Study at University of Bath

Why study at University of Bath

Most people associate Bath with engineering, management, the sciences and the social sciences, and with the weight it puts on placements and graduate employment. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, 92% of its research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent. It also holds triple Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023. Sport matters here too: the Sports Training Village supports both elite and student sport, including Team Bath.

Location and student life

There's a single main campus at Claverton Down, on a hill to the east of Bath city centre, above the UNESCO World Heritage city. Teaching, accommodation, the library and sports facilities are all on this self-contained site, and frequent buses link it to the city. Bath is in Somerset in south-west England, about 90 minutes by train from London Paddington via Bristol. Bristol Airport is around 30 km away.

Bath itself is compact and historic, known for its Georgian architecture and the Roman Baths, with a centre that works well for students. On campus, an active Students' Union runs clubs, societies and venues. Off campus, you have the city's cafes and shops, and countryside close at hand.

Courses and subjects

The university has three faculties (Engineering and Design, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science) plus the School of Management. Departments cover architecture and civil engineering, chemical, electronic and mechanical engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, economics, education, health, politics, psychology and social and policy sciences. In Management you can study accounting, finance, marketing, business and strategy.

Engineering, computer science, management, psychology and sport-related courses are among the best known, and many degrees include the option of a placement year. If you're an international student, you can enter through an International Foundation Year or a Pre-Master's at the on-campus International Study Centre, delivered with Study Group. Pre-sessional English courses are also available.

Entry requirements for international students

You'll need secondary or bachelor's qualifications equivalent to UK A-levels or a UK honours degree. The exact grades depend on your course and your country, so look at individual course pages. For English, many courses ask for IELTS 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in each component. Some humanities and social science degrees ask for 7.0 with 6.5 in each component. If you narrowly miss the required score, a pre-sessional English course can help, and undergraduate applicants may use the International Foundation Year route instead.

Accommodation

If you're a first-year full-time undergraduate, choose Bath as your firm choice and apply by 1 July, you're guaranteed a room in university-managed accommodation. Rooms are en-suite or shared-bathroom, on or near campus, and 365-day lets are available for care leavers and estranged students. New postgraduates on selected intakes can be guaranteed accommodation too, including January starters who apply by the published deadline. After the first year, most students move into private housing in Bath.

Scholarships and funding

At undergraduate level, Bath International Excellence Scholarships give up to 300 high-achieving entrants £8,000 per year, up to £24,000 over three years. For postgraduates, Bath Global Excellence Scholarships provide £10,000, while Bath Merit Scholarships provide automatic £5,000 awards for eligible offer-holders from selected countries. There are also GREAT Scholarships of £10,000, run with the British Council. Criteria, eligible courses and deadlines change each year, so check the scholarships pages before you apply.