10 of the Most Notable Graduates from the University of Bristol

Bristols beautiful harbour
Bristol's beautiful harbour | © Michiel Jelijs/Flickr
Luke Unger

With 13 Nobel Laureates to its name, the University of Bristol is an institution which has produced a number of famous academics since its establishment in 1595. However, as well as these academic achievements, the university has also produced a number of notable individuals in various fields of work, from comedians to politicians to Olympic gold medallists.

The number and sheer range of notable alumni is multitudinous, here are just a few we think you should know.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Paul Dirac

Dirac was an English theoretical physicist who is hailed as one of the most significant physicists of the 20th century. Dirac studied electrical engineering and later went on to do a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics. Dirac is famous for his vital contributions to the early research of both quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics. Among other discoveries, he formulated the Dirac equation which describes the behaviour of fermions and predicted the existence of antimatter. He received the Nobel prize in Physics alongside Erwin Schrödinger “for the discovery of new productive forms of atomic theory.” Dirac died 1984 in Tallahassee, Florida.

Paul Diracb in front of a blackboard

David Walliams, OBE

Graduating with a BA in Drama in 1992, Walliams has gone on to be one of the most prolific British comedians of his generation, gracing TV sets with shows like Little Britain and Britain’s Got Talent. Along with his work in comedy, Walliams is known for his work as a children’s author with 12.5 million copies of his books sold worldwide.

David Walliams

Susanna Reid

Reid studied politics, philosophy and law at the University of Bristol (1989–92) and is currently a journalist and presenter on Good Morning Britain. In March 2014 the Television and Radio Industries Club named Reid Newsreader of the Year at their annual awards ceremony, an award she also won the following year.

Angela Carter

Carter was a prolific English author and journalist put 10th in the Times’ 50 Greatest British Writers since 1945. Born in 1940 in Eastbourne, Carter initially worked as a journalist before attending the University of Bristol, where she graduated with a BA in English Literature, Carter went on to publish several works over her career, most notably perhaps The Bloody Chamber, written in 1979, and Nights at the Circus. Written in 1984, the novel went on to win the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction.

Cover of Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber

Simon Pegg

A household name, Pegg is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer who graduated Bristol in 1991 with a BA in Theatre, Film and Television. Blossoming from the early beginnings of the cult classic Spaced, Pegg has gone on to star in several blockbuster movies such as Shaun of the Dead, Paul, Star Trek Into Darkness and Ready Player One. In 2015, Pegg opened the Pegg Theatre in the University of Bristol.

Simon Pegg at Comic Con, 2013

Rachel Whetstone

Joining the company in 2017, Whetstone is the current VP of communications of Facebook, managing it’s Whatsapp, Instagram and Messenger services. Previously she has worked as the senior vice president of communication and public policy for Uber and also held a similar position for Google in 2015. Whetstone graduated from the University of Bristol reading History in 1989. In 2013, she was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4.

Sarah Kane

Sarah Kane was an English playwright, born in 1971, who studied drama at the University of Bristol in 1992 and went on to later take an MA at Birmingham. Her most notable works include Skin and Blasted, which received critical acclaim to the point where fellow playwright, Mark Ravenhill, commented that her plays “have almost certainly achieved canonical status.”

A scene from Sarah Kane’s play, Phaedra’s Love

Letsie III of Lesotho

Letsie III is the current King of Lesotho, succeeding his father in 1990. After studying Law at the National University of Lesotho, Letsie III went on to study English Legal Studies at the University of Bristol in 1986. His position as king is purely ceremonial, but he has said previously that he is ready to play more active role if asked to do so.

King Letsie III & Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho

Anne McClain

Bristol also has its very own astronaut graduate. Currently a Major in the US Army, she became the youngest NASA astronaut after selection in the NASA Astronaut Group 21 in 2013 and completing her training in 2015. McClain graduated The University of Bristol after studying an MS in International Security in 2005 while on a Marshall Scholarship.

Anne C. McClain’s NASA photograph

Georgie Twigg

Twigg is an Olympic Gold Medallist playing Hockey for Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics. As well as training for Team GB, Twigg balanced her law degree at the University of Bristol, completing it in 2012. She was named England Hockey’s Young Performance Player of the Year in every year from 2010 to 2013. She has now since retired in favour of pursuing a career at a city law firm.

Georgie Twigg playing for the England hockey squad

This article was written in association with Epigram, a student publication based at the University of Bristol.

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