University of Bristol is one of the most popular and successful universities in the UK, ranked 55th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2024. Bristol is a member of the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities, and a member of the Worldwide Universities Network, a grouping of research-led institutions of international standing.

The results of the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021, published May 2022), which assessed the quality of the research at every UK university, highlight the outstanding quality and impact of Bristol's research across all subjects and disciplines. This time, Bristol is ranked in top five university for research, with 94% of the University's research was assessed as either 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'.

The University of Bristol is dedicated to academic achievement across a broad range of disciplines. It is made up of 25 academic schools, organised into six faculties: Arts; Engineering; Health Sciences; Life Sciences; Science; and Social Sciences and Law.