Bath Spa University

The university traces its history back over 160 years to the original Bath School of Art and Design.

The first trainee teachers trained here over 60 years ago. Gained degree awarding powers in 1992, university title in 2005 (previously Bath Spa University College) and research degree awarding powers in 2008.

Two main campuses, Newton Park (all subjects except art and design) and Sion Hill (Bath School of Art and Design), located just outside the city of Bath, with good bus links to the city.

A new Centre for Creative Computing is being developed at Hartham Park in Corsham, near Bath (where the University’s Institute for Education will also be located). There’s also a specialist postgraduate centre in Corsham (Corsham Court), near Bath Bath is just 9 miles from Bristol, 90 minutes from London.

89% score for teaching quality in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2013. Consistently high student satisfaction scores in NSS. 'Outstanding' reputation for teacher training – PGCE courses were rated Grade 1 by Ofsted in 2011 in programmes leading to qualified teacher status in primary, secondary and further education. 22/24 was the average score for teaching excellence under the QAA scheme.

Bath Spa was designated a National Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in the creative and cultural sector. Low drop-out rate – 86% projected completion compared to 78% across the UK as a whole.

In the range 260–340 UCAS points. Alternative qualifications welcome. Bath Spa has around 30% mature students. 70% female, 30% male. Currently 5% overseas students. A drive for further internationalisation will increase this figure in the next few years. 35% over 25; 94% of young full-time entrants from state schools or colleges. Applications to places ratio approximately 7:1. Most courses are part of a flexible modular scheme, allowing students a good deal of choice. Joint degrees are a popular choice – a lot of subjects can be studied as part of a Combined Award. An active partnership exists with local FE colleges, enabling some students to study locally.

Bath Spa staff are actively engaged in research and scholarship that directly informs their teaching.

As a teaching-led university, all research activity is of direct benefit to students and is applied to what and how they're taught. In RAE 2008 all ten subject areas entered were rated 2* and above (internationally recognised), and in five areas some research was rated 4* (world-leading).