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University of Bristol Exchange

Six students stand outside of a metal gate leading to a massive stone castle.

England, Bristol

Important Note:  This program has two tracks: Exchange or Direct Enroll.

Both exchange and direct enroll students will take courses alongside degree-seeking students, have access to student housing, and participate in all aspects of student life.

WI Resident/MN Reciprocity students should apply for the Exchange track.

Non-Residents should apply for the Direct Enroll track.

Limited Capacity Program: The Exchange track can only accept a limited number of students each term, and in the past, we have received more qualified applicants than available spots. To determine selection for a limited capacity program, reviewers consider a variety of criteria. You may only have one open application per term but should have an alternate program in mind in the event that you are not accepted to this program. If you are a WI/MN student but are not accepted to the exchange, you may apply for the direct enroll track.  Be sure to review the program cost for each track.

The Direct Enroll track does not have limited capacity.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

Exchange & Direct Enroll

Subjects

Arts, Biological & Physical Science, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Humanities, Music, Social Science, Social Work

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Residence Hall, Apartments

Program Duration

Academic Year: September - May
Fall: September - December
Spring: January - May

Application Deadline(s)

Fall 2026-27 - [Exchange] 3/6/2026 Cost Details
Year 2026-27 - [Exchange] 3/6/2026 Cost Details
Fall 2026-27 - [Direct Enroll] 3/6/2026 Cost Details
Spring 2026-27 - [Exchange] 9/4/2026 Cost Details
Spring 2026-27 - [Direct Enroll] 9/4/2026 Cost Details

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

APPLY NOW

 

At Bristol you can select units (classes) from across departments, combining subjects to suit your interests.  Undergraduate degrees in the UK are three-year programs, and you can choose units from all three years. For subjects that you haven’t studied at UW, we recommend first-year units.  Second-year units are most common for students taking their major/minor abroad, and third-year units are suitable for students in their major subject if you are close to graduation.

At Bristol, Autumn (Fall) semester is known as Teaching Block 1.  Spring semester is known as Teaching Block 2.

Please note:

  • Unit choices cannot be guaranteed in advance and unit registration for study abroad students will be finalised when you arrive in Bristol.  Students choosing to study abroad at Bristol need to have great flexibility when it comes to unit selections.
  • Bristol accepts study abroad students for both semester and year-long programs, however some schools/departments have more year-long units than others (e.g. often in Engineering subjects).
  • Psychology is taught as an experimental science rather than a social science at Bristol. Students taking Psychology units are required to have a strong background in Chemistry, Biology and Neuroscience.  Units within the School of Psychological Science have limited capacity.
  • Please note that there are few available units in Civil Engineering for single semester students so applying for the full academic year is advised. Single semester students would need to be flexible in the units that they can take. In Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, there are few 1st and 2nd year units available for study abroad students, students are therefore required to have some flexibility in these subject areas.
  • The School of Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science are not open to study abroad students.
  • Computer Science units are only available at third and fourth year level and therefore are only suitable for students who have already completed 2 or 3 years of a Computer Science degree.

Since the availability of units cannot be guaranteed, this program is not a good fit for students who need a specific course and/or particular type of credit while abroad.

Affiliate Institution(s)

University of Bristol

Program Web Pages

Study at Bristol

Foreign Courses

What you can study at Bristol

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents