Making new discoveries

Bristol is at the cutting edge of research. Our research activity tackles some of the world's most important issues such as disease, climate change, food security, energy and social justice. Our academics are renowned for their expertise at home and abroad, which means superb learning opportunities for you and the chance to be part of some exciting discoveries.

A proven leader

The University is a member of the Worldwide Universities Network, a grouping of 18 research-led institutions of international standing, and of the Russell Group of universities, an association of 24 major research-intensive universities in the UK.

We have an excellent international reputation in research. Our academic quality is reflected in the Nobel Prizes and Fellowships associated with the University community. The University is proud to have current and former staff represented in a number of prestigious academic societies including 37 Fellows of the Royal Society and 11 of the British Academy.

An engaged University

The range and depth of research at Bristol has an established record of impacting on society, on a local, national and international level. It brings together world-leading academics and rising stars to address key global issues and challenges; to find and explore new connections between disciplines; and to contribute to our understanding of the world. Our researchers are engaged with diverse issues such as the cultural life and history of nations and communities around the world, and the development of innovations in medicine, nanotechnology, stem-cell engineering and other emerging fields.

The University attracts research funding from some of the world’s most prominent grant-giving organisations. It also attracts investment in research from industry and the business sector, and is involved in numerous international research collaborations.

We have long maintained a wide range of partnerships and interactions with academics, businesses, governments and charities across the globe and our staff and students collaborate with researchers worldwide.

Research at the heart of your learning

Our research informs the content of our degree courses and influences how we teach them. Our research-led teaching ensures that our courses are up to date and intellectually challenging. You will benefit from working with world-leading experts, and will, by undertaking a project of your own, experience the process of research first hand.

Some of the University's research highlights include:

• the ground breaking Children of the 90s study, which has been running for more than 20 years, making remarkable scientific discoveries relating to pregnancy and child development;
• a study that has contributed significantly to the development of alternative solutions to the welfare problems associated with housing egg-laying hens;
• a £2.5 million collaborative research programme working to improve educational quality for some of the world’s most disadvantaged learners, particularly in Africa; and
• neuroscience studies impacting on a broad range of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia, obesity, hypertension and diabetes.