University of Bristol

The University of Bristol is a research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom.[7] It received its Royal Charter in 1909,[8] and its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.[9] Bristol has been named amongst the world's top 30 universities by the QS World University Rankings.[10] A highly selective institution, it has an average of 14 applicants for each undergraduate place. The University had a total income of £426.7 million in 2011/12, of which £112 million was from research grants and contracts.[11] It is the largest independent employer in Bristol.[12] Current academics include 18 Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences, 10 Fellows of the British Academy, 13 Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering and 31 Fellows of the Royal Society.[13] Bristol is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities,[14] the European-wide Coimbra Group[15] and the Worldwide Universities Network, of which the University's Vice-Chancellor Prof. Eric Thomas was Chairman from 2005 to 2007.[16] Foundation[edit] The earliest antecedent of the university was the engineering department of the Merchant Venturers’ Technical College (founded as a school as early as 1595) which became the Engineering faculty of Bristol University.[17] The University was also preceded by Bristol Medical School (1833) and University College, Bristol, founded in 1876,[9] where its first lecture was attended by only 99 students.[18] The University was able to apply for a Royal Charter due to the financial support of the Wills and Fry families, who made their fortunes in tobacco plantations and chocolate, respectively. The Wills Family made a vast fortune from the tobacco industry and gave generously to the city and University. The Royal Charter was gained in May 1909, with 288 undergraduates and 400 other students entering the University in October 1909. Henry Overton Wills III became its first chancellor.[9] The University College was the first such institution in the country to admit women on the same basis as men.[9] However, women were forbidden to take examinations in medicine until 1906.[19]