Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Bath is a mid-sized university on a hilltop campus at Claverton Down, about a mile and a half above one of the prettiest cities in the UK. Almost everything is on one site: teaching, the library, the SU, most first-year halls and an elite-level sports village. It has a strong careers focus, with placement years built into many courses.
The trade-off is that the campus can feel a bit of a bubble, and getting into town means a bus ride up and down a steep hill. Bath is also an expensive place to live. Hall prices run from £98 to £315 a week, and the university puts average private rent at around £800 a month before bills.
Known for
The University of Bath is 6th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 58.7, above the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | University of St Andrews | 59.5 |
| 5 | University of Sussex | 59.4 |
| 6 | University of Bath | 58.7 |
| 7 | Lancaster University | 58.6 |
| 8 | Swansea University | 58.5 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
1st of 122 · Careers Score 57.1
2nd of 124 · Employability Score 58.6
5th of 124 · Value Score 74.4
6th of 124 · Balance Score 58
9th of 124 · Innovation Score 68.2
12th of 124 · Freshers Score 67.4
18th of 124 · Safety Score 61
25th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 61.7
25th of 123 · Happiness Score 58.8
40th of 124 · Sustainability Score 56.9
49th of 124 · Inclusion Score 64.3
52nd of 124 · Societies Score 52.8
90th of 124 · Social Score 42.7
100th of 124 · Affordability Score 43.8
106th of 124 · Nightlife Score 34.5
Bath as a student city
Ranked 65th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 41.4.
The University of Bath appears in 29 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | 3rd | of 30 | 98 |
| Biomedical Science | 12th | of 93 | 171 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 10th | of 77 | 164 |
| Criminology | 13th | of 94 | 184 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 10th | of 66 | 118 |
| Civil Engineering | 9th | of 58 | 128 |
| Teaching | 13th | of 79 | 164 |
| Psychology | 18th | of 108 | 184 |
| Computer Science | 20th | of 102 | 178 |
| Chemistry | 9th | of 44 | 113 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 18th | of 88 | 166 |
| Pharmacology | 8th | of 37 | 82 |
| Pharmacy | 7th | of 32 | 90 |
| International Relations | 16th | of 71 | 136 |
| Mathematics | 14th | of 61 | 129 |
| Aerospace Engineering 2026 table | 7th | of 30 | 92 |
| Business and Management | 27th | of 114 | 187 |
| Sociology | 21st | of 86 | 159 |
| Biology | 14th | of 51 | 120 |
| Biochemistry | 17th | of 60 | 125 |
| Economics | 25th | of 85 | 144 |
| Social Work | 20th | of 67 | 146 |
| Statistics | 9th | of 27 | 73 |
| Architecture | 19th | of 55 | 112 |
| Physics | 18th | of 45 | 99 |
| Electrical Engineering | 28th | of 67 | 116 |
| Sports Science | 33rd | of 78 | 128 |
| Accounting and Finance | 15th | of 30 | 165 |
| Robotics | 18th | of 32 | 72 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
The SU (The SU Bath) is on campus and runs bars and spaces including The Plug & Tub, The Waddling Duck and The Edge, plus a busy programme of clubs, societies, volunteering and media groups. Sport is a big part of life here thanks to the Sports Training Village. For nights out, most students head down the hill into the city centre on the U1 bus, which runs through the night. Bristol is also a short train ride away for bigger gigs and clubs.
University halls cost £98–£315 per week (2026/27 undergraduate rooms, mostly 38-week contracts) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
Bath guarantees a room in university or nomination accommodation to first-year undergraduates from eligible groups who apply by the deadline. For 2026 entry, applications opened on 6 May 2026 and the guaranteed deadline was 1 July 2026. You can apply once Bath is your firm choice (it can take up to 48 hours after you firm Bath on UCAS to get access). Insurance-choice and Clearing applicants are handled separately, and non-guaranteed applications reopened on 18 August 2026.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastwood Green | Campus | standard (shared room, basic single or double) | £98/wk | The cheapest way into campus halls: £98 a week for a shared room, £163 for a basic single with washbasin. 38-week contract. |
| John Wood | City centre | standard, shared room, en-suite or studio | £98/wk | City-centre option for first years: £98 a week for a shared room, standard singles £182–£193, en-suites £228–£232. |
| Westwood (Mendip and Quarry) | Campus (west side) | standard with washbasin or studio | £182/wk | Standard rooms from £182 a week; studios £255 a week on a 40-week contract. |
| Brendon Court Catered | Campus | standard with washbasin | £194/wk | Comes with Eat and Drink credit for campus food outlets. 38-week contract. |
| Green Park House | City centre | standard, en-suite or studio | £206/wk | Overlooks Green Park in the heart of Bath. Standard rooms £206 a week, en-suites £232, studios up to £315. |
| Polden Court Catered | Campus (west side) | en-suite | £226/wk | En-suite rooms with Eat and Drink credit, £226–£250 a week. |
| Marlborough Court and Solsbury Court | Campus | en-suite or studio | £247/wk | Modern en-suite blocks a few minutes from everything on campus; studios £265 a week. |
| Woodland Court | Campus | en-suite | £252/wk | Self-catered en-suites from £252 a week. There's also an en-suite shared room option with Eat and Drink credit listed at £125 a week. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
The main student neighbourhood, full of shared terraced houses, with its own train station and U2 bus to campus.
Close to the station and the city centre, and handy for the walk or bus up to campus.
Leafy and on the road up to campus, but often pricier.
Right among the shops and bars, but expensive and with fewer shared houses.
Top tip
Apply as soon as Bath is your firm choice: applications for 2026 entry opened on 6 May, and you had to apply by 1 July to be guaranteed a room. Expect similar timings for 2027 entry, but check the university's applying guide. Bath is a pricey rental market, so start looking early for second-year houses too.
The university's 2026/27 sample budget puts an undergraduate in halls at about £350 a week, or £13,300 for a 38-week year, not including tuition fees. Self-catered halls average £183 a week. Moving out costs real money too: the university estimates average private rent in Bath at £800 a month before bills.
Getting around
Campus is at Claverton Down, up Bathwick Hill from the city. First's Unibus routes link it to town: the U1 runs to the city centre (with a U1N night bus), the U2 runs to Oldfield Park in term time, and the U3 and U4 also serve Bath Spa University. Students get up to 10% off First tickets, and Tap On, Tap Off caps fares at student Bath Zone prices. Bath Spa station has fast trains to Bristol and London.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Bath is 6th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 58.7. Its strongest results are for career prospects (1st), employability (2nd), value for money (5th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Bath places highest for Chemical Engineering (3rd of 30). Across our awards, it also stands out for career prospects.
No. The main campus is at Claverton Down, on a hill about 1.5 miles from the city centre. Most first-year halls are on campus, and the U1 bus runs between campus and town, including a night service. A few university halls, such as John Wood and Green Park House, are in the city centre.
Yes, for eligible first-year undergraduates who apply by the deadline. For 2026 entry, applications opened on 6 May 2026 and you had to apply by 1 July 2026 once Bath was your firm choice. Insurance-choice and Clearing applicants go through a separate process.
For 2026/27, undergraduate rooms range from £98 a week (shared rooms) to £315 a week (studios), on mostly 38-week contracts. The university says the average self-catered room is £183 a week. Bills, internet and basic contents insurance are included.
Yes, it's one of the pricier student cities outside London. The university's sample budget for 2026/27 is £13,300 for a 38-week year in halls, and it estimates average private rent at £800 a month before bills.
Many do. Bath is known for its placement years, where you spend a year working in industry, usually in your penultimate year. Check your course page to see whether it's built in or optional.
Most move into shared houses in the city, with Oldfield Park the best-known student area. It has its own train station and the U2 bus to campus in term time. Widcombe and Bathwick are other options, though often pricier.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
