The £10 million gift is being made by Bristol alumnus Hugh Sloane and the Sloane Robinson Foundation, which he founded with his business partner George Robinson.
It will help fund the University's transformational new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus (TQEC), which is set to be one of the city's most significant regeneration projects in recent history.
Teaching and research on the seven-acre site, which adjoins Brunel's iconic Temple Meads train station, will focus on digital technologies, their application by citizens, organisations and industry, and the innovation they drive.
Rigorous new degree programmes will be designed and developed in collaboration with industry and partner organisations, to ensure students educated at TQEC are equipped with the knowledge, skills, values and resilience to thrive and lead in our rapidly changing world.
Hugh Sloane, who graduated from Bristol in 1977 with a degree in Economics and Politics, said: "This is one of the few times in the last 50 years where an opportunity has arisen to build a new campus right in the heart of a UK city. I think people will be amazed when they visit the city by train and see this world-class academic centre across the platform.
"My support for the project stems from its focus on postgraduate and multidisciplinary education with an international outlook. These elements will be critical to its success.
"The new campus and academically challenging degree programmes will attract the best and brightest from around the world.
"Without world-class education and research, we will not be able to address some of society’s biggest challenges, from economic inequality to future health care needs.
University of Bristol Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Hugh Brady said: "Hugh Sloane is a very proud Bristol alumnus and a hugely successful businessman in his own right.
"We involved him at an early stage in our conversations about the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. He has an eye on what the competition looks like worldwide, and the project will be so much better for his input.
"I would like to thank Hugh Sloane and the Sloane Robinson Foundation for the tremendous generosity they have shown our University, and their confidence in our bold ambitions."
The new TQEC campus will revolutionise teaching and learning with business education co-located with world-class science and engineering research and development. At its core lies a desire to develop a 'Bristol approach' to innovation which is visionary, transformative and inclusive – building on Bristol's reputation as one of the world's leading digital cities.
Professor Brady said: "We have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine the future of our University as one of the world’s great civic universities while also transforming a key site at the heart of our city.
"Our campus will be a beacon for collaboration, evolution and opportunity. It will not only help secure the future growth and success of the University and the city, but will add in a major way to the future success of the UK.
"Hugh Sloane has put his trust and faith in our vision which makes us ever more determined to make this venture a great success."
Stephen O'Connor, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, added: "This gift is an historic moment for our University, clearly demonstrating the benefits of working in partnership with visionary philanthropists. We hope others will follow this inspirational lead, and that it will leverage additional support from the public sector and further philanthropic support from our alumni and friends."