University of the West of England: Fees and January Start
TL;DR: The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) takes international students in January and September. For a January 2027 start, apply by 27 November 2026 and pay the deposit by 9 December. Master's fees for 2027/28 sit around £17,500 to £18,750, and most master's courses need IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each part.
UWE Bristol starts many of its master's courses in January as well as September, which makes it a realistic option if you missed September. Check your eligibility with Prosper first, because the January window closes in two weeks.
Is the University of the West of England a good university for international students?
UWE Bristol has three main campuses in Bristol: Frenchay (the main site), City Campus and Glenside. It holds a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023, and The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027 places it fourth in the South West and the region's highest-ranked modern university. The same page reports that 88% of its graduates were in work or further study 15 months after finishing.
It is a different university from the University of Bristol. UWE is a modern university, while the University of Bristol is a separate Russell Group university. Both are in the same city, so students often compare them. For a wider view of how to shortlist, see our guide to universities in the UK for international students.
UWE Bristol January intake: dates and deposit
UWE's January key dates for international students:
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| CAS issued from | 15 October 2026 |
| Applications close (some courses and countries close earlier) | 27 November 2026 |
| Deposit deadline (paid through Flywire) | 9 December 2026 |
| Bank statements uploaded | 14 December 2026 |
| Last CAS issued | 18 December 2026 |
| Induction for most courses | 18 January 2027 |
UWE does not publish one deposit amount: it is stated in your offer letter. New students can cancel within 14 days of paying it, and after that it is non-refundable except in the cases listed in the tuition fee policy. Our guide to UK university deposits explains why the deposit comes before the CAS, and our CAS guide covers what happens next.
UWE Bristol fees for international students
These fees are for 2027/28 entry, full time at Frenchay, taken from each course page:
| Course | Fee per year | Starts |
|---|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) Computer Science | £17,500 | September |
| MSc Data Science | £18,000 | September and January |
| MSc Cyber Security | £18,000 | September and January |
| MSc Business Management | £17,500 | September and January |
| MSc Engineering Management | £18,000 | September and January |
| MBA (full time, 12 months) | £18,750 | September |
The MBA also asks for a 2:2 degree and three years of management experience (course page). January 2027 starters follow the previous year's course pages, so check the fee for your exact intake on the course page before you pay. Our UK tuition fees guide compares UWE with other universities.
UWE Bristol English requirements
From UWE's English language requirements page:
| Test | Undergraduate | Taught master's |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0, 5.5 in each part | 6.5, 5.5 in each part |
| PTE Academic (test centre) | 59, 59 in each part | 62, 59 in each part |
| Duolingo English Test | 105, 100 in each part | 120, 105 in each part |
UWE also accepts Cambridge GCE O Level English Language at grade C or above. Our PTE exam and Duolingo English Test guides explain the format and scoring of each test.
UWE Bristol scholarships
- UWE Bristol Postgraduate Success Scholarship: £2,500, or £3,500 if you pay your fees in full upfront, awarded automatically. For January starters, the payment deadline to qualify is 30 November 2026 (scholarship page).
- UWE Bristol Global Success Scholarship (undergraduate): up to £9,000 over three years (£2,500, then £3,000, then £3,500) for international fee payers. Eligible students are invited and must complete the form within 14 days (scholarship page).
The pathway route: UWE Bristol International College
If you need a foundation or a pre-master's first, UWE Bristol International College, run by Kaplan, teaches on campus. Its spring 2027 fees for two-term programmes are £16,700 to £18,330 for the Foundation Certificate, £16,880 to £17,840 for International Year One and £17,960 for the Pre-Master's, with a £5,000 deposit. Teaching starts on 18 January, 8 March or 26 April 2027, and completing the programme gives guaranteed entry to a UWE degree.
Applying from Sri Lanka
UWE's Sri Lanka country page sets out how it reads Sri Lankan qualifications:
- Undergraduate: Sri Lankan A/L results are accepted as comparable to UK A levels.
- Master's: a good bachelor's or four-year degree from a recognised Sri Lankan university is considered for direct entry. HND holders and third-class degrees are not considered for most master's courses, so the pre-master's at the international college is the usual route.
- English: the country page does not list an O/L English waiver, so plan to take IELTS, PTE or Duolingo.
- Visa steps: biometrics at VFS Global Colombo and the TB test at the IOM clinic in Colombo. With the last CAS issued on 18 December, book both early.
FAQ
What is the UWE Bristol application deadline for January? For a January 2027 start, international applications close on 27 November 2026, and some courses close earlier. The deposit is due by 9 December 2026.
Is UWE the same as the University of Bristol? No. The University of the West of England and the University of Bristol are separate universities in the same city. UWE is a modern university; the University of Bristol is a Russell Group university.
What IELTS score does UWE Bristol need? Undergraduate courses need IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each part, and taught master's courses need 6.5 with 5.5 in each part. UWE also accepts PTE Academic and the Duolingo English Test.
Does UWE Bristol offer scholarships for international students? Yes. Master's students can receive £2,500 or £3,500 automatically, and undergraduates can receive up to £9,000 over three years through the Global Success Scholarship.
PS: A January master's at UWE Bristol is still open if your application goes in by 27 November and the deposit follows by 9 December. If you are not sure your degree or English score meets UWE's level, check your eligibility with Prosper and we will tell you whether direct entry or the pre-master's fits better.
References
- Ranking and reputation, UWE Bristol, https://www.uwe.ac.uk/about/ranking-and-reputation (accessed 13/11/2026)
- Key dates for January, UWE Bristol, https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/applying/international-applications/key-dates-january (accessed 13/11/2026)
- International student payment, UWE Bristol, https://uwe.ac.uk/courses/fees/paying-your-fees/international-student-payment (accessed 13/11/2026)
- Tuition fee policy 2026/27, UWE Bristol, https://www.uwe.ac.uk/-/media/uwe/documents/courses/fees/tuition-fee-policies/tuition-fee-policy-2026-27.pdf (accessed 13/11/2026)
- Course pages (G400, INB112, I9001, N20B12, H9N21, N12212), UWE Bristol, https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/ (accessed 13/11/2026)
- English language requirements, UWE Bristol, https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/applying/international-applications/english-language-requirements (accessed 13/11/2026)
- Sri Lanka country page, UWE Bristol, https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/international-study/country-or-region/sri-lanka (accessed 13/11/2026)
- UWE Bristol Postgraduate Success Scholarship, UWE Bristol, https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/funding/scholarships-and-bursaries/uwe-bristol-postgraduate-success-scholarship (accessed 13/11/2026)
- UWE Bristol Global Success Scholarship, UWE Bristol, https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/funding/scholarships-and-bursaries/uwe-bristol-global-success-scholarship (accessed 13/11/2026)
- UWE Bristol International College summary sheet, spring 2027, Kaplan International Pathways, https://downloads.kaplanpathways.com/downloads/uwe-bristols-international-college-summary-sheet-spring-2027 (accessed 13/11/2026)
