University of Bath vs University of Bristol

University of Bath vs University of Bristol

University of Bath is a very selective public university situated in Bath, United Kingdom. It is a moderate-sized school with about 15,000 undergraduate students. Admissions are very competitive, with an overall acceptance rate of around 20%. The most popular majors are Engineering, Business, Social Sciences, Computer Science, and Architecture. The six-year graduation rate is approximately 87%, and University of Bath alumni earn a median starting salary of about INR 9,00,000 (approximately £12,000 median income ten years post-graduation).

University of Bristol is one of the highest-ranked public research universities in Bristol, United Kingdom. It is a big university with about 20,000 undergraduate students. Admissions are competitive with an overall acceptance rate of approximately 12%. Some popular majors are Engineering, Medicine, Biological Sciences, Law, and Social Sciences. The six-year graduation rate is about 90%, and the median starting salary for Bristol alumni is about INR 10,00,000 (approximately £13,000 median income ten years after graduation).

Overview Comparison
University of BathUniversity of Bristol
Collegedunia Score5.1 Out of 106.1 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 8 The Guardian 2026
# 132 QS World University 2026
# 251 Times Higher Education 2026
# 15 The Guardian 2026
# 51 QS World University 2026
# 80 Times Higher Education 2026
Subject Strength# 201 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025
# 301 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 151 for Law by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2021
# 100 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025
# 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025
# 59 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
ProgramsUG Programs -78
PG Programs -88
Doctorate Programs -6
UG Programs -168
PG Programs -114
Doctorate Programs -49
Acceptance Rate20.0 %67.0 %
Exam ScoreGMAT-600
IELTS-6.5
PTE-62
SAT-1220
TOEFL-90
GRE-316
IELTS-6.5
PTE-67
SAT-650
TOEFL-103
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   20781
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  25878
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 31059 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees   27200
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  20100
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 9720 Per Year
placement (average package)

Ranked 4th in graduate employment (The Guardian University Guide 2020); Average annual salary: 45,100 USD; Top recruiters: WS Atkins Consultants Limited, Renishaw Plc, BAE Systems Inc., Civica UK Ltd, Ernst & Young; Highest paying degrees: Executive Masters (140,000 USD), BBA (108,000 USD), PhD (107,000 USD), Doctorate (99,000 USD), Masters in Finance (91,000 USD), MBA (90,000 USD), Other degrees (48,000 USD).


Ranked #61 in QS world University Rankings ; #49 in Graduate Employment Ranking

Top Recruiters Are : Atkins, IBM, MI5, AstraZeneca, BT, HSBC, PwC, KPMG, Deloitte etc

Bristol University Graduates & Alumni Salaries - By  Degree

  • Masters in Management: $77,000 
  • PhD: $75,000 
  • Master (Other): $70,000 
  • Other Degree: $67,000 
  • Bachelor (Other): $64,000 
  • Bachelor of Arts: $59,000 

application requirements

60% in bachelors for MBA; Letter of Recommendation; CV

academic transcripts; 2 academic references; translations of relevant documents; personal statement/essay; research proposal; poof of English language proficiency

CollegeDunia Reviews7.8/10 Read 17 reviews7.3/10 Read 16 reviews

Top Courses Comparison

Top Courses Comparison

ranking# 15 for Computer Science by The Guardian 2026
# 301 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025
# 351 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025
# 10 for Computer Science by The Guardian 2026
# 101 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025
# 134 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025
cost to studyTotal Cost (Tuition + Living) -28157Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -
application datesJan 29, 2025 (Ucas 2025 Intake Applicaton Deadline)
Jun 30, 2025 (Final Deadline For September 2025 Intake)
Sep 26, 2025 (Accommodation Fees Deposit Deadline For September 2025 Intake)
Oct 24, 2025 (Tuition Fee Deposit Deadline For September 2025 Intake)
Jan 31, 2026 (Equal Consideration Deadline For September 2026 Intake)
ranking# 4 for Accounting by The Guardian 2026
# 101 for Accounting by QS World University 2025
# 45 for Accounting by The Guardian 2026
# 101 for Accounting by QS World University 2025
exam scoresDuolingo - 120/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 62/90TOEFL - 90/120IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 67/90TOEFL - 88/120
cost to studyTotal Cost (Tuition + Living) -36140Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -30500
application datesJul 31, 2024 (Application Deadline For 2025 Intake)
Jul 24, 2025 (Application Deadline)
General Facts Comparison
General FactsUniversity of BathUniversity of Bristol
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1856
1595
Student:Faculty Ratio16:1
:1
Male:Female54% Male, 46% Female47% Male, 53% Female
Location Facts

Main campus located in Claverton Down, east side of Bath; 1 hour 25 minutes away from London by train; 


Located in Bristol, England; a gateway to the South West; provides easy access to Bath, Cardiff, surrounding countryside, etc. Students can take a hike to Mendip Hills, discover Glastonbury, Cotswolds, Forest of Dean, local beaches at Weston-super-Mare, Brean Down and Sand Bay, etc.


Library

24/7 access all through the year; 334,000 print books; 500,000 e-books; 26,000 e-journals; 246 print journal titles; over 1km of unique & distinctive materials in Archives & Research Collection.


10 libraries; 45,000 meters of printed stock; millions of books, ebooks, journals, manuscripts, etc; special collections with materials dating from the 11th century to the present day


Campus Life

Over 100 societies and clubs on further mentioned themes: arts, departmental, ethical & political, faith & cultural and recreational; All international students automatically part of International Students’ Association (ISA); Postgraduate students are members of Postgraduate Association; Universities also have 48 sports clubs


350 societies, sports clubs, groups & support networks; Indoor Sports Centre (consisting of gyms, studios, sports halls, etc.); swimming pool; University Boathouse.


Hostel#Rooms En -suite Room(Green Park house) - $10761
#Studio - $11781
#Standard - $8517
#Rent and Bills - $9720
Famous Alumni

TS Krishnamurthy (former Chief Election Commissioner of India); Neil Fox (radio DJ and TV presenter); Peter Butcher (British diplomat and Ambassador to Turkmenistan); Falah Mustafa Bakir (Foreign Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan); Sir Julian Horn-Smith (former COO of Vodafone); Nigel Healey (Vice Chancellor at Fiji National University); Steve Borthwick (former Bath and England rugby union player); Kieran O’Neill (entrepreneur)


13 Nobel Prize winners; Simon Pegg (Writer & Actor); Jonathan Evans (Former Head of MI5); Alastair Stewart (Journalist); Paul Dirac (Physicist & Nobel Prize winner); Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (Former South African Minister of Health); Parambrata Chattopadhyay (Indian Film Actor & Director); William Jack Poulter (Actor).


City Life

Bath is considered to the one of the strongest economy in Europe; Its unemployment rate for July 2020 was 9.2%; Some of the popular industries in the city are aerospace & advanced engineering, creative & digital sector; energy sector (low carbon energy generation and supply), and business & professional services. Famous tourist sectors are Roman Baths, Royal Crescent, Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, and Thermae Bath Spa. 


The largest city in the South West; 90 minutes from London; Known for Georgian architecture, gritty graffiti, harbourside living, etc.; Economy based on creative media, electronics, aerospace industries; Home to 30 art galleries; Famous attractions include Bristol Zoo Gardens, At-Bristol, Bristol Harbour, St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol Cathedral, Clifton Suspension Bridge, Cheddar Gorge.


Comparison Notes

University of Bath vs University of Bristol

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

The University of Bristol and the University of Bath are both highly renowned universities within the UK, boasting well-established reputations internationally and domestically. Bristol is ranked 51st in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2026, whereas Bath is ranked 132nd. As per the US News Global Rankings 2026, Bristol is ranked 105, whereas Bath is ranked 403. In THE Rankings 2026, Bristol takes rank 78, while Bath is in the band 251–300. Bristol excels particularly in engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, and medicine, while Bath is famous for engineering, business, and technology-oriented courses.

General Information

University of Bath is a 1966-founded campus-based university in Bath, England with a total enrollment of approximately 19,000 students. It is highly regarded for having a strong emphasis on practical and professional learning with specific emphasis on science, management, and engineering.

University of Bristol is a large research-driven university established in 1876 with a presence in Bristol, England. It has about 26,000 students. It has a broad-based academic portfolio with a high level of research and teaching activity in science, engineering, humanities, and medicine.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Bath has a reasonably competitive admissions profile, drawing highly qualified applicants to its engineering, business, and science majors.

Bristol is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of just 12%, consistent with the university's high standards and global reputation, especially for medicine, engineering, and social sciences.

Research Impact & Facilities

Bath has significant research activity in applied sciences, engineering, and business with an emphasis on industry partnership and innovation for practical purposes.

Bristol is a leading research university with well-equipped research facilities and institutes in natural sciences, medicine, social sciences, and engineering, and conducts globally relevant research.

Cost & Financial Aid

Both universities charge competitive domestic and international tuition, with both merit-based and need-based financial assistance available. Bristol, as larger and more research-oriented, frequently provides supplemental funds for research and international students.

Career Outcomes & Alumni Success

Bath graduates excel particularly in the fields of engineering, business, and technology, with many enjoying excellent industry links and professional placements.

Bristol graduates prosper in a broad array of careers, such as science, engineering, business, medicine, and the arts, thanks to a world-renowned degree and a solid alumni network.