Academic skills
Skills enrichment
Our skills enrichment courses and one-off sessions are carefully planned to support you at each stage of your academic journey.
The following in-person courses are running in Semester 2:
- Discussion skills: a 10-week course from week 20 (15 February 2022) for students who use English as a second language to build confidence with spoken communication.
- Presentation skills: 2-week courses for all students designed to help you plan and practise delivering effective presentations.
In addition, a range of one-off 50-minute live online sessions are available throughout Semester 2 to help you develop various aspects of academic writing and prepare for exams.
One-to-one writing tutorials
50-minute online or in-person 1:1 writing tutorials are available from week 20 (14 February 2022).
You can discuss any aspect of writing with a tutor and bring along questions about your work (max three appointments per year). The tutorials are suitable for students at all levels of study.
You can also get feedback on your writing by email. The writing tutor will read your work and prioritise key areas so you can develop and improve the quality of your writing. They will send their feedback within three working days.
Online resources
You can access a range of useful online resources on MySkills to develop academic and study skills, such as critical thinking, reflective writing and note-taking, in your own time.
Academic & Employability Skills blog
The Academic & Employability Skills blog aims to help you enhance your academic skills and transferable skills for employment.
Suitable for students at all levels of study, the blog offers regular useful tips and guidance from Skills Centre staff and student ambassadors on a range of topics, from academic reading, writing and maths skills to language, presentation, communication and workplace-critical digital skills.
You can subscribe to the blog to get regular updates emailed straight to your inbox.
Maths and statistics
The Mathematics Resources Centre (MASH) provide maths and statistics help to all students at the University.
MASH general drop-ins
During University teaching weeks, MASH offers daily in-person drop-ins from 12:15pm to 2:05pm on campus in the Skills Zone (6 East 2.8). During the drop-in you can ask a specialist tutor any maths or statistics question.
If you are unable to come on to campus, please email MASH to arrange help via a video call-back.
Drop-ins specifically for first year maths students resume on 7 February 2022.
Training Space follow-up sessions
If you are in your first year and needed to study maths to get a place on your course and have now completed the Training Space materials, we are offering some extra small-group live online classes from 1-9 February 2022 looking at the topics covered.
Statistics Advisory Service (SAS)
SAS provides help to members of the University with statistical problems relating to project work such as final year projects, field study projects or research projects.
Online resources
You may already be enrolled on a MASH Moodle page which is specifically aimed at students in your department and on your programme.
In addition we link to a large number of online resources for numeracy, mathematics, statistics, mathematics study skills and mathematical typesetting on the MASH on Moodle page.
Languages
Learning a language not only opens an exciting world of new places to visit and cultures to explore, it also gives you a competitive edge in today’s job market.
We offer courses in eight different languages, all from beginner level. Semester 2 classes start on 14 February 2022 (note, Monday courses start on 7 February due to the public holiday on 2 May) and enrolment for University of Bath students opens on 17 January 2022.
All our language classes are currently running online. This short video explains how the online classes work.
You can read two students' experiences of the language classes in these blogs:
Enrolment for the Semester 2 language courses has now closed.
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) language sessions
These weekly, 50-minute sessions on campus are facilitated by PAL leaders, who are native or near-native speakers of the language. They are open to all students, not just those who are registered on our language classes, and whatever your current level in the language.
Virtual language exchanges
Virtual Exchange is a short project which brings students from different parts of the world and different cultural backgrounds together online.
The exchange gives students from the University of Bath an opportunity to interact in various languages with a student from a partner university overseas and discuss a variety of topics.
English language
We offer a 10-week general English language course at three levels for all undergraduate and postgraduate students and staff who use English as a second language.
During the course you will improve your vocabulary and grammar, develop your reading, listening, speaking and writing skills and build general exam-taking techniques.
Visiting and exchange students can gain six credits by completing the course.
Classes will start in-person on campus in week 20 - w/c 14 February 2022.
You will need to take a placement test on Moodle so you can be put in the most suitable class. Please note, enrolment will close on Monday 7 February 2022 at 11:59pm GMT.
Enrolment for the Semester 2 English language courses has now closed.
British Studies
Our 11-week British Studies courses are designed to help visiting and exchange students develop a deeper understanding of British culture, history and society.
The following courses start in week 19 (7 February 2022) on campus:
- British History and Society
- Contemporary British Literature and Film
- Introduction to English Linguistics
Each course carries six credits (minimum 80% attendance required).
Booking for the Semester 2 British Studies courses has now closed.
Digital skills
Digital skills are the skills needed to engage and thrive in today's digital world. Having a strong digital skillset is crucial for your studies and future employment.
There are lots of resources on MySkills to help you explore and develop your digital capabilities and use the range of online tools you will access in Bath for your learning, teaching and assessment.
The Assistive Technology Service is running a workshop on 9 February 2022 from 3-4pm to highlight the assistive technology resources you can use to help you with your studies. This is particularly useful for students with injuries, disabilities, learning difficulties or other conditions.
Our student Skills Co-Creators have shared their experiences of developing their digital skills in these Academic & Employability Skills blogs.
Contact the Skills Centre
If you have further enquiries about our support, please email the relevant team:
For all the latest Skills Centre news and updates, follow @BathSkills on Twitter.