Car parking guidance for students
All vehicles, except motorbikes, parked on UWE Bristol campuses between the core hours of 08:30 and 17:00 Monday to Friday must display parking validation in their vehicle windscreen or driver's window. Vehicles must be parked in a designated parking bay.
With campuses across Bristol, our car parking rules for students are varied. It’s worth remembering that as a member of the Approved Operator Scheme, UWE Bristol's enforcement operator, Open Parking, can (and does) issue Parking Charge Notices (PCN) and will follow them up with the DVLA.
Frenchay Campus
Frenchay Campus, although large, has very limited car parking provision. All vehicles, except motorbikes, parked on Frenchay Campus between the hours of 08:30 and 17:00 Monday to Friday must display a parking permit in their vehicle. Vehicles must be parked in a designated parking bay.
If you drive to Frenchay Campus, you’ll need to make sure you always have two things:
- A valid car parking permit displayed (plus daily payment if necessary)
- Your UWE Bristol ID card so you can swipe through the barriers on the car park. If you don’t have your ID card with you, you won’t be able to access the car park. Only students who have successfully applied for a car parking permit will be able to swipe into the car park.
Undergraduate students
If you’re an undergraduate student and live within the exclusion zone, you cannot park your car on Frenchay Campus.
If you live outside the exclusion zone, you can apply for a permit. We double-check applications against our records, so don’t be tempted to mislead us about where you live during term-time just so you can get a permit.
Postgraduate students (including Continuing Professional Development (CPD) students)
If you’re a postgraduate or CPD student, you are not subject to the undergraduate exclusion zone. You'll still need to display a car parking permit.
Any postgraduate students living on Frenchay Campus won't be eligible to apply for a parking permit as part of the accommodation contract.
Car parking permit
All cars on Frenchay Campus need to display a car parking permit. There are two types, depending on how often you need to bring your car on to campus.
Types of permits
Annual permit
- The cost for an annual permit for the 2023/24 academic year will be £120.
- By having an annual permit, you don’t need to worry about paying the daily fee.
Pay daily permit
- This permit shows the car parking operations team that you're eligible to park on campus. Whilst there is no up-front cost for this permit, you'll be required to pay £3 each day you park on campus by using one of the daily payment options – pay and display machines or PayByPhone service (both cashless).
- There's no option to pay daily without a valid Pay Daily permit.
How to apply for a permit
You can apply for both types of permits on the UWE Bristol facilities portal (Login required &ndash you will need your UWE Bristol username and password). If you’re eligible, you’ll be able to print your permit yourself. It needs to be displayed in your windscreen. Windscreen wallets can be purchased for a small fee from any The Students' Union at UWE shop.
Failure to display a valid car parking permit will result in you receiving a Parking Charge Notice (PCN).
Where can you park on Frenchay Campus?
- East entrance: car parks 1, 2 and 3
- North entrance: car parks 21, 22, 23 and Enterprise Park
If you're parked anywhere else on Frenchay Campus, including (but not limited to) double yellow lines, disabled bays, Halley Nursery pick-up bays, pavements, verges, etc, you'll receive a PCN.
Don't park your car in residential areas around Frenchay Campus. Many of the roads around the campus are either restricted by double yellow lines or have a residents-only permit scheme in place.
Getting a Parking Charge Notice (PCN)
If you park your car in an unauthorised area including (but not limited to) double yellow lines, disabled bays, Halley Nursery pick up bays, pavements, verges, etc you'll receive a PCN.
If you pay your PCN within 14 days, it will be £30. After this, it rises to £60. If you don’t pay your PCN within 28 calendar days, our enforcement operator will request Keeper Details from the DVLA.
Failure to make payment (or appeal should you feel the charge was issued unfairly) will result in the charge being escalated to the debt collection and litigation stages. This may result in you receiving a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against you. CCJs will affect your access to credit – anything from a mobile phone contract to rental contract or mortgage. Don't ignore it, it will only make things worse.
Further details about enforcement and appeals.
City Campus
City Campus has very limited car parking provision and is only available at Bower Ashton. There's no UWE Bristol car parking at Arnolfini or Spike Island – you'll need to use public car parks. All vehicles, except motorbikes, parked at Bower Ashton between the core hours of 08:30 and 17:00 Monday to Friday must display a parking permit in their vehicle. Vehicles must be parked in a designated parking bay.
Types of permits
Annual permit
- The cost for an annual permit for the 2023/24 academic year is £120.
- By having an annual permit, you don’t need to worry about paying the daily fee.
Pay daily permit
- This permit shows the car parking operations team that you are eligible to park on campus. Whilst there is no up-front cost for this permit, you will be required to pay £3 each day you park on campus by using one of the daily payment options – pay and display machines or PayByPhone service (both cashless).
- There is no option to pay daily without a valid Pay Daily permit.
How to apply for a permit
You can apply for both types of permits on the UWE Bristol facilities portal (login required – you will need your UWE Bristol username and password). If you’re eligible, you’ll be able to print your permit yourself. It needs to be displayed in your windscreen. Windscreen wallets can be purchased for a small fee from any The Students' Union at UWE shop.
Please make sure you display your car parking permit at all times.
Where can you park at Bower Ashton
With a permit you can park your car in two places:
- North car park outside A Block
- South car park outside the Design Studio
Without a permit (or if there are no permit spaces available) you can park in public car parks:
- Ashton Court car park (private car park, pay at the pay point – closure times vary during the year).
- On street parking bays in Kennel Lodge Road (pay at meter).
Don't park your car in residential areas around Bower Ashton. All the roads around the campus are either restricted by double yellow lines or have a residents-only permit schemes in place.
Getting a Parking Charge Notice (PCN)
If you park your car in an unauthorised area including (but not limited to) double yellow lines, disabled bays, pavements, verges, etc you'll receive a PCN.
If you pay your PCN within 14 days, it will be £30. After this, it rises to £60. If you don’t pay your PCN within 28 calendar days, our enforcement operator will request Keeper Details from the DVLA. Failure to make payment (or appeal should you feel the charge was issued unfairly) will result in the charge being escalated to the debt collection and litigation stages. This may result in you receiving a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against you. CCJs will affect your access to credit – anything from a mobile phone contract to rental contract or mortgage. Don't ignore it, it will only make things worse.
Further details about enforcement and appeals.
Glenside Campus
Glenside Campus has very limited car parking provision. All vehicles, except motorbikes, parked at Glenside Campus between the core hours of 08:30 and 17:00 Monday to Friday must display a parking permit in their vehicle. Vehicles must be parked in a designated parking bay.
Types of permits
Annual permit
- The cost for an annual permit for the 2023/24 academic year is £120.
- By having an annual permit, you don’t need to worry about paying the daily fee.
Pay daily permit
- This permit shows the car parking operations team that you are eligible to park on campus. Whilst there is no up-front cost for this permit, you will be required to pay £3 each day you park on campus by using one of the daily payment options – pay and display machines or PayByPhone service (both cashless).
- There is no option to pay daily without a valid Pay Daily permit.
How to apply for a permit
You can apply for both types of permits on the UWE Bristol facilities portal (Login required – you will need your UWE Bristol username and password). If you’re eligible, you’ll be able to print your permit yourself. It needs to be displayed in your windscreen. Windscreen wallets can be purchased for a small fee from any The Students' Union at UWE shop.
Failure to display a valid car parking permit will result in you receiving a Parking Charge Notice (PCN).
Where can you park at Glenside Campus
All unrestricted parking areas. Restricted areas are clearly marked as such.
Don't park your car in residential areas around Glenside Campus. Most of the roads around the campus are either restricted by double yellow lines or have a residents-only permit schemes in place.
Getting a Parking Charge Notice (PCN)
If you park your car in an unauthorised area including (but not limited to) double yellow lines, disabled bays, pavements, verges, etc you'll receive a PCN.
If you pay your PCN within 14 days, it will be £30. After this, it rises to £60. If you don’t pay your PCN within 28 calendar days, we will request Keeper Details from the DVLA. Failure to make payment (or appeal should you feel the charge was issued unfairly) will result in the charge being escalated to the debt collection and litigation stages. This may result in you receiving a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against you. CCJs will affect your access to credit – anything from a mobile phone contract to rental contract or mortgage. Don't ignore it, it will only make things worse.
Further details about enforcement and appeals.
Accessible parking
Students who hold a local authority Blue Badge should register their vehicle and badge details within the car parking permit application. There is no charge for parking for Blue Badge holders.
Students who do not hold a Blue Badge but have other accessibility needs can apply for an Accessible Parking Permit within the permit application system. People who qualify for this permit are not subject to the Frenchay Campus exclusion zone but payment is required at the normal standard rate.
Students will need to provide medical evidence to support an application for an Accessible Parking Permit which is reviewed by Disability Services.
Please see the Accessible parking policy (PDF) for details about eligibility.
Students residing in Frenchay Campus accommodation are not able to apply for an Accessible Parking Permit and should contact Disability Services for advice.
The fine print
Even if you have a permit, we don't guarantee access to individual spaces. Parking on campus is entirely at your own risk. We accept no responsibility for any vehicle theft or for any loss from or damage to vehicles parked on campus.
You may also be interested in
Frequently asked questions for students
Frequently asked questions about car parking for students at UWE Bristol.
Car park policy enforcement and appeals
Parking enforcement and appeals information for anyone that parks in a UWE Bristol operated car park.
Accessible parking
Blue Badge holder information for anyone that parks in a UWE Bristol operated car park.
Getting to and from UWE Bristol campuses
It's easy to get from one campus to another and in and around the city centre, as well as going further afield, with Bristol's excellent transport links.