University of Bristol Academic Program

You can customize your study abroad experience by selecting courses (1st/2nd year) from across various University of Bristol departments, either by combining different subjects or by immersing into one main subject of study.

Undergraduate degrees in the UK are three-year programs, and as a study abroad student, you can choose units from all three years. For subjects you haven’t studied at your home institution, we recommend first-year units. Second-year units are most common if you’re taking your major/minor abroad, and third-year units are suitable if you’re close to graduation in your major subject. We recommend you take at least 50% of units in your major subject. Some units are subject to pre-requisite checks with the academic department at the start of the semester. 

*Please note that unit choices cannot be guaranteed in advance and that you finalize unit registration when you arrive in Bristol.

Course & Departmental Restrictions

Certain departments are not open to study abroad students at all.

Certain departments have restrictions on higher level courses. You work with an advisor in the Study Abroad Office to identify any restrictions.

• Schools of Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science. All postgraduate level units except those within our Faculty of Engineering which form part of a 4-year integrated Masters program.
• Engineering: If you’re taking engineering subjects, you should come to Bristol for a full academic year as many of the units run from September to June. You will need to check the unit catalog to see if you can find suitable units for the spring semester (weeks 13-24) only.
• Please note that Computer Science units are now only available at 3rd and 4th year level and therefore are only suitable if you have already completed 2 or 3 years of a Computer Science degree.
• If you wish to take units in the School of Civil, Aerospace, and Mechanical Engineering, we strongly advise you apply for a year-long placement as many of the units in these departments are taught over the full academic year.
• Computer Science: Only 3rd and 4th year units are available to incoming study abroad students, and most of these units have pre-requisites, so they’re only suitable if you’ve completed 2 to 3 years of a Computer Science degree.
• Chemistry & Law is only available for full year students starting in September
• Geographical Sciences: Most units are taught across the full academic year
• Psychological Science is taught as an experimental science at Bristol, not a social science. If you’re taking psychology units, you should have a strong background in chemistry, biology and neuroscience.
• Please note that School of Psychological Science units have limited capacity.