The first time I visited Bath, I fell in love with the city. I went to iconic sites, such as the Royal Crescent and the Circus, but I was really drawn to all the little independent places. I didn’t know anyone, and that was daunting but exciting; it’s a fresh chapter and something that is yours to discover.
During freshers’ week the unexpected things were the most fun. For example, one evening we decided to go to a silent disco. I wasn’t particularly keen, but it was such a laugh. Even now, my flatmates and I remember it as one of the more bizarre experiences we’ve shared.
I was surprised by how nice student halls were. I’d heard horror stories from around the country, like that they might have rats, or that the walls could be really thin. But my halls were brand new and in the centre of the city.
My housemates and I sometimes study together in the kitchen, or we’ll go to coffee shops; Bath is spoilt because it has so many. We do activities together – we went to see a jazz band inside the Roman baths for free with a student pass. There’s also a spa with a rooftop pool, which we get a 25% discount for, too.
The city has lots of nightclubs, but everything’s small and underground because it’s a world heritage site. At Christmas there is an ice rink and markets, and this summer there was an outdoor cinema and a bar with sand and you could play volleyball.
I love my course – it has a community feel and I don’t feel awkward talking in seminars because my tutors are supportive. It’s also good to be able to chat to my tutors informally about geography topics, such as how human actions affect the environment.
I’m particularly interested in the human aspect of geography, so I like learning about how diet affects our climate, including things like how we use plastic, which is topical at the moment. A lot of the assessments are based on field work. So we got to go to Glastonbury in November. We also get the chance to go on subsidised trips to India and Barcelona.
Last year I was a student ambassador, where the university pays you to do all sorts of things, such as helping out with its social media channels, or filling bags for open days. I’m also going to be a peer mentor this year, which means first-year students can contact me if they need advice.
Bath is unique because it sits low in the valley and is surrounded by countryside. My flatmates and I like to hop in the car and drive off to places such as Bradford-on-Avon or Westbury and go exploring, taking photos and drinking coffee. I feel at home here.
A lot of my friends from home tell me that I seem really happy whenever I talk about it. This year I’m excited to move into a student house with a few people I lived with last year. I’m hoping to go on to do a master’s degree in regeneration or planning, and eventually go into a career in town planning.
Bath Spa University at a glance:
A wide range of courses across the arts, education studies, sciences, humanities, business and management.
96.1% of graduates in work or further study six months after graduating (HESA: 2016/17 Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education).
Enhanced scholarships for students starting in 2019 to celebrate their achievements and support them in their first year.
Voted one of the top six creative universities in the Which? student survey 2017.
For more information, visit bathspa.ac.uk
