed the building of Wills Hall, which was designed to look like a traditional university hall. Later, the Dame Monica Wills Chapel was added by George Wills' wife after he passed away. When Goldney did become student housing in 1956, the apartments were designed by Michael Grice, who won an award for his work.
Burwalls, a large house across the Avon Gorge, used to be a student residence. It was also once the home of Sir George Oatley. Now, the building is used for the Centre for Continuing Education.
Many of the newer buildings, like Senate House and parts of the HH Wills Physics Laboratory, were designed by Ralph Brentnall. He also designed an extension to the Wills Memorial Building library. It was built so well that most people don't realize it's an addition to the original building.
In May 2022, the university announced the opening of the Gambling Harms and Research Centre (GHRC). This £4 million center aims to help people understand the dangers of gambling.
Future Plans
In November 2016, the university announced plans to build a new £300 million Temple Quarter Campus. This campus will be for about 5,000 students. It will be located next to Bristol Temple Meads railway station. The new campus will include a business school, digital research facilities, and a student village. It is expected to open in 2021. For the current campus, there are plans to change Tyndall Avenue, make the area around it pedestrian-friendly, and build a new library.
How the University Works
Like most universities in the UK, Bristol is formally led by the chancellor, who is currently Sir Paul Nurse. The day-to-day running of the university is handled by the vice-chancellor, who is currently Professor Evelyn Welch. She is the academic leader and chief executive.
The university has many schools and departments. These are organized into six main areas of study, called faculties:
Faculty of Arts
- School of Arts
- Anthropology and Archaeology
- Film and Television
- Music
- Philosophy
- Theatre (also see the University of Bristol Theatre Collection)
- School of Humanities
- Classics and Ancient History
- English
- History
- History of Art
- Religion and Theology
- School of Modern Languages
- French
- German
- Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
- Italian
- Russian
- Centre for English Language and Foundation Studies
- Centre for Innovation
Faculty of Engineering
- School of Computer Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Engineering Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Electrical & Electronic Engineering
- Engineering Mathematics
- School of Civil, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Engineering Design
- Engineering with Management
Faculty of Life Sciences
- School of Biological Sciences
- School of Biochemistry
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
- School of Psychological Science
Faculty of Science
- School of Chemistry
- School of Earth Sciences
- School of Geographical Sciences
- School of Mathematics
- School of Physics
- Centre for Device Thermography and Reliability
- Centre for Nanoscience & Quantum Information
- Interface Analysis Centre
Faculty of Health Sciences
- Bristol Dental School
- Bristol Medical School
- Population Health Sciences
- Translational Health Sciences
- Bristol Veterinary School
- Centre for Health Sciences Education
- Centre for Applied Anatomy
- Master's in Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law
- School of Education
- School for Policy Studies
- School of Economics
- Centre for Market and Public Organisation
- School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies
- University of Bristol Business School
- University of Bristol Law School
Academic Dress
The university has special robes and hoods, called academic dress, that students and staff wear for important ceremonies like graduation. They use a mix of styles from Cambridge and Oxford universities. Most of the robes are in the university's special "university red" color.
Logo and Symbols
In 2004, the university introduced a new logo. The symbols in the logo represent different things: the sun for the Wills family, the dolphin for Colston, the horse for Fry, and the ship-and-castle from the old seal of the City of Bristol. The overall shape of the logo looks like an open book, symbolizing learning. This new logo is used most often now, but the older university arms are still used for historical or ceremonial events.
The university's Latin motto is Vim promovet insitam. This means '[Learning] promotes one's innate power'.
Academics and Admissions
The University of Bristol is a popular choice for students.
How to Get In
Bristol had the 8th highest average entry grades for new undergraduate students in the UK in 2015. This means students needed very good grades to get in. It's quite competitive, with about 7.7 applications for every available spot in 2014. In 2022, the university offered admission to 52.2% of its undergraduate applicants.
About 40% of Bristol's undergraduate students come from independent (private) schools. In the 2016–17 school year, about 78% of students were from the UK, 5% from the EU, and 17% from other countries. The student body was 55% female and 45% male.
Rankings and Reputation
| National rankings | |
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| Complete (2021) | 16 |
| Guardian (2021) | 17 |
| Times / Sunday Times (2021) | 16 |
| Global rankings | |
| ARWU (2020) | 88 |
| CWTS Leiden (2020) | 54 |
| QS (2021) |
54 |
| THE (2021) | 81 |
| British Government assessment | |
| Teaching Excellence Framework | Silver |
The University of Bristol is highly rated for its research quality. It ranks 5th in the UK for research, according to the latest Research Excellence Framework. Many subjects are highly rated, including Chemistry (1st), Physics (5th), Engineering (6th), and Law (3rd). The Complete University Guide 2024 ranks Bristol 4th for the quality of its research. Bristol also ranks 5th for the number of new companies (spin-outs) created from its research.
The University of Bristol is also very popular with top employers in the UK. It was the fourth most targeted university by the UK's top 100 employers in 2023. It was also ranked joint 7th in the UK for how well its graduates find jobs.
Internationally, the University of Bristol is also highly ranked. The 2024 QS World University Rankings placed Bristol at 55th in the world and 9th in the UK. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed Bristol at 76th globally and 9th in the UK in 2023. Another international ranking, the Academic Ranking of World Universities, placed Bristol 88th globally and 8th in the UK in 2023.
Degrees Offered
Bristol offers many different types of academic degrees. These include bachelor's degrees for undergraduate students and master's degrees for postgraduate students. They also offer special doctorates. The university is part of the Engineering Doctorate scheme, which awards the Eng. D. degree in subjects like systems engineering and aerospace engineering.
Bristol does not award bachelor's degrees in music by title, but students can study music and receive a BA degree. Similarly, they don't offer a degree in divinity, but students studying theology receive a BA.
Student Life
Students' Union
The University of Bristol Students' Union (Bristol SU) is located in the Richmond Building on Queen's Road. It is one of the oldest students' unions in England. The union runs three student media groups: UBTV (a TV station), the Bristol University Radio Station (BURST), and the student newspaper Epigram.
The Union's job is to represent students' interests, especially in their studies. They do this by electing student representatives and holding democratic events. The Union also organizes the yearly Welcome Fair for new students. They coordinate Bristol Student Community Action, which sets up volunteering projects in the local community. They also organize fun events and support over 400 student groups, societies, and clubs. There is a separate union for postgraduate students. There's also an athletic union for sports, which is part of the British Universities & Colleges Sport. For excellent sports achievements, Bristol's top athletes are awarded "reds."
Student Homes (Halls of Residence)
Student accommodation is mainly in the central university area and two other parts of Bristol: Clifton and Stoke Bishop. These are known as the West and North Villages.
In Stoke Bishop, Wills Hall was the first student home to open in 1929. It was opened by the then-chancellor, Winston Churchill. It has been expanded twice since then. Churchill Hall, named after the chancellor, opened in 1956. Then came Badock Hall in 1964. Hiatt Baker Hall is now the largest student home at the university. The first self-catering hall in Stoke Bishop was University Hall, started in 1971.
In Clifton, Goldney Hall was built in the early 18th century by the wealthy Goldney family. It became part of the university in 1956. It's a popular place for filming movies and TV shows, like The Chronicles of Narnia and Only Fools and Horses. The Grotto in its gardens is a very important historical building. Clifton Hill House is another important historical building used as student accommodation in Clifton. It was built between 1745 and 1750. Manor Hall is made up of five separate buildings. One of its parts, Manor House, was recently updated in 1999.
In the central university area, there's The Hawthorns, which houses 115 undergraduate students. It used to be a collection of villas that were turned into a hotel. The Hawthorns also has rooms for conferences, a staff restaurant, and offices. Other student residences in the central area are newer and are managed by other companies. These include New Bridewell House (opened 2016), Unite House (opened 2000), and Chantry Court (opened 2003).
All the main student homes elect groups of students to organize social events for the year. Students living in private accommodation or at home can join Orbital, a society that organizes social events for them.
Sports at Bristol
Sports are very popular at Bristol University, with about 4,000 students taking part in many different team and individual sports. The university has over 70 sports clubs and four sports locations. These are run by the university's Student Union and its Sport, Exercise and Health Department. Bristol University competes against other universities in the BUCS league and is ranked 8th in the country.
The university has great sports facilities at four main locations:
Bristol University Indoor Sports Centre- This center is in the heart of the university campus. It has a large two-story gym, fitness studios, a sports hall, and a Sports Medicine Clinic.
Coombe Dingle Sports Complex- This large 38-acre site is in Stoke Bishop. It has the only indoor tennis center in Bristol. This is where the university's outdoor sports are played. Coombe Dingle is used for training and competitions throughout the year.
Facilities at Coombe Dingle Sports Complex include:
- 3G pitch
- Artificial pitches (with sand and lights)
- Grass pitches (for football and rugby)
- Cricket squares and nets
- Tennis courts (indoor and outdoor with lights)
- Lacrosse pitch
- Netball courts (outdoor)
- Olympic weight lifting gym
- Softball and rounders facilities
- Pavilion, lounge bar, and meeting rooms
- Sports Medicine Clinic
Richmond Building- The university swimming pool is inside the student union (Richmond Building). This pool has six lanes and can be changed in length for competitions. It also has a teaching pool for lessons. Students, staff, and the community can use the pool for swimming or lessons.
Saltford Boathouse- The University Boathouse is located at Saltford, on the River Avon. It is used for rowing and sailing training and competitions.
Famous People from Bristol
Many notable people have studied or worked at the University of Bristol.
Academics and Researchers
Current academics at the University of Bristol include many experts who are part of important national academies. These include Sir Michael Berry, who helped discover the "geometric phase" in quantum mechanics. Other experts include John Rarity (quantum optics), David May (computer scientist), Mark Horton (archaeologist), and Bruce Hood (psychologist).
Past academics include Patricia Broadfoot, who became a vice-chancellor at another university, and Nigel Thrift, who also became a vice-chancellor. Anthony Epstein, who helped discover the Epstein-Barr virus, was a professor here. Alfred Marshall, an important economist, was also a principal at the University College.
The University of Bristol is linked to three Ig Nobel Prizes. These awards are for unusual or funny scientific achievements. Sir Michael Berry won for using magnets to make a frog float. Gareth Jones won for his research on fruit bats. Dr. Len Fisher won for figuring out the best way to dunk a biscuit.
Alumni (Former Students)
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Jonathan Evans, former head of MI5
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Alastair Stewart, TV journalist
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Derren Brown, illusionist
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Simon Pegg, actor and writer
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David Walliams, comedian
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Paul Dirac, physicist
Bristol alumnus Paul Dirac won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1933. He is considered one of the most important physicists of the 20th century. Other famous scientists include Dani Rabaiotti, an environmental scientist, and Eliahu Nissim, a professor of aeronautical engineering.
Many well-known writers have studied at Bristol. These include Dick King-Smith, Sarah Kane, Angela Carter, Julia Donaldson, and David Nicholls. His novel Starter for Ten was turned into a movie set at the University of Bristol.
In government and politics, notable alumni include Albert II, Prince of Monaco and Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia. Also, Sir Jonathan Evans, a former head of MI5, and Paul Boateng, the UK's first Black Cabinet Minister.
In current affairs and media, former students include journalist Misha Glenny, BBC News Chief Political Correspondent James Landale, and newsreader Alastair Stewart. BBC Breakfast and Good Morning Britain anchor Susanna Reid was an editor of the student newspaper Epigram.
In entertainment, former students include rapper Shygirl, singer James Blunt, illusionist Derren Brown, and comedians Jon Richardson, Matt Lucas, and David Walliams. Actors like Simon Pegg and Pearl Mackie also studied here.
Famous alumni from the Film and Television Production department include film directors Mick Jackson, Michael Winterbottom, and Alex Cox.
Other alumni include Anne McClain, a NASA Astronaut, and Jazmin Sawyers, a long jumper.
Gallery
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Wills Memorial Building
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H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory
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Victoria Rooms
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Student's Union Building
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Chemistry Department
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Library, Tyndall Avenue
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Museum Lecture Theatre
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The Fry Building
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Clifton Hill House
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Goldney House
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Hampton House
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Royal Fort House
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Senate House
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Waverley House
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Brístol para niños
- Education in Bristol
- List of universities in the United Kingdom
