Bristol Uni

[Notasyoungasiwas]

DD will be going to Bristol this year. Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated. She is the first of my children to go to uni so absolutely any info would be great!

Has she selected halls of residence? Some of us know Bristol quite well but the starting point is halls of residence and what degree. You will find posters have a marmite view of Bristol but my DC loved it.

What does she enjoy? Clubbing/ nightlife or sport? What does she want from uni experience?
Does she want city life?

Hi all, she'll be studying Law and is looking at The Courtrooms.

That is a very posh hall of residence and in central Bristol. This often means, at Bristol, overseas students and those who want the nightlife handy. It is an uphill walk to the main buildings of the university. The centre has not traditionally been a student area like Clifton or Stoke Bishop. If she wants the clubs and bars nearby - look no further. Even the university says its handy for shops, cafes and bars! If she is not into that, look elsewhere!

Might I suggest the far less glamourous ones? The ones at Stoke Bishop are not nightlife central but might have a better community spirit. There are two catered ones which are traditional. Wills is around a courtyard but is fairly basic. Others are self catering. Stoke Bishop is a bus ride away from the university but students form their own entertainment there and perhaps make friends more readily. There are no post grads either. The halls near the university in Clifton are popular too. Goldney has always been the most popular. Ask for a quiet corridor if that is what she would prefer.

My DD has several friends that studied Law at Bristol. All are doing well and it is one of the best universitis for Law. It will give her every opportunity to succeed. However, make sure she takes an active part in everything the university provides for its law students. Volunteer if she can and network! Many of their law grads go on to great things and they have top legal recruiters visit the careers fair. It is one of the few universities that get visits from the Bar.

She will absolutely love it. But.... look at another hall of residence. Often future movers and shakers live in the worst looking halls!

The other thing worth saying about Bristol, is that, traditionally, the Student Union is not strong in terms of entertainment. Many of the activities at Bristol are student led, not Union led. Balls, (Law does a big one) and societies are student led. Sports facilities are nearer Stoke Bishop.

My DDs school friend is at courtrooms from a v normal comp. Het friends all seem pretty normal too. Mine is at Orchard Heights and really likes it, even in these weird times. She likes being in the City and it's been great to wander down to the Waterfront for a walk.

That really defines the choice. Near the university in Clifton, (where there are numerous coffee shops) out at Stoke Bishop or central for shops, the waterfront and clubs. Stoke Bishop has acres of parkland/common for walking. However in normal times, students don't tend to worry about that. When living in Stoke Bishop, many students meet up after lectures for coffee and a chat in Clifton. Many friends are made via courses but the communal activities are mostly available in the older less central halls including formal dinners. It is often the comprehnsive educated DC who do not want the cheap halls. Boarders often like Churchill and Wills. Sharing bathrooms, meals cooked, etc - just like school! The comprehensive educated DC seem to spend more money on accommodation but are less likely to go to the balls.

I won't tell my eldest who loves a good ball 😂. Comp kid. Friends from all backgrounds and she's found great immunity spirit at the Central halls. They have really looked after each other this year.

Community spirit. Immunity would be nice at the moment.

This year is, of course, not typical. Comp kid with plenty of money for living in the newer halls though!

No. Comp kid who has worked her arse off since 16 in a supermarket to save up for Uni. Be v careful what you assume please.

So you pay nothing? However, it is still true that the richer kids tend to be in the cheap accommodation.

I have a DS at Bristol. He's really enjoyed this year. Got on well with lots of people in his halls, enjoyed the course, loved the city (as pubs were open pretty much the whole time until lockdown). His personal tutor has been in regular contact, keeping an eye on him. He's in halls in Clifton and would highly recommend! Not particularly fancy, but convenient for everything - uni, city, pubs, supermarkets, nice walks, the gym. He's had a good sociable time and they've all looked out for each other. He was put off Stoke Bishop by the distance from the uni and city and the need to take a bus to get anywhere even though they are really regular and people he spoke to who had been in SB raved about it. So I don't think you can really go wrong. Go with the right attitude to meet people, make friends, give people a second chance and to make the most of it and you can't really go wrong. Good luck!

Anyway, well done her for working and then spending her hard earned money on flashy accommodation.

When Dc go for a night out from SB, they share a taxi back. Works out at very little. You do not need to get a bus all the time. However you can get up later when in halls in Clifton and just fall into lectures.

I have a son in first year at Bristol, in self catering, Hiatt Baker (Stoke Bishop).

He has found the student life there very good for making friends in this locked down year. Even when they could go out and into town, he found the bus very convenient - it is a free bus every 15 mins until late at night.

He is on full loan, self catering, shared bathrooms, happy with the facilities, mix of students richer than him and not richer than him.

@PresentingPercy it's the same price as all the other self catered accommodation. In fact it's cheaper than quite a few ??

I think whatever halls you end up in (& it is end up in as you have to give 9 options) you will be happy and find friends. Even this year they have managed it.
DD loves the city and has signed up for house for next year before Xmas. Hoping when this is all over she can finally enjoy Uni as it should be.

The Courthouse is the most expensive self catered accommodation offered by the University of Bristol at £178 per week. It certainly is not the same price as the others. Plenty are £30 a week less. Order their self catered accommodation list from cheapest to most expensive and it’s THE most expensive.

My daughter went there a while back (Willis Hall) - she is now a lawyer in London. My twin sons went there and finished year 3 last summer 2020 and loved it as much as their sister. One of them was in Wills Hall too (n the lovely old quad bit) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wills_Hall#/media/File:Wills_Hall_Quad,_0908.jpg and his twin very very hear by in Churchill Hall - both they and my daughter wanted catered halls in year 1.

They loved being at Stoke Bishop and I think there was a free bus into town and it was fields, space, chapel even in the Willis Hall grounds - just very nice vibe. I prefer it to inner Bristol. My son said Churchill has the most children from boarding schools (he went to a day school) but that had no impact on anything and he has very good friends of all kinds many still in Bristol (as is he for post grad or would be back this term were it not for lockdown). Both my sons are now doing a post grad law conversion course. Bristol seems to produce quite a lot of good lawyers (I am a lawyer too although I did not go Bristol).

@PresentingPercy mine isn't at courtrooms though. So glad you agree she's not at most expensive.

My sister was in the Courtrooms a couple of years back in her first year. Looking past the general yuck of student living her little flat itself was lovely. She had a good sized room with her own shower/toilet. There was a communal kitchen and living area for the other 4 people who lived in her "flat" as well. All decorated well and decent amenities and very secure. It's only a couple of minutes walk to the city centre.

My sister is doing Maths - but she has really enjoyed Bristol uni so far. She has made a good group of friends and is thriving.

My DD graduated last year, she spent a year living in the city centre (a penthouse flat none the less - she got lucky with the top floor flat in New Bridewell opposite the old police station which she shared with 3 others. She moved out to Clifton for years 2 and 3 and stayed in the same flat.
She said most people who started in the city centre moved out to the suburbs and those from the halls by the Downs often moved into the Centre for years 2 and 3.

Bristol have been brilliant this year about hall fees. Everyone has a 25% reduction whether living in room or not. And if you can't come back until March then no fees are going to be charged. DD is back as her course requires her to be there and says it's quiet but people are dribbling back.

My DD1 was at Hiatt Baker (on Stoke Bishop campus) - I thought the rooms were a bit grim but she loved it there and it was extremely sociable and fun, lots of parties. Makes me sad thinking about how rubbish it has been for DD2 to get a fresher this year.
It’s an amazing city for students.