Bath, University of

(Bath University)

Overall ranking: Came 11th out of 126 in the Complete University Guide for 2016.

History: Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2016 Bath began life as a college of science and technology in 1966.

Address: The campus is based on Claverton Down, a hill 650ft above Bath.

Ambience: Windswept, beautiful setting above Jane Austen's spa city. The university buildings are a mixture of 1960s architecture and contemporary design. It has risen from almost nowhere to become one of the most successful universities in the UK.

Who's the boss? Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell, Vice-Chancellor. A social psychologist and author of more than 20 books.

Prospectus: 01225 383 019 or download the information you need here.

UCAS code: B16

What you need to know

Easy to get into? Varies by course. The University does not work on the UCAS points system, and competition can be tough with around 7-10 applications per place. A number of courses include the A* as a condition for entry e.g. BSc Economics and MEng Mechanical Engineering ask for A*AA at A-level. The university has a strong focus on science, engineering, language, business and social science programmes. A wide range of placement and study abroad opportunities are available.

Vital statistics: Over 15,000 students of which 4,500 are postgrads. Fairly evenly split between male and female students. Still concentrates on science and technology but has branched out into modern languages and international studies, education, management, and social, sport and medical sciences. 75 per cent of students are from state education. The student to staff ratio is 16:7.

Added value: As Bath are celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2016 they have plans for year-long events that will involve students and the local community. Great links with professions and a well-established placement scheme. Over 60 per cent of Bath students go on work placements with leading businesses such as Microsoft, GlaxoSmithKline, L’Oreal and Airbus. Fantastic for sport. Facilities include a world-class sports training village, a 50m London 2012 legacy pool and a 400m athletic track. over 4,800 students are members of 48 student-led sports clubs providing fantastic opportunities within recreational and competitive sport, while over 5,000 students are members of 82 societies and groups.

New build "the Edge" opened in 2015 it offering students a unique hub or culture and innovation, it boasts a 220-seat theatre, a purpose-built dance studio, performance studio, soundproof music practice rooms, three galleries and a contemporary cafe. The University is building two new academic buildings which will open in 2016. One to hold the rapidly growing department of psychology and provide a new home for the institute of policy research. The other building will house a state-of-the-art teaching space for Engineering & Design. Bath are also taking part in a number of regeneration projects and have recently purchased a four-storey police station building in the city centre. A number of new courses have also been introduced such as Physical Activity and Health programmes, Education with Psychology, Astrophysics and International Development with Economics.

Teaching: Came 4th out of 126 for student satisfaction in the latest Complete University Guide. Bath topped the The Times Higher Education (THE) student experience survey 2015.

Graduate prospects: Ranked 4th with 85.1 per cent entering graduate level employment.

Any accommodation? Over 4,000 bedrooms in halls available three quarters of which are located on campus. Everything is on campus including pubs, restaurants, a club, shops, banks and a post office. Broad range of rooms available with prices starting at £60 a week and leading up to £200 dependent on room and catering options. All include bills and high speed wifi. In addition the Quads, the newly opened halls, provides an additional 708 en-suite rooms divded into 75 flats across two buildings.

Cheap to live there? About average - private rents are around £80-£90 a week, excluding bills.

Transport links: An hour and a half from London by train, and 10 minutes from Bristol. M4 is 10 miles north and Bristol airport is 21 miles away.

Fees: Home/EU fees for all campus based courses are £9,000 per year. For overseas students this ranges from £13,750 to £17,400 per year depending on the course.

Bursaries: A wide range of scholarships based on academic excellence, and bursaries, based on financial need, are offered by the university. Click here for details.

The fun stuff

Nightlife: Quaint pubs, theatres and several clubs in town. Students' Union has a club and runs the popular 'Score' and 'Fuzzy Ducks' nights for the energetic. Komedia is a new live entertainment venue that also hosts regular club nights. The Revolution (also known as Vodka Revs or Revs) provides a fun, good-value night out.

Price of a pint: £3.20 on average.

Sporting reputation: Excellent for sport- ranked 4th in the BUCS league.

Calendar highlight: The city itself plays host to packed major festivals and events calendar including the Bath Literature Festival and a brilliant Christmas Market. A great Students’ Union Summer Ball with relatively cheap tickets.

Notable societies: Try Gravity Vomit for juggling and circus skills- play with fire in the amphitheatre on a Wednesday or take part in a guest workshop to learn an unusual skill.

Glittering alumni: Justin King, CEO of Sainsbury's; Neil Holloway, vice president, Microsoft International; Captain Heather Stanning, rower and London 2012 gold medallist; Tom Pellereau, entrepreneur and winner of the BBC’s Apprentice programme.

Alternative prospectus: None available as yet but check out the posts in The Student Room for answers to any questions you may have.