It provides courses for young people and adults aged 16 and above in areas such as: A Levels, Animal Care, Floristry, Horticulture, Applied Forensic and Medical Science, Business, Catering and Hospitality, Computing, Construction, Creative and Performing Arts, Engineering and Manufacturing, ESOL and GCSEs, Hair, Beauty and Holistic Therapies, Health and Social Care and Childcare, Motor Vehicle and Transport, Public Services, Health and Fitness, Travel and Tourism and many more.

City of Bristol College traces its roots back to the educational initiatives of the Society of Merchant Venturers in the sixteenth century.

In 2013 the college was awarded Ofsted's lowest rating, 'inadequate'; and the quality of teaching, learning and assessment were judged to be both inadequate and very inconsistent.

[7] On 10 march, OFSTED confirmed that the college had dropped from its previous 'Requires improvement' grade to 'Inadequate' - the organisation's lowest rating.

[11] The site was previously used long-term as the external film set for the BBC television series Casualty with permanent features such as marked ambulance bays and 'automatic' sliding front entrance doors (leading to a false corridor) and reversible 'Emergency Department' and 'Holby' signs that could be blanked off when not filming.

[18] City of Bristol College offers over 1,000 courses at all levels for school leavers, adult learners and international students, as well as training packages for employers.