Hi! My name is Sophie, and I am currently studying for an MSc in Marketing at the University of Bath. I successfully completed the Bath Award in 2026, and it has been one of the most valuable experiences in helping me reflect on my skills, career goals, and future aspirations.
As many students know, entering the graduate job market can feel overwhelming. Competition is high, employers often look for evidence of experience alongside academic achievement, and it can be difficult to know how to stand out. The Bath Award helped me address this challenge by encouraging me to gain practical experience, develop key employability skills, and reflect on how my experiences could be applied in a professional setting.
Developing key skills
A significant part of the Bath Award involves identifying areas for personal development and actively working to improve them. Employers increasingly value transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, adaptability, and leadership, and the programme provides opportunities to develop these through workshops, courses, and reflective activities.
One of the key skills I focused on was collaboration. If I am honest, group projects have always been challenging for me because I tend to want everything to be completed to the highest possible standard. As a result, I sometimes took on more responsibility than necessary, which limited opportunities for others to contribute.
Through the Bath Award, I attended workshops on collaboration and effective group working, as well as completing LinkedIn Learning courses. These activities encouraged me to reflect on my approach and understand that successful teamwork is not about controlling every aspect of a project; it is about enabling others to contribute their strengths.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned was the importance of setting clear expectations from the beginning. Communicating goals, identifying individual strengths, assigning responsibilities, and maintaining regular communication can significantly improve both team performance and project outcomes. Since applying these strategies, I have noticed improvements in both my academic group work and professional experiences. While I am still developing this skill and continuing to put the strategies I have learned into practice, it has made group assignments and collaborative industry work far less stressful and daunting, while still allowing me to achieve the results I am aiming for.
Gaining meaningful experience
As part of the Bath Award, students complete 50 hours of extracurricular experience. For me, this was one of the most rewarding aspects of the programme.
One of my favourite experiences was participating in the Sustainable Business Challenge. Working alongside students from universities around the world, we developed innovative solutions to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our team combined expertise from different disciplines, including business and biochemistry, to propose a sustainable bioethanol hub designed to support cleaner fuel production.
This experience reinforced my passion for sustainability and helped me realise the important role marketing can play in driving positive environmental and social change. It also showed me the value of working with people from different academic and cultural backgrounds, bringing together a range of perspectives to solve complex challenges.
The Bath Award also encouraged me to gain research experience, which allowed me to develop skills in data analysis, qualitative research, and critical thinking. These experiences have strengthened my confidence and provided practical examples that I can discuss in applications and interviews. Gaining this experience has made the job market feel a little less daunting, as I can now demonstrate relevant industry experience and transferable skills to employers.
Beyond developing skills, the programme enabled me to expand my professional network, meet like-minded students, and connect with industry professionals. These relationships continue to provide valuable insights and opportunities as I progress in my career. Many of the people I met through these experiences are individuals I still speak with regularly, and those connections have opened new opportunities for me, including helping me secure professional and research roles.
My advice to future students
At first glance, the Bath Award may seem like a significant commitment. However, if you start early and approach it as an opportunity to explore your interests and develop areas you genuinely want to improve, it becomes much more manageable.
For me, the Bath Award was about far more than completing a programme. It helped me better understand my strengths, identify areas for growth, gain meaningful experience, and build confidence in my future career path.
I would highly recommend the Bath Award to any student looking to enhance their employability, develop new skills, and make the most of their time at university. You never know what opportunities, experiences, or connections might emerge from stepping outside your comfort zone.
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