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Kathryn

Studying Social Work and Applied Social Sciences

Kathryn went from school and A levels to working for several years, then had a family and returned to education going through the Access to Higher Education Route. From there, she applied to the University of Bath.

Why did you choose Bath?
I chose Bath because it is 1st in the country for Social Work and I was very  impressed by the staff and the course at the interview.

How did you find the transition from FE to HE?
Ok, although the reading expected on the Degree course is much more than the Access course.

Any tips for other new students?
Read, read, read and enjoy Bath! It’s a great University, fantastically supportive staff!

What do you enjoy about your course?
Love most of it! All of the units are interesting and especially applicable to social work. I love that there is lots of support available for students, especially if you are struggling and there is a great library and a wealth of journals available for assignments etc.

The best thing about studying at Bath is ....
It’s a great University and supportive staff. The city is also fantastic, great places to visit and eat out!

How you financially support your studies?
My partner supports me and my NHS bursary.

What do you do in your spare time?
I have no spare time! My life consists of my degree, my partner and my children!!

What do you hope to do in the future?
Be a qualified social worker!- although don’t know what route to take yet.

Christine

Studying Biology

I’m 38, so not quite straight from school! I have worked for the past 20 years; I dropped out of FE the first time and joined the RAF. I left the RAF and subsequently had a long(ish) career in the rail industry. I got itchy feet and decided to have a complete change.

Why did you choose Bath?
I live locally and know of Bath’s outstanding reputation.  I used to drive past here a lot in my old life working for the railway; little did I know what would happen later in my life. Bath was a bit of a ‘wildcard’ on my UCAS application and I was very, very surprised to get a place.  Bath has given me a second shot and perhaps that reflects on how progressive the university is… unlike another local prestigious university who dismissed me straight away.

How did you find the transition from FE to HE?
I’m finding it hard work sometimes, although Access was a good foundation. However A level students do six hours a week in each subject for two years and Access is three hours a week in each subject for a year so there are gaps in my knowledge here and there I have to plug.  It is an uphill battle sometimes - but I like a challenge.

Any tips for other new students?
Do as much preparatory work as you can before you get here, read around your subject get interested and prepare by being interested.

What do you enjoy about your course?
Flexing my brain.  Finding out new and interesting things, listening to interesting people talking about interesting material. Not having to get up at 4.00am for a 6.00am shift.

The best thing about studying at Bath is ....
Nice lot of open space, away from the noise of a city, feels safe and secure.

How you financially support your studies?
I have a very nice, very kind husband who is 100% behind my decision and 100% supportive. I have also been a very lucky and very grateful recipient of a Dangoor Scholarship.

What do you do in your spare time?
Lots of studying.  I also support Bristol Rugby.

What do you hope to do in the future?
Have a (third) happy career, where I have flexibility to choose what I can do thanks to a good degree from Bath.

George

Studying Politics with International Relations (Thick Sandwich)

My route to University has been alternative to say the least! I initially attended primary school to the age of 11, I was then home educated. At 16 I moved independently to Brighton where I spent two years in college and graduated top in my business class; I had opportunities to study further but I didn't feel it was right for me at the time, I'd been to Thailand the August before term was to start and I picked up the highly contagious 'traveling' bug! I spent the next two years working in a number of roles around the UK, in-between working further afield in junior research positions in Fiji and Madagascar. I realised that the positions in which I was employed were not challenging enough, nor was there enough responsibility, so I made the commitment to study the Access to Higher Education course at the City of Bath College, which I cannot recommend highly enough, and set my heart on attending the University of Bath.

Why did you choose Bath?
Bath is internationally renowned as a leading University and I believed I would thrive in a challenging environment. The range of Politics modules that Bath off were one of the main reasons I chose the University. The University also allowed students to chose a number of Units that took their fancy, a number of which were outside the PoLIS department itself, so I had the opportunity to explore 'Mechanical Engineering' should I have desired!

How did you find the transition from FE to HE?
A little more challenging than I had expected. At College I was conditioned to be prepared to take charge of my studies; however, I initially found it rather challenging to keep up with the reading, although I soon built up a rourtine.

Any tips for other new students?
Be organised from day one! Although you need to ensure you have a study/social balance. Bath has some truly brilliant societies, and I'd highly recommend incoming students to try something new and exciting!

What do you enjoy about your course?
The lectures are engaging and are taught by experts who are truly enthusiastic about their subjects. The opportunity to gain a work placement in the middle of the degree is also a prospect that I am look forward to.

The best thing about studying at Bath is ....
The Library! I never thought I'd say it but it truly is the best resource, I couldn't name another library that is open 24/7!

How you financially support your studies?
I am extraordinarily fortunate to have been awarded the Wyman Somerset Bursary, which has enabled me to concentrate on my studies, I am incredibly grateful to Mr Wyman for his generous support. I also take out a standard student loan and work part-time within the city centre in between my studies.

Where do you live?
I initially lived in Oldfield Park as I already lived there and it was convenient. In Semester 2 I moved to Quarry, Westwood, on campus. I live on a floor with around 20 people, we have ample communal and washing facilities and queuing for these is not an issue. Noise can be an issue within the flats, but that's generally when we're celebrating examination successes!

What do you do in your spare time?
I spend my spare time reading, socialising and utilising the University's excellent sports facilities.

What do you hope to do in the future?
After University I'm considering two very different career pathways. The beauty of a degree from Bath is that the skills that you learn in your degree can be applied to many different occupations.

Harri

Studying Mathematical Sciences

I actually had taken a few years out of education before I attended Bridgwater College. Originally I had taken French, German and Music A levels and had gone to university to study French and Italian, but dropped out. After a few years of working in offices and travelling, I decided I would like to go back to education, but take a science route this time and so started a full-time A level course at Bridgwater College. The years I had away from education really strengthened me and enabled me to be independent for the first time. The lessons I learned during this time were invaluable. It was quite strange going back to study A levels, as by this time I was 22 years old and my classmates were 16!  But it was worth it and after finishing at Bridgwater College, I went straight to Bath Uni.

Why did you choose Bath?
I knew I wanted to live in Bristol as this is where I had gone university previously, so I wanted to go to a university reasonably locally and Bath is one of the top universities in the country for Maths. I fell in love with the grounds when I visited, we have so much space here and also the sports facilities are phenomenal. In the end I suppose Bath chose me, by offering me a place!

How did you find the transition from FE to HE?
Really difficult! In fact, Ihave found university really difficult in general and sometimes I have felt that academia really isn't the place for me. Luckily I have had a great personal tutor who has helped me stay the course and the university offers an excellent counselling service and support network for people like me.

Any tips for other new students?
Get involved in as many things as you can and make friends on your course. Don't be afraid to ask questions, of your peers and also of your tutors and lecturers - you are not expected to know it all yet! This will make a huge difference to your university experience.

What do you enjoy about your course?
I enjoy the way studying mathematics cultivates a questioning mind, skills in problem solving and intuitive thinking. I have also very much enjoyed group coursework I have been involved in. Maths can be a solitary subject sometimes and it is great to have the opportunity to discuss the ideas you've been studying with other people on your course.

The best thing about studying at Bath is ....
The motivational environment. Before attending Bath University, I had never met such motivated people.  It is inspiring. It creates quite a competitive environment, but not in a negative way. It's more that it encourages you to work hard and excel.

How you financially support your studies?
Since I turned 25 I have received extra funding from the government and a bursary from the university, as I am an independent student.  This has enabled me to  live through university, although frugally. I am very grateful, however, since I have not had to get a job during term time and I would definitely not have had time to do so.

Where do you live?
I live in Bristol and as a mature student with a car it has suited me well.  I moved to Bristol because I already had lots of friends there. It has meant that my university experience has been very different from someone who went into halls in the first year and it has taken me a longer time to meet people and make friends. I would encourage people to live on campus during their first year, I think that in the long term it makes life easier.

Bristol is a vibrant city with so much going on in terms of art and music I love living there. Luckily, it is just a 15 minute train ride from Bath, so anyone living in Bath can get there really easily.

What do you do in your spare time?
I am a musician and have been in a couple of bands since being at University. I love music in all capacities and I also love to cook for my friends. I love sport, football and swimming especially and will really miss the gorgeous 50m pool when I leave.

What do you hope to do in the future?
I don't plan to follow a very maths-paved path as soon as I leave. I plan to try to be a professional musician and set up a choir, cookery school and my own catering business. I know that having a maths degree will be useful in my life and am pleased that the skills I have learned at university are applicable to anything I decide to do. I would definitely like to tutor GCSE and A level students and one day I may even become a maths teacher, who knows?