This year, we received almost 2,500 applications for our two flagship summer schools — Discover Bath and Step into Bath — making 2025 our most competitive year yet. Demand for places has never been higher, with Discover Bath receiving around 1,500 applications for 450 places, and Step into Bath attracting nearly 1,000 applications for 300 places.
These summer schools are more than just a few days on campus, they are structured, subject-focused experiences designed for Year 12 students who are seriously considering applying to a top university. And crucially, they play a key role in helping us attract and support students from a wide range of backgrounds, particularly those who may face additional barriers to accessing higher education.
Discover Bath: An Academic Experience for Target Students
Discover Bath is a subject-specific summer school for students from underrepresented groups. Applicants select a subject area when they apply and spend the programme engaging in around 10 hours of immersive academic content, including lab work, practical projects, and real student-style learning.
As well as academic sessions, students take part in:
- Student life panels and Q&As
- Tours of accommodation and campus facilities
- Sessions on applying to Bath and understanding student finance
- Social activities led by student ambassadors
The programme is designed not just to raise aspiration, but to build confidence and readiness. Many Discover participants go on to apply to Bath — and the programme also links directly into our contextual admissions offer, providing a supported route into higher education.
Step into Bath: A Multi-Disciplinary Taster for All
Step into Bath is open to any Year 12 student and offers a broader, faculty-based experience. Applicants choose a faculty (Science, Engineering, Humanities or Social Sciences or Management) and then take part in a programme of academic taster lectures, interactive workshops and support sessions.
Students hear directly from academics and admissions tutors about what makes a strong application and what studying in that subject area at Bath really involves. They also:
- Explore different subjects within a faculty
- Develop their understanding of the UCAS process
- Get practical advice on preparing for university study
- Build relationships with staff and current students
For many students, Step into Bath is their first time engaging with university-level study and the programme is carefully designed to demystify the experience and build both curiosity and confidence.
Why It Matters
Our summer schools are more than just a glimpse of university life, they are a structured, supportive stepping stone into higher education for Year 12 students who are beginning to think seriously about their next steps.
Both Discover Bath and Step into Bath are aimed at students considering applications to highly selective universities. These programmes help students:
- Build academic confidence through exposure to university-level study
- Understand the realities of student life and what Bath has to offer
- Access practical, honest advice on strengthening their university applications
- Visualise themselves succeeding at a top institution
This is particularly important for students who may be the first in their family to consider higher education, or who may not have access to the same guidance and support networks as their peers. For these students, attending a summer school can make the difference between applying and not applying, and between arriving at university prepared or feeling out of place.
The impact is not just anecdotal. We know that students who take part in summer schools like Discover and Step are more likely to:
- Apply to Bath (and other selective universities)
- Meet or exceed the conditions of their offers
- Continue successfully once they arrive
The surge in applications we’ve seen this year, with Discover Bath and Step into Bath together attracting nearly 2,500 applications, highlights both the demand for these opportunities and the strength of Bath’s reputation among aspiring students.
These programmes are a key part of our commitment to supporting students with their university options while maintaining academic excellence and they continue to open doors for talented students from across the UK.
