Application guidance

The following information is for guidance only. Competition for places at the University of Bristol is very strong, and the achievement of a specified qualification does not guarantee that an offer will be made. We aim to respond to your application as quickly as possible to help you plan your studies.

If your qualification is not mentioned or you have any further questions, please contact us for advice.

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• International Foundation Programme
• Undergraduate entry requirements
• Postgraduate entry requirements
• Scholarships
• Student societies
• Get in touch

International Foundation Programme

The International Foundation Programme (IFP) is delivered by the University of Bristol to prepare international students for a degree programme at the University through tailored English language units and academic subject units.

You can find more information through Kaplan International Pathways, our trusted education partner for applications and admissions to the International Foundation Programme.

Undergraduate entry requirements

You can apply for undergraduate courses through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Find out more from UCAS about applying to university in the UK. The UCAS institution code for the University of Bristol is BRISL B78.

Entry requirements vary for each course. Please check our undergraduate course listings for details of specific requirements.

Applicants will need to meet the English language requirements for their chosen course. Different courses need different levels of language skills, referred to as ‘profiles’. The required profile will be shown on the course page. Find out more about our English language profiles.

We will consider applicants with the German Abitur and the German International Abitur for entry to the first year of our Bachelor degrees. The minimum requirement is an overall average of 2.0 although the majority of programmes at Bristol require higher grades of approximately 1.7 or better.

Where specific subjects are required at A Level, Abitur students are usually required to study these subjects as Leistungskurse. For a grade A* equivalent 14/15 would be required, for grade A equivalent 13/15, for a grade B equivalent 12/15 would be required.

The equivalent of AAA in A-levels in the German Abitur is an overall score of 1.5.

The equivalent of AAA in A-levels in the German International Abitur is an overall score of 1.6.

Tips for when you fill out your UCAS form:

• in the 'Qualifications: Not yet completed' section please be sure to include all the examinations that you will be taking in the final year of school (not just the subjects that are most relevant to your choice of Bachelor degree)
• please make it very clear which of these are your Leistungskurse
• where grades are 'predicted', and not your actual grades, please make this clear too

All of these things will make it much easier for us to assess your application and to make the correct offer, where applicable.

For information and updates on EU students applying to study in the UK: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/brexit/

Postgraduate entry requirements

You should apply online for all our postgraduate programmes.

Entry requirements vary for each programme. Please check our postgraduate programme listings for details of specific requirements.

Applicants will need to meet the English language requirements for their chosen course. Different courses need different levels of language skills, referred to as ‘profiles’. The required profile will be shown on the course page. Find out more about our English language profiles.

To be considered for admission to a master's degree programme at the University of Bristol, the minimum requirement for entry is typically an undergraduate degree from an acceptable institution that is equivalent to a UK upper second-class degree (also known as a 2:1).

• Candidates who have a Bachelor Honours Degree with good grades will be considered for admission to a Masters degree.
• Candidates who hold the Magister Artium / Diplom / Erstes Staatsexamen (First State Examination) will be considered for admission to a Masters degree.
• Candidates who hold a Masters will be considered for admission to a PhD.

Funding your studies

The University provides a range of international scholarships, including our Think Big scholarships which can help fund your tuition fees.

Search our full list of funding to find more scholarships offered by the University of Bristol and external organisations.

Find more information about funding your studies on our student finances pages.

British Council

The British Council can give guidance and information about higher education in the UK. Find out from their website if there is an office near you and what services are available.

Student societies

Our student clubs include the German Society and over 400 more for different interests and hobbies.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about applying to Bristol, please contact our International Recruitment team:

Email: support@international.bristol.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)117 205 2644