- Libraries:
- There are libraries on both sites with collections related to the subjects taught there. The library at the Newton Park site is small and it can be difficult to get books for the more popular courses. The Sion Hill library has a wide range of art related books, however, its quite small and can be crowded at times.
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- Computing:
- What machines there are are good but the there just aren't enough to go around. If you don't have your own equipment you might face a long wait at busy times. In fact, the situation is probably more serious than this. One sourcce told us that those without their own machines face real problems with getting work in on time.
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- Sports:
- There are sports pitches and a gym at the Newton Park site. They really aren't the best but students cope, just about. Sion Hill residents are less than a mile from the city so can use the various facilities on offer there. Not exactly cheap though. It is only really the major field sports that are well represented with hockey being the biggest and most succesful. Sport at Bath Spa doesn't have the same social aspect as at many other universities, it is much more of a diversionary activity. It seems like the union would like to change that in order to have a more traditional student sport atmosphere but there are no major plans in the pipeline.
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- Future Plans:
- An extensive programme of building improvments are taking place or due to take place in Summer 2005. The Students Union will gain a new social and events area, a new bar and shop. The Library will be able to offer students an extra 120 worksations. There are also plans for a new refectory and Performing Arts arena.
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- Disabled Students:
- The older buildings at both sites do cause access problems but accommodation at Newton Park is pretty modern and thus not bad. The situation is improving all the time.
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- Student Welfare:
- There is a weekly surgery on campus, so time your illnesses well. There are part-time counsellors provided by the college and friendly ears in the union. 24 hour security is provided with wardens on both sites.
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- Parking:
- There is no parking for first years but from the second year onwards you can get a free permit. Given that the Newton Park site is 5 miles out of town, a car can be useful. When spaces are scarce, the rugby pitch and local village become an overflow car park. There is a bus service but if you're not the sort of person that can live by a timetable and you have a car, you should consider bringing it. Bear in mind all the disadvantages as well though.
Parking spaces at the Sion Hill site are very limited and getting into town by foot doesn't take too long, plus its down hill all the way. Its coming back up that proves to be a bit exhausting.
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- University Shops:
- The main union building has a shop selling groceries and stationery. The problem is that it closes at 17.00 everyday and on weekends. Plenty of gripes about that. Given that supermarkets are some way away, many students find this to be a great inconvenience. The union maintains that it is uneconomical to keep the shop open longer hours as they need to keep the prices down. This does seem fair enough but something definitely needs to be done to resolve the problem. The Sion Hill site has an art and stationery shop, and local shops for food and other essentials are a short walk away.
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- University Bookshops:
- There is a bookshop in the union (Newton Park) run by a local firm which has everything you need at competitive prices. A branch of Waterstones can be found in the centre of Bath.
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- Banking:
- A Natwest cash machine is available on campus but it runs out of cash fairly frequently. Given that other banks are miles away this is a sizeable pain in the arse.
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- Transport Policy:
- Although there isn't, strictly speaking, a university-run bus service, a local firm runs the bright orange bus, BOB, between the main campus and town, stopping at Sainsbury's and other points of interest on the way. It costs about £1.80 for a return, or you can buy a pass which works out at £6.00 a week. Worth it really. The bus service is a bit of a lifeline for the students but it still attracts complaints, as it is often late and sometimes full. A saving grace is that it runs up until 3AM or so and can thus ferry people back from clubbing in the city. Full marks for that one.
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- Green Areas:
- Newton Park is a country estate and is gorgeous, it has its own lake, nature reserve, woods and farmland. Sion Hill is more built-up but is very close to a small golf course, and Victoria Park.
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