The International Office
The University of Bath has a vibrant international community and welcomes the cultural diversity our international students bring to campus life. Over 100 nationalities are represented among our 2500 international students.
We aim to enable you to make the most of your time here at Bath. The International Office team are happy to answer any questions you may have, from the enquiry stage right through to graduation. We have a dedicated team who provide comprehensive support to international students.
Before you leave your country we will send you a Handbook for International Students (you can also view this on the International Office website). This will provide you with essential information to help plan for your journey to Bath and advise about life in the UK. We run a bus service from London Heathrow Airport at the start of each academic year and upon your arrival at Bath we organise a welcome programme of events that includes information sessions, evening receptions and tours of the campus and city.
The International Office provides a social programme throughout the year too, offering frequent trips to places of interest and oncampus events. In addition to these activities there are many societies run by students, such as the International, Afro- Caribbean, Chinese, Latin American, and Malaysian and Singaporean Societies. These all give you the chance to meet fellow students and to develop lasting friendships. You will also have the opportunity to participate in the Host programme. This scheme places international students from universities and colleges in the UK with British families who welcome students to their homes for a short stay.
Undergraduate Accommodation
All students paying overseas fees, who are new to Bath and
studying towards a University of Bath degree will be offered
accommodation in University owned property on campus for
their first year of study. Please note that applicants must submit
their accommodation request by 31 July to be sure of being
allocated on-campus accommodation. An online application
facility exists to make the process as quick as possible.
English Language
Students must have a high level of English proficiency so that
they can follow their course. If your first language is not English
we may ask that you take an English language test. A minimum
IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent is required. For more linguistically
demanding programmes the requirements will be higher. The
English Language Centre offers a range of pre-degree language
courses, ranging from one month to one year.
Tuition Fees and Living Expenses
If you are classed as an ‘Overseas’ student, the fees payable in
2008 – 2009 are:
- Languages, Management and Social Sciences - £10,000
- Science and Engineering - £12,700
If you are following a sandwich course, fees will be reduced for the period during which you are on placement.
As a rough guide, we suggest that you allow about £7,500 to cover yearly personal expenses, excluding international flights and the summer vacation.
The Bath experience - a fresher's perspective
Shoaib Malik
Shoaib Maik was a student on our first ever First Steps
Programme in September 2007. The programme was
set up to introduce new students, who had never been
to the UK before, to study methods and university life
in the UK and to soften the impact of making a change
from home life to Bath life.
"Hi, my name is Shoaib Malik. I’m 19 years old and from Pakistan but I have lived in Kuwait my whole life. My subject of study is Chemical Engineering and Bath was my first choice because the one thing that separates Bath from the rest – other than the fact of being ranked in the top 10 universities for my subject of study – is that it is the most peaceful area thanks to the city itself being small and beautiful. This was the key thing that made me want to come to Bath, and I consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to study at such a prestigious university.
Wherever I go I see international students everywhere and thanks to this I have made many friends from Spain, China and even Kazakhstan. This was a great opportunity to learn about new cultures and new languages, and because of this I decided to take up Spanish courses and now I can even have a small conversation with my Hispanic friends.
It’s a wonderful feeling to be accepted in a place where I have never touched my foot before as this is my first time ever living in a country outside Kuwait.
Yes, the life is here different from where I used to live in so many ways, like the weather for instance. Kuwait is the complete opposite of the UK in terms of the weather. Kuwait is a really hot country and here it’s really cold and going from one extreme to the other is a real tough challenge. Before coming here I didn’t know how to clean, cook or even wash my own clothes but after coming here I have learnt to do all these things and I’ve become more independent and responsible.”