Pre-registration information

All students commencing in September who have accepted an unconditional offer (via the online application system) will be emailed with registration information in August. You can also find registration information on the University's new students pages.

For students commencing in September 2025, a timetable of local events will be sent out via email as venues and dates are confirmed. Please ensure that your contact details are correct in your admissions portal.

• Registration will open in August 2025. All new students must first register online following the guidance on this website http://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/new/before-you-arrive/register/. 
• If you are subject to immigration control you will need to Book an appointment to complete a student document check (right to study) when you arrive in the UK.
• You will not be fully registered as a student until you have activated your UCard. If you are staying in a hall of residence, you should be able to collect your UCard on arrival. If you are staying in private accommodation, you will need to make an appointment to collect your UCard from the UCard collection hub. More details on how to activate your UCard or make an appointment to collect your UCard will be available before the start of term.

University Welcome activities will take place alongside the registration period in the week commencing 15th September 2025. Details of the School and Faculty's induction programme will be circulated via email in early September.

To complement the  School and Faculty Welcome events, a range of induction activities will also be arranged by the University of Bristol Students Union, the Bristol Doctoral College and the University of Bristol Global Lounge.

A collaborative welcome programme of community-building events for all students will be available available through the Welcome App 

Timetables for the first teaching block seminars are normally available shortly after registration.  See the University's key academic dates for details of when teaching will run in 2025/26.

All new PhD students will be automatically enrolled on the three mandatory core research training units in their first year. 

In TB1 students will take Introduction to Research Methods in the Social Sciences and Digital Methods and Data Skills and in TB2 students have to take either Advanced Quantitative Research Methods or Advanced Qualitative Research Methods.

Note that students need not complete the 60 credits units in their first year (but they can if they wish); they can choose to e.g. complete two units in the first year, and the third in the second year of studies. However, students should have completed the units before month 18 (full-time students) or month 36 (for part-time students).

These units can provide you with the necessary skills to support you during your research, as well as transferable skills which may help with employment after you have finished your Doctorate. 

If you have covered the material taught in these units previously you can apply for an exemption.