Catherine – Bath Spa University – England
Semester 1, 2025
Bachelor of Creative Arts
Hi, I’m Catherine and I study Visual Art at QUT. This February, I left Brisbane to start my exchange at Bath Spa University (BSU). After 24 hours of flying, I finally arrived in England, greeted by the coldest winter I’d ever experienced. Studying abroad was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, so hopefully this will persuade you to apply as well!
Pre-Departure
It’s true, the application process was long and complicated at times. From host university research, to visas, accommodation and study plans, there was SO much to consider. Although you’ve probably heard it before, my first piece of advice is to start planning as EARLY as possible. Using OneNote to organise my research really helped with this stage.
Arrival
Arriving in Bath was both exciting and overwhelming. I experienced all the classic challenges that come with moving to a foreign country. This included new transport systems, accommodation, new people, cultural differences, exchange rates, and of course, the bone chilling English winter.
Despite initial challenges, I found it easy to settle into the magical, unique city of Bath. Bath is a smaller city, making it easy to navigate. I was living on Newton Park Campus, in the picturesque English countryside. The campus felt like a mini town, complete with a grocery store, café, student bar, gym, post office, communal areas, as well as beautiful surrounding forests and lakes. There was a bus that ran directly between campus and the city, which took about 15 minutes. I was also put in a flat with other exchange students, which was perfect for making friends.
I had lots of fun during orientation week, which included live music, drag bingo night and a silent disco. The university also organised events for the exchange students, which helped us to get to know each other. Oh, and just because Bath isn’t a big city, does NOT mean you’ll be bored! Bath is lively, full of young people, night life, bustling pubs, endless history and natural beauty.
Academics
My BSU classes required drastically less contact hours compared to QUT. The work was almost entirely self-directed, which was challenging to adjust to. However, the art facilities at Locksbrook campus were exceptional! If you’re studying a creative discipline, I would highly recommend BSU. The creative arts are their biggest focus, with an entire campus dedicated to creative disciplines including visual art, photography, design, fashion and architecture.
Getting Involved
As an introvert myself, the best advice I can give is to say yes to everything. Exchange is the perfect opportunity to try something that scares you. After all, you’ll be leaving in a few months, so what have you got to lose? BSU has so many clubs to get involved with, including the walking and mountaineering club. This club allowed me to explore magical areas of Bath that I never would’ve seen otherwise. It also helped me to meet new people and keep active.
Travel
I think Bath is the perfect study abroad location. The city is peaceful and safe, surrounded by dreamy rolling hills. So many amazing cities are also within your reach, including London, Oxford, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. I also went to Ireland, Scotland and a backpacking trip around Europe after my classes ended. To be honest, exchange is probably the best thing I’ve ever done, and I can’t recommend it enough. So, submit that application, you’ll be so glad you did!
Find out more on how you can apply: Student Exchange
