University of Bristol
Faculty of Engineering

Introduction to the Faculty

The University of Bristol's Faculty of Engineering is an outstanding place in which to study and research. http://www.bris.ac.uk/engineering.Set in the heart of one of the most attractive and culturally vibrant cities in the UK, and within a world-renowned University, the Faculty is closely linked to one of the biggest centres of engineering industry in the UK.

External indicators of esteem

The Faculty achieves excellent results in external reviews and league tables. The Faculty's departments average a ranking of 5 in The Times Good University Guide (2008) and are consistently amongst the top few in the National Student Survey. The recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) result also confirmed the Faculty as one of the main players in engineering research in the UK. The Faculty has attracted over £75m in industrial and governmental research awards over the past five years; it has spent over £20m on infrastructure and laboratory equipment that will keep it at the forefront of teaching and research.

One Faculty, Six Departments, Many Research Groups

The Faculty offers a range of outstanding postgraduate programmes and research opportunities across six world-class departments:

The Faculty fosters research links between departments, and many of its research facilities facilitate cutting-edge interdisciplinary work. For full details of the Faculty's research groups and facilities, go to: www.bris.ac.uk/engineering/research

The city of Bristol

The student experience at Bristol is second to none: the university is located in the heart of one of the most attractive, exciting and safe cities in the UK. Bristol students have, on their doorstep, a rich and unrivalled cultural experience: some of the very best theatres and art house cinemas in the country; the City Museum - part of the University precinct - holds international travelling exhibitions as well as a significant permanent collection of art; and an array of pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafes and shops. Bristol's architectural glories - from the Georgian splendour of Clifton to the medieval Cathedral and churches provide the perfect backdrop for this student life.

Bristol Engineering Hub

Bristol has a rich history of engineering achievement. Isambard Kingdom Brunel's work centred on Bristol, including his Clifton Suspension Bridge, the ss Great Britain
Bristol's engineering heritage is world famous, and the city continues to be an international leader in cutting-edge engineering. Working at the heart of this local industry, the Airbus, Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Orange, Toshiba, and Hewlett Packard all have major bases in Bristol and all work closely with the Faculty of Engineering. This means that the Faculty is working right at the cutting edge of modern engineering, hosting research for these companies, as well as providing graduates who frequently go on to jobs in these industries.

The University of Bristol

The University of Bristol is one of the leading universities in the world. The THES currently places Bristol 32 in its world league table, and the Times Good University Guide consistently places Bristol in the top ten in the UK. In terms of applications per place, it is one of the most popular universities in the UK.

More than just its academic excellence, however, Bristol is a university covering all subject areas, so offers a diverse student population and experience: at Bristol you will meet students in the arts, sciences, social sciences and medical sciences, as well as other engineers.

The University of Bristol guarantees university accommodation for all its first year students (postgraduate and undergraduate). This is one example of the network of support services in which the University takes great pride - these include student health and counselling services, and dedicated international student advisors.

The University has one of the most active student unions in the country - the array of clubs and societies means that everyone who comes to study at Bristol can continue with their outside interests, and most take up more!

The University also has superb sports facilities, including a 33 metre pool on campus and large, state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor sports complexes that cater for all sporting interests from beginner to elite standard.

Outstanding Employment Opportunities

The combination of all these things means that Bristol engineering graduates are outstandingly employable. Many go on to work for engineering companies based in Bristol (or beyond) with whom they have worked during their studies. Others are highly sought-after by employers for their problem solving, analytical and mathematical skills; companies that are interested in engineering graduates from Bristol have included: financial institutions, governmental agencies, management consultancies and many other types of organisation.

The University of Bristol has a helpful and professional careers service, which assists students in finding the right employment for them: