University of Bristol

OverviewReputaion and RankingsApplication supportCoursesStudent FeedbackLocation
Outstanding Teaching
High Quality Teaching
Research Power
Global Leader
International Mix

Home Students

69%

International Students

31%

Total Students

32,100

Home

22,275

International

9,815

Established in 1595 and awarded university status in 1909, this institution is one of the celebrated “red brick” universities. Born in the industrial boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these civic universities are famed for their distinctive red‑brick architecture, their focus on practical, research‑led teaching, and enduring ties to local industry.

In the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework, the university was awarded the second highest category, earning an overall Silver rating, plus Silver for Student Experience and Gold for Student Outcomes.

Teaching Excelence Framewok (TEF)

The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) is a UK government assessment of how well universities deliver teaching, learning, and student outcomes. 

It helps you compare universities based on the quality of their teaching and student support and is widely used in rankings.

Overall Silver
Teaching Silver
Student Outcomes Gold

Global Rankings

Not all universities appear in every global ranking. Many rankings consider the TEF and the National Student Survey as key indicators of teaching quality and student satisfaction.

# 78
THE
2,000+ universities
# 51
QS
1,503 Universties
# 62
ARTU
Top 400 Globally
# 98
ARUW
1,000 Globally

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University of Bristol Courses

National Student Survey Results 2025

The National Student Survey (NSS) is an annual UK-wide survey that collects final-year undergraduates’ feedback on the quality of their courses, covering teaching, learning resources, academic support, and overall satisfaction. Its large sample size, consistent methodology, and focus on student experience make it a trusted indicator for comparing universities.

University of Bristol University Level Scores

University of Bristol received positivity scores of 88% for teaching and 81.7% for learning. Click the tabs below to see detailed student survey results and an explanation of the scores.

Theme 1 of the UK’s National Student Survey asks final year students to rate the teaching they have experienced on their course. 

It asks students how clearly tutors explain ideas, how they bring the subject to life, and how well they inspire learning. It’s one of the best ways to gauge students’ direct experiences of teaching quality at the university.

NSS Theme 1: Teaching on my Course – University Score
Metric Value Explanation
Positivity measure 88% The percentage of students who answered “good” or “very good” to the questions in Theme 1 about the teaching they received.
Difference to Benchmark 0.1ppt The difference in percentage points between this provider’s score and the national benchmark for similar institutions. A positive or negative number here indicates the university’s performance against similar institutions.
Benchmark 87.9% The expected or average score for similar institutions and subjects, used as a point of comparison.
Response Distribution
Materially above benchmark 0% Proportion of responses where the score was significantly above the benchmark (typically 2 standard deviations or more). A large percentage here indicates above-average teaching satisfaction.
Broadly in line 100% Proportion of responses that were close to the benchmark and within expected variation.
Materially below benchmark 0% Proportion of responses where the score was below the benchmark.
Response rate 71.7% The percentage of eligible students who responded to the NSS questions in this theme.

Theme 2 of the UK’s National Student Survey asks final year students to reflect on the learning opportunities they have experienced during their course.

It covers how well the course has offered opportunities to explore ideas in depth, bring together information from different topics, and apply learning in new or practical ways. This theme gives prospective students a sense of how effectively a course supports exploring the subject matter intellectual growth. 

NSS Theme 2: Learning Opportunities – University Score
Metric Value Explanation
Positivity measure 81.7% The percentage of students who gave positive responses (e.g. “definitely” or “mostly agree”) to the learning opportunities questions in this theme.
Difference to Benchmark -2.3ppt The difference in percentage points between this provider’s score and the national benchmark for similar institutions.
Benchmark 84% The expected or average score for similar institutions and subjects, used as a point of comparison.
Response Distribution
Materially above benchmark 0% Proportion of responses where the score was significantly above the benchmark (typically 2 standard deviations or more).
Broadly in line 62.6% Proportion of responses that were close to the benchmark and within expected variation.
Materially below benchmark 37.4% Proportion of responses where the score was significantly below the benchmark.
Response rate 71.7% The percentage of eligible students who responded to the NSS questions in this theme.

Location

Bristol, South West

Distance to London 118 Miles (190 KM)

Driving To London 2 hours 17 min

Public Transport To London 1 hours 46 min

Nearest Airport Cardiff Airport (CWL)

Miles to Nearest Airport 56.7