Bath Spa University

Overview

Bath Spa University focuses primarily on arts and humanities subjects and was founded in its most original form in 1852 before officially becoming a university in 2005. Bath Spa has several campuses in and around the city, with the main centre being Newton Park, completed in 2014, which features some of the best digital media related teaching facilities in the UK.

Bath Spa University is home to just over 7,500 students from over 40 different countries. This relatively small size means that Bath Spa remains a personal and intimate university with strong focus on teaching and student welfare. Student satisfaction is currently 81% across all subjects, while teaching is rated 90% positive.

Bath Spa University was recently crowned one of the top six creative universities in the UK by ‘Which? University’ Guide, with activities such as music, theatre, dance, choirs and visual arts playing a large part of university life.

Services for International Students

The Bath Spa Student Support Service can offer advice on immigration procedures, travel, accommodation and other information that may be required. The service also offers pre-departure briefings, visa support and an international orientation week at arrival. The Student Union has a dedicated International Student Representative and trips to London and events such as film nights and parties are organised by the International Relations office.

Ranking

• 76th in the Times University Guide 2025
• 108th in the Guardian University Guide 2025

Bath Spa University achieved its best ever results in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), the UK-wide programme which assesses the quality and impact of academic research, and which takes place every six or seven years. Since the previous assessment in 2014, the amount of research achieving the highest status of ‘world-leading’ has increased by 60% overall and 130% for research impact.

Research in English and Creative Writing scored extremely well, with more than four-fifths (84%) of research in this area deemed ‘world-leading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*), the two highest distinctions.

Accommodation

Bath Spa University offers three different accommodation blocks for students to live. Newton Park Campus, the site of the library and major academic departments offers single and shared rooms with en-suite options. Bankside House is just ten minutes walk away from the city centre, while Unite Halls is a short bus journey from the main campus. Homestay options for international students are also available.

Location

Bath is a World Heritage City (one of only three cities in the world to be on UNESCO's World Heritage List) with striking views, beautiful parks and iconic architecture. The Roman Baths date back almost 2,000 years and can still be visited today.

Regular ninety-minute train services run directly into central London, and Bristol is only ten minutes away by train, offering connections to the rest of the UK. Bath is surrounded by beautiful countryside, with the Cotswolds, the Mendips and the Wye Valley all within easy reach. The west of England is the UK's most popular tourist destination.