UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL PROS AND CONS || honest review from a study abroad student

Summary

Michaela, a study abroad student at the University of Bristol, shares her experience from September 2022 to May 2023. She highlights both the pros and cons, emphasizing her love for the city and university. Pros include Bristol's vibrant atmosphere, great study spaces, active student organizations, and supportive faculty. She also appreciates the convenience of study abroad services and proximity to other cities. Her cons focus on minor issues like accommodation, timetables, and the drinking culture. Overall, Michaela expresses a deep fondness for Bristol and its welcoming community.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The speaker, Michaela, is a study abroad student who attended the University of Bristol from September 2022 to May 2023.
• 🏙️ Michaela loved the city of Bristol, highlighting its excellent transportation, green spaces, and proximity to other cities like Cardiff and London.
• 📚 The university offers many study spaces and has a useful website showing which classrooms are vacant, although these spaces are often busy.
• 🎉 The University of Bristol has a wide variety of student organizations and societies with an active community, making it easy to get involved in clubs.
• 🏠 Accommodation at Bristol is small but functional, with comfortable amenities and an option to select specific living styles, such as quiet housing.
• 🧑‍🏫 The university has passionate professors and offers innovative features like recorded lectures, helping students review content if they miss classes.
• 📝 Coursework primarily consists of a few major assignments rather than many smaller ones, giving students more time to absorb material, though it can be stressful.
• 📅 Some courses have a reading week (week 6), allowing students to catch up on work, which Michaela found helpful.
• 🍻 The drinking culture at Bristol is significant, which could be a pro or con depending on personal preferences, but it was a drawback for Michaela.
• 🤧 Michaela noticed that many people in Bristol seemed to cough into their hands, which she found concerning, and the library was often noisy with people sitting close by.

Q & A

What was the speaker’s general experience at the University of Bristol?

The speaker had a very positive experience at the University of Bristol, highlighting the city, university resources, and clubs as major pros. Despite a few minor cons, they loved their time there and would return in a heartbeat.

What did the speaker appreciate most about the city of Bristol?

The speaker loved Bristol’s good transportation system, proximity to other cities, abundance of green spaces, and many places of interest like Cabot Tower, museums, and historical ships. They also found it well-located for exploring other parts of the UK.

How did the speaker feel about the study spaces at the University of Bristol?

The speaker appreciated the many study spaces available across campus, although they noted that they were often busy. They also found a website helpful for finding vacant classrooms, where they sometimes studied or ate lunch.

What clubs or societies did the speaker participate in?

The speaker was primarily involved in the quiz club (Quiz Bowl/Quiz Society) and debate society. They praised the large number of active clubs and the opportunity to attend 'give it a go' events before committing to joining.

What did the speaker mention about Bristol’s accommodations?

The speaker noted that while their room was small, it had high-quality furniture, including a comfortable chair and a spacious desk. They also mentioned that Bristol allowed students to choose specific accommodation profiles, such as quiet housing.

What did the speaker like about the professors at the University of Bristol?

The speaker found the professors at Bristol to be passionate, kind, and enthusiastic about helping students learn. They felt this positively influenced the overall learning environment.

What did the speaker find convenient about the proximity of the university to amenities?

The speaker appreciated that the area around the university had many cafes, shops, and grocery stores, making it easy to access essentials without traveling far. They mentioned a nearby Sainsbury’s supermarket that was well-stocked.

What challenges did the speaker encounter with the accommodation facilities?

The speaker noted some minor issues with the accommodation, such as a limited number of washers and dryers, and a music room that was often occupied. Additionally, the trash and recycling area wasn’t emptied frequently.

What did the speaker say about the University of Bristol's assessment system?

The speaker mentioned that Bristol’s assessment system is heavily based on end-of-year exams or assignments, sometimes worth 100% of the grade, which gave them more time to absorb material. However, grades were final once submitted, with little room for flexibility or extra credit.

What cons did the speaker mention about the University of Bristol?

Some cons included the drinking culture, delays in receiving grades and exam timetables, the unavailability of certain books in the library, and some discomfort with the close proximity of others in study spaces. However, the speaker emphasized that these were minor issues.