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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Anybody else have a Child going to Bath Uni

164 replies

Octopus45 · 20/08/2025 11:22

Hi, thought I would start a thread. My Son is studying Economics. It’s exciting but nerve wrecking. He’s very independent luckily, but going to really miss him. We find out about his accommodation on the 27th

OP posts:
MillicentFaucet · 20/08/2025 14:19

I do, but he's returning for his 4th and final year!
He has really thrived at Bath and I hope your son has a great experience there too. He had a tiny ensuite in The Quads for his first year and still has some food & drink credit left to use 😁
At the time I was massively anxious about him moving to the other end of the country but Bath is such a small, safe city I got over myself after a few months.
Good luck to your DC, I hope he settles in and makes friends quickly.

Original poster
Octopus45 · 20/08/2025 16:46

@MillicentFaucetthanks very much. It’s great to hear that your Son has enjoyed his time there. Did he live out in his second and third years? My Son has an Industry year for his third year, but will be looking for accommodation for the other years. Thanks again

OP posts:
catsareace · 20/08/2025 16:58

Dd has just graduated from Bath and bloody loved it. She’s gutted to have left and the time just flew by. She was in halls first year (Westwood I think) and then private rental in Oldfield Park then. Her graduation was just the best day in the Abbey, the atmosphere was wonderful. It really is a great place to study and for us parents to visit.

MillicentFaucet · 20/08/2025 17:02

He did live out but because he had work placements for semester 2 each year he just got lodgings as it was easier than trying to find people to take over contracts etc. His first landlord was a PhD student & the current one is a university employee. It's worked out perfectly for him & less stress than a shared house.

HappynLife · 20/08/2025 17:27

Thank you for starting this thread OP!

My DS is starting this September. He’ll be studying engineering. I’m very excited for him, I was with him for the first open day and we both loved it!

Although friendly, he can be a little reserved and quiet, so I really hope he forms good friendships soon, I think that will have a significant impact for him.

My only concern right now is accommodation! Bath was his insurance (missed imperial by 1 mark), they’ve put him on a waiting list but no guarantees of getting anything!

Surely they’ll work something out? I don’t even know how much it will cost at this point! Any advice on this would be welcome for those with older students.

jennygeddes · 20/08/2025 21:59

My daughter will be starting this year too - doing a degree in Management. I did a postgrad year at Bath, so I'm keen to see how much it's changed in the last 30 years! Hoping for a decent accommodation allocation on 27th.

Wronginformation · 21/08/2025 06:50

DD going into second year. Can't wait to get back. Finds the course interesting. Uni has generally been supportive. Loves the green surroundings and the many little cafes in the city .

fortyfifty · 21/08/2025 15:53

catsareace · 20/08/2025 16:58

Dd has just graduated from Bath and bloody loved it. She’s gutted to have left and the time just flew by. She was in halls first year (Westwood I think) and then private rental in Oldfield Park then. Her graduation was just the best day in the Abbey, the atmosphere was wonderful. It really is a great place to study and for us parents to visit.

My DD just graduated too. I will miss my visits.

Of course young people need to be cautious everywhere, but from day one I felt happy with how safe Bath seems for students.

captureitrememberit · 21/08/2025 16:46

HappynLife · 20/08/2025 17:27

Thank you for starting this thread OP!

My DS is starting this September. He’ll be studying engineering. I’m very excited for him, I was with him for the first open day and we both loved it!

Although friendly, he can be a little reserved and quiet, so I really hope he forms good friendships soon, I think that will have a significant impact for him.

My only concern right now is accommodation! Bath was his insurance (missed imperial by 1 mark), they’ve put him on a waiting list but no guarantees of getting anything!

Surely they’ll work something out? I don’t even know how much it will cost at this point! Any advice on this would be welcome for those with older students.

Hi! I posted this on another thread but here’s the gist as I hope this will be helpful for you, and other parents in the same boat. Last year my DD also had Bath as her insurance and missed her firm on results day. She ended up on the waiting list for accommodation for weeks and every time we would email/ring they said they couldn’t guarantee anything and she would likely have to take a gap year and go next year, or opt for private accomodation (which we couldn’t afford, and she wasn’t keen on anyway). I’m not going to lie, it was a very stressful time as she couldn’t be sure if she was going or not. We ended up getting her accomodation offer 2 weeks before the move in date, and it was one of the worst rated accommodations, in the city rather than on campus, which she was skeptical about. She opted to just go for it and has had the best year. She absolutely loves Bath and is so glad she didn’t need to take the gap year. But the accomodation stuff last year was very stressful. Fingers crossed for your DS that they’ve made the process easier for 2025.

HappynLife · 21/08/2025 18:04

@captureitrememberit Thank you so much for sharing your experience. DS will definitely not want to take a gap year, after reading what happened to your DD I’m not expecting to hear from them for a few weeks. So stressful!

So good to know this didn’t affect your DD’s first year and she’s enjoyed it so much! That really gives me hope!

captureitrememberit · 21/08/2025 18:13

HappynLife · 21/08/2025 18:04

@captureitrememberit Thank you so much for sharing your experience. DS will definitely not want to take a gap year, after reading what happened to your DD I’m not expecting to hear from them for a few weeks. So stressful!

So good to know this didn’t affect your DD’s first year and she’s enjoyed it so much! That really gives me hope!

I totally understand your stress! Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions and I’m glad to have been of some help in regards to what to expect! Wishing him the best

fannieadams · 21/08/2025 19:07

My son is starting in Sept for Natural Sciences. The accommodation allocation is taking so long compared to other universities.

And I hear it is random - some students are not given any of their 7 choices. As long as we get a room on campus we will see that as a win, even Norwood above the SU which we didn't even choose! Hopefully, not a shared room as DS is so messy and no one should have to share his mess.

exhaustedbeinghappy · 21/08/2025 19:46

DC starting yr 3 soon, on placement though. Absolutely loved Bath so far uni & city is great & sport is amazing. Lived on campus yr 1 like most and private rented last year, which you really do have to sort before Xmas the previous year as property in such high demand - and they’re not cheap either. DC was in a house of 6 and they each paid £625 pm + bills for a very ‘student’ standard house - friends in Cardiff had much nicer houses for that money apparently !

pistachioicecream · 21/08/2025 23:34

I have a DD joining Bath this year too. She’ll be studying maths. She fell in love with it on our first visit so is very happy to be going.

Anxiously waiting accommodation allocations next week so she can properly start to plan.

Fingers crossed everyone hears something soon.

Coldilocks · 21/08/2025 23:52

DS starts this September. We booked a holiday on 27 August thinking that all the accommodation would be done and dusted by then. All his friends have their accommodation booked for other unis so I will finally relax when the deposit has been paid on 27th en route to the airport.

I’m so sorry to hear about Imperial @HappynLife this happened to my DD at UCL but her subsequent life path has proved to be so much more successful as a result and her career is something that wouldn’t have happened had she gone to UCL.

Anna20MFG · 21/08/2025 23:57

Octopus45 · 20/08/2025 11:22

Hi, thought I would start a thread. My Son is studying Economics. It’s exciting but nerve wrecking. He’s very independent luckily, but going to really miss him. We find out about his accommodation on the 27th

May I ask what a levels and grades your ds has for Bath Economics? My ds is looking at various unis for economics and still unsure so following with interest..

catsareace · 22/08/2025 06:44

DD got her second choice when allocated. I think it is tricky most years for insurance/clearing students as there are not enough space on campus, many were allocated city centre accommodation. That said this year may be different as less international students but then a lot of those choose Polden which is the most pricey on campus.

DS is at a different Uni and chose city centre accom last year instead of campus and it was the best decision for him. He still made a stack of friends and had the city on his doorstep so it may not be as bad as you think to be allocated city centre.

Florabella · 22/08/2025 07:20

Following this if I may. My daughter was accepted for this year, but has deferred to next year, so will be starting in Sept 26

PottersClay · 22/08/2025 09:07

DD is off to Bath for engineering in September. She loved it from her first visit. Anxiously waiting for the 27th so we can prep for move in!

tarmum · 22/08/2025 23:12

I had 2 DS study at Bath. Both enjoyed it, but campus accommodation is a lottery! Just not enough to go round. There is an opportunity in the middle of the first term for students to try and move if they aren’t happy. Rooms do free up as some students leave, or in some cases never arrive! Be ready, before Christmas they are starting to look for their private year 2 accommodation!

Coldilocks · 23/08/2025 00:39

How do they go about securing 2nd year accommodation? Do they tap friendly third years who are leaving the city or is there a protocol via the university accommodation office? Or even Rightmove? DD was at a different uni and it was friends/friends of friends who found out about available houses but I’m not sure if DS is that organised.

catsareace · 23/08/2025 07:10

@Coldilocks Yes Rightmove or DD got a room on spareroom for her 3rd year as all her mates were doing the placement year and she didn't. That worked well for her she shared with a post grad student and another lad she didn't know, they all ended up getting on well.

Coldilocks · 23/08/2025 08:28

Thanks @catsareace DH and DS think I’m overreacting when I say that he needs to get it sorted by Christmas. It’s always been the first question I’ve asked the students at the Open Days!

Nomorepants · 23/08/2025 08:57

Yes and also economics. But as a gap year student he has already got his accommodation confirmed. It’s a very long way from home - am sure he’ll love it - but wish he’d stayed closer for easier logistics & zeros tuition fees.

Wronginformation · 23/08/2025 09:35

I don't feel dd struggled getting a house for next year.
In November DD and group of friends went to look at houses through an agency. The first 3 or 4 were rejected by the group, too expensive, too far etc. They then saw one all liked and managed to secure it.
Both the uni and other mumsnetters have mentioned to not panic if not secured before Xmas.
I'm biased as have another DC in London which was more expensive and more difficult to get (having to offer higher than asking price)