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Frequently Asked Questions
Changes or Errors Regarding Your Application
Q: I've made a mistake on my application - what should I do?
A: Please contact UCAS to inform them and for advice in the first instance, but also contact us to let us know (admissions@bathspa.ac.uk) so that we can make any necessary amendments.
Q: I need to change my address/telephone number/email address
A: Please let UCAS and us (admissions@bathspa.ac.uk) know.
Q: I've applied for the wrong course - what should I do?
A: Please contact us as soon as you are aware of the mistake. If there are still spaces left on the course you meant to apply for, and you are eligible for that course, then we will be able to change this for you. If there are no spaces left and we cannot change the course, we will ask you whether you still wish to be considered for the original course. If you do not then we will be happy to record a 'withdrawn at your request' decision so that you are free to pursue your other course/institution choices.
Q: I want to defer my place - what do I do?
A: Please contact us for advice - you may be required to put your request in writing in an email.
Q: I've applied for a deferred place and now want to come this year - what do I do?
A: Please contact us for advice. If we still have places left on the course for this year then we will be able to change your year of entry directly.
Making Your Application and Processing Time
Q: Why can't I apply direct to you, instead of through UCAS?
A: UCAS is the clearing service for UK universities and regulates how the university application system operates. We can only accept direct applications from those applying to study part time, as UCAS handles full-time applications only. Direct applications are accepted only in exceptional circumstances.
Q: What happens to my application if I am going travelling on my gap year?
A: If you are applying for a course that requires an interview/audition and you will be travelling before mid-May during the application cycle, please contact us so that we are aware of it and can aim to ensure that you are able to visit us prior to your departure. Please ensure that you have a system in place so that you or a designated person is able to open your mail whilst you are away, and that you have access to your email account. It is likely that you will receive updates regarding accommodation and registration throughout the summer.
Q: When should I apply? If I apply early will I have a better chance?
A: The UCAS deadline for on-time applications is 15 January. All applicants who apply before this date will receive equal consideration, regardless of how early they apply. Applications received by UCAS after this date will only be considered if there are still places available on the course. If you have applied after 15 January and you receive an 'unsuccessful' decision even though you meet the entry requirements, it is likely that it is because we have already filled our places on that course.
Q: What happens to my application?
A: Once we receive your application, the same process is followed for all courses. We conduct an initial check on your application and it is then considered for the course for which you have applied. Admissions Officers work with set entry requirements for each course and this information is published on the course pages of this website. They may refer your application to the course leader if they are not sure that you have met, or a predicted to meet, the requirements or, if the course you have applied for involves an interview or audition, will get in contact with you by email to invite you to attend. You would also receive an interview/audition date via UCAS track so keep checking that too. Each course works in the same way so if you apply for more than one course, you will know that the process will be the same for that too.
Q: I want to apply for an Art and Design course, is it necessary/a requirement for me to complete an Art Foundation course after A levels?
A: It is not necessarily a requirement for these courses but the course teams are looking for well developed and creative portfolios when an applicant comes for interview. Normally those candidates who are taking a foundation course or BTEC National Diploma (and applicants with non-standard academic backgrounds but strong, relevant experience) are offered the opportunity to visit for an interview/portfolio inspection. A level candidates may apply and we will consider their applications and they MAY be shortlisted for interview but not all A level candidates will be shortlisted. Normally we offer very few A level candidates places each year and if candidates are unsuccessful we recommend that they consider taking a foundation course and we would welcome an application from them the following year.
Q: I haven't heard anything at all - should I have?
A: Acknowledgement cards are sent to everyone who applies before the UCAS deadline of 15 January, following receipt of the UCAS application. Please be aware, however, that problems with postage may mean that you do not receive this. From Autumn, 2013 we have been sending emails to you to let you know that we have received your application form so it is really important that you keep UCAS up to date with any changes you make to your email address as the information we have for you comes from UCAS.
Q: When will I hear if I have been offered a place?
A: Once your application is received at UCAS, it is processed and then arrives at Bath Spa University up to 10 days later. Admissions staff at BSU then view your application and, for courses that do not require an interview or audition, aim to make a decision as soon as possible. It is not our policy to issue offer or decision letters, so our decision on whether or not to offer you a place will be communicated to you via UCAS only. Please, therefore, check UCAS track on a regular basis. Please also check your email account regularly in case we need to contact you about your application.
Please be aware that our end of year processing is carried out following registration and enrolment of new students in late September/early October. Therefore those who apply in September and October will experience a longer turnaround time than outlined above as we are not able to input decisions until the previous admissions cycle is completed.
Those who apply for courses that require an interview or audition (please see 'What to expect at interview - Undergraduate'), should also expect a longer wait for a decision as a short-listing process will be carried out around a month in advance of designated audition/interview dates. We aim to provide candidates with least 2 weeks notice audition/interview and applicants are invited on an ongoing basis. All of those who apply before the 15 January UCAS deadline will receive equal consideration, regardless of the date of their audition/interview. Please be aware that interviews and audition sessions go on until the end of April and sometimes into May.
Q: My friends have all had offers/have been asked to come to audition but I haven't heard anything yet.
A: Every application is looked at individually and different admissions staff look after different courses. It is therefore possible that even if two applications are received on the same day, the process time may be different.
Q: I haven't received a letter from you regarding my offer.
A: It is not BSU policy to issue offer letters unless needed for visa purposes, so our decision on whether to offer you a place or not will be communicated to you via UCAS only. Please, therefore, check UCAS track on a regular basis.
Q: My application was sent to UCAS after 15 January. What will happen now?
A: If there are still places on the course then we would still be able to consider you anyway. If the places have been filled then we may still be able to consider you under exceptional circumstances and this should be put in writing to the Admissions Manager by your referee or school/college. Please be aware that this cannot be guaranteed as we will look at such applications on a case by case basis. It is therefore important that you apply prior to the 15 January deadline.
Q: The interview/audition date I have been given is April - will that mean that there won't be as many places available so I won't have such a good chance of getting an offer?
A: Not at all. We work to an offer target, which is a complex calculation of how many offers need to be made for each course in order to fill the spaces we have. The course leaders are aware of these targets and make a specific number of offers at each interview/audition session, depending on the standard of the auditionees, with these target numbers in mind. This means that you would have the same chance if you came for an audition in December as you would if you came in April or May.
Q: Who will be assessing my application?
A: Your application will be viewed by trained admissions staff and the academic staff who run the course. The academic staff will also conduct the interviews. Our staff are professionals who are up to date with current practice and opportunities within their fields.
Q: I'm applying to study a Foundation Degree at one of your partner colleges and also a BA at the main BSU campus. Will there be a different admissions process?
A: Not at all. We work very closely with our partner colleges so that the process is seamless for you. We receive the UCAS applications and perform initial processing before we send it to the partner college for their comments or for their decision if the course involves interview or audition. We would always make the final decision, however.
Q:How long do you keep my application form?
A: If you are successful and become a student with us then your application will be kept electronically on our system, in line with the Data Protection Act. If you are unsuccessful or decline our offer or withdraw then your application will be destroyed during the autumn of your application cycle year.
Our Courses
Q: Do you offer distance learning courses?
A: We do not offer a distance learning facility for any of our undergraduate degree courses.
Q: Do you offer Access to HE Diplomas or Art Foundation Courses?
A: We do not offer Access courses or Art Foundation courses - please contact your local Further Education College for more information on the courses they offer in your area.
Q: Can I study part-time? How is this different from full time? What are the fees/hours/deadlines to apply?
A: Most of our undergraduate degree courses are available on a part-time basis. You would be able to apply directly to us. Please contact admissions@bathspa.ac.uk to check part-time availability for the course you are interested in and for an application form. A course studied part-time will take up to twice as long to complete as full-time, so a part-time honours degree would, for example, take up to six years to complete, and attendance would be roughly 5 hours per week, spread over the course of the week. Part-time fees are paid per module and the amounts can be found on the Finance website - fees the summer before the course begins. The deadline for application generally corresponds with the UCAS application deadlines, so to be guaranteed consideration you should apply before 15 January.
Q: What time do lectures start/finish? What is my timetable going to be like? Are contact hours different depending on the courses? How flexible is the timetable?
A: Please contact our Student Administration Services office with any queries you may have about this: mycourse@bathspa.ac.uk
Q: Do you offer the ERASMUS exchange scheme?
A: We do offer ERASMUS, please see contact admissions@bathspa.ac.uk for more information.
Q: Do you offer sandwich years?
A: We do offer a sandwich year as part of our BA Business and Management degree. Please see the BA Business and Management course page for more information.
Q: What is a Foundation Degree?
A: The Foundation Degree is a short degree course designed to equip students with a qualification that will be directly transferable to employment.
Entry Requirements
Q: What qualifications do you count in an offer?
A: We would accept any qualification that is attributed with UCAS tariff points as part of our overall offer, for example LAMDA, COPE, ABRSM etc. We would also specify A levels, BTEC or equivalent within the offer, and in this case, other qualifications cannot be counted in lieu of these.
Q: How do I know if my qualifications are acceptable?
A: Please see our main 'Admissions A-Z - Undergraduate' page under 'Qualifications on entry'.
Q: What if, in the summer, I don't get the results I needed to meet the conditions of my offer?
A: We would not reject you straight away - before making a final decision we would take into account how close you were to meeting the offer, your personal statement and reference and, if you attended an audition or interview, how well you performed. We would also need to look at our overall numbers and see if we would still be able to confirm your place based on how many of our other firm acceptances met the conditions.
Q: How are entry requirements determined?
A: Each year the admissions team conducts a review with the course leaders regarding that admissions cycle. The course leaders will have a view about how the published entry requirements and criteria are working regarding the quality of the students that have been admitted in previous years. Together we identify whether or not the requirements should be amended and this is then discussed at a higher level within the university. If there is a decision to change the requirements, the information would be published in advance of the admissions cycle so that no applicants are disadvantaged.
Other Questions
Q: What if I get rejected? Can I reapply through Clearing? Are there alternative courses that may suit me?
A: If you are not successful in securing a place then we would not be able to re-consider you through Clearing, even if the course for which you have applied is available through Clearing. Before logging an 'unsuccessful' decision on UCAS, we would always check whether we are able to consider you for a different course instead and would write to you to inform you of that.
Q: I've left full-time education and am now working - should my reference be from my tutor or from my employer?
A: If you were in full-time education within the last five years, your reference should be an academic one, from your most recent tutor. If you have been out of education for longer than that, then an employment reference is fine.
Foundation Degree Early Years and Education Studies for Teaching Assistants applicants may be required to provide both an academic reference and an employment reference.
Q: When will I get my timetable?
A: New students can make a preliminary module choice on the student portal as part of the registration process in September, after viewing the 'Guide To Modules' sheets on the Registry website (please be aware that the guide to modules for year one will not appear until late August) and this can then be confirmed following attendance at induction meetings during the first week of term. Once modules have been confirmed on the student portal (by noon on the Wednesday of that week), they will be processed by our Student Programmes Office and timetables issued, again via the student portal.
A: If you are not successful in securing a place then we would not be able to re-consider you through Clearing, even if the course for which you have applied is available through Clearing. Before logging an 'unsuccessful' decision on UCAS, we would always check whether we are able to consider you for a different course instead and would write to you to inform you of that.
Q: I've left full-time education and am now working - should my reference be from my tutor or from my employer?
A: If you were in full-time education within the last five years, your reference should be an academic one, from your most recent tutor. If you have been out of education for longer than that, then an employment reference is fine.
Foundation Degree Early Years and Education Studies for Teaching Assistants applicants may be required to provide both an academic reference and an employment reference.
Q: When will I get my timetable?
A: New students can make a preliminary module choice on the student portal as part of the registration process in September, after viewing the 'Guide To Modules' sheets on the Registry website (please be aware that the guide to modules for year one will not appear until late August) and this can then be confirmed following attendance at induction meetings during the first week of term. Once modules have been confirmed on the student portal (by noon on the Wednesday of that week), they will be processed by our Student Programmes Office and timetables issued, again via the student portal.
Q: I am worried about a criminal conviction, what do I do?
A: Please refer to our Admissions Policy document regarding this, or contact admissions@bathspa.ac.uk
Q: You are my insurance choice, why haven't I had the same information as those holding firm places?
A: It is our policy to focus our information mailings on candidates who make us their firm choice, as the nature of insurance candidates means that only a small proportion eventually begin their studies at BSU.
Q: I was unwell before my exams or had personal circumstances that could affect my results, should I tell anyone?
A: You should ask your school to write to us with information about this. We will then take this into consideration when the results are published.
Q: Where can I find out about fees, bursaries etc?
A: More information on this can be found on the BSU 'Money Matters' web pages.
Q: I have already studied one year/two years of a degree/Foundation Degree/HND and want to apply to come directly into year two or three of one of your courses - how should I do this?
A: You should apply via UCAS, putting a 2 or 3 in the 'point of entry' box and listing the modules and results you have taken. We will then consider whether what you have studied is compatible with what we offer here and if it is and there is room in the year group, we will consider you for the course. This would involve approval from the course leader and the Registrar and you would need to provide proof of your credits in the form of an official transcript from your current/previous institution. Please see the Accreditation of Prior Learning (Experiential and/or Certificated) Policy on the Registry website.
Q: I'm a 'mature' applicant - does that mean that I don't need any qualifications?
A: Age Discrimination Legislation means that all applicants, regardless of age, are considered equally. If you are over 21, the age that was formerly used as a 'mature' applicant indicator, you would still need to satisfy the academic entry requirements. If you have two years of relevant work or other experience then you may be eligible for entry via Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL), and more information on this can be found on the Registry website: Accreditation of Prior Learning (Experiential and/or Certificated) Policy
Q: Is your Psychology course BPS accredited?
A: The BSc Psychology single honours award is accredited, but Psychology studied within a combined award is not.
Q: I've heard that I will need to take two subjects in year one, even though I'm doing a single honours course - why is this?
A: Single honours students take at least 40 credits in a second subject. Our rationale is that it gives breadth to your degree programme and allows you to make changes to your programme after the first year – it is a bit of in-built flexibility to your degree programme.
Q: What do you need from me?
A: As we will contact you predominantly by email, please ensure that you check your email account regularly and inform UCAS if you change your email address. Please also check your junkmail! As we want to process your application as quickly as possible, it is important that you reply to us with any information we require as quickly as you can. We will not be able to continue to process your application until we hear from you.
Please ensure that you read our emails and any instructions sent to you very carefully and complete any forms sent to you fully and return them to us in the way we ask you to when we send the request.
Questions regarding Visiting Bath Spa University and Accommodation
Q: I can't attend any of the open days, what should I do? Can I just come up and see the campus? Could you arrange a personal tour? Can I book an appointment to speak to a course leader through you?
A: It is better for you if you are able to attend an organised event to get the best idea of whether BSU is right for you. If you are not able to attend, you are welcome to visit the campus at any time, but if you require a tour or a meeting with any members of staff, please contact the BSU Recruitment Events Officer for more information on this: enquiries@bathspa.ac.uk
Q: When can I book accommodation? Because I live locally, does this mean I won't be offered halls accommodation?
A: Please contact our Student Housing Services office for more information: accommodation@bathspa.ac.uk or check the Student Housing Services website