The University of Bath is a campus university in south-west England, ranked 125th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 8th in the UK in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027. It is known for engineering, business, economics and sport science. Bath does not admit students to year one on the Russian school certificate (Attestat) alone: the usual route is the International Foundation Year at the on-campus International Study Centre ($30,890–36,210, £23,250–27,250 for 2026/27). International undergraduates starting in 2027 pay $34,740, $39,200 or $43,780 (£26,150, £29,500 or £32,950) a year depending on the fee band.
The University of Bath and Bath Spa University are separate institutions in the same city. Readers considering a management master's after a non-business degree can also read our Russian-language deep dive on Bath's MSc Management.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Bath, Somerset, England |
| Rankings | QS 2027: 125; THE 2027: =284; ARWU 2026: 501–600; Times GUG 2027: 8th in the UK |
| Students | about 18,000, roughly 29% international (THE data) |
| Russell Group | no |
| After an 11-year school certificate | International Foundation Year at the International Study Centre; certificate average 4.0 |
| Foundation, 2026/27 | $30,890–36,210 (£23,250–27,250) |
| Undergraduate, 2027 entry | $34,740 / $39,200 / $43,780 (£26,150 / £29,500 / £32,950) a year |
| Master's, 2027/28 | from $41,060 (£30,900) for computer science to $52,750 (£39,700) for the MBA |
| Awards | undergraduates: £8,000 a year up to £24,000 (2026 entry); master's: £10,000 (2026 entry) |
| 2027 undergraduate deadline | UCAS, 13 January 2027 |
Who Bath suits
| Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Strong national league-table positions and a QS rank above many Russell Group members | Not a Russell Group member, which some employers and families care about |
| 2027 fees already published in three clear bands | Demanding entry: A*AA and IELTS 7.0 for economics |
| On-campus foundation with progression to Bath degrees | The Bath foundation costs more than those at Cardiff or Aberdeen |
| Placement years built into many degrees | A placement extends the degree to four years |
| Large competitive undergraduate scholarships | Fees may rise by up to 8% a year, and the university asks you to budget for it |
Bath suits applicants heading for economics, management, engineering or sport science who want a top national ranking and a placement year. If the Russell Group label or a lower price matters more, compare it with Sheffield and Leeds; see all options on our study in the UK page.
After high school: the International Foundation Year
Bath's course pages are explicit: it cannot accept students onto degrees on the basis of the Russian Attestat alone, so applicants need A levels, the IB Diploma or a recognised foundation course first. The main option is the International Foundation Year at the university's International Study Centre (ISC).
| Foundation route, 2026/27 | Fee |
|---|---|
| Business, Finance and Management | $33,550 (£25,250) |
| Engineering, Science and Computing | $36,210 (£27,250) |
| Health and Life Sciences | $36,210 (£27,250) |
| Social Sciences | $30,890 (£23,250) |
- School certificate: Russia, average of at least 4.0; Kazakhstan, average 4–5; Uzbekistan, 4, or an Academic Lyceum diploma at 3.5.
- English: IELTS for UKVI 5.0 with no skill below 4.5; 5.5 with no skill below 5.0 for routes such as finance, management, architecture, business and economics.
- Age: 17+. Students under 18 need a UK guardian; the ISC works with an accredited guardianship provider.
- Start dates: September, November (with a free enhanced induction) or January; two semesters.
- Progression award: the 20 best foundation students progressing in 2027 receive $2,660 (£2,000) a year for a three-year degree, $7,970 (£6,000) in total.
The 2026/27 fees apply to programmes starting on or after 26 August 2026. Students short of the English level can take online courses of 6, 10 or 16 weeks for $2,790–7,440 (£2,100–5,600). StudyCare insurance costs $600 (£450) a year. Our foundation year guide compares foundation, A levels and the IB.
Undergraduate fees and entry, 2027
Bath has published international fees for students starting in 2027/28:
| Band | Programmes | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | humanities and social sciences (except those below) | $34,740 (£26,150) |
| Band 2 | economics and related degrees, School of Management (incl. International Management and Modern Languages) | $39,200 (£29,500) |
| Band 3 | science, engineering, health, psychology, Sport and Exercise Science | $43,780 (£32,950) |
MArch Architecture costs $27,970 (£21,055) in year one and $43,780 (£32,950) in year two. Placement years carry a reduced fee, $9,650 (£7,265) for Band 1. Bath advises budgeting for increases of up to 8% each year.
Example requirements. Economics BSc (with placement or study abroad): A*AA including Mathematics, or IB 36 with 7, 6, 6 at Higher Level including Maths, and IELTS 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. Apply through UCAS by 13 January 2027; the personal statement must focus on economics even if your other choices differ. Our guide to applying to UK universities covers UCAS.
Master's degrees
| Programme, 2027/28 | International fee |
|---|---|
| MSc Computer Science, MSc Statistics and Data Science | $41,060 (£30,900) |
| MSc Data Science, MSc Financial Mathematics with Data Science | $41,850 (£31,500) |
| MSc Management, MSc Marketing | $39,990 (£30,100) |
| MSc International Management, MSc Human Resource Management | $42,920 (£32,300) |
| MSc Finance, MSc Accounting and Finance | $47,370 (£35,650) |
| MSc Artificial Intelligence, MSc Civil Engineering | $46,830 (£35,250) |
| Full-time MBA | $52,750 (£39,700) |
MSc Management is designed for graduates without a business background. Applicants below the grade or English threshold can take the ISC Pre-Masters at $33,550 (£25,250) for 2026/27; for Russia the entry is a Bakalavr or Specialist diploma averaging 4.0. For the wider process, see our UK master's and MBA guide.
Scholarships
- Bath International Excellence Scholarship (undergraduate): for 2026 entry, up to 300 awards of $10,630 (£8,000) a year, up to $31,890 (£24,000) over three years. Applicants answer three questions of up to 750 characters, and Bath must be the firm UCAS choice. Placement years are not discounted. Terms for 2027 are due before applications open in January.
- Bath Global Excellence Scholarship (master's): for 2026 entry, up to 250 awards of $13,290 (£10,000) on full-time taught master's courses in Engineering & Design, Humanities & Social Sciences and Science; the School of Management runs its own awards.
- ISC progression award: £2,000 a year for the top 20 foundation students (see above).
- Chevening: the UK government's master's scholarship. For 2027/28, Russian citizens are eligible only if they live outside Russia; the deadline is 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC, and later cycles are announced on the Chevening website.
Bath decides on all awards. External funding is listed in our UK scholarships guide.
Housing and budget
Bath publishes 2026/27 hall prices (38-week contracts, September 2026 to June 2027):
| Room type | Per week | Contract total |
|---|---|---|
| Standard shared | $130 (£98) | $4,950 (£3,724) |
| Standard with washbasin | $220 (£163) | $8,230 (£6,194) |
| En-suite | from $280 (£210) | from $10,600 (£7,980) |
| Studio | $300–420 (£225–315) | $11,370–15,900 (£8,555–11,970) |
| With Eat and Drink credit (Brendon Court, Polden Court, The Quads) | $260–330 (£194–250) | $11,990–14,810 (£9,022–11,150) |
For the visa you show £1,171 a month for nine months, $14,000 (£10,539), rising to $14,390 (£10,827) for applications from 30 November 2026, plus any unpaid first-year tuition. See our student housing guide; for lawful payment routes from Russia, read how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
Visa and post-study work
- The university or ISC issues the CAS; you can apply for the Student visa up to six months before the course.
- Fees: visa $740 (£558); Immigration Health Surcharge $1,030 (£776) per year.
- Funds must be held for 28 consecutive days, with a statement no older than 31 days.
- Residents of Russia and Kazakhstan need a tuberculosis test at a GOV.UK-listed clinic.
- Graduate visa: 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
UK Visas and Immigration decides on visas. See our UK student visa guide and Graduate Route guide.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the University of Bath with Bath Spa University. They are separate universities with different requirements and fees.
- Applying to year one with the Attestat alone. Bath states that this qualification on its own is not enough.
- Forgetting the placement year. A four-year sandwich degree means four years of visa and health surcharge, even though the placement fee is lower.
- Not applying for the scholarship. The £8,000-a-year award is not automatic; it needs a separate form and a firm choice of Bath.
- Writing a generic personal statement. For economics it must be about economics.
A 2027 plan
- October–November 2026. Take IELTS for UKVI (5.0–5.5 for the foundation) and pick an ISC route.
- By spring 2027. Apply to the ISC and receive an offer; A level or IB holders apply via UCAS by 13 January.
- Spring–summer 2027. Book halls, hold visa funds for 28 days and take the tuberculosis test.
- Summer 2027. Obtain the CAS and visa; the foundation starts in September 2027, with year one from September 2028.
FAQ
Can I get into the University of Bath after Russian high school?
Not into year one: Bath does not admit students on the Russian Attestat alone. You need the International Foundation Year at the International Study Centre (certificate average 4.0, IELTS for UKVI 5.0–5.5), A levels or the IB.
How much does the University of Bath cost for international students?
For 2027 entry, undergraduate fees are $34,740 (£26,150) a year in humanities and social sciences, $39,200 (£29,500) in economics and management, and $43,780 (£32,950) in science, engineering and psychology. The 2026/27 foundation costs $30,890–36,210.
How is the University of Bath different from Bath Spa University?
They are two independent universities in the same city. The University of Bath is a research university ranked 125th in QS 2027, strong in engineering and business; Bath Spa University has its own programmes, entry requirements and fees.
Is the University of Bath in the Russell Group?
No, Bath is not a Russell Group member. It still ranks highly nationally: 8th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027 and 125th worldwide in QS 2027.
What scholarships does Bath offer international students?
For 2026 entry, Bath offered up to 300 undergraduate awards of £8,000 a year (up to £24,000) and up to 250 master's awards of £10,000. Both require an application. The top 20 foundation graduates receive £2,000 a year.
How does StudyU help with Bath?
Choosing between a foundation and A levels, selecting a programme, preparing scholarship applications, documents and the visa file are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The University of Bath or its ISC decides on admission and awards, and UK Visas and Immigration decides on the visa.
Sources
- University of Bath: undergraduate fees for 2027 entry
- 2027/28 master's fees: School of Management, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Engineering & Design
- University of Bath: Economics BSc 2027 (incl. Russian qualifications)
- University of Bath International Study Centre: entry requirements, fees, International Foundation Year, home page (QS 2027, Times 2027)
- Bath International Excellence Scholarship, Bath Global Excellence Scholarship
- University of Bath: undergraduate accommodation prices 2026/27
- UCAS: 2027 deadlines
- GOV.UK: Student visa, money, HC 584, IHS, Graduate visa, SELT, TB clinics in Russia
- Chevening: Russia
- QS 2027, THE World University Rankings, ARWU 2026, Russell Group members
Dollar figures use ECB reference rates of 30 September 2026 (£1 = $1.3286), rounded to $10. Facts checked on 1 October 2026.
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Next steps
- University of Aberdeen: Admission and Fees for International Students
- Cardiff University: Admission in Cardiff and Astana
- Studying in the UK for international applicants
- The University of Sheffield: Admission for International Students
- University of Leeds: Admission for International Students
- Foundation Year in the UK: Types, Entry Requirements, Costs and Progression
