These terms and conditions accompany, and should be read together with, your offer of admission.
Any offer of a place made to you by the University of Bath (the “University”) is on the basis that by accepting your offer, you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions.
It is therefore important that you carefully read and understand these terms and conditions before accepting your offer, as the University will apply and rely on them during your time as a student.
Please ask if anything is unclear by contacting admissions@bath.ac.uk.
1. Regulations
1.1
You will be required as a condition of enrolment and as a term of the contract between you and the University to abide by, and adhere to, the University’s Regulations, Statutes, Ordinances, Rules, Codes, Policies and Procedures that apply to enrolled students as amended from time to time (“the Regulations”), which relate, among other things, to conduct and discipline, complaints, use of facilities (including IT facilities), health and safety, administration, assessments and the requirements of academic courses.
These Regulations are available on the University’s website at:
1.2
Key provisions of the Regulations of which you should be aware include:
a. the University’s expectations regarding student attendance, academic due diligence and academic progress. Failure to meet these expectations may mean that you are not permitted to progress with your course. Further information can be found in Regulation 3: attendance and progress.
b. the University’s rules regarding academic misconduct, including plagiarism. Breach of these rules may result in a disciplinary process and the imposition of academic penalties and/or expulsion. Further information can be found in our academic misconduct guidance.
c. the University’s rules regarding payment of fees due. If you do not pay money that you owe to the University, the University reserves the right to withdraw its services and/or your right to use its facilities where it is necessary and proportionate to do so. In deciding whether to do so, the University will consider all circumstances of your case. Further information can be found in our Terms and Conditions for Tuition Fee Payment.
d. the University’s Disciplinary Regulations for Students and Student Discipline Procedure, which set out our expectations of student behaviour. Breach of the Student Disciplinary Regulations could result in a disciplinary process which could result in expulsion from the University.
e. the University’s Health, wellbeing and support for study. which describe the steps the University may take if there are concerns about your health and wellbeing that raise questions about your fitness and suitability to continue to study.
f. the University’s Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom, which sets out the University’s expectations in relation to upholding freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law, the procedures to be followed in organising events on University-controlled premises and the expected conduct at such events. Failure to follow the Code could result in a disciplinary process.
g. the University’s policies relating to harassment and sexual misconduct, which set out the procedures for reporting and dealing with allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct against members of staff and students. See further information on how to report discrimination, misconduct, harassment or assault.
1.3
The University reserves the right to add to, delete or make reasonable changes to the Regulations where, in the opinion of the University, this will assist in the proper delivery of education. Changes are usually made for one or more of the following reasons:
a. to review and update the Regulations to ensure they are fit for purpose;
b. to safeguard academic standards, for example, in response to external examiner feedback;
c. to reflect changes in the external environment, including legal or regulatory changes, changes to funding or financial arrangements or changes to government policy, requirements or guidance;
d. to incorporate sector guidance or best practice;
e. to incorporate feedback from students; and/or
f. to aid clarity or consistency of approach.
1.4
Any changes to the Regulations will normally come into effect at the start of the next academic year, although some may be introduced during the academic year where the University reasonably considers this to be in the interests of students, or where this is required by law or other exceptional circumstances.
The University will take all reasonable steps to minimise disruption to students wherever reasonably possible, for example, by giving reasonable notice of changes to Regulations before they take effect, or by phasing in the changes, if appropriate.
The updated Regulations will be made available on the University’s website and may be publicised by other means so that students are aware of any changes.
2. Delivery of your course
2.1
The University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver teaching and related educational and other services and facilities required for your course in accordance with the course specification for the academic year in which you began the course.
However, the University will be entitled to make reasonable changes to your course or to related educational and other facilities and services where that will enable the University to deliver a better quality of educational experience to students enrolled on the course.
2.2
Reasons for such changes may include:
a. to ensure that we are continuing to provide the course to you lawfully and/or to maintain academic standards and quality;
b. to reflect changes and developments in pedagogy or academic research to ensure that your course is relevant and up-to-date;
c. to improve the quality of our educational and pastoral services or in response to student or external examiner and assessor feedback, or to reflect best practice across the higher education sector;
d. in response to relevant professional or accrediting body requirements or guidance.
2.3
Such changes may be to:
a. the content and syllabus of courses;
b. the timetable, location and number of classes;
c. the structure and/or timing of the academic year;
d. the method of delivery of courses, services and facilities; and/or
e. the examination and assessment process.
2.4
In making any such changes, the University will aim to keep the changes to the minimum necessary to achieve the required quality of experience and will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required.
If the University changes your course and you are not satisfied with the changes, you will be offered the opportunity to withdraw from the course, move to another course or, if required, offered reasonable support to transfer to another provider.
Further guidance can be found in our Student Protection Plan.
2.5
In exceptional circumstances, the University may discontinue a course or decide not to run a course in a particular academic year where the numbers recruited to it are so low that it is not possible to deliver an appropriate quality of education.
In such circumstances, the University will use its reasonable endeavours to assist you to transfer to an appropriate alternative course or to another provider in accordance with our Student Protection Plan.
2.6
It is possible that the University may need to make changes to your course if your progress through the course is delayed, for example, because:
a. you defer entry to the University;
b. you have to repeat a period of study following a suspension of studies;
c. if you fail to progress and have to repeat a year.
2.7
Following a period of suspense, it may be necessary to restart your studies at the start of the next academic year.
3. Right to cancel
3.1
If you accept our offer of a place, you have the statutory right as a consumer to cancel your contract with the University within 14 days, without giving any reason. This period will be calculated from the date you confirm your firm or insurance acceptance, whether your offer is conditional or unconditional.
To exercise your right to cancel, you must inform us of your decision to cancel this contract by clear statement (for example, a letter sent by email to admissions@bath.ac.uk. You may use the model cancellation form provided on our website, but you are not required to do so.
Alternatively, you can decline your place using the UCAS self-release service, when applicable. Cancelling your place at the University may affect your other options through UCAS, in accordance with their rules.
3.2
If you change your mind and wish to amend or decline your firm or insurance choice you should also notify UCAS. It is your responsibility to take account of UCAS application and acceptance deadlines, together with UCAS terms and conditions for students taking up places to study.
3.3
If you cancel your contract with the University within the 14-day statutory cancellation period, any fees paid by you to the University will be refunded in full unless the course has already started.
If your course is due to start within the statutory cancellation period (for example, if you have applied through clearing) you are expressly agreeing that your course should begin within the statutory cancellation period.
3.4
After the 14-day statutory cancellation period has expired, the University will allow you to cancel your place at any time before you register as a student and any fees paid by you to the University will be refunded in full.
3.5
If you cancel your contract with the University after you have registered as a student and beyond your statutory cancellation period, the University will not be obliged to refund any payments made by you.
Depending on when you cancel, you may be obliged to pay a proportion of your tuition fees as set out in the Terms and Conditions for Tuition Fee Payment.
3.6
Please note that if you do decide to cancel your contract with the University, you may not be able to change your mind again if there are no longer places available on the course for which you held an offer.
4. Confirming a place
4.1
Your place will only be confirmed if you meet all the conditions of your offer by the deadline specified in your offer letter. If you meet the conditions of your offer after the required date you may instead be offered an unconditional place for the following year.
4.2
The University may also consider accepting you in the event that you have narrowly missed your offer or to accommodate mitigating circumstances. Further details can be found within the Admissions Policy.
5. Change of date of entry
5.1
If you wish to apply for deferred entry, you should enter this against your choices in your UCAS application. In order to confirm your place, you must meet all the conditions of your offer by the deadline specified in your offer letter even when applying for a deferred entry.
5.2
If you wish to request a deferral of your offer to a later date of entry, you should submit your request to the Undergraduate Admissions Team by email to admissions@bath.ac.uk. You can do this at any stage up until the latest date of arrival given in your offer letter.
5.3
If you hold a deferred offer you can request to bring your entry forward to an earlier date of entry. The University may be unable to fulfil these requests if your chosen course is already full. You should submit any request by email to the Undergraduate Admissions Team.
5.4
You will usually only be allowed to defer for more than one year if there are compelling individual reasons supported by evidence such as ill health or compulsory national service.
5.5
If you change your date of entry to a later date, your tuition fees may be different to those set out in your offer letter as the University reserves the right to increase fees annually (as set out in paragraph 9.2 of these terms and conditions).
If there is a change in the fees payable for your course, the University will inform you as soon as possible and in any event, no later than June of the academic year before the year in which fees will increase.
If you are dissatisfied with any fee increase, you have the right to terminate your contract with the University.
6. Providing evidence of qualifications
6.1
When you apply you may be required to produce satisfactory evidence of your previous qualifications (including English language qualifications such as International English Language Testing System (IELTS)). If requested, this will mean that you must provide the Undergraduate Admissions Team with a clear and legible copy or scan of the original document(s).
6.2
If you successfully meet the conditions of your offer you may be asked to produce the original documents when you register as a student. The University may accept copies authenticated by the issuing organisation, English language body, or a registered notary in place of an original document, but reserves the right to require the original.
7. Communication with the University
7.1
On registration, you will be allocated a University email account. All email communications from the University will be sent to that account and you are expected to use that account for all communications with the University.
You are expected to check your University email account regularly. Any communication sent to you at this email account will be regarded as properly sent and received by you.
7.2
You should be aware of the University’s guidance on trusted contacts.
8. Fee status
8.1
When you accept our offer of a place, you accept our assessment in relation to your Home (UK) or Overseas fee status.
8.2
Any fee status assessment is made on the basis of the available evidence at the time in accordance with relevant Fees Regulations set by the UK Government and any relevant University policies.
8.3
The criteria for eligibility for Home (UK) fees must normally be met at the point you start your course although there may be circumstances in which you can change. If you think our decision is incorrect, you should query this at the point that we notify you of your fee status and before you start registering as a student.
9. Tuition fees
9.1
The tuition fees for the first year of your course will be set out in your offer letter. The level of tuition fee charged will depend on whether your fee status is “home” or “overseas”. By accepting your offer, you are agreeing to be bound by the University’s Terms and Conditions for Tuition Fee Payment and the Tuition Fee Regulations.
9.2
The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of your course as follows:
- Home undergraduate fees are regulated by legislation. The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the subsequent years of your course where there is a change in the amount of fees the University is legally entitled to charge for your studies. Such increases will be limited to the maximum amount set by legislation and are usually linked to inflation using RPIX (the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments). It is the University’s policy to charge the maximum regulated fee to reflect increased costs of delivery and maintain a high-quality student experience.
- Overseas undergraduate fees are set by the University and the University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the subsequent years of your course. Fee increases are typically linked to RPIX and limited to 8%. This means that you should budget for an increase of up to 8% each year for every further year of studies to reflect increased costs of delivery and to and maintain a high-quality student experience.
9.3
If we intend to exercise the right to increase tuition fees we will notify you as early as possible and in any event by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which we intend to increase tuition fees. If you are dissatisfied with the proposed increase, you have the right to terminate your contract with the University.
9.4
Unless stated otherwise, the course fees do not include any charges for residential accommodation, examination resits, extensions to the designated period of study, travelling expenses, or other miscellaneous expenses which may be related to your course.
9.5
Courses may charge additional costs for items such as field trips and materials. Further information on this can be found in the course specification.
9.6
If, for any reason, you leave your studies early, or suspend your studies, you will need to check how this affects your liability for fees as set out in the Terms and Conditions for Tuition Fee Payment.
10. Arrangements for paying fees
10.1
You will be invoiced by the University for the full amount of your tuition fees for each year of your course, unless (for each year of your course) you have:
- financial support via Student Finance England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Student Awards Agency for Scotland; or
- an undertaking from an employer or sponsor indicating to pay your fees in full or in part (see below); or
- you have made arrangements to pay your tuition fees by instalment (see 10.2).
10.2
If you or a sponsor are paying for your tuition, the fee is payable annually in advance. At registration you will be asked either to pay the tuition fee or to provide a satisfactory written undertaking from your sponsor (including the name and address of the person to whom invoices should be addressed) that your fees will be paid.
You may choose to pay them in two instalments. The University reserves the right to refuse this concession to students with a poor payment record. If your sponsor fails to pay your tuition fees, you will become personally liable for the costs. A sponsor could be an employer, a commercial organisation or a government body; a sponsor is not a friend or relative who has agreed to pay your tuition fees.
10.3
Late or non-payment of tuition fees may lead to the cancellation of your place on the course, exclusion from assessments, withholding results or being unable to progress onto any subsequent year or level of a course. Access to the University’s buildings and IT services may also be withheld.
Should tuition fees be outstanding on completion of your course, the University reserves the right not to issue any certificates or transcripts until all outstanding tuition fees have been paid. More information can be found in the University’s Tuition Fee Regulations.
10.4
It is your responsibility to make sure that your tuition fees and all other expenses relating to your course are paid promptly. When you register online, you will be required to indicate how your fees will be paid. You can pay tuition fees in one or two instalments and you must indicate how you intend to pay when registering.
You must pay at least 50% of your tuition fee, or sign up to the University direct debit scheme, to complete registration each year. Further details of payment methods and current fees are available on the Student Finance website.
10.5
You are responsible for your own living expenses, and you must ensure that you have access to the necessary funding or student loan facilities before the start of your course of study. You can find more information about student funding and related costs.
11. Criminal conviction declarations
11.1
As a condition of taking your place at the University, you are required to disclose on a continuing basis (i.e. as soon as is reasonably practicable following the event) any relevant unspent criminal convictions, by notifying the Director of Recruitment and Admissions at declaration@bath.ac.uk. We will contact you if further information is required. The University will only ask for information relevant to its obligations to safeguard staff and students or to comply with professional requirements.
11.2
Relevant unspent convictions include:
- any kind of violence including (but not limited to) threatening behaviour, offences concerning the intention to harm or offences which resulted in actual bodily harm;
- offences listed in the Sex Offences Act 2003;
- the unlawful supply of controlled drugs or substances where the conviction concerns commercial drug dealing or trafficking;
- offences involving firearms;
- offences involving arson; and
- offences listed in the Terrorism Act 2006.
11.3
Any declaration made as part of your application to the University will be confidentially considered under the University’s Applicant Criminal Conviction Declaration Procedure and is processed under the Data Protection Act 2018, Schedule 1, Condition 10. If you disclose a relevant criminal conviction, it will initially be considered by the Head of Undergraduate Admissions and, if necessary, referred to the Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions to assess whether any additional support may be needed and your overall suitability for your chosen course. If, as a result of this procedure, it is deemed that you are unsuitable for a place on your course, your offer may be withdrawn.
11.4
In the most serious cases, students who receive a criminal conviction during their studies may be suspended or withdrawn, depending on the nature of the conviction. This will only happen following completion of the disciplinary procedure, health, wellbeing and support for study process or fitness to practise process, as appropriate.
12. Health requirements
12.1
For certain courses, the University and external regulatory bodies require students to provide information regarding their physical and mental health. Students may also be required to undergo an occupational health check and to provide evidence of immunisation against certain diseases. The offer of a place on such courses is conditional on such requirements being met.
13. Truthfulness, completeness and originality of your application
13.1
Your offer of a place and any subsequent invitation to register are made on the basis that the information supplied in your UCAS application, and through any other engagement with the University regarding your application, is true, complete and original. This includes that:
- your personal statement has been written by yourself, and passes any relevant UCAS similarity detection and fraud checks;
- you hold the qualifications that you claim to hold;
- the required educational history is accurate, including all previous study and its location. If you have previously attended another higher education institution, we will normally require a reference from that university or college, including previous study at the University;
- if appropriate, details of your employment are accurate and verifiable;
- any required references are genuine and authored independently by the referee themselves;
- any declarations and information subsequently supplied regarding any criminal convictions, reprimands or warnings you hold are truthful and accurate;
- any information you or others supply through a separate admissions process, such as a mitigating circumstances form, is accurate and verifiable.
13.2
Your offer will be withdrawn or, if applicable, any subsequent registration will be deemed null and void, if you are found at any time to have provided incorrect or fraudulent information, or if you are found to have omitted key information or misrepresented any aspect of your circumstances or we find that any aspect of your application is not your own work or not genuine.
13.3
The University also reserves the right to withdraw your offer or, if applicable, deem any subsequent registration null and void if at any stage a qualification you hold is revoked by the awarding body due to suspected or confirmed malpractice.
14. Immigration permission
14.1.
You must comply, by the deadlines stated in your offer letter, with any requests for information and documentation or other processes related to ensuring you have valid immigration permission to study in the UK:
- If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you must comply with relevant processes when asked to support the issuing, by the University, of a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). It is your responsibility to ensure that you have sufficient financial resources to meet Home Office requirements but the University may request evidence of this before agreeing to issue a CAS. The University reserves the right to refuse to issue a CAS when it is not satisfied that your visa application will be successful.
- Where relevant, if your course is covered by the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) you will be sent detailed information on how to apply. It is your responsibility to apply for the certificate when instructed. The University will need proof that your ATAS application has been successful from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office before you will be allowed to register for your course or the University will issue a CAS.
- You may be required to provide evidence of your identity and any relevant immigration permission you hold either before, at or after registration, as part of our responsibility to ensure that students are entitled to study in the UK. You must comply with all reasonable requests by the deadlines stated. If you fail to provide satisfactory evidence of your entitlement to study in the UK, we reserve the right to withdraw your offer and regard any subsequent registration as null and void.
14.2
In certain circumstances, your access to lectures, email, library and computing facilities may be limited or delayed by your immigration status (where, for example, you are required to obtain a new visa relating to study at the University of Bath rather than a previous UK institution). No reduction or repayment pro rata of tuition fees is made where access to tuition and facilities are limited or removed in this way.
15. Disability disclosures
15.1
The University is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible environment. We take seriously our duty to implement reasonable adjustments to remove barriers that put students with disabilities at a substantial disadvantage compared to those who do not have disabilities.
15.2
If you have particular support needs or disabilities which may affect your ability to undertake all or part of your course, you are encouraged to disclose these and discuss them in full with the University’s Disability Service at the earliest opportunity. Early disclosure of a disability during the admissions process means the University is more likely to be able to implement support before an individual’s arrival at the University.
Where individuals do not disclose their disability and support needs early on, this may lead to delays in the implementation of reasonable adjustments and as a result, appropriately tailored support may not be able to be implemented until after an individual arrives at the University and begins their course.
15.3
There may be exceptional circumstances where an individual:
- may be asked to defer their entry to allow the University time to make the necessary reasonable adjustments; or
- is unable to undertake a course for a reason related to their impairment or condition despite all reasonable adjustments being made by the University.
Such cases will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
15.4
Find out about the support available to you if you have a disability. This information will help you consider your offer.
16. Intellectual property
16.1
You are subject to the University regulations regarding exploitable new inventions and intellectual property.
16. 2
Students generally own their own intellectual property. The University only claims ownership of the intellectual property where it has a right to do so. However, if you have any questions or concerns regarding these provisions please discuss them with your Director of Studies.
17. Use of your data
17.1
You can find out more about how the University handles student personal data and your rights in relation to data protection in our Student Privacy Notice.
18. General matters
18.1
No term of the agreement between you and the University is enforceable under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 by any person who is not a party to the agreement.
18.2
If any provision of the agreement between you and the University is held to be void or unenforceable in whole or in part by any court or other competent authority, the agreement shall continue to be valid as to the other provisions contained in it and/or the remainder of the affected provision.
18.3
The agreement between you and the University is governed by English law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.
19. Complaints
19.1
Complaints relating to admissions issues will be dealt with in accordance with the Applicant Complaints and Appeals Procedure. Under this procedure, complaints are dealt with informally in the first instance and should be addressed to the UG Admissions team at admissions@bath.ac.uk. Full details can be found in the applicant complaints and appeals procedure.
19.2
The University has a comprehensive Student Complaints Procedure which includes both informal and formal options which students can use to resolve complaints. View full details of the complaints process.
19.3
If you remain unhappy with the outcome following completion of the University’s complaints procedure, you may be able to complain to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA).
20. Events outside our control
20.1
Sometimes circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the University that could not have been prevented even if the University had taken reasonable care (“Events Outside Our Control”) mean that the University is prevented from, hindered or delayed in providing or otherwise cannot provide the course, related educational and other services and facilities as described.
20.2
Examples of Events Outside Our Control include (but are not limited to):
a. the unanticipated and/or unavoidable absence or departure of key members of staff or specialist staff;
b. industrial action by third parties;
c. power failure;
d. acts of terrorism;
e. pandemics, epidemics and other threats to public health;
f. fire;
g. severe weather conditions;
h. natural disasters;
i. political or civil unrest;
j. damage, interruption or lack of access to buildings, facilities or equipment;
k. the acts or delays of any governmental or local authority;
l. legal or regulatory changes, including changes to government guidance;
m. sanctions imposed by any country;
n. withdrawal by any government or local authority of any necessary licence; and/or
o. insufficient uptake of a course.
20.3
Where Events Outside Our Control occur, we will notify you that the events have occurred and will take all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to those applicants or students who are affected, by, for example:
a. offering the opportunity where reasonably possible to move to another course;
b. deferring the start date for the course;
c. delivering the course in a different way, from another location or online, or at another time;
d. delivering a modified version of the same course;
e. assisting transfer to complete the course at another institution; and/or
f. delivering other services and facilities in a different way, from a different location or online.
20.4
If you are not satisfied with any such steps to mitigate the disruption caused by Events Outside Our Control, you may terminate your contract with the University and the University will follow the Student Protection Plan. Alternatively, students can make a complaint under the University’s Student Complaints Policy and Procedure.
20.5
Where Events Outside Our Control occur and the University is unable to take steps to minimise the resultant disruption to students then neither the University nor students will be liable for breach of this contract nor for continued compliance with the contract including the provision of further tuition or services, payment of further fees, making refunds of fees paid or other loss or damage of any kind.
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