Discover Bristol

Discover Bristol applications reopen in the Summer of 2026, please complete this expression of interest form if you wish to be notified when they reopen. 

About the programme
A guaranteed contextual offer
How to apply
Eligibility

About the programme

This virtual programme is designed to enhance students' understanding of Higher Education and provide insight into how the University of Bristol supports them in making the most of their opportunities.

Discover Bristol involves 5 online sessions for students with content including an overview of Bristol, UCAS and personal statement guidance, funding, study skill and careers and employability. These sessions are delivered in collaboration with current students, student societies, central student services, and the Widening Participation team.

Successful completers of the scheme will be guaranteed a contextual offer/interview from Bristol, a top ten UK university (QS World University Rankings 2026). Please note that terms and conditions apply. 

Accessibility statement

We want to provide a positive and equitable experience to all participants on our outreach programmes. This involves providing reasonable adjustments to help individuals who may need additional support due to a disability, health condition or specific learning difference. Please let us know on your application form if you would like to request any reasonable adjustments to support you to participate in this programme. 

Parents and carers

Discover Bristol will also provide ‘Discovery Sessions’ for parents and carers to get involved in bespoke information and guidance workshops to learn more about Higher Education and the opportunities that their child may benefit from at the University of Bristol.

Sessions for parents and carers will explore topics such as the benefits of attending university, how to support a young person in making higher education decisions, and an overview of student finance.

Dates and times

For students

All virtual events will run during after-school hours and in less busy periods of your school year.

The programme will consist of five online sessions. Sessions are planned to take place from 17:00 till 18:30 with provisional dates below.

• Tuesday 27^th October 2026 – Welcome Event
• Tuesday 3^rd November 2026 – Study Skills
• Tuesday 10^th November 2026 – Funding
• Tuesday 17^th November 2026 – Student Life
• Tuesday 24^th November 2026 – Careers and Employability

Exact dates and times will be confirmed upon joining the programme. Please be aware, students are expected to attend all sessions to successfully complete the programme and cannot opt in for specific sessions only.

For Parents and Carers

All virtual events are provisionally planned to run from 17:00 till 18:00 in the evening. Provisional dates below.

• Tuesday 1^st December 2026 – Benefits of Higher Education
• Tuesday 8^th December 2026 – Supporting University/Course Decision-Making
• Tuesday 15^th December 2026 – Funding Higher Education

Exact dates and times will be confirmed once your child has been enrolled onto the programme. Please be aware, parent/carer sessions are optional and designed to provide a welcoming environment to help our students’ support networks learn more about Bristol and the wider university sector.

A guaranteed contextual offer to the University of Bristol

If you successfully complete the Discover Bristol programme and depending on the course(s) that you choose to apply for, you may be eligible for a guaranteed contextual offer or interview to study at the University of Bristol provided you meet the relevant entry requirements for that course.

For courses that do not routinely interview as part of the admissions process, you will be guaranteed a contextual offer (typically two A-Level grades below standard entry requirements) to study at Bristol provided you are studying any specified A-Level subjects and meet any additional requirements for your chosen course (e.g. GCSE or equivalent grades). Applicants must still complete any admissions tests such as the UCAT/ LNAT/ SAQ (and score above a threshold) in order to receive the guaranteed offer/ guaranteed interview.

For courses that require an interview as part of the admissions process, such as Medicine or Dentistry, you will be guaranteed an interview for that course provided you are predicted to meet or exceed the contextual entry requirements for that course; you meet any GCSE or equivalent requirements; and you have completed the relevant aptitude test such as the UCAT to a satisfactory standard by the appropriate deadline. Following interview, you may be made an offer at the contextual level.

This benefit can apply to multiple courses should you choose to submit multiple course applications to Bristol.

Please note that terms and conditions apply.

How to apply

Applications will open online in Summer 2026. If you’d like to be notified when the applications reopen in the Summer of 2026, please complete this expression of interest form. 

Eligibility criteria

Discover Bristol is open to all students who have not already taken part in a University of Bristol Widening Participation programme (Access to Bristol, Bristol Scholars, Insight into Bristol, Next Step Bristol or the Virtual Summer School) and meet all of the following criteria:

You must:

• Be a Home Fee student;
• Currently attend a state school or college;
• Be in your final year of A-level study (or equivalent);
• Have the academic ability to study at the University of Bristol (including meeting the GCSE entry requirements for your chosen course and studying any required Level 3 subjects). Applicants must have the potential to meet the contextual entry requirements for their chosen course;
• Have applied or will apply for an undergraduate course at the University of Bristol via UCAS by the appropriate deadline. (You may be offered a place on the programme before you submit your UCAS application. We reserve the right to withdraw you from the programme at a later date if you have not applied to study with us);
• Be eligible to receive Free School Meals OR live in an IMD quintile 1 or 2 postcode area (check your postcode via our tool on the Contextual Offers page here)

If the programme is oversubscribed, we will give priority to applicants who meet our widening participation criteria: 

• be considered a mature student (over 21 years old when you will begin your degree);
• are from a Black or Asian background or of a mixed background featuring one of these groups*;
• have spent three or more months in local authority care;
• are currently an estranged student;
• are from Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater (GTRSB) communities;
• attend an aspiring state school or college;
• are from any other Global Majority background;
• are part of the first generation in their family to go to university;
• have caring responsibilities;
• have refugee status;
• have a disability;
• have a parent or carer who currently serves in the UK Armed Forces, or who has done so in the past.

*With additional priority assigned to the following underrepresented ethnic groups at University of Bristol: Asian Pakistani; Asian Bangladeshi; Black Caribbean; Black African; or of a mixed backgrounds featuring one of these groups.

We offer a wide range of outreach programmes and interventions designed to support post-16 students from underrepresented, disadvantaged, and marginalised backgrounds. If you’re not eligible for this programme, you may still be able to take part in another. Explore our other outreach opportunities here.