BATH SPA UNIVERSITY (CANARY WHARF)
STUDENT
HANDBOOK 2026/27
Welcome to Bath Spa University! We’re so excited to have you here with us at Bath Spa University London (BSUL)! We want to support you as much as possible while you’re here studying with us. This guide is intended to answer any questions you have and direct you towards the teams and resources that can help you. Go to our Arrival Checklist on page 4 to get started!
Arrival checklist
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Your induction
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Campus life
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Getting around
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Map of local area
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The Student Information Team
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IT Services 11 Finance 12
Download the MyBathSpa App from your phone’s app store to check-in your attendance to your lectures, and get news and updates on BSU.
Cost of living support
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International students
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Students’ Union
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Careers service
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Student Wellbeing Services
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Personal safety and medical services 18 Library Services 19 Learning & Teaching Enhancement
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Glossary and key contacts
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ARRIVAL CHECKLIST REGISTER ONLINE All students must register online at the start of each academic year. You will need your: • Student number and date of birth to create your Bath Spa account • Your bank details • Your photograph government issued ID (e.g. driving licence or passport) If you’re an international student, you may also need to attend an in-person enrolment session to complete your visa check. To find out more go to www.bathspa. ac.uk/register or visit www.youtube.com/ watch?v=QtovztXxD04 to view how to complete registration at BSU.
ACCESS YOUR TEACHING TIMETABLE Log into the MyBathSpa app to see your timetable of lectures and seminars. Contact Timetabling via MyServices if you have any issues.
PICK UP YOUR STUDENT ID CARD This will give you access to the classrooms, lecture halls, printing facilities, and more. You will need your government issued ID to collect your card. Not all cards will be available to collect within the first week; please check with the BSUL staff for more information.
CONNECT TO EDUROAM (WI-FI)
YOUR INDUCTION
After you’ve registered, you can log into our University Wi-fi, Eduroam. Set this up by using the Eduroam Configuration Assistant Tool (CAT) at cat.eduroam.org.
DOWNLOAD THE BSU APP It is important that you download the MyBathSpa App as soon as you can, as you will need it to check in your attendance to your lectures. You can also use it to access University news and information. Please contact the Student Engagement Team if you need any help with check-in.
SIGN UP FOR STUDENT DISCOUNTS A TOTUM card can get you money off in a wide range of places; while a student rail card or Oyster card will reduce your travel costs.
SIGN UP TO BLACKBULLION Sign up to Blackbullion www.blackbullion.com Blackbullion is a platform that can help you manage your money and build good money habits . If you’re eligible you’ll also need to apply for your BSU Bursary here within eight weeks of your start date.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT MY INDUCTION? The BSUL induction is a day-long event. You can talk to members of our professional services, meet people on your course and course leaders. Come explore our teaching facilities! The day will begin with a presentation, where you’ll get information on your academic course as well as IT, learning support and wellbeing services. You will also get an introduction to your course, and have the chance to meet new people. There will be opportunities to also ask our professional service teams any questions.
For details of our eligibility criteria see the BSU Bursaries webpage BATH SPA UNIVERSITY 5
CAMPUS LIFE
Canary Wharf is a bustling urban hub that offers the perfect balance of study and social life. The area features endless places to grab a coffee or a drink, and exciting cultural events happening every week of the year. COFFEE RECOMMENDATIONS Fika Exchange: Downstairs of the HX building, convenient for coffee, breakfast and lunch. Pret A Manger: A reliable option for coffee, pastries and grab and go lunch. B Bakery: A nearby bakery cart option for coffee, pastries and other hand-made bakery items.
HOT FOOD OPTIONS Chinese Gourmet Capeesh (Italian) Bentore (Korean) Lebanese Food Dan Pho (Vietnamese)
GRAB & GO OPTIONS Tesco Express Co-op Shah’s Halal Food
The BSUL campus is open between 09:00am17:00pm (BST), Monday-Friday, during term-time. You must wear your lanyard whilst on campus for security reasons.
THE STUDENT HUB The Student Hub is located on the in our main reception area. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please visit room 508. Our team includes staff who focus on academic, career and wellbeing support as well as staff who can help you with finance and IT.
OUR CAMPUSES IN BATH The other BSU campuses can be found in the city of Bath in Somerset. Newton Park is our largest campus; here you’ll find the Commons Building, University Theatre, and Students’ Union. Most of our students, especially those studying sciences, humanities, performing arts or business, can be found here.
STUDENT VOICE We always want to hear from you with suggestions about how we can improve your University experience. You can give us feedback through Unitu and will be sent student experience surveys to your BSU email address throughout the year.
MY BATH SPA APP Use the MyBathSpa App, to access your timetable, find your lectures, read news and updates, and ‘check-in’ your attendance to your lectures and seminars. We’ve included a graphic of how to do this down below.
Locksbrook campus is our modern design space with specialist studios, workshops, and open workspaces. Many of our design, art, film and media students will have their classes here.
You can explore both of our Bath campuses through our interactive living map. 6
WELCOME 2026
GETTING AROUND
BY CAR
TFL AND THE LONDON UNDERGROUND
BY TRAIN
London has some of the best public transport in the world. Find out here how to get around:
SOUTH QUAY Approximately a 4-minute walk to campus
CANARY WHARF Approximately a 15–20-minute walk to campus
Scan here to view the TFL website
BY BUS There are several bus stops within walking distance of BSUL that can take you into central London and beyond. We recommend checking the Transport for London (TfL) website for bus routes.
BY BIKE
London is full of safe cycle paths and has an extensive network of cycle routes. Bikes can be rented through services such as Forest, Lime, and Santander Cycles. Please check the relevant apps or websites for designated parking zones and availability. 8
WELCOME 2026
There is no dedicated student parking available on at the campus. Students travelling by car are advised to use public payand-display car parks where available and to check local parking restrictions in advance. We strongly encourage students to travel via public transport wherever possible.
The closest National Rail station to BSUL is Canary Wharf (Elizabeth line), which forms part of the National Rail network and provides fast, direct rail services across London. Direct services from Canary Wharf operate to Stratford, Liverpool Street, and Paddington, as well as to Heathrow Airport, providing convenient access to central London and national and international travel connections.
SOUTH QUAY STATION
Additional National Rail services can be accessed via nearby stations such as Limehouse (served by c2c services) and Greenwich (served by Southeastern and Thameslink), both of which can be reached via local connections. A student railcard can provide significant discounts on rail travel, and further information is available on the Campus Life page.
GETTING TO BATH If you wish to visit Newton Park or Locksbrook campuses, you can take a direct train from London Paddington to Bath Spa. From Bath Spa station, you can take the U5 bus from Bath Bus Station to reach both Newton Park and Locksbrook campuses.
CANARY WHARF
Map of
Local Area
THE STUDENT INFORMATION
IT SERVICES
The Student Information Team offers a range of advice on the University’s processes that you might experience during your studies.
Our IT Team can help you with any technological problems you may have during your time with us. You can find out about the systems and services managed by IT Services on our Student IT Induction Guide (available on the BSU website), or search on MyServices.
The Student Information Team can offer advice and support with: • General queries and questions • Proof of student status letters • Exceptional circumstances • Taking a break from your studies • Transferring to another course • Changing your modules • Changing to part-time or full-time study • Withdrawing from your course.
TEAM
The Student Information team can be contacted via MyServices.
BSU does not provide laptop computers for students, but there are lots of desktop computers available on campus in the Digital Resources Centre for students to use. For our full list of Recommended laptop specifications, check the IT pages on the BSU website. You can access the IT Services webpage on the BSU website.
MYSERVICES MyServices is BSU’s online system where you can find support for most enquiries, including issues with your course, assessments, timetables, finance, Wi-Fi, and more. You can access it through the BSU website or on the Bath Spa App. To use MyServices, enter keywords for the topic you need help with into the search bar, and then see if there’s already an answer to your enquiry. If you cannot find the answer you need, or you need further help, look for a ‘log a call’ button on the page related to your topic to submit a request for support.
STUDENT STATUS LETTER You can download your Student Status letter from MyServices. This document proves that your student status is verified by UK government. Your student status letter is valid for one year, and you should download it as soon as possible. 10
WELCOME 2026
YOUR BSU ACCOUNT Your username is your 6-digit student ID, and your email address is assigned to you during registration. Sometimes you'll be asked to log in with your username, other times with your email, but you use the same password for both. You can reset your password if you forget it at https://password.bathspa.ac.uk.
AUTHENTICATION To access most BSU apps and services, like your email, Ultra (our Virtual Learning Environment), or other secure webpages, you'll need to set up two-factor authentication. You will need to download the Microsoft Authenticator app onto your phone and link it to your BSU account.
MICROSOFT OFFICE 365 FOR EMAILS, APPS AND CLOUD STORAGE All students get access to Office 365. To access it, go to https://office.com and log in with your BSU account. You can also download the apps directly to your device.
PRINTING AND SCANNING To print, go to https://print.bathspa.ac.uk and upload the files you want to print. To collect, find a printer, swipe your ID card and choose the files you wish to print.
IT SUPPORT The IT Service Team are available via MyServices or Newt chatbot to help with any issues you face with computers, apps, internet and more. BATH SPA UNIVERSITY 11
FINANCE
Students looking to contact finance can log a job on MyServices for Student funding, Student fees and Payment queries.
YOUR TUITION
The amount that you pay for your course each year is subject to annual review, and will be different depending on the type of student you are (e.g. undergraduate, postgraduate, full-time, part-time). If you’ve applied for a tuition fee loan through a funding body (i.e. Student Finance England), it’s important to understand how the fees will be paid to the University. We recommend checking on the funding body website, or getting in touch with our Finance team for support. Please be aware, you need to reapply for funding at the start of every new year of your course, even if your circumstances haven’t changed. If you have not set up Student Finance yet and need a loan to pay your tuition, please contact our finance team immediately via MyServices. International students are unfortunately not eligible for loans through Student Finance England.
SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS AND BURSARIES BSU is providing annual bursary awards of £1050 to eligible new students joining us in 2026/27, please see our Scholarships and Bursaries web page www.bathspa.ac.uk/students/student-finance/ scholarships-and-bursaries/Bursary Scholarships to see if any apply to you. You must apply for your bursary within eight weeks of your course start date, successful students will receive their payment in March 2027. 12
WELCOME 2026
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FUND The Bath Spa University Financial Support Fund provides limited discretionary financial support to any full time home UK students who are in financial difficulties due to unexpected circumstances, to enable them to meet basic needs and help them to reach the end of their course. Visit the webpage for details of eligibility and how to apply.
YOUR GUIDE TO FEE’S AND FUNDING AT BSU Please see our Student finance handbook: This handbook provides financial information and guidance on payment of all fees and fines whilst studying at Bath Spa University or one of Bath Spa University Partner Colleges. It also covers instalment dates, deadlines, sanctions and penalties for nonpayment as well as information on the various funding schemes that the University has on offer.
YOUR MAINTENANCE LOANS If you qualify and have applied for a maintenance loan, this gets sent to you in three separate payments throughout the year. You’ll need to register and enrol with BSU before you receive your first payment, so make sure you do this as soon as you get to university!
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COST-OF-LIVING SUPPORT We recognise that all students may feel the pressure of the cost-ofliving crisis. That’s why we’ve put dedicated support in place to help support and guide you financially. We have a cost-of-living support hub on the BSU website with advice that you can look through.
STUDENT DISCOUNTS One of the benefits of going to university is getting student discount. The student discount card and scheme is called TOTUM. You can apply for a TOTUM card on the TOTUM website (once your enrolment has been approved by the BSU team) with your university email. To qualify for a student railcard, you must attend at least four continuous weeks of lectures and seminars at BSUL. Your Head of School or Course Director can then sign a form that will give you the means to access a student rail card. Student rate Oyster Cards can be applied for online and will remain valid whilst you’re enrolled on your course. Your registration and enrolment must be approved by the central BSU team, based in Bath, before you can be approved for a student Oyster Card.
LAPTOP FUND The Bath Spa laptop fund provides limited discretionary financial support for BSU students who are experiencing financial difficulty and are unable to meet the cost of a laptop from other sources of support.
BLACKBULLION Sign up to Blackbullion: www.blackbullion.com Blackbullion is a platform that can help you manage your money and build good money habits. If you’re eligible you’ll also need to apply for your BSU Bursary here within eight weeks of your start date. For details of our eligibility criteria see the BSU Bursaries webpage.
To start the process of being approved for student council tax rates, please search for “Council Tax” on MyServices and follow the instructions.
BATH SPA UNIVERSITY 13
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS If you’re joining BSUL on an international student visa, we recommend you read the international student guidebook in addition to this one. It includes specific advice for student visa holders on the following: • What to do before you get to the UK • Settling into life in the UK, including guidance around healthcare, banking, part-time work, accommodation and transport. • Cultural information and expectations of the UK academic environment • Travel restrictions, rights, responsibilities, and restrictions on a student visa • Post-study work rights You can use of the teams below to answer any questions about your student visa. • Immigration Advice Service (IAS) immigrationadvice@bathspa.ac.uk provides free immigration support. • The Immigration Compliance Team monitors changes in student visas. You can contact them for any changes to your student via at @ immigrationcompliance@bathspa.ac.uk
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS NETWORK The International Students Network is open for anyone who would like to socialise and share their culture. You do not need to be on a student visa to participate or contribute ideas. Past events planned have included Diwali, Holi and Lunar New Year and we are looking to expand our cultural activities every year!
STUDENTS’ UNION Your Students’ Union (SU) is a registered charity separate from the University. They’re here to represent you to the University board, and help you make the most of your university experience.
STUDENT’S UNION ADVICE CENTRE The SU Advice Centre can help you with a variety of issues including housing, sexual health, your course, and your general wellbeing. To book a phone or video appointment, email su-advice@bathspa.ac.uk or visit bathspasu.co.uk/advice.
Email su-opportunities@bathspa.ac.uk if you are interested in participating or learning what events are coming up!
THE MATURE STUDENTS NETWORK If you start your undergraduate course when you were aged 21 or over, or your postgraduate course when you were aged 25 or older, you are a mature student. The Mature Student Network is a welcoming community that offers online social events and provides feedback to the University about the mature student experience. You can join the network through the SU website, or email them at: maturestudents@bathspasu.co.uk.
Click here for more information on visas and immigration 14
WELCOME 2026
BATH SPA UNIVERSITY 15
CAREERS SERVICE You can use MyCareer (mycareer. bathspa.ac.uk) with your BSU login to access 24/7 resources on interview preparation, applications, hoosing a career and more.
INTERNSHIPS Exclusive opportunities for Bath Spa University students! • Either 50 hours in term-time, part-time and flexible around your studies, with a range of local organisations. • Get paid for it – at least £750! • Gain experience and bulk up your CV.
BATH SPA WORKS ABROAD • •
As well as this, you’ll find live opportunities, be able to message an employability coach, and track your skills as you go. Please visit our Careers and Employability Team.
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Benefit from work experience and fully submerge yourself in a different country and its culture! We can help you access opportunities globally with our partners and helpful bursaries are available for flight costs, living expenses, and more. Ask a question on MyCareer.
MONEY ADVISORS
Our Wellbeing Advisors can support you with:
Our Money Advisors offer guidance on:
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General wellbeing queries Managing stress and anxiety Drugs and alcohol advice Housing concerns Student pregnancy, maternity, and new parent support Domestic violence and abuse support
DISABILITY ADVISORS Our Disability Advisors can help with:
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Get industry insider knowledge, a valuable networking link, and examples of successes and failures that you can learn from to boost your confidence when you come to enter the world of work. Available to UG, PGT students and graduates
ROOM 506
WELLBEING ADVISORS
MENTOR ME
Register before it's too late!
WELCOME 2026
The Student Wellbeing Service is here to support you throughout your time at Bath Spa University. Whether you are experiencing personal challenges, need disability-related support, or have concerns about your finances, our friendly team is available to help. You are always welcome to visit us in Room 506, where a member of the team will be happy to listen, provide guidance, and discuss the support available to you.
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STUDENT WELLBEING SERVICES
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Disability-related queries Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) support Academic Access Plans and reasonable adjustments Raising awareness and understanding of disabilities Specific Learning Difference (SpLD) support, including dyslexia and ADHD pathways
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Financial queries and concerns Food poverty and homelessness support Student finance advice (SFE) Accessing the Blackbullion financial wellbeing platform Budgeting and financial support options
ADDITIONAL WELLBEING SUPPORT All Bath Spa University students have access to the Wellbeing and Advice Line, a free and confidential service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service provides support for emotional, personal, academic, financial, and legal concerns, with assistance available in multiple languages. 24/7 Freephone: 0800 028 3766 Wisdom App: wisdom.healthassured.org/login Access Code: MHA351146
BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT If you need support with personal, disability, mental health, wellbeing, or money-related concerns, you can book an appointment with the Student Wellbeing Service through MyServices. If you would prefer to speak to someone in person, you are welcome to visit us in Room 506 during opening hours, where a member of the team will be happy to help. BATH SPA UNIVERSITY 17
PERSONAL
SAFETY VACCINATIONS If you are an international student, we recommend bringing copies of your vaccination records with you and making an appointment with a GP to see what vaccinations you may need or be eligible for. If you have not had the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) or Meningitis ACWY vaccinations, we strongly advise you to book an appointment at your local GP surgery and get them.
ABSENCES For any absence, students should record their reason using the absence option within the check-in app on the day of their class. If they need to discuss a previous or future absence, they should contact their lecturer directly, as lecturers are able to amend attendance records up to four weeks retrospectively and up to 100 days in advance.
There are several things you can do to stay safe while you’re living in London: •
Don’t walk home alone at night
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Make sure your mobile phone is charged
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Never leave your drink unattended: use a bottle stop or cover
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Always check the name of your taxi driver against your booking before getting in
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Let someone know where you’re going before you go out
If you are concerned for the safety of yourself or others while at BSUL and require urgent assistance, please contact a member of the security team. In an emergency, or if someone is seriously injured, call 999 immediately.
MEDICAL SERVICES We encourage all our students to register with a medical service whilst at University. You can find a GP via the NHS website. The two closest hospitals to BSUL are Homerton Hospital and the Royal London Hospital. Scan to find your nearest GP
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WELCOME 2026
LIBRARY
SERVICES LIBRARY SERVICES The Library Team is here to support you with using the online Library, finding reliable sources for your assignments and developing your research skills.
STUDY SPACES The Learning Resources Centre is a welcoming place to study and work. It is located in room 515, opposite the Canteen, and provides you with a quiet study area with comfortable seating and IT resources. Here you can arrange to meet your Subject Librarian, who can help you understand what resources are available, how to find information for assignments, and how to use online Library resources.
ONLINE RESOURCES The Library resources you need for your studies are available online, so you can use them wherever you are, at any time. The Library gives you access to a wide range of e-books, academic journals and databases to support your course. These can help you find reliable information for assignments, presentations, dissertations and research projects. Alongside your course resources, you’ll also find online reading linked to wellbeing, personal development and wider interests. You can find more information about the resources available to you on the BSU London Library Services webpage.
LEARNING
& TEACHING ENHANCEMENT
Learning & Teaching Enhancement (L&TE) works across Bath Spa University London to enhance the quality of teaching, learning and the overall student experience. We work with academic teams to improve teaching practice, assessment, learning resources and the wider learning journey.
HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU ACADEMIC STUDY AND SKILLS SUPPORT Help with academic writing, critical thinking, research, study strategies and developing confidence in your learning.
LEARNING RESOURCES AND VLE SUPPORT – helping you make effective use of online learning materials and academic resources available through the VLE.
ASSESSMENT AND ASSIGNMENT SUPPORT – help with understanding assessment briefs, assessment criteria and expectations, planning your work and developing your academic approach.
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ACADEMIC ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE SUPPORT – support with academic language, structure, grammar, vocabulary, referencing and communicating your ideas effectively.
We also listen to your experience
ONE-TO-ONE ACADEMIC SUPPORT – tailored support based on your learning needs and the challenges you are experiencing with your studies. WORKSHOPS AND EMBEDDED SUPPORT – academic skills and assessment sessions delivered alongside your modules and at key points in the assessment cycle.
Learning and teaching enhancement – working with lecturers and academic teams to improve teaching, assessment, learning materials and the overall student learning experience.
Your feedback about teaching, assessment, learning resources and your experience as a student helps us identify areas for improvement and inform enhancement across the University. If you are finding an aspect of your learning or assessment difficult, please contact the Learning & Teaching Enhancement team. We can provide academic support where appropriate and help you identify the most suitable source of further support.
INCLUSIVE LEARNING SUPPORT – approaches and resources designed to help students overcome barriers to learning and participate confidently, including support for EAL students and students with additional learning needs. BATH SPA UNIVERSITY 21
SPA SPEAK
GLOSSARY ASk:
The Academic Skills (ASk) team are here to help with your assignments, whatever stage you’re at.
Course Rep:
Course Reps are your first point of contact when it comes to raising issues about your course and for passing on what is going well on your course.
Instagram:
The Instagram is an Instagram account aimed at current students sharing day-to-day updates, events and information. Check it out at @bathspastudentlife
Student Community Leaders
Student Community Leaders work together to develop an academic community within their school and improve the academic experience of their peers. They work closely with the Vice President Education, Course Reps and academic staff.
Ultra:
KEY CONTACTS IT Service Desk Team: contact via MyServices
Student Wellbeing Services:
access MyWellbeing to speak to our advisors
Student Fees team: (tuition fee’s , accommodation payments, instalment dates and payment plans): contact Via MyServices
Student Awards team: (Bursaries, Scholarships, University Support funds, International funding): contact via MyServices
Our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). This is where you’ll find all the information you need for the academic side of university. Find out about modules, course notices and interact with your course leaders and other academics.
Student Information Team (a very useful contact forstudent support and advice):
Unitu:
bathspasu@bathspa.ac.uk
log a call via MyServices
Students’ Union:
Our student feedback platform, where students can raise ideas, issues, praise and ask questions. Staff members can respond in real time with comments and solutions.
library@bathspa.ac.uk
Your Uni News:
ssolondon@bsu.ac.uk
The place to go for all student news, events, updates and more. Access it via the Bath Spa App.
Library and Learning Services:
Student Success:
BATH SPA UNIVERSITY 23
CAMPUS ADDRESS Canary Wharf campus:
5th Floor, Exchange Tower, 1 Harbour Exchange Square, London E14 9GE
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