University of Bristol

Bristol

International students in Bristol

Hello everybody,

i was browsing the university of bristol forum and could not find any thread on international students. Somehow i felt that the international support i received wasnt enough, and as international student it frustrates me as this is the only mean of communicating with the uni. What i gained from The Independent is that Bristol isnt a large recruiter of international students as compared to other big universities. I wonder whether this reflect its international reputation poorly.

I hope this thread can be a haven for all international students enrolling to bristol to share their thoughts of bristol

Regardless, i sTill firmed my aerospace engineering in bristol and i hope to see someone from the course :smile:

Cheers,

Reply 1

American Gypsy

Hey there,

Thanks for making a thread! I'm flying in from the University of Texas this fall. I did some digging on international demographics and found this webpage: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/ssio/statistics/totalstunos_geg.html. Apparently we make up 21% of the student population (not bad)! That's one in five. If you want to get into the nitty gritty for each country, see here: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/ssio/statistics/.

I love the international website. It looks cleaner and WAY more attractive than the main page. Maybe they're trying to lure us in... but 21% is good by any standards. My college only has 9% foreign students and it's in the top 10 USA schools for study abroad exchanges! May I ask where you're coming from?

Compared to other universities I've seen, it's a godsend that Bristol
a) Guarantees accommodation for study abroad students and
b) Doesn't lump you in with a bunch of OTHER study abroad students. Everybody's in the same pot, how awesome is that?

~Sarah

Source: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/ssio/statistics/

University of Bristol

Bristol

Reply 2

Brillentraeger

Hi,
I was a PhD student myself in Bristol some time ago.
And I think the support was really good - but it wasn't from the official University. It's from BISC - Bristol International Student Centre.
Check it out here
http://www.bisc.org.uk/

There are several events a week. Mondays: Cream tea, Wednesdays: soup lunch, Fridays: Sandwich lunch. Ideal opportunities of meeting people from all over the world.
Plus, trips and other events.

Best,
Brillentraeger

Reply 3

wiranamanjaro

Original post by American Gypsy

Hey sarah

thanks for replying. If you dont mind me asking what course will you be studying?

I have gathered all my information based on this website. I think it is a reliable enough. However it may be extracted from several years back.

this is the breakdown of number of international students in different universities from each subject.
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/international/international-students-the-facts/university-and-subject/
this is the total international student population in university of bristol. and from its subject. pretty neat huh?
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/bristol/international

I have to agree with you that the university's international website looks more appealing the rest. IF you somehow compare with other universities, like Sheffield U or Bath U, with all due respect they are farcry from Bristol.

I will be coming from Singapore in september. :smile:

you have got one overly excited student here.

cheers,

Reply 4

wiranamanjaro

Original post by Brillentraeger

Hey brillentraeger,

Wow. thanks for your link. Im glad that they are actually give much attention to the international student than I previously thought.

You arent local are you? anyway hats off to you for studying PhD. I always admire those.

Cheers,

Reply 5

Brillentraeger

Original post by wiranamanjaro

Hey brillentraeger,

Wow. thanks for your link. Im glad that they are actually give much attention to the international student than I previously thought.

Original post by wiranamanjaro

You arent local are you?

No, I'm not local. I was coming from Germany to do my PhD in Bristol. Unfortunately, I'm not in Bristol anymore as I have completed my PhD and now I'm a lecturer back in Germany.

If you have any questions about Bristol then let me know :smile:

Reply 6

wiranamanjaro

Original post by Brillentraeger

Wow. Germany! I love that country. Would definitely go there if they have an aerospace course in english. Highly considering it for my postgarduate. Haha i havent even started on my degree yet. :tongue:

i think the only burning concern i have on my mind is about accommodation if you have experience in the student halls. Please do share. :smile:

Reply 7

Brillentraeger

Original post by wiranamanjaro

i think the only burning concern i have on my mind is about accommodation if you have experience in the student halls. Please do share. :smile:

You can find a list of student halls in Bristol here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halls_of_residence_at_the_University_of_Bristol

My advice is "the closer (to the University) the better".
I would go for one of the Clifton Halls (Goldney Hall, Clifton Hil House, Manor Hall). They are really close to University and Clifton is the nicest suburb of Bristol.

The Stoke Bishop Halls are further away. It takes bit of a walk to the University. It might keep you fit doing all the walking. On the other hand, on a cold November day living in Clifton seems to be very desirable.

The Hawthrones, 115 Queens Road and Winkworth House are extremely close to the University. Maybe to close.

You have to decide whether you want a catered or self-catered hall. If you like to cook for yourself and not stick to fixed dinning hours then you should choose a self-catered hall (such as Manor Hall).

Reply 8

wiranamanjaro

Original post by Brillentraeger

thank you so much for your information it certainly will help in my decision.

I start to get frustrated, with the bristol's slow reply to my urgent matter.
waiting for their email is akin waiting for a postcard during world war

Reply 9

Sandman62

Original post by Brillentraeger

Like evey year there should be a welcome program. Here is the link from last year (2012):
http://www.bisc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85&Itemid=73

There should be something similar this year in September

No, I'm not local. I was coming from Germany to do my PhD in Bristol. Unfortunately, I'm not in Bristol anymore as I have completed my PhD and now I'm a lecturer back in Germany.

If you have any questions about Bristol then let me know :smile:

Hi, I'm a home student starting my masters in sept and actually had a question about your PHD. I'm considering doing a PHD after my MSc and was wondering if you would recommend it? How long did yours take and did you receive financial backing or did you self fund?

Reply 10

Brillentraeger

Original post by Sandman62

Hi, I'm a home student starting my masters in sept and actually had a question about your PHD. I'm considering doing a PHD after my MSc and was wondering if you would recommend it?

That depends what you actually want to do after Uni. And also whether you are research type of person. It also depends on your subject.

Original post by Sandman62

How long did yours take and did you receive financial backing or did you self fund?

Mine took 4 years (although if I had followed my advisor's instructions more carefully it could have been only 3 years). My funding was through EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) for the first 3 years. I was self funding in my final year. Which was fine as you can usually do tutorials for undergraduate student as a PhD student.