When moving to a new city, there is so much information to take in. Hopefully, this page will help you as you settle in Bristol and get to know this wonderful city. If you do not find the information that you were looking for, please email bisc@bisc.org.uk, phone 0117 915 9826 or visit the BISC centre, 45 Woodland Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1UT and we will try our very best to point you in the right direction. Universities and colleges
In Bristol, there are 2 universities and a number of colleges and language schools which provide many courses which you may be able to join. You would need to contact the universities or colleges directly for more information about the courses and how to apply.
- University of Bristol
- University of the West of England
- City of Bristol College
- Filton College
- Trinity College
- English Language Centre
- International House Language School
- The Bristol Language Centre
- Leftbank English Language School
- English Language School
- Oise Language School
Travel
Once you arrive in the UK, you can travel to Bristol by coach or train. National Express is the main coach company & this is often the cheapest way to get to Bristol. National Express run coaches direct from Heathrow and Gatwick airports to Bristol. If you are flying to Bristol Airport, there is a regular coach service to the city centre from the airport called the Bristol Flyer. The UK also has a good railway network. Catching a train is usually more expensive than a coach but your journey may be considerably quicker. Once in the UK, you might want to look into buying a student discount card at a railway or coach station. These can save students up to one third of the price of their journeys. It is also a good idea to buy train and coach tickets over the internet in advance as it will usually be cheaper than buying them at the station on the day you want to travel.
You can see online timetables for coaches, trains and the Bristol Flyer via the links below.
Accommodation
You need to contact the accommodation office of the University or college that you are going to. They will be able to advise you on how to find accommodation. They may also be able to provide you with a list of guest houses to stay in when you first arrive in Bristol. There are some helpful addresses below.
- University of Bristol Accommodation Office
- University of the West of England Accommodation Office
- Unite - non-campus student accommodation
- Study Lets
- Accommodation for Students
- Bristol Digs
- Right Move
- Bristol Gum Tree
- Spare Room
- Flatshare Flat Share
- Room Buddies
- Easy Room Mate
- Property Ads
- Nuroa (property search engine)
BISC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Bank Accounts
You will almost certainly need to open a bank account when you come to Britain. Below is a useful page with information on how much it might cost to live as a student in the UK and the different rates the high street banks offer when you set up a student account.
Shopping
There are many shopping areas in Bristol. The main areas are Broadmead and Cabot Circus which are located in the centre of Bristol and Cribbs Causeway Shopping Mall which is located on the outskirts of Bristol. Each area of Bristol has its own range of shops and supermarkets. Clifton and Gloucester Road are two popular shopping areas for students. If you are looking to buy academic books why not buy them on the internet? It is often much cheaper.
Useful Information
You may find, once you have arrived in Bristol, that you need to buy a few things. You may decide you would like a bicycle to help you get around more easily, or you may want to sample English television channels and therefore need a TV and license. You might want to find a job or have queries about your VISA. BISC has produced a series of leaflets to help answer some of these questions which can be viewed by clicking on the links below.- Buying a bicycle
- Launderettes
- TV's and dvds
- Buying Bedding
- Telephones
- Finding a job in Bristol
- Visa Queries?
- Useful Taxi Numbers
- Looking for a language school?
- Cheaper Temporary Accommodation
- Finding Long-term Accommodation
- Bus Information
- Getting to BISC by bus
- How to get to BISC
- International Food Stores
- Charity Shops
New2UK - A guide for international students coming to study in the UK
Imports
There are strict controls in place on bringing certain products into the UK to protect the country from crime, pests & diseases. Banned or restricted items include food, plant & animal products. Please do check the regulations before you enter the UK as an international student.http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/banned-restricted.htm
Recreation
So are you wondering what to do when you arrive in Bristol? A good place to start is Venue magazine which has information on all that is happening in Bristol. The Student Unions of the universities and colleges put on many events for students. They also have many clubs and societies you can join to find people with a common interest, learn a new skill or sport or just have fun. There are also cinemas, theatres, plenty of live music, pubs and clubs in Bristol. You can often get student discounts but will need your NUS (National Union of Students) card. You get this card when you enrol on your course.
Churches
If you are looking for a church when you arrive in Bristol, then here are a few useful links which may help you make contact before you arrive.| Churches in Bristol Alma Church 29 Alma Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2ES http://www.almachurch.co.uk Office: 0117 9738776 admin@almachurch.co.uk BCF Various locations http://www.bcfnet.com Office: 0117 3050969 admin@bcfnet.com Bridge Community Church http://www.bridgechurchbristol.org Office: 0117 230 3330 info@bridgechurchbristol.org Cairns Road Baptist Cairns Road, Bristol, BS6 7TH http://www.cairnsroad.org/home Office: 0117 942 5669 office@cairnsroad.org Christ Church Clifton Clifton Down Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3BN http://www.christchurchclifton.org.uk Office: 0117 973 6524 office@christchurchclifton.org.uk Christ the Rock, Yate Yate http://www.christtherock.org.uk Office: 01454 326395 christtherock@btconnect.com City Church City Church, The Elmgrove Centre, Elmgrove Road, Bristol BS6 6AH http://www.citychurch.org.uk Office: 0117 924 3322 office@citychurch.org.uk The Community Church The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, Bristol BS10 5PY http://www.the-community-church.net Office: 0117 946 6807 admin@the-community-church.net Ebenezer Church 286 Filton Avenue, Horfield, Bristol BS7 0BA http://www.ebe.org.uk Office: 0117 9791399 info@ebe.org.uk Elim City Church Jamaica Street, Bristol BS2 8JP http://www.elimbristol.org Office: 0117 923 2847 office@elimbristol.org Emmaus Church Gorse Cover Road, Severn Beach, Bristol BS35 4NP http://emmauschurchcentre.org Office: 01454 632274* emmauschurch@fsmail.net Etloe Evangelical Church Cossins Road, Redland Bristol BS6 7LY http://etloe.wordpress.com Office: 0117 942 5105 davecmurray@aol.com Fellowship of the King Etloe Evangelical Church, Cossins Road, Redland Bristol BS6 7LY http://www.online.church123.com/fellowshipoftheking/welcome.htm Office: 0117 924 9889 info@fotk.org.uk Frenchay & Stapleton Churches Holy Trinity Stapleton, 23 Park Road, Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1AZ St John’s Frenchay, Frenchay Common, Bristol BS16 1LJ http://www.frenchaychurch.org.uk www.holytrinitystapleton.org.uk Holy Trinity Office: 0117 958 5556 office@holytrinitystapleton.org.uk Headley Park Church St Peters Rise, Headley Park, Bristol BS13 7LZ http://www.headleyparkchurch.org.uk Office: 0117 3294 930 admin@headleyparkchurch.org.uk Highgrove Church 10 High Grove, Sea Mills, Bristol BS9 2NL http://www.highgrove.org.uk Office: 0117 946 6807 info@highgrove.org.uk Holy Trinity Church Nailsea 2 Church Lane, Nailsea, Bristol BS48 4NG http://www.htnailsea.org.uk Office: 01275 853227 welcome@htnailsea.org.uk Ivy Pentecostal Church Ashley Hill, Montpelier, Bristol BS6 5JD http://www.ivychurch.net Office: 0117 941 1750 admin@ivychurch.net Kensington Baptist 208 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol BS5 0NX http://www.kenbaptist.org Office: 0117 9511202 office@kenbaptist.org Lighthouse to the Nations St George, Bristol http://www.lighthouselounge.co.uk Contact: 0782 506 8676/ 0117 939 5075 deon@lighthouselounge.co.uk Mustard Tree Church Longwell Green, Bristol http://www.themustardtree.com Office: mail@themustardtree.com Philip Street Baptist Church Philip Street, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4EA http://www.philipstreet.org.uk Contact: http://www.philipstreet.org.uk/contactus.php Redland Parish Church Redland Green Road, Redland, Bristol BS6 7HE http://www.redland.org.uk Office: 0117 946 4690 info@redland.org.uk St. Mary’s, Stoke Bishop Mariners Drive, Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 1QJ http://www.stmarysb.org.uk Office: 0117 9687449 stmarysb@hotmail.co.uk Waterbrook Christian Fellowship Begbrook, Bristol www.waterbrook.org.uk Office: home@waterbrook.org.uk Westbury Baptist Church Reedley Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3TD http://www.westburybaptist.org.uk Office: 0117 962 9990 office@westburybaptist.org.uk Woodlands Church Woodland Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2AA http://www.woodlandschurch.net Office: 0117 946 6807 office@woodlandschurch.net |
University Christian Links Bristol University Bristol University Catholic Chaplaincy, St Catherine of Siena & St Thomas Aquinas 103 Queen's Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 ILL http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Union/Cassoc 0117 914 0003 Bristol University Christian Union http://www.bristolcu.org.uk Dame Monica Wills Chapel Wills Hall, Parrys Lane, Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 1AE http://www.bristol.ac.uk/wills-hall/about/chapel Wills Hall: 0117 90 34390 wills-hall@bristol.ac.uk Bristol University Multifaith Chaplaincy The Grange, 1 Woodland Rd, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1AU http://www.bris.ac.uk/chaplaincy Open 11-5pm Mon-Fri during term time UWE Faith & Spirituality at UWE http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/healthandwellbeing/faithandspirituality.aspx UWE Student Christian Union http://www.uwecu.com |