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After Applying
What to expect at interview or audition
Candidates for Art and Design subjects including Fashion and Textiles:
If you are short-listed you will normally be invited for interview.
Creative Music Technology candidates:
If you are short-listed you will be invited to attend interview at which you will be required to demonstrate both technical skills and creative ability. This will include listening to your audio portfolio.
Commercial Music candidates:
If you are short-listed you will be required to submit an audio portfolio which will form our decision as to whether or not you will be invited to attend an interview/audition.
Music candidates:
You will normally be invited for a combined visit and interview during which you will be asked to demonstrate your musical ability.
If you are applying for Music as part of a Combined award it is possible that you will not be called for interview. Music applicants for Creative Arts are considered separately.
Dance candidates:
Eligible candidates will be invited to audition.
Performing Arts candidates:
If you are shortlisted you will be invited to a group workshop and to perform a monologue as well as being interviewed.
Other candidates:
If you are applying for courses other than the above you may still be asked to attend an interview, depending on flexible selection processes and particularly if your application contains aspects that we need to explore further. If you are offered a place you will be invited to attend an organised Campus Visit Day. These are specifically for candidates who are holding offers from us (parents and supporters are very welcome to attend too), and enable you to make an informed decision about whether or not to accept the offer.
Foundation degrees at partner colleges/institutions:
Candidates for Popular Music; Music Production; Musical Theatre will be auditioned at the relevant college.
Candidates for Contemporary Circus and Physical Performance will be auditioned by Circomedia.
Candidates for Early Years and Teaching Assistants will be interviewed by the relevant college.
Candidates for Counselling will be interviewed at Weston College.
Taking a Gap Year
We are happy to consider applications from students who plan to take a year out. If the year is used constructively, it can be a very positive experience. If you want to apply for deferred entry, you should apply in the normal way, but indicate that you are applying for 2014, not 2013. If you decide to take a year off after you have submitted your application, just contact us in good time to let us know your change of plans. Please contact us regarding BA Acting as it is possible that we will not be able to consider deferred applications for that course.
Offer letters
Our decision on your application will be communicated to you via UCAS. Please therefore make sure that you check UCAS Track on a regular basis.
Information you will receive
When we receive your application you will be sent an acknowledgement.
If you have applied for a course that requires you to attend an audition or an interview, and you are eligible for the course, you will be contacted by email (so check your email and junk mail regularly!) between a few weeks to one month prior to the date of your allocated audition or interview with details of anything that you would need to prepare or bring with you - always check emails for attachments. Please also ensure that you check UCAS Track as this will also display your audition or interview date. Selection processes take time and while we endeavour to make offers quickly, please bear in mind that it may be a few months after you have submitted your application before you hear from us.
If you receive an offer for a course that does not require you to attend an audition or interview, you will be invited to attend a Campus Visit Day. More information on these can be found here. Please be aware that you may be contacted by letter or by email (so check your email and junk mail regularly!)
If you firmly accept our offer, in May you will be sent links to our 'What Happens Now?' information - about paying your fees, accommodation etc. Please be aware that we may contact you by letter or by email (so check your email and junk mail regularly!)
If you get your place on the course, we will contact you throughout August and September with information about how to register for your course and what to expect during your first week of term. This information will also be available in our 'Your first week at BSU' pages during that time. Please be aware that we may contact you by letter or by email (so check your email and junk mail regularly!)
Clearance checks
Bath Spa University requires clearance checks to be carried out for certain courses before you will be able to start.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), (previously known as Criminal Records Bureau (CRB))
You are required to apply for a DBS Enhanced Check if you are offered a place on any of the courses listed below. Your application must be made through Bath Spa University as the DBS registered body.
Courses for which we require a DBS Enhanced Check
- Foundation Degree Early Years
- Foundation Degree Education Studies for Teaching Assistants
- Foundation Degree Health and Social Care Management
- BA Education Studies (single honours and combined awards) for school experience modules
- PGCE - all courses
Please note that, in addition to the above, any module, study or voluntary experience that involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults will also require you to apply for a DBS Enhanced Check.
We cannot accept a DBS Enhanced Check that you already hold unless it was issued through Bath Spa University within the last three years and you have been in continuous study at Bath Spa University in that time.
If you have not completed your DBS Enhanced Check application you will not be allowed to enrol for the course. Certain courses may include this requirement as part of a conditional offer to you, which means that we would not be able to confirm your place until we receive your completed DBS application. A DBS application pack will normally be issued to you if you firmly accept our offer, or with our offer letter to you.
The DBS application pack will list the documentation we require from you as well as payment, which for the 2013 admissions cycle is £44. You must have submitted a fully and correctly completed DBS application form, as well as payment and the required documents in order to be allowed to register for the course.
DBS Frequently Asked Questions
Please also check the Disclosure and Barring Service's own FAQ website for additional information:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/crb/contact/855591/
Please note that we are in the process of updating our FAQ information to outline any differences with the DBS system. If you have any questions, please email us: admissions@bathspa.ac.uk
Q. Do I need a DBS Enhanced Check?
A. If you plan to do a placement as a part of your course then you will need a disclosure in place before you start. We do try to send out letters and packs in good time, but it is impossible to catch everyone. Please get in touch as soon as you think you might need one if we have not already contacted you.
Q. How long does the disclosure last?
A. Assuming no breaks in study, a CRB will last you for the two or three years of your course. If you continue on to PGCE or a third year top up with a non-Bath Spa signatory, you will need another one. If you take a break in study you will need to complete a new application.
Q. Where do I get an application pack from?
A. From Student Space, Main House, Newton Park or email admissions@bathspa.ac.uk to ask for a pack to be sent.
Q. Where do I send the completed application?
A. Rosemary Senior at Newton Park, BA2 9BN, deals with Undergraduate CRB Applications. Emma Peacock deals with PGCE. There should be an addressed envelope in your pack, otherwise return to Student Services with your application, payment and the three forms of ID requested. PLEASE DO NOT SEND DIRECT TO CRB – THEY WILL ONLY SEND IT BACK TO US AND IT WILL DELAY YOUR APPLICATION
Q. Are my documents safe in the post?
A. If you send them Special or Recorded Delivery they are as safe as can be. We will return the same way. You can of course bring your ID to Newton Park in person where we will check and photocopy it.
Q. I study at a partner college, can my application be processed by them?
A. No, they have to come to us at Newton Park.
Q. Can I send photocopies of ID?
A. No. We have to see originals.
Q. How much of an address history will I need to provide?
A. You will need to provide FIVE FULL and consecutive years from the date of the application, but
you will only need to provide a proof of address for your current address. As a student you may
find it easier to use your home address. Student accommodation lasting beyond the date of the
application should be marked as finished from the month you apply if you use your home address in
this way.
Q. What kind of ID do I need to provide?
A. A. There have been some changes to the valid documents we can accept, so please note this
carefully. In general you will need to provide 1 document from Group 1 (refer to list of Valid Identity
Documents); and 2 further documents from Group 1 , 2a or 2b; one of which must verify your
current address and preferably be less than 3 months old. If you cannot do this please contact us
for further advice. The DBS website will also give you helpful information. https://www.gov.uk/crb-
criminal-records-bureau-check/documents-the-applicant-must-provide-
Current List of Valid Identity Documents (09/12)
Group 1 – Primary Trusted Identity Credentials
Current valid Passport.
Biometric Residence Permit (UK).
Current Driving Licence (UK) (Full or provisional) Isle of Man /Channel Islands; Photo card only (a photo card is only valid if the individual presents it with the associated counterpart licence; except Jersey).
Birth Certificate (UK and Channel Islands) - issued at the time of birth; Full or short form acceptable including those issued by UK authorities overseas, such as Embassies, High Commissions and HM Forces. (Photocopies are not acceptable).
Group 2a – Trusted Government/State Issued Documents
Current UK Driving licence (old style paper version).
Current Non-UK Photo Driving Licence (valid for up to 12 months from the date the applicant entered the UK).
Birth Certificate (UK and Channel Islands) - (issued after the time of birth by the General Register Office/relevant authority i.e. Registrars – Photocopies are not acceptable).
Marriage/Civil Partnership Certificate (UK and Channel Islands).
Adoption Certificate (UK and Channel Islands).
HM Forces ID Card (UK).
Fire Arms Licence (UK and Channel Islands).
Group 2b – Financial/Social History Documents
Mortgage Statement (UK or EEA)** (Non-EEA statements must not be accepted).
Bank/Building Society Statement (UK and Channel Islands or EEA)* (Non-EEA statements must not be accepted).
Bank/Building Society Account Opening Confirmation Letter (UK).
Credit Card Statement (UK or EEA)* (Non-EEA statements must not be accepted).
Financial Statement ** - e.g. pension, endowment, ISA (UK).
P45/P60 Statement **(UK & Channel Islands).
Council Tax Statement (UK & Channel Islands). **
Work Permit/Visa (UK) (UK Residence Permit) (valid up to expiry date). **`
Letter of Sponsorship from future employment provider (Non-UK/Non-EEA only – valid only for applicants residing outside of the UK at time of application).
Utility Bill (UK)* – Not Mobile Telephone.
Benefit Statement* - e.g. Child Allowance, Pension.
The following documents are no longer accepted as valid ID:
NHS Card (UK)
National Insurance Card (UK)
Exam Certificates e.g. GCSE, NVQ, O Levels, Degree
TV Licence
Insurance Certificate
Disclosure Scotland Certificate
DBS Certificate
Vehicle Registration Document
Addressed Payslip
General Medical Council (GMC) Certificate
Connexions Card
Mail Order Catalogue Statement/Card Statement
Store Card Statement
Court Claim Form (UK)
Documentation issued by Court Services
Mobile Phone Bill
Convention Travel Document (CTD) Blue
Certificate of Identity (CID) Brown
Stateless Person’s Document (SPD) Red
Application Registration Card (ARC)
Certificate of British Nationality (UK)
Q. I don’t have any Group 1 ID. What should I do?
A.You would have to provide 3 Group 2 documents, one of which must verify your current address.
Q. I am a non UK EU National. What should I provide?
A. If you have been resident in the UK for 5 years or less, we will need to see a current passport or current UK driving licence (photocard version only with paper counterpart), plus two other documents, one of which must be a recent proof of your current address. If you do not have this, please seek advice from the University.
Q. I am an International Student. What should I do?
A. You will need to provide 1 document from Group 1 (refer to list of Valid Identity Documents); and 2 further documents from Group 1 , 2a or 2b; one of which must verify your current address and preferably be less than 3 months old. You will also have to give FIVE FULL YEARS of address history from the date of the application. If you cannot do this please contact us for further advice.
Q. I don’t have enough ID as required. What should I do?
A. If you cannot provide any ID for Routes 1, 2 or 3 you will need to be sent to the Police for fingerprinting.
Q. Do I have to pay?
A. Unless your School of Study has agreed to pay, you will have to pay the current charge of £44 yourself. This can be by card, cash or cheque made payable to Bath Spa University, but we prefer you pay by card. This can be done by coming to Student Services in person or calling on 01225 875609. All Education students have to pay. Bath Spa acts as an agent for the CRB. We do not charge you extra for processing the application.
Q. How long will it take to get my disclosure back?
A. We normally allow three days to process at Bath Spa and it usually takes the DBS around ten days to process, depending on the complexity of the application and how busy they are. You can check progress on the DBS website https://secure.crbonline.gov.uk/enquiry/enquirySearch.do
using the Reference Number of the application and your date of birth. PLEASE THEREFORE MAKE A NOTE OF YOUR APPLICATION REFERENCE NUMBER BEFORE YOU HAND THE COMPLETED FORM BACK TO US.
Q. Will I get my disclosure sent to me or do I collect it from the University?
A. You will get a disclosure posted to the address you state in section b as your current address. We will get our own copy sent to the University for our records.
Q. Can I get another copy if I have lost my original or it never arrived?
A. The DBS will only issue reprints if the original disclosure has been lost in the post, although you can ring them on 0870 9090811 and ask them nicely, if has been lost within a couple of months! We assume that when we get our copy, you get yours too; we do not check. It is up to you to make sure you are aware of the situation (see FAQ above). We destroy our file copies after six months for legal reasons, so if you cannot show your copy, you will have to apply and pay for a new disclosure. We rely on you to show your own copy to your placement. PLEASE KEEP YOUR COPY SAFE – IT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY AS YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY AGAIN IF YOU LOSE IT!
Q. I already have a DBS check for my work placement. Do I need to do another one through Bath Spa?
A. We no longer accept disclosures from other counter-signatories, so yes you will need to get a DBS check in place through Bath Spa University even if you have one already.
Q. I have been offered a place on a course that requires a DBS and I have been sent a pack. If I get one now, will I get a refund if I cannot take up the place?
A. I am afraid there can be no refunds once the application has been posted to the DBS but it might be possible before it leaves us. It is up to you whether or not you apply before you know for certain you have your place, but if you need the CRB as soon as you start or as an entry requirement, it is best you get it done as soon as possible.
Q. I have chosen to do a module that involves a work placement with children or vulnerable adults, although my award will not be Education. Do I still need a DBS?
A. Yes you do. As soon as you know you are doing such a module, please come to Student Space in Main House and collect a pack and get the process moving as quickly as possible. Not having a disclosure to show may jeopardise your ability to study the module.
Q. I have an application form from another counter-signatory. Can I use this at Bath Spa?
A. No, it has to be a Bath Spa application form.
Q. If I have a query, whom do I contact?
A. Rosemary Senior deals with the undergraduate DBS checks. Her email is r.senior@bathspa.ac.uk Tel. 01225 875609.
Emma Peacock deals with PGCE enquiries. Her email is e.peacock@bathspa.ac.uk Tel 01225 875624.
They are located in Student Space, Main House Newton Park, if you need to visit in person.
Please copy any correspondence to Rosemary or Emma to admissions@bathspa.ac.uk
REMEMBER THAT IF YOU NEED A DBS CHECK AS A REQUIREMENT OF YOUR COURSE, PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR IN PLACE PRIOR TO STARTING THE COURSE.
NOTE ON FILLING OUT APPLICATION FORM: Apart from the ISA boxes, which you don’t have to worry about, every yellow box requires a response. If you tick YES anywhere, please provide the relevant information in the boxes below as requested on the form. Read the instructions carefully and do not write anything on the back page. Remember to use BLACK INK!