Bath Spa University
speciality: English Language & Literature

My course is solely online so I may have a different opinion to others!
Pros of university that I have seen:
Well resourced, the library has been brilliant and has everything you could need.
Cons:
The lecturers have not been too helpful. I wonder if the course is too broad that they struggle to find content that is appropriate to everyone.
Another con for me is the strict no AI policy. I feel that this soon will be outdated. Instead of banning it completely, training staff and students on how to use it properly would be better because students are using it anyway.

Bath Spa University has one of the best school environment I’ve seen. Students are not only brilliant and motivated, but also extremely friendly and accepting.It’s like being part of a big, supportive family. It’s good to have students your age which actually care about academics and actually push you to do better. Whether you’re in class, on campus, or involved in extracurricular activities, there’s always someone willing to lend a hand or share a laugh.The diversity is fantastic, and it’s great to meet people from various backgrounds.The campus itself is very nice.

I chose Bath Spa for its reputation in creative arts, and it exceeded my expectations. The lecturers are published authors who genuinely care about your growth—they remember your work and give detailed feedback. One professor even stayed late to help me refine my poetry submission for a competition (I won third place!). The campus is stunning, especially Newton Park, where I’d write by the lake for inspiration. The only downside? Limited industry networking events compared to bigger cities. But the intimate class sizes meant I built close relationships with peers—we still run a writing group post-graduation. The library’s special collections (handwritten drafts by famous poets) were a hidden gem. If you want personalized attention and a serene setting to hone your craft, this is the place.

There is a fantastic amount of creative freedom. The staff are there to support you at every turn, and there is facilities available to take your creative vision and make it real.
The learning feels tangible, and your progress is celebrated along the way.

Bath Spa University transformed my life in many ways. It became my home. My community. I felt supported by many departments including the careers team and the Students’ Union. I felt there were many opportunities to gain experience. For example, I was elected as the environment and ethics officer at the SU, started my own volunteering projects and was a sustainability ambassador. There was a strong sense of community within my course. I felt my lecturers inspired me to believe in my work and helped me develop as a creative. The location is beautiful and access to nature was a real gem as it gave me inspiration. Bath Spa isn’t perfect, but it always tries to do and be better.

Bath Spa University takes creative inspiration to new levels. Whether it’s walking to campus on a crisp autumnal morning beside the cows grazing or exploring the city of Bath on a hazy summer’s evening; the motivation to craft a narrative can be found anywhere.
There are plenty of spaces on campus to settle down and study (the desks overlooking the lake in the library being my favourite).
The staff delivering both the Creative Writing and Publishing modules have been nothing but supportive of all students, offering plenty of feedback and guidance where necessary. The publishing staff does a fantastic job of encouraging our pursuit of careers in the industry, and I know of a few friends who have gone on to secure great roles post-graduation.
While I do feel that the delivery of the course content suffered due to the Covid-19 pandemic and therefore decreased the value of my experience, I get the sense that the 21/22 academic year is going ahead well with its blended approach to learning and I look forward to learning more in my final year.

My time at Bath Spa did two things for me: it inspired my creativity and encouraged my personal growth. Studying Publishing and Creative Writing throughout the last three years have taught me invaluable skills that I will no doubt take into the working world. The staff within both of these programmes were an essential part of why I feel confident to enter the working world. With hands-on help and technical support, particularly within the Publishing department I was able to challenge my creative problem-solving skills, design and management skills on a weekly basis. The facilities at Bath Spa including the library and computer labs were extremely helpful in ensuring my success in my assessments. Every single staff member at the university had my own growth beyond the course as their focus. I would highly recommend Bath Spa University, in particular the Publishing and Creative Writing courses to anyone that wants to challenge their creativity, grow in their interpersonal skills and learn about the industry in a hands-on way.

Overall, I have had a pleasant experience at Bath Spa University. The facilities and grounds are amazing and communication between students and staff is good. Although the nightlife isn’t as good as in some places, you can still have a good night out with your friends. The only complaints could be the expenses as it is such an expensive city. Also, as the university is not in a local location, you have to heavily rely on the buses which can often be unreliable. As a whole, I would definitely recommend!