Discover Bath

Discover Bath is a free event for Year 12 students from Widening Participation backgrounds to experience university study and find out about life at university.

What is Discover Bath?

Discover Bath is a summer programme which aims to give prospective students a taste of first-year life and study at the University of Bath. You'll also have the opportunity to gain a reduced offer (see details below).

Discover Bath is free-of-charge, including on-campus accommodation, free meals for the duration of your stay, a programme of academic sessions (lectures, seminars, workshops) and fun social activities. Your travel to the University can be reimbursed (reasonable travel within the UK only).

See dates below.

Find out more about what to expect from Discover Bath here

Students working together and chatting during the summer school.

Who can apply

Discover Bath is available to all Year 12 (or equivalent) students who are academically able to study at Bath in their chosen subject and meet our widening participation criteria.

If you do not meet our widening participation criteria then unfortunately you won’t be eligible for Discover Bath but you may wish to consider our Step into Bath residential instead.

group of students arriving on campus with an ambassador

Courses on offer

Here are a list of the subjects on offer, whether applications are open and dates for 2024.

Engineering

Subject	Application status
Architecture & Civil Engineering	Opening soon
Chemical Engineering	Opening soon
Electronic and Electrical Engineering	Opening soon
Mechanical Engineering	Opening soon

Monday 5 – Wednesday 7 August (2-night stay)

More information

Science

Subject	Application status
Biology	Opening soon
Chemistry	Opening soon
Computer Science	Opening soon
Mathematics	Opening soon
Pharmacy	Opening soon
Physics	Opening soon

Wednesday 7 – Friday 9 August (2-night stay)

More information

Social Sciences

Subject	Application status
Criminology	Opening soon
Economics	Opening soon
Education	Opening soon
Health & Sport	Opening soon
Languages	Opening soon
Politics	Opening soon
Psychology	Opening soon
Sociology	Opening soon

Monday 12 – Wednesday 14 August (2-night stay)

More information

Management and Business

Subject	Application status
Business Management	Opening soon

Monday 12 – Wednesday 14 August (2-night stay)

More information

What will you do?

Discover Bath has a lot to offer

As part of Discover Bath you will:

study a course in your Discover Bath subject area delivered by University of Bath lecturers, researchers and current students
find out what it’s like to study at the University of Bath
stay on the University campus for 2 nights in actual undergraduate student accommodation
complete a self-reflection task following the residential with support provided by University staff and Student Ambassadors
receive support on writing a personal statement, understanding the UCAS process, student finance, and much more
join in with fun, social activities (led by current university students) to get a flavour of real student life
gain skills that will be essential for successful university study (e.g. research skills, independent study, teamwork)
network and make new, like-minded friends

Find out more about what to expect from Discover Bath here

What will you get out of Discover Bath?

Here's what some of last year's Discover Bath students said about the programme

'I found the Discover Bath programme really helped to strengthen my journey to university. This programme was the first time I had learnt how to interpret, write and evaluate scientific reports which are, of course, very key skills at university. Discover Bath made me feel ready and confident to apply to university.'

James – Discover Bath Biology

'Taking part in the Discover Bath Programme made me realise I could fit into university as I was able to understand the work given and guidance was always offered. As the project was based around the coronavirus, everything we were doing was extremely current and so, exciting to keep up with.'

Sali – Discover Bath Psychology

'The Discover Bath biology course was an amazing experience that enabled me to put myself into a biomedical researchers’ shoes for the summer. The process was exciting and I learned a lot about the process of drug discovery and laboratory work. I was given help though by a supportive mentor and taught a variety of important skills. I had so much fun and believe it was an inspiring and valuable experience.'

Amy – Discover Bath Biology

Contextual offer

You will be considered for contextual admissions if you meet our Widening Participation Criteria. Contextual offers are available if you are studying A levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma. A contextual offer includes a reduction of one grade below our typical entry requirements. Contextual offers help to promote fairness and are available to those who meet our widening access criteria across our undergraduate courses.

In addition, having completed the Discover Bath programme successfully, you may be eligible to receive a guaranteed conditional offer.

Support for elite athletes

If you are either (a) competing regularly in a team in your chosen sport and/or (b) competing nationally as an individual then as part of your Discover Bath experience, we will also be able to offer you some athlete support which may include:

give you an experience of what it is like to train in your sport at Bath
gain an understanding of how to manage the demands of an undergraduate degree course with training and competing in your chosen sport
meet coaches from your sport

Please make sure you inform us about your sporting achievements/level when applying for Discover Bath.

Target Bath

If you're interested in Discover Bath, and you identify as having Black African, Caribbean or Mixed heritage, you may wish to consider our Target Bath programme.

The Target Bath programme includes a guaranteed place on Discover Bath alongside 1:1 coaching and online sessions with Black Student Ambassadors currently studying at Bath.

Target Bath is run in partnership with Rare, a leading organisation in diversity recruitment with a proven track record of supporting Black students to gain places at the UK’s top universities. The programme supports students of Black African, Caribbean and Mixed heritage to gain places at the University of Bath. You may also have the opportunity to gain an reduced offer.

Target Bath is free of charge and is open to UK-based students in Year 12, providing support throughout Year 12 and 13 and insights into life at Bath as a Black student. It will support you with subject choice and preparing for the UCAS process. As part of the programme, you will also be invited to attend Discover Bath.

This event isn't right for me, is there anything else?

Yes, we have other programmes for year 12 students. You can fill in our form which will then send you a personalised list of activities, events and resources that might be helpful for you.

Keep in-touch

Join the mailing list to be notified when applications open

Contact Us

If you have any questions please get in touch