University of the West of England, Bristol

Summary

History

University of the West of England has a history built on partnerships and collaborations dating back to 1595 when the Bristol Society of Merchant Venturers' Navigation School was founded. In 1853 the Bristol School of Practical Art was founded and this became the Royal West of England Academy when it was granted its royal charter. In 1949 the Academy was transferred to the Bristol City Education Authority. The College was then divided into the Bristol College of Commerce (Unity Street) and the Bristol College of Technology (Ashley Down). Into the 70s the University, then a polytechnic, expanded with the opening of the Frenchay campus and the merging of the St Matthias Campus into the Polytechnic. With the Education Reform Act in the late 80s Bristol Polytechnic officially got its university status becoming the University of the West of England (UWE) in 1992.

University Environment

UWE is the largest university in the South West of England has seven campuses spread in and around the fabulous city of Bristol. Bristol is conveniently situated at the gateway to the South West and is within easy reach of London. The main campuses are:

Frenchay Campus

- is set in 4 miles of countryside north of Bristol City Centre. On site is the Main Reception, Student Services department, Accommodation Services, the Students’ Union, the Main Library, IT Services and the Languages Centre. The Research, Business and Innovation (RBI) centre is based in Wallscourt House, just across the road from the main Campus. Other facilities on site include numerous food and drink outlets, Student Union bar and supermarket, a launderette, and branches of Blackwells bookshop and STA Travel and NatWest bank.

Bower Ashton Campus

- is home to the Department of Art & Design, two miles from Bristol City Centre. Other facilities include a Students’ Union bar and shop, and a specialist arts materials shop and store.

St Matthias Campus

- is situated three miles north-east of Bristol City Centre and its facilities include a library, sports hall, Students’ Union bar and shop, and two halls of residence.

Glenside Campus

- is home to the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, and is located three miles north east of Bristol City Centre.

Hartpury Campus

- is located ten minutes away from Gloucester and twenty minutes away from Cheltenham. It is home to those studying animal sciences, sport or equine, agriculture or conservation and is set in 360 hectares of countryside including a farm, lake, sporting facilities, woodland and formal gardens.

Academics

Faculties, Schools & Departments

• Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries & Education

  • Department of Arts & Cultural Industries
  • School of Art & Design
  • Department of Education
  • School of Film & Journalism

• Faculty of Business & Law

  • Bristol Business School
  • Bristol Law School

• Faculty of Environment & Technology

  • Department of Architecture & Built Enviroment
  • Department of Computer Science & Creative Technologies
  • Department of Engineering Design & Mathematics
  • Department of Geography & Environment Management

• Faculty of Health & Life Sciences

  • Department of Allied Health Professions
  • Department of Biological, Biomedical & Analytical  Sciences
  • Department of Health & Social Sciences
  • Department of Nursing & Midwifery

Research

In the 2014 REF 57% of research submitted was judged to be either world leading or internationally excellent in terms of quality while 75% of research submitted was highly rated for impact. The University performed particularly well in Allied Health and Nursing and Communications, Cultural and Media Studies.

UWE is interested in investing in new emerging research stars through its Early Career Researcher Award Scheme promoting the next generation of researchers.

International & Industry Opportunities

UWE offers students different ways to study or work abroad. The University partakes in the Erasmus programme allowing you to study or work in Europe, and some courses have the option of studying for a year at a partner institution around the world. There is a Study Abroad Team for any enquiries students may have about international opportunities. They can give advice about international volunteering as well as studying abroad.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships & Bursaries

UWE Bristol has one of the largest packages of financial support in the UK. They have a generous bursary scheme, alongside other non-repayable bursaries such as music and sports scholarships. There are also some bursaries and scholarships available from individual departments. 

UWE provides a large fund for UK students who find themselves in financial difficulty while studying. Awards are generally betwee £100 and £1,000. 

For more information on the scholarships and bursaries available to you, please visit their website. 

Facilities

Learning Facilities

UWE provides a modern library service at the heart of the University, enhancing the learning experience for all students at UWE.There are libraries to support your learning and study needs across all UWE campuses. Frenchay library is open 24/7 in term time with all other libraries open into the evening. The libraries provide access to over half a million books and e-books, 10,000+ journals - 95% of which are available online as well as audio-visual items, including DVDs. The libraries operate a self-service system for quick and easy borrowing and returning of books. It is also possible to search across a range of online databases for subject specific information and access online resources from off campus. Study spaces include group, silent and quiet spaces, bookable group study rooms and bookable or quick access computers. There are workshops on searching, using library resources, research skills and referencing but for any queries or advice the friendly library staff are always on hand to help. 

UWE works from the principle that the core business of a university is education therefore has a host of fantastic facilities that complement the more traditional lectures, seminars and tutorials to help deliver the very best learning experience. These include a Crime Scene House where forensic students learn practical skills to support the science of crime scene investigation, a mock courtroom and virtual law office where students at UWE's Bristol Law School benefit from virtual and actual simulations of the professional legal environment and a flight simulator where Aerospace Engineering students are able to test their designs in a 3D model environment.

There are also great IT facilities at UWE with every faculty and the library having a well-equipped computer lab. There is also a 24 hour lab located on Frenchay campus for students with a need to work through the night. UWE also provides state-of-the-art online facilities in virtual learning (Blackboard), e-mail and a personalised information portal for students called myUWE for course timetables, coursework submission and many other applications.UWE is the home to a specialist unit that researches and develops educational support software and e-learning applications. The E-learning Development Unit builds on existing platforms like Blackboard and Second Life to create 'virtual reality' simulations. Designed around UWE courses, these applications enhance learning by engaging students in complicated scenarios that relate theory to practice.

Sporting Facilities

Sport and fitness play a vital part in UWE's academic offering and its approach to the student experience. The £5.5 million state-of-the-art complex on Frenchay Campus is the central hub of sport and fitness activity at UWE.Facilities include a 70 station fitness suite with state of the art resistance and cardiovascular training machines and 'free-weight’ area, a large main sports hall, two glass back squash courts, aerobics studio that hosts a variety of exercise classes to suit all tastes, all-weather pitch suitable for hockey and football and an indoor climbing wall. The standard of facilities is such that UWE was listed as a London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Pre-Games Training Camp. Membership packages are available to students, staff and the wider community and there are fitness instructors on hand to provide you with training advice throughout the day and provide a range of gym based services.There are also a number of sports societies run by the Students’ Union to get involved with either socially or at a competitive level.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

UWE’s Students’ Union is 30,000 strong and works to champion a strong student voice at UWE with a vision to initiate change and enhance the student experience. There are Course Reps and Halls Reps to voice students’ views for course and accommodation feedback. The Advice Centre provides independent, confidential and non-judgemental advice to all UWE students on a range of issues. The JopShop advertises part time and holiday jobs on campus and around the Bristol area - about 4000 a year in total. There a vast range of societies and clubs which are a great way to make new friends, play the sport you love or simply learn new skills. Networks are an ideal way to meet people who share similar identities, cultures and beliefs and get involved in activities. There is also a great range of volunteering opportunities with UWESU volunteering specialising in offering you the opportunity to set up your own projects, campaigns and fundraising events to benefit the local community or a cause you feel passionate about. UWESU takes part in Raise and Give (RAG) which is a fund-raising initiative run in many UK universities. UWE’s own RAG has enthusiastic students dedicated to putting on events and having fun while raising money for charity.

UWESU bars are located at each site, providing students with great value food and drink. They also run a number of events from open mic nights, to themed events and quizzes. There are also Student Union shops on each campus as well as the ‘Full of Beans’ Coffee Cart located in the Hub at Frenchay and the online Marketplace.

Student Support

Career Facilities

UWE Careers offer a variety of different services, resources, advice and support to current students and graduates at UWE. InfoHub is a great place to start. This service is UWE’s specialist resources system designed to help you to access careers services efficiently and effectively. You can book appointments, view vacancies, find placements, ask questions, submit CVs for checking, access specialist resources and book onto events all via your student console. However if you seek personal advice, there are also a variety of different appointments and drop-in services to help meet your career needs, from providing advice and guidance on writing your CV or application form to searching for jobs and advising on more complex career issues.

A variety of careers events including recruitment fairs, employer presentations and careers skills workshops take place throughout the year. The vacancies and work experience web pages contain live vacancies, support with finding jobs and work experience opportunities, and researching graduate occupations.Each year the University sources hundreds of placement vacancies and promote them via UWE InfoHub however the UWE also encourages students to use the resources on the Careers and Employability web pages to undertake their own research and find their own placement.

Religion & Spirituality

The University Chaplain is available to meet with students and staff at all UWE campuses. The Chaplain can offer pastoral care conversations and spiritual direction for people of all faiths or none. There is also a faith team which has a number of volunteer Community Faith Representatives from different faiths to give information and advice to students and staff about their own particular belief. The Octagon offers a peaceful space within the hustle and bustle of the University. All students and staff are welcome to use this facility to chat to the friendly and helpful staff or spend time alone, in personal reflection or just reading the newspaper. The Octagon houses a Lounge, a Quiet Room for personal prayer and reflection, a Reflection Room with books on spiritual guidance and Muslim prayer rooms. Through student networks and faith groups students can meet like-minded people, make new friends, explore their faith tradition or celebrate their heritage.

Health & Wellbeing

There is a Health Centre based on Frenchay Campus which works in association with the The Old School Surgery in Fishponds. Students can sign up to either practise online. Much information is also provided on the website as to where to go if you require urgent medical attention or you want advice for a minor illness. UWE also provides information on its website about leading a healthy lifestyle at university as well as running Feel Good which is UWE Bristol's on-going health and wellbeing initiative for all students and staff.

Wellbeing Service offers a comprehensive array of support services to help you with your mental health and personal development needs. There is a counselling service and a mentoring service offering support with motivation, morale, time management and organisation. The university also offers specialist mental health support for any student experiencing significant or enduring mental health difficulties.

The University’s Disability Services makes sure that all students have the service they need to help them access the full range of academic, cultural and social activities that the University has to offer. This may mean gaining access to assistive technologies or the support worker service which links students with a personal support worker or note taker.

Accommodation

UWE has a range of accommodation options available to students. What course you study determines what campus you will be based and therefore what accommodation options are available.  On Frenchay Campus there is UWE's Student Village which provides high quality accommodation for 1,932 students. The accommodation puts students within walking distance of lectures, the library, computer rooms and the Students' Union. Each flat has six en-suite study bedrooms and kitchen/dining room. There is one more Halls of Residence on the Frenchay Campus as well as different UWE-run accommodation for the Glenside and Matthias Campuses. UWE also works with Unite which is a leading provider of student accommodation to provide housing for students in the middle of Bristol city centre which may suit students who are studying on the Bower Ashton Campus, are looking for a cheaper option or who plan to get part-time work whilst at UWE. At Hartpury there is also a range of options with Hartpury managed accommodation both on and off site with both self-catered or catered halls as well as a number of private houses available for student rent.

International

English Language Requirements

Scholarships

UWE has a number of scholarships on offer for international students including the Academic Merit Scholarship of up to £1,5000 which is offered to overseas students who have demonstrated academic merit.

You will also received discounts in you tuition if you are liable to full international tuition fees and you will receive a £500 tuition fee reduction through their “Introduce a Friend” scheme.

International Facilities

There is much support on offer for international students to help them settle in and make the most of their time at UWE. The Global Student Support is a team that serve as a support resource for the UWE international community. Along with coordinating International Student Orientation, the team arrange day trips and events throughout the year and promote cultural and exchange activities. On top of this UWE has a team of Global PAL Leaders, who can offer you support and guidance as you settle in at UWE and Bristol.Global PAL Leaders are current students who will be able to share their own experiences of studying at UWE. They will help you to find your way around the campus and city of Bristol; provide general information about UWE's services and facilities; and be a resource for you during your first term. There is also English language support available offering support both before your degree and during your studies. UWE’s courses are specifically designed with international students in mind and the duration of the support you receive will vary based on the level of English language support you need.All new international and EU students are also required to attend the International Student Orientation. Designed to coincide with your course induction and registration activities, Orientation will give you important information about UWE and the Bristol community. It is also a great way to meet other new students.

Media