The University of the West of England, Bristol is one of Britain’s biggest universities, with more than 30,000 students from over 140 countries worldwide. It is currently in the midst of constructing a brand-new campus after acquiring a large portion of land next to its existing Frenchay campus.
The University of West of England has five campuses, namely the Frenchay Campus (Main Campus), the Bower Ashton Campus, the Glenside Campus, the St Matthias Campus and the Hartpury Campus.
Frenchay Campus: Four miles north of Bristol City Centre
Bower Ashton Campus: Two miles from Bristol City Centre
Glenside Campus: Three miles northeast of Bristol City Centre
St Matthias Campus: Three miles northeast of Bristol City Centre
Hartpury Campus: Near Gloucester
The City of Bristol
Bristol is the eighth largest city in the UK, the largest city in the south west and is home to many prominent businesses and employers including Airbus, AXA, BBC, Hewlett Packard, Ministry of Defence, Orange, Rolls-Royce and Royal Bank of Scotland.
The Frenchay Campus is accessible from Bristol Parkway station, with London a mere 90 minute train ride away. The Bristol Airport at Lulsgate, also has direct flights to many UK and European cities.
Shopping: The Cabot Circus shopping centre was recently unveiled in Bristol, and comprises over one million square feet of shops, restaurants and recreational space. There is also Broadmead, which offers over 300 high street shops and department stores, and The Mall Bristol, which has a excellent selection of independent shops, high street stores, cafes and restaurants. For urban wear and designer items, Park Street is the place to drop by. Clifton Village is also another great place to shop, with posh boutiques set amongst Georgian architecture.
Nightlife: The nightlife in Bristol also offers something for everybody. The availability of conventional pubs, contemporary bars and lively clubs offers anything from a peaceful drink by the waterfront to night-long partying long into the wee hours.
Arts: Bristol has a number of museums and art galleries, including the Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery, Arnolfini and the Royal West of England Academy. Theatres in Bristol include the Bristol Hippodrome and the Alma Tavern & Theatre.
Food: Bristol has a wide range of restaurants, cafés and bars, offering different kinds of cuisine from all around the world.
Leisure: One can bowl at the Bowlplex, scale walls at the Bristol Climbing Centre, skate at the Bristol Ice Rink, cycle along the Bristol and Bath Railway Path or join the Bristol Rovers Football Club. Bristol has much to provide for sport enthusiasts.
Why Choose the University of the West of England, Bristol?
Fantastic Teaching Facilities
The University of the West of England, Bristol has great teaching facilities. It has a Crime Scene House, where Forensic Science students can investigate a fake crime scene spanning two bedrooms, a kitchen, a lounge, a bathroom and a study. Aerospace engineering students can input design models into the Flight Simulator to predict the resultant aerodynamic performance of the virtual aircraft. Radiography students can administer doses of radiotherapy to a virtual patient in the Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Training. The University of the West of England, Bristol also has the Reuters Trading Room for Business students to have a better understanding of global financial data, news and information.
Fantastic Support Facilities
The University of the West of England, Bristol has amazing facilities for its students. It possesses a £5.5 million state-of-the-art sports complex called the Centre for Sport and has put in over £200,000 on its Centre for Performing Arts. Its Centre for Performing Arts has four large rehearsal rooms and four practice rooms, three of which are furnished with pianos. Plans are also underway to build a new campus over the next 25 years on the newly bought 70 acres of land next to its current Frenchay campus.
Active Communities
Being one of Britain's biggest universities, University of the West of England, Bristol has a large and lively student community. For students attracted to performing arts, there are a range of ensembles, choirs and musicals to join. For physically active students, the University of the West of England, Bristol has some of the most active sports clubs in the United Kingdom. There are also many societies, from subject-led societies to interest-based societies for students to get acquainted with likeminded friends.
Graduate Prospects
The University of the West of England, Bristol has vast online resources to help students with career choices and job search. Students can easily obtain information on CVs, interview preparation, employer data, further study possibilities and destinations of former students. The university has also developed the Graduate Development Programme (GDP) and Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) schemes to ensure that students are well-trained for the working society.
The University of the West of England, Bristol's Ranking