Our Research Strategy aligns with and supports the University’s overall mission to make a difference in the world.

It concentrates on impactful research excellence, and focuses on six key objectives to direct our research activities and expectations over the next four years until REF2029: 

1. Enhance Research Excellence

Significantly increase the amount of world-leading work submitted to the next Research Excellence Framework (REF).

2. Boost Research and Enterprise Income

Increase our research and enterprise income, particularly through collaborative networks with other UK and international higher education institutions (HEIs).

3. Develop Thematic Research Areas

Establish and promote research themes that develop and inspire our researchers, including: 

  • Creative and Cultural Industries 
  • Transnational Creativity and Education 
  • Environmental Humanities (intersecting art, science, culture, and environment) 

4. Foster Collaborative and Entrepreneurial Partnerships

Act as a dynamic partner in the UK’s creative and cultural economy by shaping practice, driving innovation, and influencing policy through impactful research. 

5. Expand Global Research Networks

Position ourselves as the UK gateway to a global network of partner research institutions, specializing in professional, creative, and critical practices. 

6. Attract and Support Emerging Researchers

Become a university of choice for early career research staff (ECRs) and postgraduate research students within our research specialisations. 

These objectives build on Bath Spa’s established research strengths while expanding the breadth and depth of our interdisciplinary expertise, ensuring a vibrant and dynamic research environment and ensuring that research underpins everything that we do.

Discover more in our Research Strategy 2030. 

Concordats and Frameworks

The University is a signatory to the following Concordats and Frameworks:

And aligns its work to the following:

Technician’s Commitment

The University signed up to the Technician's Commitment in January 2025.

This is a sector-wide initiative, hosted by the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy, pledging to help address key challenges facing technical staff in higher education and research.

As a signatory on the initiative, BSU joins a community of higher education and research institutions brought together by the Institute to ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working across the sector.

With over 80 technical staff across BSU’s sites in Bath and London, their skills, knowledge and technical know-how are instrumental to the day to day running of the University. From biology labs to creative workshops and TV studios, the team works hard every day to ensure students and staff experience the best of learning and working at the University.