Only high achievers need apply. Each year brings another record-breaking number of prospective students who want to study at this top ten university where A*A*A* to ABB ie required to get in. This year more than 40,000 hopefuls competed for about 5,000 places.
A similarly determined streak can be found on the rolling limestone uplands of Claverton Down, where the leafy 200-acre campus sits just outside the Georgian spa city. Here elite-level sports facilities just got even better. A fully recyclable, floodlit 3G pitch has opened, compliant with Fifa, World Rugby and Sport England standards — allowing more student sport to be played year-round. It joins the university’s profusion of world-class sporting provision — which includes the UK’s only bobsleigh and skeleton push-start track, a traditional Japanese-style judo dojo, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and a 50m London 2012 legacy swimming pool.
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. Bath is also renowned for its strong graduate outcomes and has been a constant presence in our league table’s Top Ten since 2021 (and not far out of it for more than a decade).
Societies abound and students enjoy wraparound campus living — a new “woodland lounge” is a neuroinclusive space with a sensory environment and comfortable spots to study and relax — in striking distance of the city’s just-big-enough charms.
What is the University of Bath’s academic reputation?
Established in 1966, the university focuses on courses in engineering, humanities, management, science and social science. 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.
Bath leapt up seven places to 125th in the 2026 QS World University Rankings and in March 2026 it unveiled a new ten-year agreement with Study Group to create an on-campus International Study Centre to “support access for international students” via degree preparation pathways and English-language programmes.
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.
However, according to our analysis of the National Student Survey, the university has fallen 28 places for satisfaction with the wider student experience to rank 39= after peaking at 11th last year. In 2025 the university tumbled 32 places for satisfaction with teaching quality and slid another nine to rank 74=.
What are the University of Bath’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
A seventh consecutive increase in applications rose to more than 40,000 in 2025, and 4,865 new students gained places. Bath’s entry requirements range from A*A*A to ABB. Social work asks for 120 Ucas tariff points.
Bath’s contextual offer scheme drops two grades off the standard requirements, with the exception of computer science and joint degrees in maths and physics, which stick at one grade lower. In 2025 the university accepted 20 per cent of students through the scheme (4 per cent more than the year before). Guaranteed offers go to applicants who successfully complete one of Bath’s access schemes.
What are the graduate prospects and how will the university help me get career-ready?
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. In our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey Bath has risen one place to reach our top five, with 83.6 per cent of leavers in good jobs or on postgraduate courses. 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
Olympians and students — and Olympian students — are drawn to the Sports Training Village (STV), where world-class 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. A £450,000 refurbishment of the Team Bath Gym and Fitness Centre created nearly 200 workout stations and there are more than 50 group exercise classes a week. 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. Bath’s enclosed campus creates a home from home for students. The city itself is big on pubs and café culture, rather than all-night raves.
Help for students’ mental health and wellbeing is available 24/7, from support groups to specialist one-to-one counselling. Free courses offer advice on handling issues such as anxiety, with art, yoga, gardening and exercise on offer.
What do the students say?
“From the friendly campus community to the high-quality teaching, everything feels designed to help you succeed. Living on campus made it easy to settle in and build strong friendships. The beautiful setting makes it an inspiring place to study and live.”
Ananya, BSc management with marketing
What about student accommodation in the University of Bath?
First-years who apply by the deadline are guaranteed a room. About a fifth are part-catered via prepaid credits for campus eateries and a small number are fully catered. Off-campus private rents are about £650 per person a month before bills.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of Bath?
Social inclusion is a work in progress at Bath, which ranks 111th overall. Students from ethnic minorities make up a quarter of the Bath intake and just 1.9 per cent are over 21.
What financial assistance is available?
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). Accommodation bursaries offer up to £1,300 off first-year university housing for UK students with household incomes up to £62,343.
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. For international undergraduate students, the university awards up to 300 merit-based scholarships worth up to £24,000 across three years.
