Part-time students and short courses
Undergraduates
A number of our full-time undergraduate degree courses can be studied on a part-time basis alongside full-time students during the day, including a range of arts, social sciences and language subjects. The course index in our online course finder indicates which subjects are available part-time and each course's entry table includes further details.
The University is also developing new, flexible ways of studying at undergraduate level, which includes a BA in English Literature and Community Engagement. For more information please see our online course finder.
For information about funding, please visit our Fees and Funding website.
Postgraduates
The University caters extensively for part-time postgraduate students: in fact, about a third of our research students and around half of our taught masters students are part-time. Part-time options are available on the majority of our study programmes, with some course being specifically designed with flexibility in mind, so that you can combine work and study effectively. Many part-time students are actively supported by their employers. Take a look at our postgraduate prospectus to see the range of options open to you; in the "key facts" box at the end of each entry we indicate where part-time study is available.
Short courses
The University offers a range of short courses including:
Would you like to know more about slavery and how it shaped Bristol? We'll be tackling difficult questions about the impact of slavery. Ways Into History will run on 15 Wednesday evenings from January. No qualifications needed to apply. £350 (2018/19 fee) – financial assistance is available for those on low incomes.
Share your ideas and participate in classroom debates on classic and modern literature, explore poetry and prose, gain a greater understanding of Shakespeare and develop your essay writing skills. This course aims to be an enjoyable and confidence-building experience for anyone over 18 returning to study. It offers the opportunity to progress to an undergraduate degree or other further study. No qualifications needed to apply. £350 (2018/19 fee) – financial assistance is available for those on low incomes.
This is a 15-week course for anyone interested in making sense of the society that we live in. It's an interactive course, covering a wide range of topics, from social inequalities, to the general election; September 11th to the justice system; protests, the environment, and what it really means to be part of society. The course will draw on participants' and tutors' experiences, social and conventional media, research projects, and a wide range of other sources, to inform our debate and discussions in class. It offers the opportunity to progress to an undergraduate degree or other further study. No qualifications needed to apply. £350 (2018/19 fee) – financial assistance is available for those on low incomes.
This is a 15-week course for those interested in learning about Education. Did you enjoy your own time at school? Why was that? Do aspects of the education system excite or frustrate you? Share your ideas and participate in classroom debates on education, explore why the system is the way it is - the politics and history that got us to where we are - and consider how it could be different, while developing your skills in forming an argument. This course aims to be a lively, positive and confidence-building experience for anyone over 18 returning to study. A particular welcome is extended to those who didn’t much enjoy their own schooling at the time! No qualifications needed to apply. £350 (2018/19 fee) – financial assistance is available for those on low incomes.
Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden offer a range of short courses and workshops. For more information visit their website.
Public Events
To view the range of community events, lectures, workshops, and taster courses available to the public, please see the University of Bristol events calendar.
Contact us
If you have any questions, email us: uob-pt-study@bristol.ac.uk.
Do you work with a local community organisation?
We work with community organisations in the local area to support adult learners who want to return to study by developing taster courses in areas including creative writing, oral history, enterprise skills and understanding society. We have developed tasters with the Single Parent Action Network (SPAN), Bristol Refugee Rights and Bristol Best Tuition. If you are interested in working with us, email tom.sperlinger@bristol.ac.uk.
My degree fits into working life well and is flexible enough so I can study and manage my other commitments. The course is for everybody, of all ages and backgrounds, and we're all very supportive of one another. Plus, through the reading groups, we get to share our enjoyment of books with other people.
Will I be able to work and study at the same time?
Many of our students choose to work alongside study. The University guidelines suggest that full-time students work no more than 15 hours per week during term time. Many of our full time students choose to keep 9am - 5pm hours of work, made up of teaching and independent study.