Declaring its purpose “to make the world a better place, one student at a time”, Bath Spa is riding high for its diversity and research credentials. In our previous edition it took the title of University of the Year for Social Inclusion, and it reaped its best results yet in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), thanks to projects such as an app to improve the wellbeing of social workers, and applying emerging digital media technologies in the publishing and theatre sectors. 

Based four miles outside the city, the university’s bucolic Newton Park campus grounds — landscaped by Capability Brown in the 18th century — feature a nature reserve, a lake and rolling fields. Its beauty is more than skin deep: environmental sustainability is a contemporary theme at the university, which is ranked in the top 20 greenest institutions in the country by People & Planet.

What is Bath Spa University’s reputation?

As well as increasing the scale of its world-leading research by 60 per cent in REF 2021, bringing it up to 89th position in our research quality ranking, Bath Spa was awarded triple silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023) for the overall performance, student experience and student outcomes. The university won praise for teaching, feedback, and assessment as well as the “supportive learning environment in which students have access to a readily available range of very high quality academic support”.

However, in our new analysis of the National Student Survey (NSS) results, Bath Spa tumbles 36 places to rank 66= for teaching quality and 38 places to rank 109 for the wider student experience.

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available? 

From 2024 the expanding curriculum offers degrees in economics and law, and forensic science. Undergraduate programmes in pharmaceutical science, and music (performance) will be added in 2025.

The university is also developing its Short Course Unit, which offers free reskilling bootcamps for people seeking a new career as well as self-funded short courses.

What are Bath Spa University’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?

Bath Spa is a medium tariff university with a standard offer of BBC, while some courses accept CCC. If an applicant falls short of their offer, the university will take a holistic view of their personal circumstances, and in most cases confirm their place. For 2023 entry the university received almost 14,400 applications and 5,240 enrolments, about 10 per cent via clearing.

What are the graduate prospects?

In our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey — which compares the numbers in highly skilled work or further study 15 months after finishing a degree — Bath Spa remains in the bottom 15, having fallen three places year-on-year to 117th. To help boost graduate employability, the option to add a professional placement year is offered on most courses and there is help from the university for students seeking internships. For creatives, freelancers and start-up entrepreneurs, the university offers free desk space through its Emerge Creative Graduate Studio scheme.  

What is Bath Spa University’s campus like?

Newton Park, four miles outside the city (a Unesco World Heritage Site), is one of the university’s three main campuses. Its Georgian manor house is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, and a 14th-century gatehouse is among the teaching facilities.

Locksbrook Road arts and design campus in the city centre opened in 2019, featuring technical workshops, flexible studio spaces and views over the River Avon. The Sion Hill campus is within walking distance and houses studios and workshops for fashion and textiles, plus a specialist art and design library. Corsham Court, a manor house, is the university’s postgraduate centre near Chippenham, while Bath Spa’s Hackney outpost in east London, which opened in 2021, focuses on business and management, and health and social care.

Bath Spa’s decarbonisation programme won praise in the UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards 2023 — the same year that the university added to its eco appeal by becoming an official Hedgehog Friendly Campus, with a gold accreditation from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

Everything you need to know about Bath Spa University’s student life and wellbeing support

The university has more than 30 sports societies and clubs, many of which train teams that compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (Bucs) league. Sports facilities across Bath Spa’s campuses include a gym, netball and tennis courts, and games pitches. The Bath Spa Sports ground, off campus, has floodlit pitches used for team training. 

Art and culture lovers gravitate to the Michael Tippett Centre, which has a 50-seat auditorium and two recording studios, the university’s main theatre, with capacity for 186 people, and an outdoor amphitheatre. Bath School of Music and Performing Arts students have access to five full-band rehearsal rooms.

To look after students’ wellbeing, Bath Spa offers layered and flexible services from mental health practitioners, a chaplaincy and disability advisers. Students may also find it helps to spend time with Poppy the cockapoo or Logan the border terrier — two of the university’s 20 accredited care dogs.

All students complete compulsory training on sexual consent online during welcome week and there is a Report and Support platform for registering any behaviour which makes anyone feel uncomfortable.

What do the students say?

“Bath Spa is small but mighty, always punching above its weight. My lecturers knew me by name and I never felt lost in the crowd — there is a real community vibe here. Staff on my course consistently delivered useful feedback on assessments and were open to hearing student feedback. Newton Park campus is beautiful too, so when the stress gets overwhelming, there are pockets of nature to relax in."
Laura Bolds, vice-president, welfare and community, at Bath Spa students’ union 

What about student accommodation at Bath Spa University?

First-years who apply by the deadline are guaranteed student accommodation.

How diverse and inclusive is Bath Spa University?

The University of the Year for Social Inclusion in our previous edition, Bath Spa had changed its student profile at its London campus, bringing in more mature students and entrants from black and ethnic minority groups. However, the university has dropped out of the top 20 to rank 28th. 

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at Bath Spa University

The Bath Spa bursary amounts to £4,000 across three years to remove financial barriers to higher education for students from underrepresented groups. Scholarships of £500 are paid in the first year to students who achieved results better than their predicted grades, and to all students who enter Bath Spa with AAB or equivalent grades. A laptop fund provides up to £500 to students in need.