Each year brings another record-breaking number of applications to Bath. Posing a “triple threat” among UK universities, Bath offers high-level academics, a strong record on graduate employment and healthy rates of student satisfaction. It is Highly Commended in our University of the Year 2026 and its world-class sports facilities, which contributed to medals at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, along with its highly-rated sports science degrees, have earned Bath Sports University of the Year 2026.
Added to those accolades, it is University of the Year in the Southwest 2026. Established in 1966, the university focuses on courses in engineering, humanities, management, science and social science. Its leafy self-contained campus on the outskirts of the Unesco world heritage city provides well-equipped facilities and a ready-made community to provide a soft landing to school-leavers flying the nest. Bath and its accessible nightlife is in easy reach.
Bath’s renowned work placement scheme is taken up by around two thirds of students and ensures that employability is integral to the undergraduate programmes.
What is the University of Bath’s reputation?
Secure in our top ten since 2021 — and not far out of it for a decade — Bath more than holds its own without being a member of the Russell Group. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), 92 per cent of Bath’s submissions were rated world-leading or internationally excellent, placing Bath 31st in our research quality index. Its best results were in engineering; pharmacy and pharmacology; chemistry; business and management; social policy; and sport and exercise sciences. For sport, Bath is 12= in the world, according to the 2025 QS subject rankings. Overall it climbed to 132= in the QS global list, reaching the top 10 per cent of universities in the world.
Bath earned triple gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), for its overall assessment, student experience and student outcomes. Assessors praised its “course content and delivery” which “inspire … students to actively engage in and commit to their learning”. The TEF panel also highlighted students’ “access to a wide range of outstanding quality academic support”, as well as outstanding rates of successful progression.
Bath students are also on side, our analysis of the National Student Survey results shows: it ranks 11th for satisfaction with the wider student experience, although it has tumbled 32 places to 65th for satisfaction with teaching quality.
For about half a century Bath has been at the forefront of automotive propulsion research and the £70 million Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems continues to develop the next generation of ultra-low and zero-emission vehicles.
Among the top universities for accounting and finance in our annual subject tables, prudent Bath practises what it preaches: the university has continued to register a surplus in its accounts while others are struggling.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
A BSC course in finance will begin in 2026.
What are the University of Bath’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
In 2024 more than 38,000 hopefuls applied to the university (up 11 per cent year on year) and 4,820 new students gained places. Bath’s entry requirements range from A*A*A to ABB.
Bath strengthened its contextual offer scheme to drop down two grades from 2025, with the exception of computer science and joint degrees in maths and physics, which stick at one grade lower. In 2024 the university accepted 16 per cent of students through the scheme, and expects the proportion to grow. Guaranteed offers go to applicants who successfully complete one of Bath’s access schemes.
What are the graduate prospects?
For almost 60 years, Bath has been fostering relationships with businesses through work placements and has an exemplary record for the proportion of graduates in highly skilled jobs or further study within 15 months of finishing their degree. Our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey puts Bath sixth — continuing its top 10 record. About two thirds of undergraduates spend a year gaining real-world work experience, while shorter-term stints are also available. Most courses offer the option to study abroad too.
What is the University of Bath’s campus like?
Claverton Down, the main campus, has 200 acres of landscaped grounds on the eastern side of the city. Among its legions of purpose-built academic facilities is the £70 million School of Management, opened in 2022. An employability hub is at the heart of the campus and the student support centre has had a fresh upgrade.
When can I visit?
Everything you need to know about the University of Bath’s student life and wellbeing support
Olympians and students — and Olympian students — are drawn to the Sports Training Village (STV), where world-class indoor and outdoor facilities cover more than 50 sports. Athletes with links to the university won six medals in the Paris 2024 Olympics, and 11 in the Paralympics. But those setting their sights a little lower on everyday fitness are no less well catered for at the Team Bath Gym and Fitness Centre, where a £450,000 refurbishment in summer 2024 resulted in nearly 200 workout stations and more than 50 group exercise classes a week. A multi-use outdoor area is the size of three netball courts and Bath has the UK’s only bobsleigh and skeleton push-start track, a traditional Japanese-style judo dojo, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, as well as a 50m London 2012 legacy swimming pool. There are more than 20 sports pitches on site and the Sulis Club a mile from campus has plenty more on grass. As a UK Sport-accredited Elite Training Centre, the STV hosts the Wheelchair Fencing Training Centre and modern pentathlon facilities.
Beyond sport, The Edge is the campus cultural hub, where more than 180 student groups offer the chance to participate in creative interests.
Help for students’ mental health and wellbeing is available around the clock, from support groups to specialist one-to-one counselling. Free courses offer advice on handling issues such as anxiety, and Bath has introduced social prescribing, recommending art, yoga, gardening and exercise. The Bath Safe Bus, sponsored by the university, delivers welfare support and medical care on wheels at weekends in the city centre.
What do the students say?
“I’ve never felt safer. The campus is a perfect place for both academic and personal life. The focus on employability is also amazing and many professors teach and build the courses accordingly.”
Mansi Mulchandani, BSc (Hons) business
What about student accommodation in the University of Bath?
First-years who apply by the deadline are guaranteed a room. About one fifth are part-catered via pre-paid credits for campus eateries and a small number are fully catered.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of Bath?
Social inclusion is a work in progress at Bath, which ranks 107th overall. Students from ethnic minorities make up just under a quarter of the Bath intake and just 2.3 per cent are over 21.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Bath
Almost a third (30 per cent) of Bath’s entrants benefited from scholarships or bursaries in 2025. The Bath Bursary for those from households with incomes below £30,000 is worth up to £2,750 in year one and £2,000 from year two onwards (excluding paid placement years).
Up to 50 Gold Scholarships provide up to £5,000 a year and recipients must join an enrichment programme which includes volunteering, mentoring and skills training sessions. A small number of talent-based arts and sports scholarships are available too.
International students who have done well in their previous studies may qualify for fee discounts in their first year.
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