About

Bristol’s world-class learning experience encourages students to become independent thinkers, equipped to respond to the intellectual, social and personal challenges they encounter throughout their lives and careers and become leaders in their chosen fields.

Bristol are committed to producing the innovators and leaders of the future and to advancing the knowledge and technology needed to address global challenges. Bristol’s academics are internationally recognised researchers who have led the way in some of engineering’s most ground breaking developments – from establishing the equation for the Spitfire’s wings in the 1930s, to inventing the technology that led to the first mobile phone in the 1970s. Today, the cutting-edge research covers the breadth of Engineering, from composite materials that can revolutionise what our world is made of, to exploring the potential of quantum computing.

The experienced staff at Bristol empower their students to think creatively and challenge existing practice. This nurtures a culture of enterprise, resulting in graduates who are equipped to succeed and lead in whatever careers they choose.

 

The Faculty of Engineering

Workplace expertise

The University of Bristol have useful close ties with industry ensuring that students benefit from courses that are shaped by employers’ needs. Mentoring, seminars and the option of a year in industry mean that Bristol’s students are well placed to decide where their course will take them in the future.

Investing in the future

Bristol’s interdisciplinary environment enables students and staff to move seamlessly from theory to experiment. The world-class facilities are available to students, researchers and international industry.

Recently £19 million was invested in the University and its facilities, resulting in a new wing and complete refurbishment of Bristol’s Queen’s Building. The new, flexible spaces promote active learning and create exciting opportunities for research collaboration and co-delivery of teaching.

Other new and renovated spaces include:

  • Bigger and fully modernised electrical teaching laboratory     
  • Enlarged high-spec Engineering teaching laboratory     
  • Engines and propulsion laboratory that combines traditional and green technology     
  • New non-destructive teaching laboratory   
  • New Faraday cage     
  • Pop-up computer laboratory and 200 seater design suite     
  • New café with social learning spaces      
  • Bookable rooms for group study       
  • Spaces to experiment and put teaching into practice.

Growing with the city

The University is also building a £300-million campus on a brownfield site near Temple Meads Station. The Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus will focus on the digital technologies of the future and the ethics, business models and infrastructure needed to turn digital opportunities into jobs, wealth and wellbeing for all. The Faculty of Engineering will be instrumental in the development of the campus and the work that goes on there.

 

Research

Bristol’s academics are addressing some of the world’s most pressing problems by collaborating across disciplines and borders. Engaging in cutting-edge research solving global challenges, from the ageing population to sustainable building, cryptography to composites, researchers within the University are inspired by the challenges and opportunities the future offers.

 

Teaching

Bristol are proud of their outstanding teaching and wide range of programmes delivered by research-active staff. The commitment to providing a research-informed education helps students to develop advanced skills and follow their chosen career.

Bristol’s students benefit from state-of-the art research centres, modern facilities and a supportive learning environment. The undergraduate programmes available provide a technically excellent professional education.

Most undergraduate study is clearly rooted in one discipline, enabling a student’s education to be coherent and deep. The University also offer teaching that bridges several disciplines, including a multidisciplinary Engineering Design degree and an MEng in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, developed with industrial partners.

All undergraduate Engineering courses now offer a year in industry as part of the degree and every undergraduate programme offers a year of study at a university abroad. Every first-year will have an industrial mentor and the opportunity to apply for internships.

 

Employability

Engineering graduates are highly employable, with well-developed skills in numeracy, team working, report writing and creativity. Such skills are easily transferable with 86.5 per cent of students gaining employment or continuing onto further postgraduate study. Of those who start work, 68 per cent typically go into an engineering career. Others enter a huge range of occupations where their broad skills base is appreciated.

 

Partnerships

The Faculty of Engineering has a dedicated Industrial Liaison Office (ILO) which creates opportunities for engagement and collaboration with industry, so students can reach their full potential and Bristol’s researchers can change the world.

 

Supporting Students

Bristol’s Industry Insight programme features technical talks and workshops by engineers working in a variety of companies and sectors, from multinationals like Airbus, Dyson and Google to smaller organisations such as Nova Systems and university start-ups like Ultrahaptics.

 

Experience

The ILO internship scheme allows students to gain experience in an industrial environment, something that many employers now insist on. Research and teaching internships are also available to help students to explore their interest in further research or study. From 2018/19 MEng students will have the option of a year in industry as part of their degree. Students will undergo workplace experience, work on larger long-term projects, and gain valuable skills.

 

Events

The ILO delivers one off activities in partnership with industry. In 2017 Airbus sponsored Outreach Days and Drone competition and Boeing sponsored a Hackathon. Such events help students to develop skills like problem solving, project management and commercial awareness early on in their academic careers.

 

Inclusivity

The Faculty of Engineering is committed to diversity and equality. As well as increasing diversity across the board, the university of Bristol aim to have at least 30 per cent female representation by 2030, because people with a wide range of backgrounds are best placed to solve the global challenges of the future.

 

Working with schools

Bristol work closely with schools in the South West, with the aim to inspire young people to take an interest in Engineering. Outreach days, school visits and annual work experience weeks are just some of the ways Bristol demonstrate the exciting possibilities of Engineering.

 

Extra-curricular opportunities

The University offers many exciting societies, clubs and other opportunities for students to get involved and learn more about engineering, whilst having fun.

  • DigiMakers
  • RoboGals
  • Women in Engineering Society
  • Aerospace Engineering Society
  • The University of Bristol Engineering Society
  • Computer Science Society
  • Bristol Electrical & Electronic Engineering Society
  • Engineering Design Society
  • Engineering Maths Society
  • Mechanical Engineering Society.

And many more!

Summer schools

A range of summer schools are available in order to give young people an immersive engineering experience on campus. Groups spend a week staying on campus, attending lectures, taking part in hands-on challenges, meeting current students and finding out where an Engineering degree can take them. This unique experience offers students a taste of cutting-edge research and demonstrates how they can unlock their potential in engineering.