Areas Of Research

Bath Spa University is committed to maintain an active research portfolio. This commitment extends to concentrating on our areas of strength while also fostering new research areas. The University has research activity across all of its academic schools with particular strengths, as measured in the independent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE2008 - see www.rae.ac.uk), in Art and Design, English and Creative Writing, History, Music, and Psychology. All ten subject areas entered in RAE2008 (Biological Sciences, Geography, Psychology, Education, English and Creative Writing, Study of Religions, History, Art and Design, and Communication, Cultural and Media Studies) were judged to be contributing internationally recognised research (2* and above). In five areas (Music, Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Art and Design, History and English) some of the research was awarded a world-leading rating (4*).

The University has received research grants and/or doctoral bursaries from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) in History, English, Creative Writing, Art and Design, Study of Religions, Geography and Music. The University has also gained research grants from other major national funders, such as the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), The Leverhulme Trust, British Academy, Arts Council, and many other charitable or commercial organisations.

Where there are a number of academic staff and doctoral researchers working together around common themes the University has approved Research Centres and Research Groups. The University particularly welcomes PhD enquiries from potential applicants whose research may complement that of the Centres and Groups. Potential PhD applicants should also visit the University's PhD opportunities page.