Russell Group

University of Bristol — can you afford it?

Bristol · 29,000 students · Est. 1909

£136.5/wk
Cheapest halls
+£312/mo
After halls
3 hrs/wk
Work to break even
92%
Graduate employment
32
Affordability score

The monthly maths

Maintenance loan (max — outside London)+£903
Cheapest halls (£136.5/wk × 4.33)−£592
After halls+£312
Transport (city avg)−£60
Food (estimate)−£200
Monthly balance-£118

Work hours to break even: 3 hrs/week at £12.21/hr

Annual shortfall: -£1,416

Over 3 years: -£4,248

Typical (median) room: -£529/mo if not in the cheapest option

Based on maximum loan. Calculate your actual loan →

Halls vs private in Bristol

🏠 Bristol halls

Cheapest£136.5/wk (£592/mo)
Median£231.28/wk (£1,002/mo)
Most expensive£316.68/wk (£1,372/mo)
BillsIncluded ✓
Contract40–51 weeks
Monthly surplus£312per month

🏢 Private rental in Bristol

Average rent£850/month
Bills estimate+£128/mo
Total housing cost£977/mo
Contract12 months (summer risk)
BillsExtra ✗
Monthly deficit-£74per month

Bristol by the numbers

Total students29,000
Undergraduates19,000
International students30%
Student:staff ratio12.8:1
Graduate employment92%
Average graduate salary£31,000
TypeRussell Group
Founded1909

Student numbers: HESA 2024/25. Graduate salary: SalaryDex data for Bristol. Graduate salaries in Bristol →

Notable Bristol alumni

C
Cary Grant
Hollywood actor
→ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cary-grant
P
Paul Dirac
Nobel Prize in Physics
→ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/paul-dirac

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Compare Bristol with others

Bristol vs Sheffield
£65/month better off at Bristol
Compare now →
Bristol vs Leeds
£62/month better off at Leeds
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Birmingham vs Bristol
£92/month better off at Bristol
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Or compare any two universities →

What happens after Bristol?

Newly qualified Software engineer in Bristol
Entry gross: £35,000 · Take-home after rent: +£1,483/mo
Full salary breakdown →
Newly qualified Nurse (Band 5) in Bristol
Entry gross: £30,959 · Take-home after rent: +£1,125/mo
Full salary breakdown →
Newly qualified Teacher in Bristol
Entry gross: £31,650 · Take-home after rent: +£1,150/mo
Full salary breakdown →

Take-home estimates based on 2025/26 PAYE rates including student loan Plan 5 repayments.

Accommodation data source

Accommodation costs verified 2026-05-21 from University of Bristol official accommodation page. Monthly costs use the formula: weekly rate × 38 contract weeks ÷ 9 academic months. Bills included in all quoted rates.

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