Any thoughts on Bath Spa University?

[doglover]

We've been trawling websites this weekend looking at possible uni courses and locations.

My dd (Y11) is quite taken by this university and their HERITAGE degree course. It seems to combine a lot of her passions - history, museums, communication, cultures etc. - and has a practical work experience element too.

Would this degree be respected?

Any thoughts about Bath Spa as a learning institution?

When we moved to Wiltshire for family reasons, I was a little restricted in terms of being able to commute to uni and BSU was a good choice, in my opinion. I really enjoyed my time there. I had transferred from a large university in a major city and it seemed really tiny in comparison. The fact that it had cows and a farm around it, was slightly surreal to begin with. (I really enjoyed my first uni as well, but this was a very different experience. I went from a cohort of 250 to one of about 30.) My department was quite small and it meant that I could be very flexible in what I wanted to focus on. Tutors were lovely and happy to support me as much as possible. I liked that we had extra lecturers from Oxford drafted in, if our seminar classes were at the danger of becoming too large (I think they cut off at about 12 or so back then).
I can't tell you anything about the Heritage course, but perhaps go for a visit and have a look around?

Many thanks, TSF. It's good to get a response ....... and a positive one, too!

Yes, a visit will be our next step.

I dont know about the standards etc at Bath Spa, but if you are going to study "heritage" doing it in a city like Bath would seem very appropriate.

Bath Spa seems to have a good reputation (locally) for many of it's courses e.g. Environment, Creative Writing and Performing Arts.
I know someone who lectures there (not this course) and is a very inspiring teacher. The Uni seems to have good feedback for quality of teaching and good pastoral care.
There is more than one campus. The one described by thatssofunny is the Newton Park campus which is in a rural location on the outskirts of the city. There is another campus in Bath itself. There are buses which connect both campuses to the City centre.

I studied there, its a really nice place.

Just returned to see all these replies. Fantastic!

Thanks for all your opinions: it's really interesting to read the different views. I do understand what you mean by pigeonholing, TAD, which is definitely something to we need to consider.

That's an thought-provoking comment, "... your undergrad university matters much more than the subject you studied."

Would others' agree? Should she aim as high as possible for a prestigious uni? I suppose we've been looking at courses that appeal rather than the ranking of the uni ............

She's bright - predicted a mix of A*, A and a couple of Bs - for GCSEs but not a real high-flier. We've had no real guidance from school so aren't sure if she'd be able to achieve the AAB or ABB which most RG unis seem to state as their basic entry requirements. Hence our looking at a wider range of HE options.

All opinions valued! TIA

I think the University does matter. Also, we visited this University with DD and she was offered a place at the School of Art which is actually in Bath. The main campus is way out and DD would have hated looking at cows all day. DD went elsewhere. Your DD would probably be better off looking at History of Art at a well respected university but if this course gets people into jobs in this work sector then fine, but otherwise this degree has not much appeal in other jobs. Would a top class History or History of Art Graduate get the job over the Heritage Graduate? Not sure, but this might be rather elite occupation.

Thanks, MMM.

Food for thought.

Bath Spa is I believe what was Bath Poly ie a "new" university. Whatever anyone says the new univerisites (ie ex polytechnics) They are just not as well regarded as the "old" universities and of course will cost £27K for a 3 year course.

Bath University is however very prestigious. I was very clear with my kids that they should go to a Russell Group university.

It was formerly Bath College of Higher Education so is a comparatively new university.

Yes, I appreciate that it is a 'new' university and therefore will not have the kudos of the RG institutions.

As I mentioned earlier, however, I am unsure whether the AAB/ABB targets set as entry requirements by the RG unis will be achievable by my dd.

Where does one look if the grades are more likely to be BBB/BBC etc? Our dd is diligent and loves studying but RG unis will never suit all our children...........

Definitely agree university reputation (combined with its reputation for the subject you want to do) is so vital.
My DD did a degree which 'pigeonholed' somewhat but she did it at Bristol Uni in the highest ranking department for her subject. She got a first because she really was studying her passion and loved it. She has just started a graduate job in the field. Her friends are all on masters courses or in relevant jobs.
There is no way she would have studied the same subject at a non-Russell Group uni (she was similar to your DD predicted A*, A, B). For her degree to be taken really seriously by employers it needed the University name and reputation with it. If she was achieving lower grades she would have done a more vocational degree e.g. primary teaching.

I'd add - whatever degree you do or wherever you do it, work experience and internships are vital.

Had a friend whose son did Yacht Management at Southampton Solent a while back. Everyone laughed. He spent his summers working his socks off for yacht owners, manufacturers, luxury high-end tourism companies and is now making far more than I ever expect my DC who both went to russell groups will earn.

In reply to the BBB/BBC comment...
My DD applied to a mix of unis - two asking for high grades AAA/AAB, and then two asking for ABB and then one real back up choice which asked for BBC. The courses were related but different, the final one was highly vocational, the middle two were are russell groups which were not as highly ranked as her top two choices - Bristol and Warwick.
If your DD is passionate about heritage and gets lots of work experience and internships and is decisive early on about with exact position she is looking for when she graduates, e.g. museum work, she could do really well.

Thank you DD - love the name, by the way! - we appreciate your advice and experience. It's all rather scary at the moment .........

Bath University is very highly rated but, like a number of other highly regarded Unis, is not actually part of the RG.

a mix of A*, A and a couple of Bs - for GCSEs is pretty much what DS1 got at that stage. He's now at Cambridge. Don't let your DD sell herself short too early.

dogl, nothing matters as much as how high the university is in the eyes of employers. Far too many schools don't make that clear to teenagers. it's really important. Go as high as she possibly can at the best of places for future life chances. This applies across a whole raft of places. Even in their 30s and 40s people will be checked out by others on linkedin to see how high a ranking university they got into however unfair that might be as a way to assess how bright someone is.

Gosh, thanks for that information, B3 and GG. I went to teacher training college and was given an unconditional offer back in the early 1980s so this is completely new to me! My dh has no HE experience and we're currently gleaning our information from MN and uni websites.

It's getting that balance of supporting our dd, obviously wanting her to achieve her potential without being unrealistic or putting her under untoward pressure.

Many thanks again.

If she was achieving lower grades she would have done a more vocational degree e.g. primary teaching.
Yikes. Thanks. Do make sweeping statements...
I went to one of the most prestigious grammar schools in my country, speak four languages, have 15 GCSEs - with the highest grade average in my cohort - and four A-Level equivalents (these include English and Maths). I certainly did not become a primary school teacher, because I didn't get the grades to get into whatever other university or on whatever other course.
A colleague of mine has a first from her RG uni and completed her MEd at Cambridge. She's also a primary school teacher, and highly academic.

Greengrow is making rather a sweeping statement based presumably on her limited social circle - if your child has aspirations to be a barrister then yes aim as high as you possibly can, other most employers won't care that much! A medic from the former Lancs poly will be as highly sought after as one from Cambridge.

As with anything, research!

thatssofunny sorry - I realise how offensive that is. I too am actually a primary teacher and DD (the one I talk about in my post) has just started primary teacher training... I was not meaning for a minute to make it out to be an easy option - it is one of the hardest jobs out there!! Sorry.
I meant the BEd 3 year undergraduate degree courses in primary ed which require lower grades (often BBC) and so are a good option for those interested in careers like teaching and have the wider skills required. I think in my mind I was thinking of my DD too much but not fully explaining. If I had read my post I would actually query it like you have done so I apologise.

I promise you I do not think primary teaching requires anything but a huge amount of skill and knowledge!
Very sorry!!

I graduated from Bath Spa last year (aged 52) with a First in History and Heritage. I did a Foundation Degree in Heritage Management, then 'topped up' for one year to get an honours degree. I'm now studying part-time for a Masters Degree in Heritage Management at Bath Spa as well.

I know all the Heritage teaching staff at Bath Spa very well . Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

I've just spent my first afternoon volunteering with the Bath Preservation Trust where 3 of my fellow students have paid jobs. The course is very new, but has a brilliant track record for getting alumni into paid work in the heritage sector, where jobs are currently as rare as hens' teeth .

Please ignore all the posters telling you your DD should only be applying to Russell Group universities because a degree from anywhere else is useless. This is completely irrelevant for your DD if she is predicted to get BBB/BBC grades at A level. Bath Spa is a NEW university (2005) and can't possibly 'compete' yet (the league tables are based on research output) on the same terms as an RG university.

It's also a lovely place to spend 3 years!

Bath is lovely place and seems like it would be a great place to be a student, though I don't have any personal experience of the universities. In general I do agree its wise to go for the most reputable universities your dd can get into.

Just wanted to give a word of caution on heritage as a subject. I know a few people who work in heritage and museums jobs, and unfortunately those jobs are like hens teeth to get. One friend graduated a couple of years ago from an RG, did a masters in museums and is now interning for no pay a few days a week while working in basic admin jobs the rest of the time for money to get by. This seems a very typical start in that industry and it's hard to get work, let alone paid work. So I would be a bit wary of pigeon holing into such a narrow and oversubscribed yet underpaid field at such an early stage.

I agree with the suggestion that something like straight history might be more versatile (and doesn't preclude going into heritage work as a career, though a masters is often necessary/the norm, for example I know someone who has a masters in museums AND a masters in heritage!)