Canadian student studying at Bath University
 

My 19 year old daughter will be studying at Bath University for four to six months early in 2008. Unfortunately on campus accommodation will not be offered as initially thought, so she will need to find accommodations off campus. I'm somewhat worried about this since this will be her first experience overseas pretty much on her own. I guess what I'm looking for is information that is reassuring. Are there accommodations available close to the campus? Is it safe? I realize the school will offer some information but I thought I'd ask the experts on this forum for their assistance. I would really appreciate any help you can give.

Worried MOM

http://www.bath.ac.uk/accommodation/
is the site for the accommodation office. It mentions it also offers "information regarding privately owned accommodation." So that is her first contact point. Even if they don't provide housing they will connect her w/ places she can rent/share.

&quot;<i>Are there accommodations available close to the campus?</i>&quot; The accommodations office will give her that information.

Once she selects a place or two - then you can come back and ask details.

What specifically are you worried about - or are you just being a &quot;scaredy cat&quot; Mom? :) Bath is a wonderful city. She will have a great time.

Thanks Janisi. You're exactly right. I am a scaredy cat mom. So hard to cut that umbilical cord. I'm glad to hear that it's a great, safe city. I know she'll have the time of her life. Reassurance that's what I'm missing. I appreciate your advice and I will pass on the accommodation web site. Who am I kidding I'll be doing as much research if not more than she does :)

Thanks again

They speak English and its near London-piece of cake! Just worry about the price of the British pound to your Canadian dollar? Start saving now.

Ouch...thanks for the reminder dutyfree.

Sanped-sorry for being 'flip&quot; about being in England but I wrote that because both of my kids studied in countries that the language was difficult to learn at first for their time abroad-Prague and Torino Italy for the oldest and in Sicily for the youngest.England is so user friendly that I think that your daughter will be fine.Bath is a great city so I am sure that she will have a fabulous time abroad-what a great excuse for you to visit her?Both of my kids want to work back in Europe if they can find a job there. They both loved their experience overseas. Does your daughter study in Canada-what school does she go to? (My son graduated from Queens University in Kingston).Just insist on her buying phone cards so she can call everyweek and let you know all the neat things that she has done or traveled to. Best of luck!

send an email to [email protected] and tell them what you re looking for. |I was there on Monday and Tuesday and stayed at Polden Court. The office was nost helpful. Whats your budget for the accomodation

Thanks dutyfree. I appreciate your words of encouragement, and me visiting is high on at least my priority list :)My daughter is attending York U and my son is at Queens (probably will be doing his exchange in a couple of years)

Thanks for the email Blightyboy. I'll look into it. We haven't sat down to discuss budget yet. Yikes! I realize we're looking at top dollar. Isn't the city of London the third most expensive one around?..Bath can't be far off.

Anyways, thanks again everyone for all your help and I'm sure I'll be asking for more advice down the road.

Cheers

Hi sanped.

Sorry I'm a bit late on replying to this, I only just noticed the post.

I studied at Bath Uni for 3 years (I graduated in 2002). I can assure you that Bath is a very safe city and she will be fine. I lived on campus for 1 year and off-campus in the city centre for 2 years - I definitely preferred living in the city.

Off-campus accomodations are generally in the city centre and near suburbs - the university campus is on Claverton Down, about 1 mile out of the centre of Bath, up a steep hill. Most students live in town and commute to campus everyday - there is an excellent bus service. On-campus accommodation is usually reserved for freshers, and is generally over-subscribed anyway. Off-campus student accommodations are obviously in the cheaper areas of town, but none of these areas are unsafe. Look on it as an opportunity - as the campus is slightly removed from the city centre, your daughter will experience more of the 'real' Bath. It is such a fantastic city to walk through everyday.

The accommodation office should be your first point of contact. They maintain a list of approved privately owned student accommodation.

Living in Bath was a fantastic experience for me, and I'm sure your daughter will love it!

We went to Bath this afternoon on what was a gloriously sunny spring day. The place was buzzing with both locals and tourists, and there were performers and buskers, street artists and pavement cafes.

While my wife and granddaughter went to the new Bath Spa with a friend, I wandered round the bookshops and gardens, and stopped at a tea shop for a pot of Darjeeling and a Bath Bun. Friendly service, a bargain at just &pound;2.90, and there wasn't even a saucer for me to leave a tip!

Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, but to be young was very heaven. Unfortunately, I am not.

Your daughter is guaranteed a great time in Bath.

I wish there was a course at Bath Uni to suit my daughter! We live only 30 miles away and I would love an excuse to visit Bath more often, but no, she wants to go to Liverpool or Manchester or Kingston or Goldsmiths (in London but it's waaaay more expensive to live there).

I wouldn't worry much about safety in Bath - it's about as safe a place as you can get these days. Another reason why I wish my daughter was going there. Yours will have a terrific time in a wonderful city, lucky girl.

Thanks Optimystic for the wonderful information. Do you happen to know off hand whether many of the accommodations have internt access?

Chartley and Julia t, I really appreciate your comments as you're really giving me a lovely picture of Bath.

Thanks again to you all for your generosity.

Hi again sanped - I'm afraid I don't know. When I was at Bath use of the web was not as prevalent as now, so whilst I did not use the web at all to find my accommodations, things may well have changed. A quick look at the Bath Uni accommodation website shows they maintain an online database of accredited privately owned accommodation. http://www.bath.ac.uk/accommodation/private/index.shtml
In fact there is lots of information on this website so definitely take a look.

I think your first port of call should be the University accommodation office. It says on their website that if they cannot offer visiting or exchange students university accomm. then they offer assistance finding them something in the private sector. I imagine there will be many other students in the same position as your daughter, coming from overseas for a few months. Therefore they may have a way of putting these students in touch and helping them find suitable accommodation.

Thanks again Optimystic, you've been great! Will definitely follow up.

Cheers!

HI! I was really excited to read your post because I'm going to be spending a year in Bath studying at the university too! I'm 20 years old and from Saskatchewan, and my mom is a &quot;worried MOM&quot; too! I have just received information from the university and I have applied for my accommodations. The university only offers on-campus housing to first year students. The off-campus housing that they offer are for exchange and postgraduate students. I'm actually looking forward to this because then I have more opportunities to see the city and countryside while living in Bath, and I think the people living there will be mature and responsible. I would love to be able to talk more with you and your daughter. This trip is exciting and a wonderful opportunity!

Hi Teddybear87,

Hope you're having a wonderful time in Bath! My daughter has finally received her acceptance for the upcoming semester and is now applying for accommodations. I believe you are living on off-campus accommodations and would really appreciate some advice. Which of the three locations are the most preferred in order; Carpenter House, Thornbank or Pulteney? Where are you living? How are you finding the experience so far?

Thanks,
Sanped

Thornbank would be my first choice - it is almost brand new and probably the nicest accommodation since it has ensuite rooms.

Carpenter House has a very central location. Its practically next to the bus and train stations meaning travel to the uni campus (and elsewhere) is easy.

However Thornbank and Pulteney are not too far from the city centre either (it says about 5-10 minutes walk on the accom. brochure and I would say thats accurate).

Note that I'm an ex- Bath student. Current students may be able to give you a more up-to-date opinion!

Optimystic - Wouldn't proximity to the railway line be a problem with Thornbank?

Steve