Access to Bristol: eligibility, deadline and what it gives you
Access to Bristol is the University of Bristol's programme for local state school students, with Medicine and Dentistry streams in the autumn term open to Year 12 and Access to HE students. It has an online study skills session and five Wednesday afternoons on campus each term, from 28 October to 2 December 2026 and 20 January to 3 March 2027. Students who complete it are guaranteed an interview for Medicine or Dentistry and can be made the contextual ABB offer; the national Insight into Bristol summer school for students of colour gives the same benefit.
- Closes
- 27 Sep 2026
- For
- Year 12 and Access to HE students, medicine and dentistry
- Where
- South West
- Gives you
- Guaranteed interview, then ABB instead of AAA
What you get
Completing Access to Bristol gives you a guaranteed interview and an offer of ABB instead of AAA for medicine and dentistry.
- Guaranteed interview for Medicine (A100) and Dentistry (A206)
- After interview you may be offered ABB including A in Chemistry, instead of AAA
- Guaranteed interview for the Gateway years A108 and A208 if you also meet Gateway eligibility (IMD Q1 to 2, care or FSM)
- Insight into Bristol, a free July 2027 residential for Year 12 students of Asian, Black or mixed heritage anywhere in the UK, carries the same benefit; its expression of interest form is open
To get it, you must
- Be predicted the contextual grades and meet the GCSE requirements
- Score above Bristol's UCAT threshold
Who can apply
You need to
- Live within an hour of Bristol, including south Wales
- Be in Year 12 at a state school, or on an Access to HE course, with Home fee status
- If a stream is oversubscribed, priority goes to FSM, IMD quintile 1 to 2, care-experienced, estranged, first generation, carer, refugee, disabled and Black, Asian or minority ethnic students
- Have GCSE Maths at 7 and English at 4
- Be studying Chemistry and another science A-level
There are no contextual criteria: anyone who meets the requirements above can apply.
What it involves
- Attend every session, with your Head of Sixth Form named as key contact
Dates
- Applications open
- 2 Sep 2026
- Applications close
- 27 Sep 2026
- Programme runs
- Wednesday afternoons 28 Oct to 2 Dec 2026 and 20 Jan to 3 Mar 2027
- Apply to university
- UCAS deadline 15 October 2027 for 2028 entry
How to apply
Apply through the Access to Bristol page. It is run by Bristol widening participation team. Questions go to access-to-bristol@bristol.ac.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Does Access to Bristol guarantee an interview?
Yes, if you complete the programme and meet its academic conditions. Guaranteed interview for Medicine (A100) and Dentistry (A206).
Who is eligible for Access to Bristol?
Live within an hour of Bristol, including south Wales. You need to be in Year 12 at a state school, or on an Access to HE course, with Home fee status, if a stream is oversubscribed, priority goes to FSM, IMD quintile 1 to 2, care-experienced, estranged, first generation, carer, refugee, disabled and Black, Asian or minority ethnic students, have GCSE Maths at 7 and English at 4, be studying Chemistry and another science A-level.
When is the Access to Bristol deadline?
Applications close on 27 Sep 2026. They opened on 2 Sep 2026. The programme then runs wednesday afternoons 28 Oct to 2 Dec 2026 and 20 Jan to 3 Mar 2027.
What offer do Access to Bristol students get?
Students who complete the programme are made an offer of ABB instead of AAA. After interview you may be offered ABB including A in Chemistry, instead of AAA
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