Frequently Asked QuestionsThis may vary slightly depending on your choice of subsidiary subject, but for instance, there would be 22/23 hours of contact time with Academics in your first year alone. This is typical of 2nd, 3rd and 4th years too.
Flexibility between programmes is one of our defining features. Transfers between Physics-based courses at Bristol can be made during
the application process and are even possible when you arrive for registration
at Bristol in October of your first year. There is also the possibility of changing Physics programmes during the first year. Changing from BSc to MSci and vice versa is possible up until the end of the second year.
Our teaching has been rated as 'excellent' by HEFCE. The combination of
excellence in teaching and research (see below) places us in the very top rank of UK Physics
departments.
In the most recent HEFCE Research Assessment Exercise we achieved a 2.65 GPA putting us amongst the best of UK Physics departments.
Applicants wishing to apply for deferred entry at Bristol are not disadvantaged in any way.
We welcome applications from mature students. Such applicants are advised to contact the to discuss what preparatory courses would be appropriate before making a formal application through UCAS.
There is a wide range of accommodation including catered halls (breakfast and evening meal), self-catered halls (flatlets of typically 5 single study bedrooms with a shared kitchen/lounge area), and self-catering student houses. There is a University of Bristol of University accommodation for first year students. Please see the for more information.
The admissions process is described in our .
If you are not sure which course is exactly the right one for you - then don't worry. Transfers between most Physics-based courses at Bristol can be made during the application process and are even possible when you arrive for registration at Bristol. We therefore don't think it is necessary to make different offers for the different courses. The exception to this is for the joint degrees where your application is being considered by two schools - and a different offer may apply. If you are interested in one of the joint degrees put that down.
If you are undecided between Physics and Physics with Astrophysics put down either. If you are interested in Study in Europe then put this down on the form - this gives us an early indication of possible interest. If you have any doubts or queries contact the .
The form of the offer we make will depend on whether you have completed the appropriate qualifications at the time of application or not.
If you have already completed your A-levels or equivalent qualifications and you have achieved the grades required, the School may make you an unconditional offer.
The majority of applicants will not have received their exam results before they apply through UCAS. In this case your school or college will have indicated your ability and predicted your results. A conditional offer will set the grades you need to achieve in your exams in order to obtain a place on our course. You are able to hold offers from two universities in the UCAS process - a conditional firm (CF) and a conditional insurance (CI).
If you achieve the grades requested for your conditional firm offer you are contractually bound by the UCAS rules to go to that university. If you miss the grades of your conditional firm offer a university may still decide to offer you a place if you narrowly missed the grades, but it is not bound to by the UCAS rules.
If you do not obtain a place on your conditional firm course but you achieve the grades for your conditional insurance offer, then you will have secured a place in that university. Again that university may still decide to accept you if you narrowly miss the offer.
International, French or European Baccalaureate qualifications of an equivalent standard are fully acceptable. Please check out our .
Applicants with Scottish Advanced Highers are treated the same as A-level candidates; a strongly science-based curriculum is favoured, with actual or predicted performance equivalent to grades that we expect from A-level candidates.
We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard (non A-level) academic backgrounds, or with other appropriate experience. Such applicants are advised to contact the to discuss their application and what preparatory courses may be appropriate before making a formal application through UCAS.
In all cases where English is not the first language, evidence will be sought of proficiency in English, using an IELTS score requirement where appropriate. Currently the University requires an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or above with a minimum of 6.0 in all bands. The IELTS test is strongly preferred to any other test. If you have any further queries about requirements for international students please contact us. In some cases other qualifications, such as TOEFL, may be acceptable.