Our collection of real, honest student reviews of unis and courses is the largest in the UK, and help you make well-informed decisions about your future. Student reviews also form the basis of our annual Whatuni Student Choice Awards(WUSCAs), which highlight great work carried out by institutions for their students.
2023 WUSCA winners
Such a lovely place to study! Very impressive facilities such as libraries, study spaces etc. The location is brilliant too. Student support is great - I’ve already received some amazing advice and I’ve only been studying there for 2 months! I’ve not had much interaction with the Students Union, but from what I’ve heard, it provides brilliant opportunities for students to get involved with societies, activities etc.
All of my course is taught in person which is ideal for me! Lots of contact time with tutors etc which is perfect for maintaining professional relationships with staff. There are brilliant support systems in place for students, and these are frequently highlighted to ensure students know that there are people who have their back! Course content is so interesting - I find it very engaging and I’ve really enjoyed my course so far. The resources and facilities are exceptional, and I’m very grateful for the opportunities that have been offered to me.
My uni halls are generally very good. It’s a brilliant location, the rooms are pretty good and allocation in terms of flatmates is AMAZING (they’re my best friends at uni!) It’s generally well maintained, however there have been a couple of instances in which we have reported various issues and we’ve had to follow them up a couple of times before anything has been done about it. Value for money is fair I suppose, however it does seem pretty expensive…
As someone who has studied at various universities, I can confidently assert that the University of Bristol is the best one I've attended. The professors encourage students to build connections, and the frequent guest lectures provide a well-rounded education. There are countless opportunities to engage in academic pursuits; one just has to inquire. However, the city of Bristol itself is not very welcoming to students. With the exception of the entertainment sector, the public transportation system has been declining for almost five years, and the housing market has been a challenging situation for decades, exacerbated by the pandemic. Many of my colleagues and I have had to settle for subpar accommodations located hours away from campus. Fortunately, the university provides free mental health support services, but it would be more beneficial if affordable housing options were available.
I can literally study what I love the most! The only downside is that, being a self-funded part-timer, I struggle to comply with deadlines.
Best: meeting lots of people and having opportunities to do a variety of things Worst: the fact that B:active activities are so over subscribed and sports societies are so expensive
Best: in person lectures with lecturers how are passionate and engaging Worst: anything still online
Most: people I met Least: carpet colour, outdated covid signs, expensive washing
The best parts have been meeting the people from my course/in my social life. I love when my tutors have a section for getting to know each other - some people I met I am besties with now Worst aspects have probably been dealing with ADHD. There’s a good disability service but long lists at GP made this quite difficult for me. Facilities are good, love finding new study spaces. However, some days can never find one! Definitely need to expand/better advertise other spaces SU is good but haven’t really had a personal experience with them
Caught all taught in person Mix of language and cultural modules Have 10 hours a week - 6 are language so could probably do with more cultural time Lack of time in cultural units leads to more reading which I struggle with Lecturers and my personal tutor are very approachable
Was so expensive for what I got. Paid the same price for a room with a sink as my friends with full en suite rooms and modern kitchens would pay in the north. Location was OK but further from uni than most second/third year houses are. Was really social but security often shut down these events.
I like the University of Bristol because the support it provides to students in terms of their courses, but also mental health.
Course is ok. The hours are perfect and the lecturers are accessible
How to build networks
The city is great and the university is in a very central location - there is always lots going on! The social life is also amazing. The worst aspect of my uni experience was the lack of support avaliable when Covid was very prevalent. I was in halls at the time and there was little contact from the university even when the flat was in lockdown we were very isolated with little access to food. We were given an emergency phone number with regards to student wellbeing but not one to contact if there was any urgent enquiry about aspects of our course, even in the very first couple weeks nor could we go to the university to speak in person to people. This, however, is not an issue any longer!
The course is now predominantly in person which is fantastic. The lecturers are always very helpful and the content is interesting.
I was in self catered badock which was great value for money compared to catered. Very clean modern rooms and great people! The kitchens could be larger considering they are shared between 10 students and for a month we did not have any hot water which was not ideal but overall I would not wish to have been put anywhere else!
Not very diverse in terms of student intake. Modern languages department is well organised with lovely staff in my experience and great facilities. Student societies are thriving at Bristol with plenty to get involved in. Finally, you can't beat the location of being in Bristol. It is an exciting, creative city with plenty to do and lovely natural spots as well.
Good amount of contact hours and manageable workload if you put the effort in. Staff are very friendly and facilities are excellent, especially the Multimedia Centre and the guy who runs it. Not much in the way of career information though. This could be improved on.
I love the city itself and its blend of natural and urban environments however rent is expensive and it is not very diverse in the centre-west areas. Public transport is not amazing but it is quite small so most places are accessible by foot.
I had a great time at Manor Hall. Not too expensive and the rooms in the main hall are massive! There is also a great music practice room, a lovely garden and 'bar' area for JCR events (as well as a lovely old great hall but we didn't do much in there - a shame). I loved the old nature of the building and the flats in the main hall are big, so plenty of people to mix with. Location is ideal, 15-20 min walk down town but tucked up in peaceful Clifton village with the bridge and downs nearby -would highly recommend! :)
University of Bristol is an excellent place to study, particularly for international students. My personal tutor and nice course mates help me feel included.
Some lecturers and tutors aren't good at explaining things. Kinda lack of career services for finance student.
Nice memories.
Bristol is the perfect university for anyone who loves trying new things, there will never be a dull moment in Bristol. There are so many different active student societies as well as a lively night life and a city which doesn't stop. The university itself is well equipped and there are lots of different areas to study or meet with friends, the chemistry teaching labs are very modern too.
Lecturers are generally very enthusiastic and happy to discuss any questions you may have. Studying chemistry at Bristol I feel that I am part of something exciting and I can't wait to be involved in cutting edge research in my final years. One big reason I love Bristol university is the flexibility you have to mix subjects. I have been able to take a French module alongside chemistry which should then enable me to go and study in France in my 3rd year. I would certainly recommend Bristol for students who are interested in multiple subjects. An important point to note is that I would say that the amount of distance learning varies a lot between courses , so I would recommend finding out about this to check it suites your own expectations before you come to university. Finally, I have really enjoyed my first year at Bristol so far, I feel like I have had a great work life balance and I am particularly happy with the first year being largely assessed through course work, as I only have one chemistry exam in the summer!
The rooms in Churchill hall are a fantastic size (massive desks!) and the catering is generally good. If you are not afraid of a 35 minute walk onto campus, the location being slightly out of the city centre has been really nice for me this year. There are also buses that run very regularly which are generally reliable, there are sometimes difficulties coming back on a night out but usually you shouldn't have to wait more than 20 minutes for a bus. In my experience I have had some difficulty meeting people like me at churchill as I hadn't been to boarding school or had experience living away from home before, but after some time I found my crowd and am really enjoying my time here now.
Many newly renovated studying spaces were very convenient.
In-class teaching was very helpful for me to discuss with other classmates. Most lecturers were busy but they would always make time to talk privately.