Programme details

STABEL combines one of our Study Abroad programmes with a pre-sessional English language course starting in June or July. This intensive course will prepare you to study in Bristol and lasts for six or ten weeks, depending on your current English language level and will help you to reach the required level in time to start your Study Abroad programme in September.

If you successfully complete the pre-sessional course, you will progress onto the Study Abroad (General pathway) or Study Abroad (Subject pathway) in September. The application form and your offer letter will refer to the combination of the pre-sessional and Study Abroad programmes as STABEL (General pathway) or STABEL (Subject pathway).

Who can apply

This programme is for students who do not currently meet the English language requirements for the Study Abroad (General pathway) or Study Abroad (Subject pathway) programmes. 

You can check with your home university or the Centre for Study Abroad Inbound team about which Study Abroad programme you should apply for. If you have already been nominated for a placement at Bristol by your home university, this information is included in your nomination email.

Direct-enrol students and independent applicants should apply for the STABEL General Pathway programme. 

How to apply

1. Check you are eligible

To be eligible you must meet both:

• the academic requirements
• the English language requirements.

2. Choose your units

The pre-sessional part of your programme does not involve any unit choices. You will only need to choose your units for the Study Abroad part of your programme.

Read the guidance on choosing your units

Read through the guidance on how to choose your units before you start your application to Bristol. The guidance will take you through how our Study Guides work and which levels are most suitable for you, depending on your academic background.

Check the subject Study Guides

Every subject at Bristol has a specific list of units that are open to Study Abroad students. Not all units in every subject are open to Study Abroad students. If you are progressing onto the Study Abroad (General pathway) you can browse all of the Study Guides for units that are open to Study Abroad students. If you are progressing onto the Study Abroad (Subject pathway) check the Study Guide for the subject you have been nominated to.

Study Guides will start to be published from April onwards for the following academic year.

3. Tell us your unit choices

You will let us know your unit choices in a different way depending on which STABEL programme you are planning to do: 

STABEL (General pathway)

You will need to include your unit choices in your online application form.

STABEL (Subject pathway)

You will need to complete a Learning Agreement after choosing your units and upload it to the application form.

Check with your home university if they have a Learning Agreement template that they would like you to use. If not, you can download and complete the Bristol Learning Agreement template 2025-26 (Office document, 52kB).

4. Apply

Applications are now open for the 2025/26 academic year.

Apply to the (General Pathway) STABEL programme

Apply to the (Subject Pathway) STABEL programme

When completing the online application form, you will need to upload copies of the following: 

• scanned copies of official transcripts from all universities you have attended, translated into English
• evidence of English language proficiency
• a colour copy of the personal details page of your passport

If you are applying to the STABEL (Subject pathway) you must also submit: 

• a copy of your learning agreement

If you do not meet the academic requirement you must also submit via email: 

• a letter of recommendation from a member of the academic staff at your institution
• a statement from you on why your average does not accurately reflect your academic ability and your motivations for study abroad

Additional documents should be submitted by email to cfsa-inbound@bristol.ac.uk   

Please note that we cannot guarantee your acceptance onto the Study Abroad programme if you do not meet our requirements. Each application will be reviewed to assess your suitability for the programme 

After you apply

Find out what you need to do after you apply.