Bath?

[southernlife55]

Anyone know anything about Bath university? What's it like to live there?

My son has never been anywhere near there but he's now holding an offer after doing better than he thought he would.

It’s great! Small enough city that it’s quite a nice place to spread your wings and the university is great! I went and i recommend it. It’s campus based which I liked.

Oh and there is definitely a Lidl now - not far from the student area in Oldfield.

I think when Ds was in halls he used to go to Sainsbury’s or Morrisons though in the city centre.

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango We stayed in the Holiday Inn Express near Oldfield recently when visiting Ds. They charge £15 for parking overnight but luckily we were able to park on Ds street by arriving & departing during the unrestricted time. His houses in Y2 & Y3 were a nightmare for loading & unloading the car - double yellow lines on the whole street.

We are going to the September Open Day. Sorry to derail but what is the car parking like? I read the blurb and am considering travelling by train instead.

@Decorhate Thats good to know re the placement hope she can find something similar. The house they are living in this year is on a lovely residential street, apparently the neighbours warned last years students who lived there to be respectful (poor neighbours). Going to take her back mid September I think - 6 hour round commute which I loathe!!

@Firesgoneout I think it was quite easy to park on campus when we went to the open day

Bath is amazing ! As another poster said bite their hand off ! I went there and I am thrilled that my daughter in starting in September. It's safe, supportive, the city is beautiful and employers are very impressed when they see it on your CV. Go for it. To the poster asking about parking - there is loads on open days - if driving is easier don't worry about parking.

DM has an article lamenting the loss of genteel Bath city and suggesting unsafe and gone to the dogs under the Lib Dems.
When I was a student there 40 years ago, I had a room overlooking Bog Island. I remember one woman used to arrive in the afternoon with her bottle of wine in a brown paper bag, select the most expensive car parked there, and use it as her makeshift table, while she drank and harangued passers by!

DS graduated from there last year. He had a great time, and found a graduate job really easily.

Oh, Bog Island - those were the days

Another one who went to Bath and absolutely loved it.

It is apparently recognised as the second safest uni city (after York). Not sure where that is from though so can’t quote the source.

I had always heard about the great pastoral support reputation but to be honest DC started there last year and had some struggles adapting and with their health. Unfortunately they totally slipped the net and did not get much if any support from uni. To be fair they did not seek support but if you’re in a bad place that is difficult to do. This has all resulted in them going back to repeat the entire year in a few weeks. We were not aware of issues until March/April time as DC glossed over everything and said things were ok but there were several red flags that Uni should have picked up on but didn’t. To be honest we are quite angry that DC was not supported and had they had support earlier would not be in this situation with hefty financial and social consequences.

To be fair to uni, DC now has support in place for when they go back but only because we asked for it. The support now promised seems positive but such a shame it wasn’t there several months ago.

So much as I still love Bath, the shine has been taken off slightly for me, I am hoping that will come back over the next few months.

DD has just finished year 1 and has had an absolute ball. She would recommend it unreservedly. Having said that, she keeps telling me about friends on her course who haven't passed their exam or who have found the course very difficult. (Maths). So I think academically, the standard might be quite high and it's important not to miss lectures or it's easy to fall behind.

Hotel-wise, depending on timings, if you don't mind staying outside of Bath, I stayed at the Cross Hands in Old Sodbury a couple of years ago as a 'staging post' on a journey from home in South East Essex to Bristol via a visit to Waterperry Gardens (to play Mrs Pickford for DS1 moving back to Birmingham from Bristol, remind me not to offer that again in 33° weather). It's about 30mins by car to Bath, I think. Very good breakfast, although no air conditioning, at least not in my room.

For DS1's graduation ceremony last year, we stayed at a hotel in Keynsham (Haywards at the Grasmere), which is also only a short journey Bath (we used the Brislington park and ride to go into Bristol for the day). More expensive than the pub, but more convenient and the food was also excellent.

Hotel wise we always try to stay Thursday or Sunday nights as they tend to be significantly cheaper. Helps that both my and DH’s jobs are flexible.

Good idea and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

A couple of thoughts for those of you planning a visit.

On the official opening days, traffic in Bath grinds to a halt for much of the day, to the extent that they note the dates in DD's school calendar. If you want to get up and down from the M4, set your sat-nav to take you via Batheaston toll bridge (I think it still costs £1 each way).

If you want to take the bus, it is currently on a summer timetable (so no U2 bus), but this link will hopefully stay good: https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bristol-bath-and-west/routes-and-maps/universities/university-bath-bath-unibus
I think the buses venture further into Oldfield Park once term starts (Uni website might have an better map).

If you plan to walk down from the Uni and it's a nice day, turn onto Bathwick Hill fields at Cleveland Walk (I think there might even be a Bath Skyline sign at the bus stop) and walk down the side of the field (great views if you want to join the dogwalkers/picnic-ers in the field), cross over the canal and walk into town from there.

Parking nearly everywhere in town will cost you £15/day+

Just so you’re aware the Modern Pentathlon World Championships are taking place now - won’t impact your visit but don’t be surprised to see most people walking round in sports gear. It’s adding a great buzz to the week!

https://pentathlongb.org/2023wch

Yes, of dd's flatmates last year (a house of 13) 4 have resits for certain subjects and another two of her friends on her course had modules capped because they didn't hand assignments in on time. You're very much expected to get your nose down and get the work done, which tbh, is fair enough.

Also re hotels, if you book city centre ones, go midweek and book a long time in advance. Last year I made the mistake of not booking anything until after A level results came out and ended up paying a fortune.
This year I booked for 3 nights leading up to moving in weekend (for fresher's) two weeks ago. 3 nights this year has cost me the same as one last year!

When are you in Bath? I am going up around the 11th? We could meet for a glass of something cold and refreshing!

DD graduated from there last summer with MEng in Civil Engineering. She was affected by covid but loved it there. I'm doing my EdD there now so spent a week at summer school recently. I rally enjoyed the apartment I had in town and the week on campus. DD lived in Stanley Rd West for 2 years with a bunch of other girls and caught the bus to uni. She was paying £500/month.

Not till the 20th sadly! We'll have to make a date for later this year maybe. After all this time it's probably time we met in real life!

(Sorry for thread hijack @southernlife55 Tango, Piggy and I "met" on the Oxbridge rejects thread two years ago now!)

@So1invictus Ah that's a shame yes we shall one day....maybe graduation 😂

@Firesgoneout we are going to the open day on the 9th. Bristol one too! Unfortunately the taster session was booked out. We have rather a complicated schedule as Bristol you have to book everything in advance, so think we might head there first then go to Bath (coming from London). Daughter has been to both cities but my only trip to Bristol was about four decades ago (I am ancient). She's got grades in hand and is doing an Art Foundation this year but recent change of heart has her looking at Sociology/Social Policy.
Is it really easy to park on campus during open days? The shuttle busses were booked out too.

Bath is TOTP for sociology. Really highly rated. DS didn't choose it because he wanted a broader social policy degree but it's so impressive .

@mondaytosunday park in Trenchard Street car park. Right next to Orchard Heights accommodation and 10 minute walk to the Uni.

@southernlife55 huge well done to your DC. It was DDs first choice but they wanted AAB and she got A*BB so rejected and going to insurance. To say she was gutted was an understatement as she really, really, really wanted her particular course at Bath. Nowhere else offers the same one. We visited twice and loved it both times. It’s also got a great reputation & very good stats for employability, according to my DD.

Oh good Lord - do I need to book a shuttle bus? I think I’ve left it too late then. I said I was going to park in a random park & ride when I booked the Open Day but I can’t remember which one it is and as all the emails go to DS’s account it is now a void of information.