UWE Bristol (UK)
- Sara Cavalieri
- 18 minutes ago
- 5 min read
If you're considering studying abroad in the UK and looking for a hands-on, industry-connected university experience, UWE Bristol (University of the West of England) deserves a spot on your list -- especially if you want to study in one of the UK's coolest cities.
With 30,000 students, nearly a third of whom are international, UWE is one of the largest and most diverse modern universities in the UK.
And it's especially popular among American students as a test-optional institution, with around 150 enrolling each year, many drawn to its standout programs in architecture, animation and filmmaking.
Here are some of the highlights from my visit!
A campus for everyone
UWE Bristol’s campuses are as diverse as its academic offerings:
Frenchay: The largest campus, just a 10-minute bus ride from the vibrant city center of Bristol. This is the main hub for most students.
Bower Ashton: Home to UWE’s art and design students. It doesn't have on-site housing, but it’s where much of the university’s creative energy lives.
Arnolfini: A contemporary arts center and exhibit space right on the harborside. It also hosts portfolio reviews and masterclasses thanks to UWE's ties with local industry legends like Aardman Animation.
Glenside: This is the center for healthcare programs and includes historic buildings and modern labs.
Spike Island: A working art space for fine art students, immersed in Bristol’s renowned arts community.
Practice over theory
UWE stands out for its practical, professionally focused approach to education.
Take architecture, for instance (located at Frenchay).
No portfolio is required to apply; UWE believes anyone can learn to draw and design with the right teaching.
Students spend 3-4 days a week in studio, often starting with a morning talk and then breaking out into their individual project spaces.
There’s even a dedicated photography lab for model-making, and “The Street,” a shared creative space where architecture students from all years and tracks mingle.
Bower Ashton campus
Bristol itself is a UNESCO City of Film, and UWE’s media and creative programs reflect that status.
UWE Bristol is a creative powerhouse with exceptional facilities to draw this out of students, too.
There are simply tons and tons of studios, from printmaking to fashion design to photography to woodworking to sculpture and more!
The natural light at this campus is really refreshing, and some of the views are just stunning!
There are both quiet study spaces and those for interactions.
This campus is also home to the renowned filmmaking course — ranked in the top five in the UK.
It admits only about 100 students per year, offering an intimate, intensive education.
Students can also study journalism and media here.
And it’s deeply connected to local institutions like the BBC Natural History Unit and Aardman Animation (creators of Wallace and Gromit), which is quite literally around the corner.
Students can take part in portfolio reviews, masterclasses and even internships.
There’s even a puppet repair space on campus!
The animation course enrolls about 80 students and is equally selective and celebrated.
It’s no surprise, considering UWE was one of the UK’s first post-war art schools and has only built on that legacy.
Frenchay campus
The Frenchay campus is similar to a typical American-style campus, where you can find everything you might need (including one of the leading American football teams in the UK!).
In engineering, the curriculum is built on problem-based learning (PBL), and students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities in a building that’s just a few years old.
Seriously, UWE has some of the best engineering facilities I've seen.
The virtual reality Digital Gallery is so innovative!
Interested in aeronautical engineering? Check this out.
Expect hands-on experience with simulators and a highly collaborative environment — ideal for the 3,000 students in its courses.
If you’re leaning toward psychology, UWE offers a strong lab-based curriculum.
From experiments testing how pain or caffeine affect driving to studies on hangovers, UWE’s psychology department keeps it real — and practical.
Student life
Beyond academics, there is plenty to do here.
The Students' Union hosts numerous events and supports over 160 societies and sports clubs, including a Formula racing team, catering to a wide array of interests.
It's also a great spot for students to gather to watch large sports competitions -- or even Eurovision!
Facilities like the Centre for Sport and the Centre for Music also provide avenues for students to pursue extracurricular passions.
And to make it all the more convenient, the Frenchay campus offers on-campus housing and plenty of study spaces.
The city of Bristol
Given the choice, there's no doubt in my mind where I'd move in the UK.
Just 90 minutes on the train from London and a population of about 460,000, Bristol is much more affordable, manageable and livable than the capital city (in my opinion).
One of its most striking landmarks is the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which pedestrians can walk across.
I've visited multiple times in many different seasons, but one thing is always true -- the city is super lively!
If you're into the arts, you'll definitely want to check out the Bristol Old Vic, which is the oldest continuously working theatre in the English-speaking world.
And to my surprise, shows weren't that expensive!
Bristol is also a UNESCO City of Film and a fantastic place to admire street art, as it's where graffiti artist Banksy hails from.
Banksy isn't the only one to work in Bristol though.
The amount of green space in Bristol is also impressive, with more than 400 parks.
There's plenty of history, too; the oldest pub in Bristol dates back to 1606.
In Queen Square, you'll even find the first American embassy in Britain, dating back to 1792.
Also note: it can get a bit hilly in some places!
Perhaps my favorite thing about Bristol, besides its coolness, is the plentitude of scenic walks and hip coffee shops.
Just follow along the River Avon, and there are so many places to stop for a bite or drink, many of which are actually on the water itself!
My favorite coffee shop was Society, located in a gorgeous stone building also right by the river.
And not that you'd ever want to leave, but if you did, Bristol is only 45 minutes on the train from Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, and 15 minutes from the World Heritage city of Bath.
Summary: UWE Bristol
If I'm playing the word association game and asked for one word to describe the city of Bristol, the first thing that comes to mind is: cool.
But I'm not the only one; in 2017, the Rough Guides named Bristol as the UK's coolest city for its nightlife, creative and tech industries and its proximity to the great outdoors:
'Think London, but smaller and (dare we say it) cooler – or at least more committed to its offbeat counterculture, and with an enormous gorge cutting an improbable chunk through part of the city.'
The cultural hub of the southwest, Bristol is also home to UWE Bristol, which truly has something to offer for everyone but most especially for the creatives!
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