The University of Bristol's Computer Science degree, taught within the School of Computer Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Engineering Maths, sits inside a Russell Group research-intensive university with genuine regional tech and aerospace industry ties, including Airbus and Rolls-Royce facilities near Bristol. For applicants comparing Bristol against London-based or Oxbridge computer science programmes, Bristol's pitch is a strong, research-active department inside a university that is noticeably less selective in aggregate than Oxbridge or Imperial, while still commanding real employer recognition.
This guide covers what Bristol publishes on acceptance rates, cost, requirements, its distinctive lettered English-language "profile" system, and where Computer Science graduates go on to work.
Acceptance Rate
Bristol does not publish a Computer Science-specific acceptance rate. The only available figure is Bristol's overall undergraduate offer rate of roughly 52%, drawn from the 2022 admissions cycle (the most recent aggregate figure available), and Bristol's own admissions data explicitly flags that this headline figure masks large course-by-course variation.
Important caveats for Computer Science specifically:
- Bristol's published materials call out Medicine, Law, and several Engineering programmes as running considerably more selective than the 52% aggregate, and while Computer Science isn't named explicitly in that list, it is one of Bristol's most STEM-competitive, high-demand courses and should reasonably be assumed to sit below the university-wide average, not at or above it
- No official Bristol source in our research publishes an exact Computer Science admit rate, so treat any specific single-digit or teens percentage you see elsewhere as an unverified estimate
Bottom line: treat the 52% figure as a loose upper bound on Bristol Computer Science's true selectivity, not a reliable estimate of it. Prepare as you would for a competitive Russell Group STEM course.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
| Cost Item | Amount (USD/year) |
|---|---|
| Home (UK-domiciled) tuition | $13,119 (fixed at GBP 9,790 government-wide for 2026-27) |
| International tuition (estimated, STEM band) | $41,900-$44,800 (GBP 31,300-33,400) |
| Living expenses | Not officially published by Bristol |
Bristol prices international undergraduate tuition in five bands for 2026-27 depending on subject, ranging from GBP 25,500 up to premium computing-intensive STEM courses at GBP 33,400. Computer Science most likely falls into the GBP 31,300 ("most STEM subjects") or GBP 33,400 ("premium lab-/computing-intensive STEM courses") bands rather than the lower humanities-adjacent bands, though our data doesn't pin down the exact figure for this specific course, so confirm the current fee directly on Bristol's Computer Science course page. Bristol does not publish one official living-cost estimate on its central finance pages; UKCISA's general guidance and comparable Bristol-area estimates commonly cite a range in the GBP 1,100-1,400/month bracket, but this is not an official University of Bristol figure.
Admission Requirements
Computer Science admission runs through the standard UK-wide UCAS process:
- UCAS application and personal statement
- Academic reference from your school or college
- Predicted or achieved A-Level, IB, or equivalent qualification grades, typically in the ABB to AAA range for competitive STEM courses like Computer Science, and roughly 32-38 IB points overall with specific Higher Level subject scores (exact thresholds are set course-by-course)
- English language proficiency test scores matched to Computer Science's specific "language profile" letter (A-H), unless you qualify for a waiver
The UCAS equal-consideration deadline is mid-January (Computer Science does not follow the earlier October Medicine/Dentistry deadline), with decisions rolling from January through late March/April.
How to Get Into University of Bristol's Computer Science Programme
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Target the top of Bristol's typical conditional-offer range. Competitive STEM courses like Computer Science generally sit toward the AAA end of Bristol's ABB-AAA conditional-offer band, so a strong predicted-grades profile matters more here than for many other Bristol courses.
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Check Computer Science's exact language profile letter before assuming a generic "UK minimum." Bristol assigns every course to one of eight lettered profiles (A-H), and Computer Science's specific requirement isn't a single university-wide figure, so confirm it directly on the course's admissions page rather than preparing to a guessed target.
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Use your UCAS personal statement to demonstrate genuine technical engagement, not just interest, since Bristol's Computer Science department reads applications from a strong, self-selected STEM applicant pool where generic enthusiasm doesn't stand out.
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Apply for the Think Big Undergraduate Scholarship if eligible. It's open to any eligible undergraduate programme outside Medicine and Dentistry, including Computer Science, and offers GBP 6,500 or GBP 13,000 per year for up to 4 years.
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Apply well ahead of the mid-January UCAS deadline, since Bristol processes applications on a rolling basis from January onward and earlier, fully complete submissions avoid last-minute documentation issues.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Bristol does not set one university-wide IELTS/TOEFL minimum; instead, every course is assigned to one of eight lettered "language profiles" (A through H), with thresholds ranging from roughly IELTS 6.0 up to 7.5 overall:
- Profile A (Bristol's highest band, used for many competitive and language-intensive courses): IELTS 7.5 overall (minimum 7.0 in every component), or TOEFL iBT 103 overall (Reading 24, Listening 22, Speaking 25, Writing 24) for tests taken up to 20 January 2026
- Profile D (a commonly cited mid-range example): IELTS 6.5 overall (7.0 in Reading and Writing, 6.0 in Listening and Speaking), or TOEFL iBT 88 overall
- Bristol does not publish Computer Science's specific profile letter in a single consolidated source, so check the course's own admissions page directly to confirm which profile applies
- Waiver: available to applicants who are nationals of a UK Visas and Immigration-recognised majority English-speaking country
- Conditional admission: Bristol offers a pre-sessional English course for offer-holders who fall short of their required profile
For general Bristol admissions context, see Bristol's full acceptance rate, IELTS/TOEFL and admissions guide.
Career Outcomes
Bristol does not publish outcomes broken out specifically for Computer Science, but the university's broader undergraduate recruiter data gives a useful, honestly-caveated proxy:
- Top recruiters (university-wide undergraduate, not Computer Science-specific): Airbus, Rolls-Royce, PwC, Deloitte, UK Civil Service, and NHS organisations
- Bristol's strong regional aerospace and engineering industry presence, particularly Airbus and Rolls-Royce facilities near Bristol, gives Computer Science and engineering-adjacent graduates a distinctive local recruiting pipeline beyond the generic "Big Four consulting" pathway common to most UK universities
- Employment rate and average starting salary specific to Computer Science graduates are not published in our research
FAQ
Does Bristol publish a Computer Science-specific acceptance rate? No. The only available figure is the university-wide 52% undergraduate offer rate (2022 cycle), which Bristol's own materials note masks considerable course-by-course variation, with STEM courses like Computer Science reasonably assumed to run more selective than that headline figure.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for Bristol Computer Science? Bristol doesn't set one university-wide minimum; it assigns each course to a lettered language profile (A-H). Confirm Computer Science's specific profile directly on the course page; Bristol's profiles range from roughly IELTS 6.0 up to 7.5 overall depending on the course.
How much does Bristol's Computer Science degree cost for international students? Estimated at GBP 31,300-33,400/year (roughly USD 41,900-44,800), within Bristol's premium STEM tuition bands, though the exact figure should be confirmed on the course's specific fee page.
Does Bristol offer scholarships for international Computer Science students? Yes. The Think Big Undergraduate Scholarship (GBP 6,500 or GBP 13,000/year, up to 4 years) is open to any eligible undergraduate programme except Medicine and Dentistry, including Computer Science.
Will I need to attend a visa interview to study at Bristol? Almost certainly not. The UK Student visa route generally does not require a routine in-person interview; your application is assessed from the online form, financial evidence, and the CAS Bristol issues once you hold a firm, unconditional offer.
What A-Level or IB grades do I need for Bristol Computer Science? Bristol's typical conditional-offer range runs ABB to AAA at A-Level and roughly 32-38 IB points overall, with competitive STEM courses like Computer Science generally sitting toward the top of that range.