• Swindon & Wiltshire Education, training and skills
• Monday September 21 2026

Bristol Uni named best in south west

The University of Bristol has been named South West University of the Year 2027, while retaining its place among the UK’s top 10 institutions in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.

The university also recorded 22 courses in the national top 10 and 41 in the top 20, strengthening its position as a major contributor to the region’s skills, research and innovation economy.

Criminology entered the rankings as a separate subject for the first time and went straight to number one in the UK. Aerospace Engineering and Social Policy both ranked third nationally.

Several courses also recorded significant improvements. English climbed 14 places to 29th, while Chemistry rose five places to seventh, moving into the national top 10.

The recognition comes as the university enters a major period of expansion and international engagement. The Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus in Bristol and the University of Bristol Mumbai Enterprise Campus opened last week, while preparations are underway to mark 150 years since the founding of University College Bristol in October.

The guide highlighted Bristol’s approach to teaching, including what it described as the UK’s first lecture theatre “in the round” at the Temple Quarter campus. It also praised the university’s work to widen access to higher education through contextual offers and gateway programmes in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science.

Bristol has links with more than 150 institutions worldwide, including the University of Copenhagen, the National University of Singapore and the University of California. These partnerships support study-abroad semesters, exchange years and funded summer programmes.

The university also climbed to joint 23rd in the People & Planet league, placing it third among Russell Group institutions.

Professor Evelyn Welch, vice-chancellor and president of the University of Bristol, said: “I am delighted by this continued recognition of the University of Bristol’s enormous strengths.

“It reflects the talent, dedication and ambition of our staff, students and partners. We are determined to build on this success because I know our work continues to make a positive impact locally, nationally and globally.”

She added: “This recognition comes at an especially exciting time for the University, following the opening of our Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus and Mumbai Enterprise Campus last week, and as we prepare to celebrate our 150th anniversary in October.”

“As we look to the future, we remain committed to delivering outstanding education, pioneering research and innovation, and developing meaningful partnerships locally and beyond – bringing the world to Bristol and Bristol to the world.”

Despite the accolade, Bristol did not rank highest in the region. That honour went to the University of Bath, which came eighth in the national league table – two places ahead of Bristol.