History
- The university traces its history back over 160 years to the original Bath School of Art and Design.
- The first trainee teachers trained here over 60 years ago.
- Gained degree awarding powers in 1992, university title in 2005 (previously Bath Spa University College) and research degree awarding powers in 2008.
Location and Transport
- Two main campuses, Newton Park (all subjects except art and design) and Sion Hill (Bath School of Art and Design), are located just outside the city of Bath, with good bus links to the city.
- There’s also a specialist postgraduate centre in Corsham (Corsham Court), near Bath.
- Bath is just 9 miles from Bristol, 90 minutes from London.
Entry Standards
- In the range 260–340 UCAS points.
- Alternative qualifications welcome. Bath Spa has around 30% mature students.
Student Mix
The 7,210 students enrolled in the academic year 2013/14 comprise:
Level of study |
Undergraduate
72%
|
Postgraduate
28%
|
|
Mode of study |
Full Time
83%
|
Part Time
17%
|
|
Domicile |
|
Student gender |
|
Course Flexibility
- Most courses are part of a flexible modular scheme, allowing students a good deal of choice.
- Joint degrees are a popular choice – a lot of subjects can be studied as part of a combined award.
- An active partnership exists with local FE colleges, enabling some students to study locally.
Teaching Standards
- 89% score for teaching quality in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2014.
- Consistently high student satisfaction scores in NSS.
- ‘Outstanding’ reputation for teacher training – PGCE courses were rated Grade 1 by Ofsted in 2011 in programmes leading to qualified teacher status in primary, secondary and further education.
- 22/24 was the average score for teaching excellence under the QAA scheme.
- Bath Spa was designated a National Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in the creative and cultural sector.
- Low drop-out rate of under 6%.
Research Standards
- Bath Spa staff are actively engaged in research and scholarship that directly informs their teaching.
- As a teaching-led university, all research activity is of direct benefit to students and is applied to what and how they’re taught.
- Bath Spa tripled its volume of internationally excellent and world leading research, since the previous Research Assessment Exercise in 2008. The university’s submission to REF 2014 featured research in Art and Design, Education, English and Creative Writing, History, Music and Performing Arts, and Communication Culture and Media Studies.
Academic Strengths
- A strong focus on creativity, culture and enterprise.
- Schools of study: Art & Design; Education; Society, Enterprise and Environment; Humanities and Cultural Industries; Music & Performing Arts.
- A new specialism in creative computing, with a raft of new creative computing courses.
- Highest Ofsted rating for teacher education.
- Very high ranking for Business & Management teaching.
- Bath Spa University is one of the top creative universities.
- An emphasis on a global outlook, aiming to prepare graduates for employment and citizenship in a global context.
- Employability opportunities and skills are built into all courses.
- Many award-winning students such as Nathan Filer, winner of the Costa Book of the Year award 2013; Stephanie Kitchen, winner of 2013 Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD) and Textiles Institute Exhibition.
Student Facilities
- Superb new academic building on Newton Park campus, with state-of-the-art teaching facilities, the best resources for teaching digital media-related courses in the south-west, equal to anything found at cutting-edge commercial organisations and broadcast companies, and approximately 1,800 square metres of Learning Commons. There’s even an outdoor amphitheatre!
- Newly refurbished and extended library.
- Over 700 open access computer workstations.
- Professionally qualified librarians with subject specialisms.
- Exceptionally beautiful, historic campuses.
- Extensive specialist art and design facilities on a dedicated campus
- Excellent environmental facilities/policies. Bath Spa was ranked 28 out of 143 in the People and Planet Green League 2014.
- 24/7 opening of study space in term time.
Disability Services
- Visit our website or email studentsupport@bathspa.ac.uk.to get information about disability services at Bath Spa University.
Students’ Union
- An active union with a wide range of events, clubs and societies and a busy social calendar.
- Coordinates the university’s active volunteering activities – Just V.
- Active representation on university decision-making committees.
- The SU facilities were completely overhauled in 2014
Sport
- Sporting societies operate an open door policy so that all abilities are welcome. Many of the university’s sports clubs are affiliated with local clubs in the community.
- Several of our teams take part in BUCS competitions.
- The SU has a 30-station fitness gym, and there are sports pitches on-site for rugby, football and hockey.
Recent/Prospective New Builds
- A major development of the Newton Park campus was completed in 2014, incorporating superb new student housing on-campus for 550 additional students, in addition to the major new academic building development.
- More student housing is being developed in the centre of Bath for students wishing to live in the city.
Availability of Part-Time Work
- The university’s JobShop is active and successful in providing part-time work opportunities.
Careers Guidance
- Specialist advice and guidance from careers consultants on choosing a career, skills development, CVs, applications, interviews, where to look for jobs, options for postgraduate study.
- Advice on placements and mentoring programmes.
- Enterprise advice for students wanting to start their own businesses, business start-up sessions and enterprise workshops.
Notable Alumni
- Howard Hodgkin
- Glenn Brown
- Anita Roddick
- Peter Flannery
- Jason Gardener
- Kate Garraway