Help with your application for postgraduate study

Where can I find help with my application?

Help with applying for Postgraduate study can be found on the Postgraduate Study pages. Further help and useful how-to videos can be found in the guidance for online applications.

How do I add additional documents after I have submitted my application?

Whichever programme you apply for there are documents that you will need to provide with your application. Refer to the postgraduate admissions statement for each programme to see individual requirements

If you have already submitted your application you can attach additional supporting documents to be considered for your application using the 'Post-Submission Uploads' section of the online application system. Further help is available in our guidance for online applications.

You should make every effort to upload your documents online as soon as possible to avoid a delay in your application being assessed.

What is an academic transcript and how is this different from my degree certificate?

An academic transcript is an official document that shows:

The units which have been taken in each year of study
The assessment and reassessment (as appropriate) grades for each unit
The total number of credits gained in each unit taken and in each year of study
The degree awarded, degree classification and date of award (where applicable)

Is my degree subject acceptable for the programme?

Check the programme prospectus page and admissions statement for your programme. If you still have questions contact us on fohs-pgadmissions@bristol.ac.uk

How do I find a supervisor?

Once you have decided which research programme you wish to apply for you will need to find a suitable supervisor for your project. A supervisor is a member of the research staff who has expertise in the field that you wish to study. The University can only offer you a research place if we have the expertise to supervise your project. The University does not normally arrange research projects or arrange supervisors for applicants, unless this is an application for a specific scholarship or advert where the supervisor is named.

Staff profiles (contacts/full staff list) can be found on the Faculty Research page and the programme prospectus. You can also search by staff research interest here.

You should contact supervisors in your chosen field to discuss working with them and supervision needs to be agreed before you add a supervisor's name to your application form. Also make sure that your supervisor has a full contract with the University as we do not allow those with honorary status to act as main/primary supervisors.

Information regarding some specific projects and scholarships can be found on www.FindAPhD.com

Will I get sent an offer letter?

We do not send out offer letters in the post – you can access your offer letter through your online application form where you can print your own copy if you wish. We find a printed copy of this is sufficient for most student's needs. If you are an international student, your CAS number is confirmation that you have an unconditional offer.

Where can I find my start date?

The start and end dates for your programme will be found on your offer letter which can be viewed on your online application.

There may be some flexibility for start dates for PG Research students. If you are unable to meet the start date in your offer letter let us know as soon as possible.

Unfortunately for PG taught programmes there is little or no flexibility on start dates, as teaching will have been timetabled in advance.

I have an outstanding condition on my offer what should I do?

If you have an outstanding condition in your offer letter, you will need to provide evidence that you have met your condition(s) before your offer can be made unconditional. Your entry to the University depends on meeting the requirements specified in your offer and we will be unable to send your registration details until these have been met.

If you anticipate a delay in providing evidence you should notify us as soon as possible, by emailing fohs-pgadmissions@bristol.ac.uk and provide details of when your evidence will be available.

How do I provide evidence I have met my conditions?

Upload the relevant documents required to meet your conditions as soon as possible in the "Evidence for Conditions" section of your online application form. This will then be assessed by the Admissions Team who will inform you whether your condition(s) have been successfully met via email to your registered email contact.

If you need help, take a look at our guidance on submitting supporting documents. Once you have submitted your results, contact us at fohs-pgadmissions@bristol.ac.uk to let us know that the information to meet your condition(s) is now available.

What are the language conditions for my programme?

The language entry requirements for your programme can be found on the prospectus and the relevant admissions statement for your programme.

Further information regarding English Language profiles and the qualifications you need for each profile can be found on the English Language requirements for study page.

The language entry requirements for your programme will also be shown on your offer letter.

Important: note that you do not need to have reached the required level before you apply. If you haven't reached the required level in English language for your course/programme you will be given a given a conditional offer, stating the language profile that you need to meet? You will need to provide a valid English language qualification showing you have met the required target grade before you commence the programme and before you can be issued with a CAS for your study.

I have a language condition in my offer and I am attending/intend to attend a Pre-sessional English Language programme

If you are planning to study on one of the University of Bristol's Pre-sessional Academic English Courses, then do not worry. We will await the results of the Pre-Sessional course as a means of meeting your language condition. Important: you should still provide evidence for all other conditions associated with your offer as soon as possible.

If you have a language condition on your postgraduate offer and you do not achieve the required standard at the pre-sessional Language Programme, you will not have met the language condition of your offer and unfortunately, we will not be able to register you for your postgraduate programme.

Where can I find more information about pre-sessional English language programmes?

The Centre for English Language and Foundation Studies (CELFS) runs English language programmes for students preparing for postgraduate study. Our pre-sessional courses are open to those who have an offer from the University.

There are 14-week, 10-week or 6-week courses, and the course you choose will depend on your existing language level and the terms of your offer. Find out which pre-sessional course you would need to take.

Is it possible to contact current students to gain their view of the programme?

Due to the General Data Protection Regulations we are unable to give you the contact details of former or current students. However, we can pass your details to the programme director who, if they feel it is appropriate, will ask if there are students willing to contact you to discuss their experience on the programme.

Is it possible to visit the university before I start?

We hold regular postgraduate open days and campus tours throughout the year. Check our website for further information and details of how to attend a postgraduate visit, open day or virtual tour.

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Fees and funding

How much are my fees?

A tuition fee is payable in each year for every programme of study at the University of Bristol. The amount that is payable varies depending on the programme. You can find details of postgraduate tuition fees listed on the prospective pages for each programme. Your annual tuition and bench fees (if applicable) will also be shown on your offer letter.

Further information can be found on the postgraduate study Fees and Funding page

How and when do I pay my fees?

Further information about Tuition Fees, including how to make payments can be found on the postgraduate Fees and Funding page

Why and how do I pay a course or international deposit?

If you are self-funded international student applying for a taught programme, you will be required to make an online payment/deposit by 1 August as indicated on your offer letter. You will be required to pay a minimum of £1,500 but may pay up to the full cost of the tuition fee if desired.

Important: The payment of a deposit (or confirmation of sponsorship agreement for students who are not self-funding) is required before we can provide a CAS to support your visa application.

International deposit payments are non-refundable, except under the exceptional circumstances outlined in the International deposit refund policy. To apply for a refund, you should contact wd-app@bristol.ac.uk

International students whose fees are being paid by an external organisation or sponsor (for example, a government department, company or charity) are not required to pay a deposit. The organisation paying your fees will be invoiced and requested to pay the full fee once you have registered on the programme of study and provided evidence of your sponsorship.

Are there any funding or scholarship opportunities available?

The Student Funding Office offers funding advice for postgraduate study and details on the living expenses you can expect to budget for while you study.

Funding options for postgraduate study are significantly different from those available for undergraduate study. A student's funding also differs if they study a research degree (e.g. PhD) or a taught degree (e.g. MSc).

If you have any questions about postgraduate funding, contact student-funding@bristol.ac.uk or use the Funding Search Tool.

You can find information on tuition fees on the prospective postgraduate fees page. University of Bristol alumni who go on to study for a postgraduate degree at Bristol can benefit from a 10 per cent reduction in tuition fees.

You can find information about some specific projects and scholarships on www.FindAPhD.com

Providing evidence of sponsorship

If your tuition fees and living costs are being partially or completely covered by a third party, we will require confirmation of this from your sponsor. This can either be a formal letter confirming the level of sponsorship you will be receiving, or you can use the Sponsorship Authorisation form (PDF, 36kB). Upload this to your application using the 'Post-Submission Uploads' section of the online application system. Further help is available in our guidance for online applications.

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CAS numbers and visa advice

The University of Bristol's dedicated Student Visa Services team is here to support you in securing and ensuring you comply with your UK student visa – from the moment you accept an offer of a place right through to graduation. You can email them on student-visa-advice@bristol.ac.uk. You can also find more information on the International Office website

When will I receive my CAS number?

The admissions team cannot issue your CAS unless the following actions have been completed

Accept your offer online;
Submit documentation that proves that you have met the conditions of your offer in the 'Evidence for Conditions' section of your online application;
Upload a colour scan of the valid passport you intend to use for your travel to the UK in the 'Post submission uploads' section of your online application;
Self-funded international applicants are required to pay a deposit;
Students whose studies are fully funded by sponsorship (i.e. a scholarship) do not have to pay the deposit. You must provide evidence of your sponsorship by emailing the International Office (international-partnerships@bristol.ac.uk) with a copy of your sponsorship confirmation document. You must also upload proof of your funding (i.e. your sponsorship letter) to your online application and email the admissions team to let them know you have done it by emailing fohs-cas@bristol.ac.uk

Note we are unable to produce CAS numbers earlier than 3 months prior to your start date. Once generated you will receive your CAS number by email.

If you have any queries about your CAS contact the admissions team at fohs-cas@bristol.ac.uk

You can check UK government visa processing times for an estimate of how long you will need to apply for your visa.

The University of Bristol's dedicated Student Visa Services can be contacted on student-visa-advice@bristol.ac.uk. You can also find more information on the International Office website.

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Frequently asked questions

Registration Information for new students

For full details on registration, please refer to the information provided by the University here: Register | Current students | University of Bristol

When will I get my timetable?
If you require further details of your programme timetable, contact your programme administrator – you can find details on the online prospectus page for your programme.

What units will I take? Where can I find more details about my course?

You can find details of all taught programmes running in the current academic year, as well as showing historic data for previous years and provisional data for future academic years, on the Programme Catalogue.

Finding accommodation

The Accommodation Office can help with University allocated and private rented accommodation. You can contact the office by phone on +44 (0)117 95 46640, or by email at accom-office@bristol.ac.uk.

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Programme-specific frequently asked questions

MSc Stem Cells and Regeneration

The Stem Cells and Regeneration MSc is a distance-learning programme. Students will only be required to visit Bristol for formal examinations at the end of the academic year. The programme does not meet government requirements for a Tier 4 visa. Short-term visitor visa letters will be provided to International Students for attendance at the end of year examinations.

The majority of students do a major literature review for the research component of the MSc and it is perfectly viable to do this from home – there is no need to come to Bristol. However, if you register full-time for the course and show consistently good academic performance, there may also be the option to come to Bristol and do a lab-based project for the research component. If you were to be offered and chose this latter option, you would need to base yourself in Bristol for a few months towards the end of the course (the lab-based projects usually commence in early May each year and run for a few months). Note that students who undertake a lab-based project are charged an additional £2,000 (on top of tuition fees) to help cover the cost of lab consumables.

MSc Reproduction and Development

How much time and how often will I need to attend teaching in Bristol?

The Reproduction and Development MSc is a distance-learning programme. All students need to take leave to attend the Bristol-based teaching workshops which occur twice a year, first in September and again in late February or March.

Will I be able to complete this course whilst working in my current job?

Of course, that is the beauty of the programme and its effective blended learning approach. We currently have clinicians, specialist nurses, midwives and IVF technologists/scientists all studying on our programme whilst still working full time. All students need to take leave to attend the Bristol-based teaching workshops which occur twice a year, first in September and again in late February or March but most assignments are completed during the 15 weeks of distance learning so there is flexibility to fit studying with your work commitments.

We also provide timetables up to two years in advance, so you know when to book/schedule leave. Giving you the flexibility of e-learning together with a mode of study that can be both part-time or full-time, has enabled us to provide as wide as possible student participation. Therefore, the course attracts those currently employed in science-related disciplines and the medical health professions (e.g. scientists, midwives, nurses and clinicians) who can do this course on a part-time basis, and/or those students with caring responsibilities who cannot commit to full-time mode of attendance. As such we provide opportunities to a range of students from different educational and international backgrounds that otherwise would be unable to participate.

Further information regarding timetables and the dates you will be required to attend in Bristol can be obtained from the programme administrator repromed-admin@bristol.ac.uk

Will I need a visa to study the programme?

The programme does not meet government requirements for a Tier 4 visa. Short-term visitor visa letters will be provided to International Students for attendance at workshops and exams.

Note that we are unable to send your student visitor visa letter until you have paid your non-refundable deposit and met all your conditions. Make sure that you give sufficient time to arrive in Bristol for the start of the course in September.

Hepatitis immunity requirements

Note that in order to confirm your Hepatitis B immunity, you will need to have a specific blood test showing you are anti-HBs positive to confirm titre of HepB antibodies to satisfy this condition: this is separate from your record of Hepatitis B vaccination.

MSc Global Wildlife Health and Conservation

Information on the academic content of the MSc can be found on the Postgraduate Prospectus and on the University's Programme Catalogue. The majority of teaching takes place at the Bristol Veterinary School in Lower Langford and the remainder at Bristol Zoo Gardens in Clifton. As a rough guide, during the first two terms you will normally spend up to three days each week at Langford and up to two days at Bristol Zoo. Free bus transport will be provided between the Bristol campus and Langford on days when your teaching is scheduled at Langford. Free parking is available on the Langford site for students who prefer to travel by car.

The research project phase of the MSc programme, takes place between May and August. Some students choose to stay in Bristol to do their projects, others go elsewhere in the UK or overseas. There is an opportunity for students to do their project in Australia but this is not compulsory. Students taking this option need to pay for their air flights, immigration visa and medical insurance. Those students planning to do their project overseas should think carefully before signing a 12 month accommodation contract and, if possible, should include an option to leave their Bristol accommodation in May.

If you have any specific questions about the MSc in Global Wildlife Health and Conservation, contact either the Programme Administrator (nicola.minton@bristol.ac.uk) for general information or the Programme Director (andrew.kennedy@bristol.ac.uk) for academic matters.

MRes Health Sciences Research and MRes Health Sciences Research (Translational Cardiovascular Medicine)

Students on the both MRes programmes will undertake their research projects between November and July. Students are not required to submit a research project proposal when applying for this programme, however we are keen to know your research experience and interests (which can be included in your personal statement and/or research statement). If you have a particular topic in mind contact Fiona Holmes (f.e.holmes@bris.ac.uk) to discuss if this can be accommodated.

A list of a wide variety of research projects will be made available to the students when they start the programme. Students will have the opportunity to meet with up to 3 potential supervisors to discuss projects in more detail, if they wish, before selecting their choices. Students will then be assigned to a research project based on preference and availability.

MRes Health Sciences Research (Renal)

Students on the MRes Renal programme will undertake their research project between November and July. Students are not required to submit a research project proposal when applying for this programme, however we are keen to know your research experience and specific renal interests (which can be included in your personal statement and/or research statement). If you have a particular renal topic in mind contact Becky Foster (becky.foster@bris.ac.uk) to discuss if this can be accommodated.

A varied list of renal research projects will be made available to the students when they start the programme. Students will have the opportunity to meet with up to 3 potential supervisors to discuss projects in more detail, if they wish, before selecting their choices. Students will then be assigned to a research project based on preference and availability.

MSc Molecular Neuroscience

Whilst the research project is a major component of the MSc Molecular Neuroscience, the programme is predominantly a taught and not a research MSc. The research component of the course represents only one third of the total course curriculum. The taught component is assessed using practical assessments, coursework, presentations and examinations.

Students on the MSc programme will undertake the research project between May and September. Students are not required to submit a research project proposal when applying for this programme. However, details of any research experience and interests can be included in your personal statement. A list with a wide variety of research projects will be made available to the students during the spring term. Students will then be assigned to a research project based on availability and, when possible, personal preference.

If you have any queries about the information on this page, contact the Faculty of Health Sciences postgradute admissions team either by emailing fohs-pgadmissions@bristol.ac.uk or calling +44 (0) 117 42 82754.

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Information for Postgraduate Applications