Application guidance

The following information is for guidance only. Competition for places at the University of Bristol is very strong, and the achievement of a specified qualification does not guarantee that an offer will be made. We aim to respond to your application as quickly as possible to help you plan your studies.

If your qualification is not mentioned or you have any further questions, please contact us for advice.

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• International Foundation Programme
• Undergraduate entry requirements
• Postgraduate entry requirements
• Scholarships
• Student societies
• Get in touch

International Foundation Programme

The International Foundation Programme (IFP) is delivered by the University of Bristol to prepare international students for a degree programme at the University through tailored English language units and academic subject units.

You can find more information through Kaplan International Pathways, our trusted education partner for applications and admissions to the International Foundation Programme.

Undergraduate entry requirements

You can apply for undergraduate courses through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Find out more from UCAS about applying to university in the UK. The UCAS institution code for the University of Bristol is BRISL B78.

Entry requirements vary for each course. Please check our undergraduate course listings for details of specific requirements.

Applicants will need to meet the English language requirements for their chosen course. Different courses need different levels of language skills, referred to as ‘profiles’. The required profile will be shown on the course page. Find out more about our English language profiles.

Applicants with good grades (please see next paragraph) in the Maturitätszeugnis / Certificat de Maturité / Attestato di Maturità (either issued by the Swiss Commission, or the Cantonal certificate which has been federally recognised) will be considered for admission to our Bachelor degree courses.

The majority of programmes at Bristol require an overall average of 4.8/6 or higher for the last two years of school. Our equivalent of AAA in A-levels is an overall average of 5.0/6 across 10 subjects. We generally specify individual grades of 5 for two or three of the final year Matura examination subjects, except where an A* at UK A2 level is required, in which case we would specify 5.5 in that subject. 

Postgraduate entry requirements

You should apply online for all our postgraduate programmes.

Entry requirements vary for each programme. Please check our postgraduate programme listings for details of specific requirements.

Applicants will need to meet the English language requirements for their chosen course. Different courses need different levels of language skills, referred to as ‘profiles’. The required profile will be shown on the course page. Find out more about our English language profiles.

To be considered for admission to a master's degree programme at the University of Bristol, the minimum requirement for entry is typically an undergraduate degree from an acceptable institution that is equivalent to a UK upper second-class degree (also known as a 2:1).

Applicants who hold a Diplom / Diplôme; Lizentiat / Licence; Staatsdiplom / Diplôme d'Etat will be considered for admission to a Masters degree. The equivalent of a UK 2:1 is an overall final score of 5.

Applicants who hold the equivalent of a British Masters degree will be considered for admission to a PhD.

Scholarships

The University provides a range of international scholarships, including our Think Big scholarships which can help fund your tuition fees.

Search our full list of funding to find more scholarships offered by the University of Bristol and external organisations.

Find more information about funding your studies on our student finances pages.

British Council

The British Council can give guidance and information about higher education in the UK. Find out from their website if there is an office near you and what services are available.

Student societies

Our student clubs include the International Students' Network and over 400 more catering to different interests and hobbies.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about applying to Bristol, please contact our International Recruitment team:

Email: support@international.bristol.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)117 205 2644