About Bristol
According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), Bristol is a popular student destination among foreign students, especially among China (1,575 students) and Germany (540 students), the United States (535 students), and India (530 students). All in the 2021/22 academic year.
Here is a breakdown of the proportion of international students by level of study in Bristol:
Undergraduate: 22%
Postgraduate: 32%
Postgraduate Research: 56%
Bristol has attracted students from all over the world for various reasons, one of them being their high-ranking research institutions, which include the University of Bristol (55th worldwide as of 2024) and UWE Bristol (741-750 worldwide as of 2024). The government’s initiatives to attract foreign students, such as offering scholarships, have also paid off.
Popular Student Accommodation Areas in Bristol
Bristol is divided into four constituencies: Bristol East, Bristol West, Bristol North West, and Bristol South.
Popular Bristol areas amongst university students include Clifton, Redland, and Harbourside. You should consider transportation links, cost of living, and amenities when looking for your perfect student area.
1. Students living in the green area of Clifton will be near the University of Bristol, and purposely built accommodation would typically cost around £150-£350/week.
Travel time from Clifton to the city centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 10-15 minutes
Taxi - around 10 minutes
Walking - around 25 minutes
2. Students living in Redland would pay approximately £150-£350/week. Nearby universities include the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and the University of Bristol.
Travel time from Bristol to the City Centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 10- 15 minutes
Taxi - around 10 minutes
Walking - around 25 minutes
3. Students living in Harbourside would pay around £200-£400/week. The nearest campuses to this area include the University of Bristol, a 20-minute walk from the property.
Travel time from Harbourside to the city centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 10-15 minutes
Taxi - 5-10 minutes
Walking - 15-20 minutes
Best Student Accommodation in Bristol
Bristol has a vast range of student room options located in different areas, all in proximity to students’ colleges and in accordance with different budgets.
Popular student accommodations in Bristol, which provide almost every room type, include:-
Discover Student Room Types in Bristol (Approx. £150 - £400/ week)
The purpose-built student accommodation in Bristol typically has a wide range of amenities, all of which are included in your bill. All of these PBSAs vary in content as well as having different terms and conditions. We suggest, however, that our students carefully consider budgets, needs, and preferences before making any decisions.
Here, we have categorised the room types based on varying preferences and budgets to help you make up your decision.
Type 1: Affordable student rooms in Bristol
These can cost as little as £150-£200 per week on average and are recommended for students who are comfortable sharing the room and communal facilities. Typically, these are as follows:
Twin rooms
Amenities: These rooms typically feature two single beds, storage units fit for two people, as well as double workspaces (if available). These rooms share facilities, such as the kitchen and living areas, with other flatmates. Twin rooms can sometimes be non-ensuite, sharing the bathroom with other flatmates.
City Centre avg. Rent: £150–£300/per week (depending on en-suite or non-ensuite option)
Clifton avg. Rent: £175-£350/per week (depending on en-suite or non-ensuite option)
Redland avg. Rent: £165-£325/per week (depending on en-suite or non-ensuite option)
Harbourside avg. Rent: £180-£350/per week (depending on en-suite or non-ensuite option)
Triple rooms
Amenities: These rooms typically feature three single beds, enough storage for three people, as well as three workspaces (if available). These rooms share facilities, such as the kitchen and living areas, with other flatmates. These rooms are typically non-suite, so they share the bathroom with other flatmates.
City Centre avg. Rent:£225-£300/ per week
Clifton avg. Rent:£225-£350 /per week
Redland avg. Rent:£210-£325 /per week
Harbourside avg. Rent:£230-£350 /per week
- Quadruple rooms
Amenities: private bedroom, shared bathroom, shared kitchen.
Triple rooms
City Centre avg. Rent: £250 - £350/ per week
Clifton avg. Rent: £300 - £400 /per week
Redland avg. Rent: £275 - £375 /per week
Harbourside avg. Rent: £300 - £400 /per week
Note that these room prices are to be shared between residents, making them the most affordable option.
Type 2: Affordable student rooms in Bristol with privacy
These rooms cost around £720- £1,350 per month.
Student Single (non-ensuite)
Amenities: private bedroom, shared bathroom, shared kitchen, and shared social area.
City Centre avg. Rent: £180-£275/ per week
Clifton avg. Rent: £200-£300 /per week
Redland avg. Rent: £170-£275 /per week
Harbourside avg. Rent: £190-£300 /per week
The recommended student single room is Zinc Quarter.
Student Single Room (en-suite)
Amenities: private bedroom, private bathroom, shared kitchen, and social area.
City Centre avg. Rent: £250 - £350/ per week
Clifton avg. Rent: £280 - £400 /per week
Redland avg. Rent: £230 - £325 /per week
Harbourside avg. Rent: £260 - £375 /per week
The recommended student single en-suite room is Zinc Quarter.
Room Type 3: Bristol student housing with privacy, quiet space, and proximity to the city centre cost as little as £750 to £1,250 per month.
Bristol Student studios
Amenities: private bedroom, Private bathroom, private kitchen
City Centre avg. Rent: £180-£300 / per week
Clifton avg. Rent: £200-£350 /per week
Redland avg. Rent: £175-£325/per week
Harbourside avg. Rent: £200-£350/per week
The recommended studios are iQ Bristol, Zinc Quarter, and Zed Alley.
Student Flats
Amenities: Private bedroom, private bathroom, private kitchen
City Centre avg. Rent: £200 - £350 / per week
Clifton avg. Rent: £225 - £400 /per week
Redland avg. Rent: £185 - £300/per week
Harbourside avg. Rent: £210 - £375/per week
The recommended student flats are Bristol Bridge Apartments, Castle Park, and Brunswick Bristol Apartments.
Room Type 4: Amenities over budget
Student penthouses in Bristol can cost as little as £800- £1,300 per month and as much as £1,500 to £2,000.
These are suitable for students who prefer to have private bedrooms, a private balcony, a terrace, privacy, spacious rooms, and a top floor. This option is slightly pricey.
International students in Bristol, UK also search for:
| 1 Bedroom Private Let | 2 Bedroom Apartment | 3 Bedroom Apartment |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | Very Central 2 Bed Apartment- 2Bath-AC unit- Sleeps 5 with one sofa bed | Large 3Bed-2 Parking spaces & Garden-Sleeps 7 with two sofa beds |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | ||
| 2 Bedroom Fully Serviced Apartment - Bristol |
Cost of Living in Bristol for Students (Approx. £243 - £800)
It varies depending on students’ lifestyle choices, but overall, apart from your Bristol student accommodation rent, other expenses can not be ignored. We have suggestions to help you save money while living in Bristol as a student:
Food: £205.63/month on average.
We suggest buying groceries that cost around £6.63/day and cooking your own meal.
Shop at grocery stores such as Aldi, Lidl, Iceland, Asda, Morrisons, and Sainsbury's, as these are the cheapest.
Transportation: £38-£95/month on average
- Buy a First bus and get around 20% discount on transportation in West England.
- If you use the rail, apply for the 18-25 Railcard (for students) for £30.
- Apply for a Freedom Travel Pass for unlimited bus and rail transport for £58.00 per month.
- You can also rent a bike for as little as £5 per day or as much as £30 per day, depending on the length of the rental period and the type of bike.
Rent electric bikes and folding bikes for £10 per day from private companies for weekend commutes.
Or you can buy a second-hand bike for £50 to £200, and it's yours until you don’t need it.
Kitchen Essentials: Market worth around £150-£200.
Some properties do not provide utensils in that case, student can check online where some websites provide utensils at discounted prices for student from market prices.
You can also make use of kitchen utensils left by former tenants.
Bedding Essentials: Market is worth around £50-£100.
Only a few providers provide bedding packs to their tenants included in bills or as an offer. Otherwise, after move-in, students have to buy on their own.
You can also make use of bedding essentials left by former tenants.
Bathroom Essentials: Market worth around £50 to £100
While booking a student room, the focus remains on whether it has shared or private bathrooms, but forget about bathroom essentials. Student can check online where some websites provide at discounted prices from market prices.
Cleaning Essentials: Market worth around £50- £100
