Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Bristol is a big Russell Group university in the middle of a lively, creative city. There's no closed-off campus: university buildings are spread around the precinct in Clifton, at the top of Park Street, with the city centre on the doorstep. Most first years live either in the leafy suburb of Stoke Bishop or in newer blocks in the city centre.
The city is a huge draw, with music, food, the harbourside and easy weekends in Wales or the South West. The downside is cost: Bristol is one of the pricier places to study outside London, and private rents are high. It's also hilly, and buses can be slow.
Known for
The University of Bristol is 11th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 57.3, above the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Nottingham Trent University | 57.9 |
| 10 | Leeds Arts University | 57.3 |
| 11 | University of Bristol | 57.3 |
| 12 | Manchester Metropolitan University | 56.9 |
| 13 | University of Reading | 56.6 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
5th of 124 · Nightlife Score 76.5
7th of 124 · Social Score 72.1
8th of 124 · Balance Score 57.6
10th of 124 · Innovation Score 68.1
11th of 124 · Value Score 65.4
12th of 124 · Societies Score 66.3
14th of 124 · Employability Score 41.8
26th of 122 · Careers Score 40.1
28th of 124 · Sustainability Score 61.1
54th of 124 · Inclusion Score 62.6
57th of 124 · Freshers Score 55.9
58th of 124 · Safety Score 43.8
67th of 123 · Happiness Score 45.4
69th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 50.5
81st of 124 · Affordability Score 51.8
Bristol as a student city
Ranked 8th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 62.4.
The University of Bristol appears in 42 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 5th | of 102 | 217 |
| Business and Management | 6th | of 114 | 216 |
| Psychology | 8th | of 108 | 199 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 6th | of 77 | 180 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 6th | of 66 | 123 |
| Biology | 5th | of 51 | 136 |
| Data Science | 5th | of 50 | 125 |
| Biochemistry | 6th | of 60 | 151 |
| Law | 10th | of 97 | 182 |
| Criminology | 10th | of 94 | 190 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archaeology | 3rd | of 28 | 98 |
| International Relations | 8th | of 71 | 148 |
| Dentistry | 1st | of 8 | 42 |
| Film Production | 11th | of 87 | 192 |
| Economics | 11th | of 85 | 163 |
| Marketing | 12th | of 88 | 183 |
| Geology | 3rd | of 21 | 70 |
| Philosophy | 8th | of 54 | 130 |
| Environmental Science | 7th | of 47 | 123 |
| Biomedical Science | 14th | of 93 | 169 |
| Zoology | 6th | of 37 | 109 |
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 10th | of 60 | 135 |
| Politics | 13th | of 78 | 148 |
| Physics | 8th | of 45 | 117 |
| History | 14th | of 76 | 151 |
| Pharmacology | 7th | of 37 | 84 |
| Neuroscience | 5th | of 26 | 79 |
| Mathematics | 12th | of 61 | 131 |
| Electrical Engineering | 14th | of 67 | 139 |
| Performing Arts | 8th | of 37 | 102 |
| Medicine | 7th | of 30 | 84 |
| Teaching | 19th | of 79 | 157 |
| Chemistry | 11th | of 44 | 109 |
| Geography | 17th | of 63 | 132 |
| Veterinary Science | 3rd | of 10 | 39 |
| Aerospace Engineering 2026 table | 10th | of 30 | 83 |
| Civil Engineering | 21st | of 58 | 113 |
| Classics | 8th | of 20 | 61 |
| Anthropology | 10th | of 24 | 67 |
| Product Design | 21st | of 43 | 91 |
| Accounting and Finance | 15th | of 30 | 165 |
| Finance 2026 table | 7th | of 10 | – |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Bristol SU, based in Senate House on Tyndall Avenue, supports over 350 clubs and societies and runs the Anson Rooms gig venue and The Beckford. The city does the rest: Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road for independent bars and food, the harbourside for summer evenings, and a long-standing music and club scene. Stoke Bishop halls have a strong first-year community feel, while city-centre blocks put you closer to nightlife. The Downs and Clifton Suspension Bridge are on your doorstep.
University halls cost £136.50–£339.50 per week (2026/27 undergraduate rooms, mostly 38–42-week contracts; catered halls add about £72 a week for meals) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
The university says: "You will get a University room offer if you meet the terms of our accommodation guarantee." For September 2026 entry, first-year undergraduates (plus foundation year students and some other groups) qualified if they applied by 30 June 2026, firmly accepted their offer of study, were new full-time students, accepted their room offer by the deadline and came without partners or dependants. The room may not be in one of the university's advertised residences. Dates for 2027/28 entry haven't been published yet.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manor Hall | Clifton | twin room with sink, up to flats | £136.50/wk | The joint-cheapest room (a shared twin) on a 38-week contract, in Clifton close to the precinct. |
| Clifton Hill House Catered | Clifton | twin up to 1-bed flat | £136.50 plus catering charge/wk | Historic hall in Clifton. Catered rooms carry a separate catering charge of £2,731.06 a year (about £72 a week). |
| Wills Hall Catered | Stoke Bishop | twin up to 1-bed flat | £140 plus catering charge/wk | Traditional catered hall with self-catered options too (up to £322 a week for a 1-bed flat). |
| Churchill Hall Catered | Stoke Bishop | twin up to studio | £143.50 plus catering charge/wk | Catered Stoke Bishop hall, 38-week contract. En-suite rooms cost £245 a week before catering. |
| University Hall | Stoke Bishop | single room up to en-suite | £157.50/wk | One of the cheaper self-catered options, mostly single rooms in flats (en-suite £235.55). |
| Hiatt Baker Catered | Stoke Bishop | single with sink up to studio | £178.50 plus catering charge/wk | Big Stoke Bishop hall with catered and self-catered rooms. Catered residents eat in Badock Hall's dining room. |
| Print Hall | City centre | en-suite | £209.30/wk | One of the cheaper city-centre en-suite options, 42-week contract. |
| Marlborough House | City centre | serviced en-suite and studio | £266/wk | Top of the range: serviced studios cost £339.50 a week. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
The classic second-year area: leafy streets of shared houses, close to the precinct and Gloucester Road.
Right next to the precinct, with big old houses split into student flats.
Smart and pretty, with Georgian terraces, but often the priciest option.
A bit further out, with independent shops, cafés and bars, and slightly more space for your money.
Top tip
You can apply for halls as soon as you've accepted your offer of study (it can take up to three days to come through). Apply before the guarantee deadline (30 June for 2026 entry). Note that undergraduates can't apply between late July and 20 August while offers are made. Check the full cost: catered halls add a separate catering charge of about £72 a week.
The university's survey puts the average undergraduate's spending at about £1,401 a month in 2025/26, with rent averaging around £776 a month. Hall rooms cost from £136.50 to about £340 a week for 2026/27, with bills included, and catered halls add about £72 a week. With no free bus pass for Stoke Bishop from 2026, budget for transport too.
Getting around
The precinct is a short (steep) walk from the city centre, and Temple Meads station is across the centre. First Bus runs the U1 between Stoke Bishop, the precinct and the city centre. For 2026/27, a student Bristol Zone single costs £2.34 and a university-year Bristol Zone pass £520. From September 2026, Stoke Bishop residents have to buy their own pass.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Bristol is 11th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 57.3. Its strongest results are for nightlife (5th), social life (7th), work-life balance (8th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Bristol places highest for Archaeology (3rd of 28), Dentistry (1st of 8), Geology (3rd of 21), Veterinary Science (3rd of 10). Across our awards, it also stands out for nightlife.
Yes. Bristol is one of the 24 Russell Group universities. It's also part of the GW4 Alliance with Bath, Cardiff and Exeter.
Yes, if you meet the terms. New full-time first-year undergraduates who apply by the guarantee deadline (30 June for 2026 entry), firmly accept their offer and come without partners or dependants are guaranteed a room offer. It may not be in one of the advertised residences.
Stoke Bishop is a green, suburban halls village with a big first-year community and several catered halls, but you'll need the bus or a long walk to the precinct. City-centre blocks are closer to lectures and nightlife, and mostly self-catered en-suites with higher weekly prices.
Not any more. From September 2026, Stoke Bishop residents no longer get a U1 pass included in their rent. A First Bus student Bristol Zone pass for the 2026/27 university year costs £520, or you can buy termly passes.
Yes, compared with most UK cities outside London. The university's survey puts average undergraduate spending at about £1,401 a month in 2025/26, and hall rooms run from £136.50 to about £340 a week for 2026/27, plus a catering charge in catered halls.
HESA figures for 2024/25 put it at 32,435 students, including 23,865 undergraduates. About a third come from outside the UK.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
