This page is here to help you write your Bath Award reflection with confidence. Whether you are not sure where to start, want to understand what makes a good reflection, or are looking for inspiration from students who have already completed the award, you will find everything you need here.

All of the examples on this page are taken from real Bath Award submissions from students who completed the award in 2025-26 and are provided with the students’ permission. We hope they give you a sense of what a strong submission looks and feels like.

What is reflective writing?

Reflective writing is more than just describing what you did. It is about thinking critically about your experiences - what happened, how it made you feel, what you learned, and how you will apply that learning in the future.

Good reflective writing:

• goes beyond description to analyse and evaluate your experiences
• connects your experiences to your personal and professional development
• is honest - it is fine to talk about challenges, mistakes, and things you would do differently
• looks forward as well as back - what will you do differently or build on in future?

A useful framework for reflective writing is Gibbs' Reflective Cycle, which encourages you to think about:

• Description - what happened?
• Feelings - what were you thinking and feeling?
• Evaluation - what was good or bad about the experience?
• Analysis - what sense can you make of the situation?
• Conclusion - what else could you have done?
• Action plan - what will you do next time?

You do not need to follow this framework rigidly - it is just a helpful starting point. What matters is that your reflection moves beyond description and shows genuine thinking and learning.

This Reflective Writing resource in MySkills provides more detail on this reflective writing model, and others that you might like to use.

Reflecting on your professional development

When you complete a professional development resource - whether it's a LinkedIn Learning course, a long read, a podcast, or a YouTube video - you will need to log it on your Bath Award page and write a short reflection on what you learned.

Your professional development reflections don’t need to be long, but should:

• summarise what the resource covered and why you chose it
• explain what you learned and how it relates to your chosen capability
• explain how you will apply this learning in practice - for example, in your extra-curricular activities, your studies, or your future career

Example professional development reflections

Here are some examples of what a strong professional development reflection might look like:

It reiterated a lot of key points I already know about, but getting a reminder about active listening and communicating in a balanced way to effectively get your point across was nice. Really good to touch up on office etiquette as well before my placement. Second-year BSc(Hons) Economics student

I learned a lot about how to handle communication when things go wrong, which isn't something I'd really thought about before... I found the bit about crafting key messages really useful because it's basically about being clear and consistent, which I can definitely apply when I'm presenting technical work or explaining complex AI concepts to people who aren't from a technical background... I can see myself using this when projects hit snags or when results don't match expectations, especially in team settings where people need to stay informed and confident in the process. Postgraduate taught MSc Artificial Intelligence student

In this course, I came to understand that good communication is not only about speaking but also about listening... I have learned that mirroring and nonverbal engagement in dialogue are also significant, as people often convey their readiness to listen through posture and gestures. Being engaged in this course has made me more attentive to the nuances of listening and more inclined towards creating a space that allows others to voice their thoughts freely. It will be especially important for my future work as a leader or member of government, where communication will play a vital role. Final year BSc(Hons) Economics with Politics student

Remember, your reflections are not marked. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer. There are only your honest views on how the professional development resource you used has helped you develop your chosen capability.

Writing your final submission

Your final Bath Award submission is a written reflection (maximum 500 words) or a video reflection (maximum 5 minutes). It should cover:

• how successfully you met the goals you set when you registered for the award
• how you have developed your skills across your four chosen capabilities
• what you will do next to further develop these capabilities beyond the award

The best submissions do not just list activities; they reflect genuinely on growth, challenge, and change. Think about:

• what was difficult, and what did you learn from that difficulty?
• has your thinking or behaviour changed as a result of your experiences?
• what specific moments or turning points stand out to you?
• how have your experiences connected to your future goals?

Again, your final submission is not marked. The assessor will be reading it to see how you have benefited from taking part in the award, and how you feel it has supported your development of your chosen capabilities.

Examples of final submissions from 2025-26

On connecting experiences to professional growth:

Completing the Bath Award has been a process of connecting my daily actions with my long-term professional growth. When I first registered, I had a general idea of my strengths, but I lacked a structured way to measure them. At registration, my confidence was based on potential. Today, it is based on evidence. I no longer just claim to be a leader, I can explain how I led. MSc International Management student

On resilience

A challenge this year has been constant job rejections. What the resilience workshop helped me understand is that resilience is not about bouncing back quickly or pretending you are fine. It is about acknowledging that something hurts, noticing what you can take from it, and choosing to keep going forward anyway. Recently, I received a job offer which I have accepted. MSc Management student

The truest test of my resilience came through the four-week public speaking workshop. There were multiple points where I genuinely wanted to quit. But I kept showing up. And by the end, I had proven something to myself. Resilience is not just a concept you read about, it is something you live. Final year BEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management student

On the award as a personal journey

I arrived in Bath with nothing but luggage and the name of my accommodation. Now, I am leaving with luggage, but a different one, luggage of experience and personal development. I feel like an entirely new person. Final year BSc (Hons) International Development with Economics student

Using AI

Reflection is not just a requirement of the award; it is the part of the process where the real development happens. Taking the time to think honestly about your experiences, what you have learned, and how you have grown is where the value lies.

Using AI to write your goals or reflections skips that entirely, and means you miss out on the benefit. We are not looking for perfect writing, we are looking for your genuine account of your experience.

Reflective writing workshop

We are running a special Bath Award reflective writing workshop on Wednesday 26 November 2026, from 10:15 to 12:05. The session has two parts:

• Part 1 - Reflective writing workshop (10:15 - 11:05)

A practical session designed to help you understand what makes a great Bath Award reflection, how to structure your writing, and how to move beyond description to genuine critical reflection. You will have the chance to practice your reflective writing in a supportive environment and get feedback from the Bath Award team

• Part 2 - Social and drop-in (11:15 - 12:05)

Drinks, snacks, and the chance to meet other students who are completing the Bath Award this year. You will also be able to ask questions of the Bath Award team in an informal setting

One student who completed the Bath Award in 2025-26 told us:

I think the process would have been more satisfying and fulfilling if we could learn a bit about what others did to fulfil the requirements. I also think an optional social session for those registered for the award would be a nice part of the process. Final year BSc(Hons) Psychology student

We heard you! This workshop is our response to that feedback, a chance to connect with other students completing the award, share experiences, and get practical support with your reflection, all in one session.

Places are limited, so we recommend booking it early. Keep an eye out on your emails for a link to book your place on MySkills.

If you have any questions about reflective writing or your Bath Award submission, please get in touch at thebathaward@bath.ac.uk or come along to one of our drop-in sessions.