Recently awarded the prestigious title of University of the Year by The Sunday Times, Bath has been positioned at 5th in the national rankings.The University of Bath is home to15,000 students, including 4,000 international students from more than 100 different countries. Approximately 30 per cent of our students are studying towards postgraduate degrees and we offer a wide range of opportunitiesfor study in engineering, humanities andsocial sciences, management and the sciences. There is a strong professional emphasis to our programmes, making our graduates among the most employable in the UK.
The University occupies a modern parkland campus two kilometres from the centre of the city. Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage City and hosts manyvisitors exploring the grand Georgian architecture of the Royal Crescent, the Roman baths and numerous museums. Bath Spa mainline station is on the London to Bristol railway line. Half-hourly services run to central London, a journey which takes approximately 90 minutes.
Academic strengths
Bath has consistently been ranked among the best UK universities by independent league tables and is invariably placed in the top 10 per cent of UK institutions when rankings are published. Our programmes often have a strong focus on technical, vocational or business applications. At the master’s level we offer both taught degrees and programmes with a strong emphasis on research, the later often serving as a stepping stone to the highest level of study – the MPhil and PhD degrees by research.
The University receives millions of pounds in research grants each year, with much of this money coming from industry. We have on-going research partnerships with private companies, government bodies, charities and with universities, both in the UK and overseas. Over two thirds of our research areas are ranked in the top 10 nationally and considered to be internationally recognised or world-leading in terms of originality, significance or rigour.
Facilities
The University has recently made a major investment in its postgraduate community through the building of a brand new Graduate Centre. The Centre is the University of Bath social, training and academic hub for postgraduate life at the university. The Students’ Union also boasts a new £5.5 million Student Centre which has created additional social space for students and provides a buzzing focal point for student life on campus. It also runs the University’s sports teams which are ranked in the top five nationally in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS).
The University is home to a world-class £35 million Sports Training Village facility which is also one of British Swimming’s five Training Centres. In the run up to London 2012, we are proud to have been chosen as the venue to host the Paralympics GB team’s preparation camps. We will also be the training base for the Malaysian Olympic team.
The Library is only one of two in the UK to be open 24 hours a day throughout the year. It has a stock of more than 400,000 books and periodicals, 13,000 electronic books and 1,000 journals. It can also seat over 1000 readers including 500 PC workstations and lap-top docking points. Our Innovation Centre provides office space, mentoring and business expertise to over 60 hi-tech, high growth companies and supports staff and students wishing to launch new businesses.
The campus is constantly evolving. We are currently in the process of completing a £110 million four year refurbishment and enhancement programme of our teaching, research, social and residential space.
Student life
The International Office and Student Services Centre support international students at the University and help them to have a successful and enjoyable time while they are at Bath. There is an orientation programme at the beginning of each academic year, including an airport pick-up service.
The International Student Advisors also run a year-round drop-in advisory service where students are welcome to seek information and confidential advice. A series of trips to places of interest are organised throughout the year. A popular student mentoring scheme called LINC (Living In a New Culture) enables international students to get to know British students when they arrive in the UK.
There is a strong support network for students throughout their studies including the International Students Association and the Postgraduate Association. Our Students’ Union has been recognised as one of the best in the UK, ranked in the top three by the National Union of Students (NUS).