UWE Bristol (University of the West of England)

The University of the West of England (UWE), located in Bristol, is a modern university with roots that date back to the founding of the 16th century Bristol Society of Merchant Venturers' Navigation School .

Today, UWE has more than 27,000 students, 4,000 of whom are international hailing from 140 different countries.

The university offers over 600 courses at undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and short course level, with a broad subject portfolio encompassing the arts, creative industries, health, science, business, law, environment and technology. 

Organised across 14 departments, UWE has three campuses in and around Bristol, with additional campuses in Gloucestershire. It also offers courses through local study partners and several global partner institutions.

Recent large-scale investment in its facilities have resulted in a new Students’ Union as well as state-of-the-art learning spaces and accommodation, currently in development.

UWE prides itself on being a diverse university in one of the UK’s most desirable cities.

Its mission is to provide professionally-recognised and practice-oriented programmes, with strong industry networks and a global outlook and approach.

Boasting links with over 1,000 businesses and organisations, UWE cites close working partnerships with employers such as CERN, Rolls Royce, the NHS and BBC, which support the university in developing relevant course content and offering its students various professional opportunities.

UWE has research strengths in several areas ranging from robotics and big data, to appearance issues and children’s literature.

Its alumni includes David Knopfler of Dire Straits, former Bristol Member of Parliament Dawn Primarolo, and the comedian Miranda Hart.

Bristol itself is a major hub of social and cultural activity in the UK, with a vibrant arts and live music scene, great restaurants and a thriving economy.

In 2015 Bristol was the first UK city to win the European Green Capital award, while The Sunday Times newspaper named Bristol the best city to live in Britain on account of its culture, nightlife and proximity to beautiful countryside.