MenuSearchOpportunities for incoming students – Bath Spa University
Opportunities for incoming students
Studying abroad is a fantastic opportunity and we know just how much it enriches the life and culture of our University.
We welcome students from all over the world to spend a semester or a year studying with us.
You'll fully experience university life and culture in Britain, studying alongside home students from across the UK. You'll be able to select from a range of classes (modules) to suit your interests and learning needs.
"The months I spent in Bath have definitely been the best few months of my life. As soon as I arrived in Bath, I instantly felt like it was home. I miss Bath dearly and I can’t wait to visit again soon!"
Kylie Muscat Melito – Exchange student from Italy
Your student experience in Bath
Studying at Bath Spa University you’ll be surrounded by creativity, culture and enterprise. Get inspired by our beautiful campuses and gain the knowledge you need to give you a headstart in your future. We’re sure you’ll feel welcomed by our friendly community and will find new friendships and ideas.
Did you know, Bath is the backdrop for some of your favourite films and TV shows?
The Holburne Museum, a cultural partner of Bath Spa University, is one of the iconic settings for Netflix series Bridgerton, and central Bath was recently a shooting location for the upcoming Timothée Chalamet movie, Wonka.
Take a short trip outside the city and you can visit Lacock Abbey – Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies – or the small city of Wells, where Hot Fuzz was filmed.
Stunning scenery
Living in Bath, you'll be surrounded by beautiful Cotswolds countryside and picturesque villages including Lacock, Bradford-on-Avon, Castle Combe (pictured) and Corsham – all worth a day trip to explore.
We'll welcome you to the Bath Spa community
We pride ourselves on a diverse student body and acknowledge the positive contribution that mobility students make to Bath Spa life and the student experience. Fostering communication and connections which transcend borders has never been more important, and we would be honoured to host you at our University.
International exchange students arriving at Bath Spa University will be treated as full-time Bath Spa students, with full access to all of the University’s support services and facilities.
For further information about entering the UK as a student, please contact our specialist Immigration Compliance Team on immigrationadvice@bathspa.ac.uk.
At Bath Spa, you're given the chance to find your own path. You might not know exactly where that journey will take you, but you'll be surprised by how far you can get with your talent and the support of your peers.
Alessia Tami – international student from Switzerland
If you're studying at one of our overseas partner universities, we offer you a chance to spend a semester or academic year studying at Bath Spa University as part of the International Exchange programme.
If your university is not on our partner list, you may still be able to join Bath Spa either as a Study Abroad or a Freemover student.
How to apply
In order to apply, you need to be registered on an undergraduate course at one of our exchange partner institutions.
You'll need to complete the following steps in order to apply:
check that your home university has an International Exchange agreement with Bath Spa University. You need to be nominated by your home university before you can apply for the programme. Please contact the study abroad office at your home university to find out more.
wait to hear from our International Exchange team. You'll receive an application form with further information on what to do next
complete the exchange application form in full, with your study abroad advisor's signature on the form and submit to the Go Global team along with the required supporting documents (please see below) by the advertised application deadline. Late applications will not be accepted.
Supporting documents:
provide an academic Letter of Recommendationfrom a professor at your home university
provide us with a copy of your current transcript. You need to be in good academic standing - 3.0 GPA (minimum) or an equivalent grade;
provide us with a copy of the photo page of your current passport.
You also need to meet our general academic and English language requirements. For most undergraduate classes, this is an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent).
If you enrol as a Study Abroad or Freemover student, you are required to pay international tuition fees to Bath Spa University. You can apply to study for one or two semesters and will need to submit an application confirming the modules you are interested in studying.
How to apply
Please email bsuexchange@bathspa.ac.uk to request a copy of the application form. Complete the application form, ensuring that your study abroad advisor at your home university has signed it. After consultation with the department in question, and subject to entry requirements and any prerequisites for the modules, Study Abroad and Freemover students can attend courses and lectures and acquire credit points.
At Bath Spa University, classes are called modules. Your home institution can help you select modules that fit in with your own academic programme.
Each module has a certain number of credit points allocated to it.
If you study for one semester, you'll need to gain 60 Bath Spa credits (30 ECTS in the European Credit Transfer System);
If you study for a full year, you'll need to take 120 Bath Spa credits (60 ECTS). This will usually meet the minimum requirement of your home university;
Modules labelled as ‘advanced’ should only be taken if your language proficiency is equivalent to or greater than IELTS 7.0.
It's your responsibility to gain pre-approval of the modules you'll study at Bath Spa before arriving at the University. Your home exchange or international team should be able to provide you with all the information you need.
You'll be required to engage in more independent study than you would perhaps do at your home university. Many UK Higher Education Institutions focus less heavily on in-class contact time and you should be prepared for this when you begin studying here.
UK/US Level Suitability
UK level 4 / year 1 or US level 200 These modules are suitable for students who have little or no previous knowledge of the subject.
UK level 5 / year 2 or US level 300 These modules are suitable for students who have good knowledge of the subject through previous study or experience. Some modules will require pre-requisites.
UK level 6 / year 3 or US level 400 These modules are suitable for students with advanced knowledge of the subject and are ready for final degree assessment. Some modules will require pre-requisites.
"I couldn't be happier with my experience as a student in the UK. Students and teachers were always pleased to help if you had any doubts."
You'll normally receive your timetable just before you arrive at Bath Spa University. If you are taking any undergraduate Level 4 (Year 1) modules, then you are likely to receive your timetable after you arrive at Bath Spa University, as these modules can change during the first weeks of term (semester 1/full year students).
After the end of the semester, your tutor or lecturer will notify you of your grade. A few weeks after the end of your study period an official Bath Spa University transcript will be sent directly to the Study Abroad office at your home university.
There is less in-class and contact time than some other countries, and you'll be required to engage in more independent study than you would do at your home university.
It is important that you take your final exams, because it will form a substantial part of your grade. The exam timetable is posted around Easter for the spring semester. The Exam Period lasts two weeks, usually during the end of May. If you are taking Art, Music, Drama, or Dance classes, you may also have assessments after this period. Please always check with your module tutors for full information before booking any return flights.
Information for partner universities
Coming to Bath Spa from one of our partner universities? Download our fact sheet (pdf) for important information, all in one place.
Contact us
We offer advice via email and phone. Contact us today if you have any enquiries about studying at Bath Spa as an international exchange student.