You must apply to the Bristol Abroad team for a study abroad place. If you are awarded a study abroad place, you will then apply to the partner university abroad.

Before completing the application form, you should make sure you have worked through all of the actions in Steps 1 and 2.

You should also read the information on how places are allocated and how to earn engagement points. This will help you make your application for a study abroad place as strong as possible. 

University choices

On the application form: 

• list up to 5 universities where you can study your subject in English
• rank the universities in order of preference
• do not include more than two universities listed as highly competitive. Do not include more than two universities with a medium competitive rating. Places are limited. 

For each university choice, you must tell us: 

• Why you have chosen this university to study abroad (maximum 150 words for each answer).

We want to know what your academic and personal motivation is to study there.  

Alternative destinations 

The application form will give you an option to indicate that you would that you would like to be considered for alternative destinations if we are not able to offer you one of your five choices.

We will only use this information in the instance that we are not able to offer you one of your 5 choices. Selecting "yes" for this option will not impact your chance of getting one of your top 5 choices. 

If you do not select "yes" in this section and we are not able to offer you one of your 5 choices, you will need to transfer off the study abroad programme. 

Motivation questions for semester abroad applicants

If you are applying for a semester abroad, you must also answer the following 2 questions on the online application form:

• What do you hope to gain from studying abroad? (maximum 250 words)
• Describe a time you felt outside of your comfort zone. (maximum 250 words)

We want to know what your academic and personal motivation is to study abroad. We will use this information to assess your application. 

Additional support requirements

We ask all students applying for a year or a semester abroad to disclose any physical or mental health conditions, or learning conditions you have on your application form. 

We ask for this information so that we can better support you before, during and after you go abroad. 

We can arrange support by using this information to work with:

• you
• your academic department
• University support services (such as Wellbeing and Disability Services)
• your university abroad. 

Any conditions or circumstances you disclose will have no influence on the place you are allocated.