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TSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Guides > University of Bath

Bath University is, when compared to the likes of Oxford and Cambridge, a very “new” university. However, unlike many modern universities it has built up a reputation for excellence and become one of the top universities in the country. This year Bath was rated in the top ten by both the Sunday Times and the Guardian. Bath also ranked fifth in a survey of headmasters taken by The Times.

Located about a mile outside, and 200m above a world heritage city, the university campus is relatively compact, but it has been very well landscaped, providing a pleasant, green environment to live and work in. The university is bordered by a golf course, woodland and across the road is a large area of “access land” called Claverton Down.

Facilities

The heart of the university is the 1960s “Parade”. Most of the main facilities (departments, union, shops, etc) are all located around the parade, which means easy access to everywhere. Further out, around the edges of campus, are the accommodation halls and a few departments.

Facilities at the university include:

• Students Union (including club, bar, shops, etc)
• Shops – Fresh (owned by the COOP), Waterstones
• Banks (Barclays and Nat-West)
• Endsleigh Insurance,
• Hair Salon,
• Parade Bar,
• Restaurants/Snack Bars (Choices, Coffee shop, Pitstop)

In general the facilities are very good. Being campus facilities they are a little more expensive than other shops, and Fresh often runs out of popular items (which seems to be a general problem with any COOP shop though!!). The Sunday Carvery in the Parade Bar is good value too!

Libraries

The university library is open 24 hours a day during term time (although it closes from midnight Saturday until about 8am Sunday morning).

During holidays it is open daily but not 24h.

The library has a number of computer areas, which get busy quickly during peak times, and is divided by subject across 5 floors:

• Level 1 - basement (archives plus quiet working area as well as few computers and a group study area that can be booked out)
• Level 2 - parade level (main entrance, reprographics, loan desk, it services, quick access PCs, group work area with bean bags, sofas and white boards)
• Level 3 - Engineering and literature (plus PCs and quiet study work areas)
• Level 4 - Sciences, Maths, Pharmacy and Sport (plus PCs and group work areas and quiet study areas)
• Level 5 - Social Sciences, Management and Languages (silent work area with PCs)

IT and Computing

Bath University network is run by BUCS (Bath Univeristy Computing Services). They provide email and face to face support with all computer issues.

A help desk in the library allows students to gain assistance with hardware and software issues - even with their individual PC's.

Every hall of residance has a wired internet connection. There are various wifi hotspots around campus, notibly by the lake and in most lecture theatres.

Sports

Bath University hosts some of the best sports facilities in the Country. The Team Bath Training Village contains indoor tennis courts, badminton courts (and netball courts used as the home ground for the National Team) indoor running track, an olympic size swimming pool (albeit 2mm too short for world records) a dojo and a gym (used by the England Rugby Team before the 6 Nations).

There is also the Students Union Sports Centre which contains a sports hall, a smaller swimming pool and squash courts.

All the Sports Village facilities can be used when unless they've been prebooked by a sports club, free of charge for students, but can only be booked on the day whilst the SU facilities can be booked for free upto a week in advance.

There are also many open spaces, and more than 10 football pitches.

Welfare

Healthcare

The university has a health centre on site, with GP surgery and Dentist. This is located on North Road, just east of the Quarry Road entrance.

There are no pharmacy shops on or near the campus, the closest being in Bathwick, Combe Down (Lloyds), or in the city centre.

Shops

• Fresh - small supermarket, stocks the basics (often understocked, high prices). Owned by the Co-op. Adjacent to Wessex House. There is also a post office inside fresh. Open from 7:30am - 9pm weekdays, 9am - 6pm weekends.
• Fresh Oriental - small shop in Wessex House, sells Chinese and Indian foods. Open 11am - 7pm mon - wed & 11am - 8pm thurs/fri.
• Students Union Shop - sells snacks, sandwiches, stationery and Bath Uni clothing. There is also a dry cleaning service based here. Located in Norwood House. Open 9:30am - 5:30pm weekdays
• Waterstones - bookshop in Norwood House
• STA - student travel shop in Wessex House

Restaurants

There are a number of eating places on site:

• Pit Stop - excellent baguettes, sandwiches & wraps (Now located in "The Terrace" on level 2 in the students union.) Prices ranging from £1.90 - £2.50 with a 5% discount if ordered online.
• Parade Bar. Popular student bar. Indian nights on Mondays (£4.25 curry & pint/drink), Mexican on Tuesdays (£4.25 chilli/fajita & drink). Pizza deals on Thursdays & Sundays (£5 14' Pizza with 3 toppings). Also drinks deals on Wednesday & Friday evenings.
• Wessex Restaurant
• The Level One Cafe - main campus restaurant/canteen - below the parade bar, has a Home Zone, European Zone & Oriental Zone.
• Dolche Vita - Italian style coffee shop on the parade. Does great bacon rolls!
• Blues Bar - in the STV, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, pasta and drinks.
• Costa's - Two outlets, one in "The Terrace" one in "The Level One Cafe"

Banks

There are two banks on campus (Nat West and Barclays), although these have limited opening times.

Both of these banks have one cash machine each. There is also a cash machine (Alliance and Leicester) within the students union building. The Fresh shop offers cashback.

The city of bath has most major banks, and there is also a barclays bank in nearby Combe Down.

Transport

There are regular (ranging between every 6 and every 20 minutes according to day and time) bus services from the university to Bath and back, costing 90p single or 1.40 return. Taxis from the town centre to the university cost up to about £7.00. Within Bath there are most of the usual "big name" shops - and any that cannot be found in Bath are just up the road at Bristol. Nightlife is limited to a few clubs, and a lots of pubs (some of which are very good) - but again, Bristol is just up the road (unfortunately no late buses - taxi back to Bath Uni from Bristol costs about £35.00 so arrange to share with friends). Bath Spa railway station connects the city with London and Bristol.

Careers service

Part-time jobs

Religious facilities

The (ecumenical) chaplincy is located in the center of campus to the right of the library as you face it, just in front of the 3 east building. It is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week during term time and from 9am to 6pm during university hoidays. There is usually a chaplain available on week days between 10am and 4pm and often until 6 or 7pm on Tuesdays.

Social

Bars, Pubs and clubs

Students Union

The small students union has two main bar facilities:

• Plug Bar - the students union bar, with games machines, pool tables, etc. Expensive for a students union but cheaper than much of bath. Recently this area has been refurbished with the addition of a larger bar and sofa area. The entire plug bar area is now brighter and larger.

• Elements - the SU club. Small (to the point of being cramped), mainly used twice a week for Funky Guppy on a Friday and Score on a Wednesday (combined with Plug Bar)

Parade Bar

A popular alternative to the Students Union. Similar prices (typically 10p more per drink), with comfy chairs, and a terrace overlooking the lake. Also good for getting drinks on a summer day and sitting on the grass by the lake. Also serves acceptable food.

Blues Bar

Sports Training Village bar

Events

Clubs and societies

There are a wide range of clubs and societies, ranging from the active (e.g. sports, scouts, DofE, etc) to the less active (debating, rock society, beer appreciation, etc)

Accommodation

Main article: University of Bath Accommodation

The accommodation varies greatly, from the shared bathrooms and aging buildings of eastwood, through the old en-suite accommodation at Westwood (recently refurbished) to the brand new Solsbury and Marlborough Courts. All accommodation is self catering, and full kitchen facilities are provided.

Student union

Prices

Environment

Architecture

The concrete buildings aren't the prettiest you'll ever see but in well set out and well maintained grounds the Bath Campus isn't ugly either.

Local area

Teaching quality

So - in brief. If you are looking for a green (but quite compact) campus, and a small (8,000 students), friendly university with a good reputation, good facilities and reasonable accommodation - Bath is for you. If you are looking for a university in the heart of a bustling city with great nightlife - try somewhere else!

Applying to Bath

Thinking of applying to Bath? Why not read some Personal Statements which were used for applying here?

Other Bath Articles

Why not read these other Bath Articles?

• Bath Nightlife
• Personal Statements

Links

• Our Bath Discussion Forum
• Bath University Homepage
• Bath accommodation article
• A-Z of Universities