Bristol has been shortlisted for the 'best city life' accolade alongside nine other universities, including Cardiff, Leeds, Edinburgh, Manchester and Liverpool, based on the opinions of a record-breaking 41,000 students at 160 institutions who have cast their opinions across the UK over the last 12 months.
The official winners of the Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs) will be announced on 25 April at a ceremony in London, being hosted by stand-up comedian Omid Djalili.
Now in their sixth year, the awards provide prospective students with an unbiased, student-led alternative to traditional university ranking systems. The awards are based on averages taken from tens of thousands of reviews submitted by students and published on Whatuni.com.
The University of Bristol won the 'best city life' award in 2015, was shortlisted in both 2016 and 2018, and is hoping to be a strong contender again.
Professor Sally Heslop, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education at the University of Bristol, said: "We know city life is a major part of the university experience and it's fantastic to have such a strong vote of confidence once again from our students. It would be brilliant to regain our title, especially given the stiff competition from other universities in fantastic cities.
"Bristol ticks so many boxes, which is why many students decide to stay here once they graduate. It doesn’t only offer a good nightlife, but there’s an abundance of culture, a vibrant music scene, countless festivals, free activities, beautiful green spaces and lots of independent shops and cafes.”
Student reviews describe the city as 'amazing nightlife, very vibrant and rich in culture', 'good people, friendly environment', 'love the city as a whole', and 'small enough not to be scary but big enough to have a lot'.
Katie Duncan, Head of Communications at IDP Connect, who organise the awards, said: "In a challenging climate for Higher Education institutions, there is nothing more rewarding than being recognised by their students for delivering such positive experiences. The reviews by current students that make up these nominations are invaluable for prospective students who use them to make decisions about their future."