Bristol, University of the West of England

The University of the West of England (also known as UWE Bristol) is a public research university, located in and around Bristol, England, UK. With more than 36,000 students and 4,200 staff, it is the largest provider of higher education in the South West of England. The institution was known as the Bristol Polytechnic in 1969; it received university status in 1992 and became the University of the West of England, Bristol. In common with the University of Bristol and University of Bath, it can trace its origins to the Merchant Venturers' Technical College, founded as a school in 1595 by the Society of Merchant Venturers.