University

University of Bristol

University
#97
Global Influence
Research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom

About University of Bristol

By James Barham, PhD

The University of Bristol traces its roots to a Merchant Venturers’ school (later the Merchant Venturers’ Technical College) founded in 1595 by the Society of Merchant Venturers, a Bristol-based charitable organization.

In 1876, a group of businessmen and religious leaders gathered to discuss the founding of a “College of Science and Literature for the West of England and South Wales.” This idea was brought to fruition in the form of University College, Bristol, that same year. A third institution, the Bristol Medical School, was founded in 1833.

In 1893, Bristol Medical School merged with University College, Bristol, while Merchant Venturers’ Technical School came on board in 1909—the year the University of Bristol acquired its royal charter and its current name.

Bristol is associated with 13 Nobel laureates, among whom we may name

  • Physicists, Nevill Mott, Paul Dirac, Cecil Frank Powell & Hans Bethe
  • Chemists, Dorothy Hodgkin, William Ramsay & Gerhard Herzberg
  • Biophysicist, Max Delbrück
  • Economist, Angus Deaton
  • Playwright, Harold Pinter
  • French novelist, J.M.G. Le Clézio

Other distinguished Bristol-connected people include the following:

  • Novelist, Angela Carter
  • Actors, Emily Watson, Carolyn Goodall & Tim Piggott-Smith
  • Film directors, Alex Cox & Michael Winterbottom
  • Philosopher, Michael Ruse
  • Astrophysicist, Philip Campbell
  • Physicists, David Bohm, Klaus Fuchs, M.G.K. Menon & Yakir Aharonov
  • Biochemist, Michael Denton
  • Aviation pioneer, Alberto Santos-Dumont
  • Historian, Linda Colley
  • Economist, Alfred Marshall
  • Journalist and author, Misha Glenny
  • TV journalist, Alastair Stewart

According to Wikipedia, The University of Bristol is a red brick Russell Group research university in Bristol, England. It received its royal charter in 1909, although it can trace its roots to a Merchant Venturers' school founded in 1595 and University College, Bristol, which had been in existence since 1876.

University of Bristol's Online Degrees

What Is University of Bristol Known For?

University of Bristol is known for it's academic work in the following disciplines:

University of Bristol's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Physics
#50
World Rank
#45
Historical Rank
Astronomy
#85
World Rank
#107
Historical Rank
Particle Physics
#54
World Rank
#55
Historical Rank
Nuclear Physics
#102
World Rank
#116
Historical Rank
physics Degrees
Mathematics
#88
World Rank
#124
Historical Rank
Statistics
#78
World Rank
#81
Historical Rank
Algebraic Geometry
#25
World Rank
#28
Historical Rank
Applied Mathematics
#44
World Rank
#45
Historical Rank
math Degrees
Biology
#110
World Rank
#126
Historical Rank
Zoology
#49
World Rank
#49
Historical Rank
Anatomy
#78
World Rank
#94
Historical Rank
Evolutionary Biology
#33
World Rank
#43
Historical Rank
biology Degrees
Economics
#119
World Rank
#43
Historical Rank
Microeconomics
#44
World Rank
#44
Historical Rank
Macroeconomics
#127
World Rank
#133
Historical Rank
Neoclassical Economics
#30
World Rank
#33
Historical Rank
economics Degrees
Education
#122
World Rank
#128
Historical Rank
Higher Education
#110
World Rank
#110
Historical Rank
Secondary Education
#94
World Rank
#94
Historical Rank
Adult Education
#31
World Rank
#31
Historical Rank
education Degrees
Literature
#134
World Rank
#148
Historical Rank
Writing
#108
World Rank
#118
Historical Rank
Literary Criticism
#119
World Rank
#51
Historical Rank
Literary Theory
#69
World Rank
#77
Historical Rank
literature Degrees
Medical
#127
World Rank
#132
Historical Rank
Epidemiology
#24
World Rank
#26
Historical Rank
Mental Health
#65
World Rank
#65
Historical Rank
Surgery
#207
World Rank
#208
Historical Rank
medicine Degrees
History
#89
World Rank
#96
Historical Rank
Medieval Studies
#13
World Rank
#13
Historical Rank
Ancient History
#48
World Rank
#42
Historical Rank
Economic History
#84
World Rank
#87
Historical Rank
history Degrees
Psychology
#86
World Rank
#88
Historical Rank
Social Psychology
#35
World Rank
#22
Historical Rank
Cognitive Psychology
#31
World Rank
#32
Historical Rank
Evolutionary Psychology
#29
World Rank
#29
Historical Rank
psychology Degrees
Engineering
#165
World Rank
#186
Historical Rank
Architecture
#303
World Rank
#334
Historical Rank
Mechanical Engineering
#142
World Rank
#144
Historical Rank
Electrical Engineering
#197
World Rank
#205
Historical Rank
engineering Degrees
Philosophy
#158
World Rank
#193
Historical Rank
Logic
#126
World Rank
#160
Historical Rank
Ethics
#139
World Rank
#142
Historical Rank
Metaphysics
#145
World Rank
#157
Historical Rank
philosophy Degrees
Chemistry
#66
World Rank
#71
Historical Rank
Physical Chemistry
#38
World Rank
#42
Historical Rank
Organic Chemistry
#56
World Rank
#60
Historical Rank
Nanotechnology
#109
World Rank
#109
Historical Rank
chemistry Degrees
Business
#234
World Rank
#234
Historical Rank
Management
#168
World Rank
#168
Historical Rank
Finance
#230
World Rank
#230
Historical Rank
Sales
#129
World Rank
#129
Historical Rank
business Degrees
Computer Science
#170
World Rank
#164
Historical Rank
Programming
#113
World Rank
#98
Historical Rank
Artificial Intelligence
#161
World Rank
#143
Historical Rank
Database
#179
World Rank
#176
Historical Rank
computer-science Degrees
Earth Sciences
#24
World Rank
#33
Historical Rank
Geography
#16
World Rank
#20
Historical Rank
Volcanology
#3
World Rank
#3
Historical Rank
Crystallography
#39
World Rank
#47
Historical Rank
earth-science Degrees
Political Science
#258
World Rank
#268
Historical Rank
Government
#242
World Rank
#242
Historical Rank
Public Policy
#143
World Rank
#143
Historical Rank
Human Rights
#370
World Rank
#374
Historical Rank
political-science Degrees
Communications
#96
World Rank
#111
Historical Rank
Grammar
#28
World Rank
#28
Historical Rank
Linguistics
#153
World Rank
#169
Historical Rank
Journalism
#285
World Rank
#291
Historical Rank
communications Degrees
Religious Studies
#126
World Rank
#149
Historical Rank
Theology
#210
World Rank
#232
Historical Rank
Ministry
#246
World Rank
#246
Historical Rank
Buddhism
#134
World Rank
#134
Historical Rank
religious-studies-hub Degrees
Law
#309
World Rank
#323
Historical Rank
International Law
#300
World Rank
#317
Historical Rank
Civil Law
#232
World Rank
#233
Historical Rank
Common Law
#256
World Rank
#256
Historical Rank
Anthropology
#170
World Rank
#189
Historical Rank
Social Anthropology
#127
World Rank
#129
Historical Rank
Archeology
#251
World Rank
#260
Historical Rank
Physical Anthropology
#85
World Rank
#87
Historical Rank
anthropology Degrees
Sociology
#210
World Rank
#230
Historical Rank
Sociobiology
#46
World Rank
#46
Historical Rank
Urban Studies
#143
World Rank
#143
Historical Rank
Ethnic Studies
#166
World Rank
#166
Historical Rank
sociology Degrees
Nursing
#204
World Rank
#206
Historical Rank
Psychiatric Nursing
#131
World Rank
#131
Historical Rank
nursing Degrees
Social Work
#133
World Rank
#135
Historical Rank
Gerontology
#72
World Rank
#72
Historical Rank
Empowerment
#221
World Rank
#221
Historical Rank
Child Protection
#48
World Rank
#48
Historical Rank
social-work Degrees
Criminal Justice
#325
World Rank
#331
Historical Rank
Cyber Security
#63
World Rank
#63
Historical Rank
Criminology
#236
World Rank
#241
Historical Rank
Policing
#200
World Rank
#200
Historical Rank
criminal-justice Degrees

Who Are University of Bristol's Most Influential Alumni?

University of Bristol's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Earth Sciences, Economics, and Physics. Here are some of University of Bristol's most famous alumni:

Paul Dirac
Paul Dirac
A British theoretical physicist .
David Bohm
David Bohm
An American theoretical physicist.
Klaus Fuchs
Klaus Fuchs
A German-born British theoretical physicist and atomic spy .
Dominique Strauss-Kahn
A French economist.
Simon Conway Morris
A British palaeontologist.
Angela Carter
Angela Carter
An English novelist.
Yakir Aharonov
Yakir Aharonov
An Israeli physicist.
Bernard Lovell
Bernard Lovell
An English physicist and radio astronomer.
Nigel Warburton
A British author and lecturer.
Geoffrey Burbidge
A British astronomer .
Derren Brown
Derren Brown
A British illusionist and writer.
Keith Devlin
Keith Devlin
A British mathematician.

Who Are University of Bristol's Most Influential Faculty?

University of Bristol's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Earth Sciences, Economics, and Physics. Here are some of University of Bristol's most famous alumni:

Ben Green
Ben Green
A British mathematician.
Jens Marklof
Jens Marklof
A German mathematician.
Brooke Magnanti
Brooke Magnanti
A British writer.
Ibrahim Sirkeci
Ibrahim Sirkeci
A British academic.
Samir Okasha
A Professor of Philosophy of Science.
Corinna Ulcigrai
Corinna Ulcigrai
An Italian mathematician.
Jeremy O'Brien
An Australian physicist.
Alice Roberts
Alice Roberts
An English physician, anatomist, physical anthropologist, television presenter, author.
Oliver D. Crisp
Oliver D. Crisp
A British theologian.
Richard Huxtable
A Medical teacher.
Philip Donoghue
Philip Donoghue
A British paleontologist.
Nina Snaith
Nina Snaith
A British mathematician.

Image Attributions