Polden, on the western edge of our Claverton campus, will offer 293 en-suite bedrooms for postgraduate students when it opens in the autumn.
Providing high quality accommodation on campus for our postgraduates is an important element of our strategic aim to be an international leader in graduate education.
The building was designed based on feedback from postgraduates. Desks are positioned for maximum natural light and ventilation, there is extra shelving for books, storage for luggage, and a neutral colour scheme which allows students to personalise their room to feel more like home.
Guests, including Mayor Bath Councillor Ian Gilchrist, the architects and contractors, were given a tour of the site and enjoyed glorious views across the city of Bath.
Professor Veronica Hope Hailey, Vice President of Corporate Engagement and Dean of the School of Management, spoke at the ceremony, saying: “We are delighted to be creating more accommodation for our students on our campus.
“Our postgraduates come from all over the world and they feel very loyal and committed to Bath. I am always amazed how much they throw themselves into community work here, often within a month of arriving. We have duty of care for them while they are with us and it’s fantastic for them and their families to know they have access to such high quality accommodation.”
The Mayor of Bath, Councillor Gilchrist, said: “Polden is lovely looking accommodation. I wouldn’t mind moving in myself. I’m sure that the postgraduates will find it adds to their experience and impression of life in Bath at the University and in the city.”