Application process
The application process via MicroEDU went very well and without any problems. I could always get in touch with my contact person with questions and ambiguities and she would then help me. As a language certificate for the University of Bristol, I have chosen the DAAD language certificate. I was able to acquire this at my home university and it is a good and inexpensive alternative to the IELTS and TOEFL tests. After I had submitted my application, I received my acceptance from the University of Bristol a few weeks later. Visit ehuacom.com to get information about study in Switzerland.
Preparations (apartment search, arrival)
The finding accommodation at the University of Bristol is for students in the Study Abroad program not a big problem. As a Study Abroad student you are covered by the Accommodation Guarantee. This means that if you go to Bristol for a whole year or just for the winter semester, then you are guaranteed a place in the dormitory. When applying for a place in the dormitory, you have to specify your three favorites. I was even lucky enough to get a place in my dream home although there were very many applicants for this. The University of Bristol has a wide variety of student residences spread across the city. All of the dormitories can be viewed on the University’s Accommodation Office website. There you will find detailed information on the equipment, distance to the university / city center, prices and photos or videos of the dormitories. I was very satisfied with my dormitory and heard only good things from the other dormitories.
There is even an international airport in Bristol, but unfortunately there are very few direct connections to Germany (Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg). Since there is no direct connection to Bristol in my immediate vicinity, I decided to book a flight to London and from there take the bus to Bristol. The British operator National Express has direct connections between London airports and the country’s larger cities, including Bristol, several times a day. When I arrived at the Coach Station in Bristol by bus, I was greeted by the International Student Ambassadors. These are themselves students who take care of international students. On the weekend of arrival, they are available at the Coach Station, Temple Meads Railway Station and the airport. They help you get to the dormitories from there. More information is also available on the website of the International Office for new students.
Studied at the University of Bristol
When I applied to the University of Bristol, I also had to submit a selection of courses for the semester. Information on the individual courses (course description, performance overview), which are called in Bristol Units, can be found online in the Unit Catalog. When applying, however, you only submit a preselection, which you can add or change at any time. In the first week you have to go personally to the various departments in order to finally register for the courses there. As a study abroad student, you can choose from a variety of courses, you can also visit non-specialist events. Registration in the first week is a bit stressful, as many courses are already full or there may be overlaps. The staff in the individual departments try to help you as best they can and are very friendly.
Compared to Germany, the number of courses and attendance times seem very rare, but you shouldn’t be fooled by them. Because, unlike in Germany, you have to do a lot more at home on your own. You spend a lot more time reading literature in English than in Germany. Therefore, when choosing a course, you should make sure that you don’t choose too much. However, the employees in the departments are familiar with it and tell you what can and cannot be done. Another difference to German universities is the size of the seminars, in which there are no more than 20 students, in some tutorials there are only five or six in some cases. This allows the lecturers to take better care of their students and they can be contacted at any time if they have any questions or problems. Overall, I really enjoyed studying at the University of Bristol. The lecturers were very good and the courses were really interesting. The support from the International Office was also very well organized; you could always turn to your contact person.
Leisure
There are many different ways to spend your free time at the University of Bristol. In the first week, the Freshers’ Week, there are no courses at the university. So you have enough time to get to know the city and to visit the sights. During this week there are different offers for the new students every day, offered by the university, the dormitories and the Students’ Union. At the end of the Freshers’Week, the Students ‘Union offers the large Freshers’ Fair. Many student organizations and societys present themselves there at a large trade fair on the harborside in front. The societys can best be compared with the AGs that you know from school. There are hundreds of different societys on a wide variety of topics, including multiple sports, music, art, and special interests.
The Erasmus Society offers various excursions and parties for international students. The societys are a great way to meet new people and there is something for everyone. The Freshers Fair is definitely not to be missed. I myself was in the Explorers Society, which offered walking tours every weekend. If you want to discover more of the country, this is a great option. The tours take place in a wide variety of locations, from mountains to beaches, everything is included. BISC is also interesting for study abroad students, the Bristol International Student Center. BISC also offers day trips to, for example, London and Windsor Castle. You can also meet other international students there every Monday over tea and cake. Overall, Bristol offers a diverse leisure program for students.
In addition to the possibilities mentioned, you can meet in the city’s numerous pubs and clubs. With the aforementioned provider National Express, you can get almost anywhere for little money. A day trip to London or other large cities is quite possible. There are also a few must-see places around Bristol, such as Bath or Cardiff, the capital of Wales. There are a variety of recreational opportunities and there is sure to be something that interests you. I really liked Bristol and I can only recommend this city and the university to others.
