Bath Spa University

Undergraduate (UCAS)

Applicants from school or college applying for full-time study, who are from the UK, EU or Channel Islands and do not already hold an undergraduate qualification, apply through UCAS using institution code BASPA B20. An application needs the course choice, a personal statement, predicted grades or highest qualification achieved, and an academic or professional reference that includes predicted grades. Applications made before the UCAS deadline receive equal consideration; late applications are considered if places remain. Deferred entry and transfer into year 2 or 3 are possible. Entry requirements are set for each course. Personal statements written using generative AI are treated as plagiarism and may lead to rejection. Part-time applicants apply directly to the university.

Contextual admissions

Eligible UCAS applicants for Year 0 or Year 1 of courses delivered in Bath are identified automatically and may receive an offer lower than the standard entry tariff, a pre-entry workshop, help with travel costs to Offer Holder Days, interviews or auditions, and tailored support. Criteria include living in a UK area with low progression to university, Free School Meals eligibility, caring responsibilities, care experience, service family background, mature, refugee or estranged status, and a range of disabilities and long-term conditions. Applicants must be UK domiciled and not need Student Route sponsorship.

Interviews, portfolios and checks

Some courses, including music, performing arts and art and design, require a selection interview, audition or portfolio; interviews for applicants outside the UK are held online and all interviews are recorded. Courses involving work with children or vulnerable adults require a DBS check, and teacher training also requires a Fitness to Train to Teach assessment. Prior learning may be recognised through Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).

International undergraduate

International students may apply through UCAS or directly via the 'Apply now' button on each course page. Non-UK qualifications are benchmarked using UK NARIC, with certified translations required for documents not in English. Students needing a Student Route visa who hold A levels or the IB Diploma must submit results from the awarding body's online checking service, and IB results via the IBIS portal. Applicants under 18 on entry must name a UK-based parent or guardian. Integrated foundation year routes are offered on some courses, including at partner colleges.

English language

Applicants who are not nationals of a majority English-speaking country need a recognised English qualification taken within two years of the course start. IELTS requirements are: most undergraduate and a few postgraduate courses 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component; most postgraduate courses 6.5 overall with at least 5.5; a few postgraduate courses 6.5 with at least 6.0, or 7.0 with at least 6.0. Equivalents at the IELTS 6.0 level include TOEFL iBT 72 (tests up to January 2026; minimums 17 Listening, 18 Reading, 17 Writing, 20 Speaking), PTE Academic 59 (50 Reading and Listening, 55 Speaking and Writing), Duolingo 110 (100 in each component), Kaplan 444 (410 each) and LanguageCert Academic 65 (60 each); Oxford ELLT, Cambridge CAE/CPE and some school qualifications are also accepted. Online Pre-sessional English courses of 6 and 10 weeks lead into degrees, requiring IELTS 5.5 (5.0 each) or 5.0 (4.5 each) respectively for a degree needing IELTS 6.0.

Postgraduate taught

Applications are made online from the course page. Uploads may include passport, qualifications, portfolio, previous UK visas and a reference. Some courses require an interview, usually a 30-minute discussion, which can be held by telephone or video for applicants outside the UK. PGCE applicants, including international students, apply through the Department for Education's Get Into Teaching service.

Postgraduate research

PhD, EdD and MPhil applications go through the Graduate College via the BSU Admissions Portal, after an informal discussion with a potential supervisor. Applicants seeking an ESRC South West Doctoral Training Partnership studentship must submit a Bath Spa PhD application by 8 November 2026, followed by SWDTP documents by 12:00 noon GMT on 12 January 2027. Enquiries: [email protected].

Offers, deposits and visas

Direct applicants accept offers by email to [email protected] quoting their six-digit student number; UCAS applicants accept through UCAS. Fee status is assessed under UKCISA guidelines. Students needing a Student Route visa may be asked to complete a CAS Information Form, and the tuition fee deposit must be paid before a CAS is issued; first-year international students pay 100% of tuition fees on or before arrival.

• Newton Park (Newton St Loe, Bath BA2 9BN): main campus with science, business, humanities, film and TV and performance teaching. Facilities include the Commons building (TV studios, Apple Mac suites, study space, café, amphitheatre), University Library, science laboratories, the University Theatre, the Michael Tippett Centre concert hall, dance and performance studios, Main House, the Students' Union with gym, shop and bar, sports pitches for rugby, netball and football, and the Student Hub. Over 850 students live on campus in the Gardens and Lakeside Village halls.
• Locksbrook Campus (Locksbrook Road, Bath BA1 3EL): home of the School of Creative and Cultural Arts and the School of Design, with workshops for ceramics, metalwork, print, screen printing, textiles, woodwork, photography and moving image, studios, a permanent gallery, art shop, café and rooftop pavilion; RIBA South West and RIBA National Award winner and venue of the annual Degree Shows.
• Sion Hill (Sion Hill Place, Bath BA1 5SF): education space for PGCE courses and conference venues.
• Corsham Court (Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 0BZ): Grade I listed country house hosting the Research Support Office.
• Oldfield Park Theatre Workshops (Westmoreland Station Road, Bath BA2 3HQ): construction, costume and prop workshops, rehearsal studios and a black box space for Acting and Theatre, Festival and Event Production students.
• Paintworks (Bristol): production office and edit suites used by Creative Media students.
• BSU London (Hackney) (Hoxton Street, N1 6LP): business, health and social care management and MBA courses with flexible timetables.
• BSU London (Canary Wharf) (Exchange Tower, 1 Harbour Exchange Square, E14 9GE): Business and Management, Computing and Health and Social Care Management degrees.

Accommodation: Gardens and Lakeside Village (Newton Park) and Bankside House (central Bath, 43 students) are managed by the university; Charlton Court (330 en-suite rooms) and Waterside Court (over 300 en-suite rooms) are run with Unite Students, and Twerton Mill with iQ. Rent includes bills, wi-fi, contents insurance and 24/7 security. A BSU Sports Ground on Lower Bristol Road is being developed.