PDF for printing »Supporting our Postgraduates
Postgraduate students receive very high levels of support from staff in all academic departments, and also have access to the full range of Student Support Services described elsewhere in this prospectus. At University level, specific postgraduate academic and welfare needs are also addressed by the Graduate Office and the University Research Students Committee.
The Graduate Office
Tel: +44 (0) 1225 383692
Fax: +44 (0) 1225 386366
Enquiries | Web
The Graduate Office seeks to implement these University aims:
- To enhance the academic, administrative and social integration of the postgraduate community, and to ensure that levels of welfare and social provision for postgraduates are as high as possible
- To act as a focus for the co-ordination of all matters relating to postgraduate students, and to provide enhanced visibility and coherence of graduate study both internally and externally.
Its staff are responsible for a wide range of issues connected with postgraduate study at the University of Bath, and are always happy to help applicants and students with enquiries about the following:
- Admissions procedures, entry requirements and registration
- Studentship applications and nominations
- Regulations and fees
- Thesis submissions and specifications
- Postgraduate student records
If you have questions about these or any other aspects of your time at Bath, and are unsure who to contact, the Graduate Office is a good first port of call. We will do our best to help, or to direct you to an appropriate person elsewhere in the University.
The Office operates under the overall direction of the Academic Registrar in close conjunction with the Recruitment & Admissions Office, the International Office and the Student Records & Examinations Office.
The University Research Students Committee
This committee is responsible for:
- Ensuring good provision of training courses for postgraduate research students
- Setting and monitoring standards of research postgraduate education in the University, in liaison with various Quality Assurance bodies, both internal and external
- Monitoring research postgraduate progress and completion rates
- Fulfilling an advocacy role with regard to the development of graduate research studies in the University.
All Faculties and Schools are represented on the Committee and the high level of student representation includes the Chair of the Postgraduate Association and the Vice-President (Academic Affairs) of the Students’ Union.
Further information about the University Research Students Committee is available from the Graduate Office.
Staff/Student Liaison Committees
Staff/Student Liaison Committees are established across the University to represent views of students and to provide a two-way channel of communication between the University and the students about all aspects of the programmes and student experience.
Student academic representatives are elected by students on each programme to represent their views to the University.
Equal opportunities
The University has an Equal Opportunities Policy and the Equalities and Diversity Committee, chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, reports directly to the University Executive Committee. Students and staff are represented on the Committee. The Students’ Union also has a detailed Equal Opportunities Policy, an Equal Opportunities Officer and a Women's Officer. The University Equal Opportunities for Students Policy Statement
Research Postgraduate Ombudsman
Usually problems with postgraduate supervision can be resolved at Department level either by consultation with the Director of Postgraduate Studies or the Head of Department. However, for cases where this appears to be ineffective, or where the student considers this route inappropriate or inadvisable, the Postgraduate Ombudsman can be contacted. Consultations are treated in strict confidence and staff from the Department in question are only contacted by the Ombudsman at the request of the research student.
Harassment
The University’s Equal Opportunities Policy includes a detailed statement on harassment, and the University has established a network of Anti-Harassment Advisors. No form of harassment should be tolerated and if you feel that you need support or mediation, please approach any of the Network Advisors Team.
Useful publications
A range of publications, including Regulations, the Quality Assurance Code of Practice, the prospectus and application forms are accessible here.