This paper reports on the spectroscopic properties of ultraviolet laser photosensitive Er3+-doped bismuth-silicate glasses. Two series of the glasses Na2O-Bi2O3-SiO2-Er2O3 and Na2O-B2O3-Bi2O3-SiO2-Er2O3 have been prepared by conventional melting and quenching technique. The absorption spectra, emission spectra and lifetime of Er3+ ion have been measured. The optical parameters have been analysed by Judd-Ofelt theory. It is found that the full width at half maximums (FWHMs) increase with increase of the value of Bi2O3/SiO2 and B2O3 content. Meanwhile, the lifetimes of 4I13/2 level of Er3+-doped glasses decrease with increasing Bi2O3 and B2O3 content. When the content of B2O3 is 40%, the measured stimulatied emission cross section, lifetime and FWHM of 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition of Er3+-doped Na2O-B2O3-Bi2O3-SiO2 glass are 8.49×10－21cm2, 0.52ms and 78nm respectively.