This guide is written for international students and their families who are weighing up Bath Academy（巴斯学院）, an independent college and language school in the centre of Bath, England. It covers the programs on offer, the entry requirements for each course, the published fee schedule, and how application, accommodation, visa and arrival support fit together. Every fact comes from the college’s official website, bathacademy.co.uk, as accessed on August 5, 2026; where the college publishes no figure, this guide says so rather than inventing one.
About Bath Academy
Bath Academyis an independent college and language school at 27 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HX, in a UNESCO World Heritage city about 1.5 hours from London by train. The college describes its education as personal and tailored: academic classes never exceed 8 students, the average class size is 3, and teaching is sometimes one-to-one. Its campus is spread across two buildings in the centre of Bath’s Queen Square, and its courses range from GCSE and A-Level through university foundation programmes to English language courses and a junior summer school. The college says it is non-selective — students are admitted on their motivation to learn rather than on academic ability — and every student has a Personal Tutor who meets them weekly to discuss academic progress and wellbeing. The principal is Tim Naylor.
Programs for International Students
Bath Academyoffers several routes through the UK system. GCSE: a two-year core programme of up to five subjects a year for students aged 14 and over who have not studied GCSEs before, plus a one-year intensive programme for students aged 15 and over. A-Level: a standard two-year course of three or four subjects, an 18-month course starting in January for students who miss the September start, a one-year intensive course of one to three subjects, and resit courses (six-month from January or one-year from September). University Foundation Programme (UFP): a one-year intensive alternative to A-Levels and the IB for students who completed secondary school outside the UK, with pathways in business and finance, social sciences, engineering and technology, and science; students apply to five universities through UCAS, and an extended version adds one to three terms of extra academic English. International Medical Foundation Programme (IMFP): a one-year route to medical school covering biology, chemistry, further mathematics, physics or psychology, with UCAT/BMAT preparation and interview coaching. There is also a University of Bath Progression Route, run since 1997, which gives guaranteed conditional offers for most degree courses and requires a competitive application with class sizes of 8 to 10. English courses include General English, IELTS preparation and a Mini Stay programme for school groups of 14 to 17 year olds.
Entry Requirements by Course
Entry conditions at Bath Academydiffer by course, and the official pages are specific. GCSE: international students need an IELTS score of at least 5.0 before starting, with no less than 4.5 in any skill; the two-year programme is for ages 14 and over, the intensive year for ages 15 and over. A-Level: international students need IELTS at least 6.0 with no less than 5.0 in any skill. UFP: successful completion of secondary schooling with top-ranking grades and IELTS 5.5 overall with no less than 5.0 in each component (pharmacy requires 6.0 overall and in all disciplines). IMFP medicine: high school graduation plus qualification-specific grades — for example five A–B grades at GCSE level with Chemistry A, Biology B and Maths B, or 85% overall for qualifications graded out of 100 — and IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in all disciplines (pharmacy: 6.0 overall and in all disciplines). University of Bath Progression Route: top grades in secondary schooling, IELTS 6.0 overall with no less than 6.0 in each component, a video interview with the Principal or Vice-Principal, and a satisfactory cognitive aptitude test. The college also arranges online meetings for students and parents who cannot visit in person.
Costs: the September 2026 – August 2027 Fee Schedule
Bath Academypublishes its fee schedule for the September 2026 – August 2027 academic year, and all figures exclude VAT (an additional 20%). UK students pay £7,517 per term (£22,550 per year) for A-Level or GCSE tuition; international students pay £15,024 per term (£45,070 per year), and international fees include college residence or homestay accommodation. The University Foundation Programme costs UK students £7,884 per term (£23,650 per year) and international students £13,715 per term (£41,145 per year); the extended UFP is £13,715 per term for four terms (£54,860), the 18-month January-start version five terms (£68,575), and the International Medical Foundation Programme £41,145 per year. Academic English is £1,795. Every course carries a non-refundable acceptance fee of £500 plus VAT (i.e. £600). Other published charges include supplementary individual tuition at £70 (plus VAT) per hour, an art room fee of £250 (plus VAT) per year, UK boarders’ all-in rate of £40,045 (plus VAT) per year with accommodation at £17,495, and per-subject exam fees such as £250 for GCSE and £350 for A-Level, with higher rates for speaking tests and late registration. English and junior summer school courses are priced separately, for example £871 for a one-week homestay junior summer school programme. These are the August 2026 versions; fees change, so check the latest official schedule.
Accommodation, Visas and Application Support
Accommodation at Bath Academycomes in two official forms. The college residence, Oxford House, is a Georgian house for students aged 14 and over with full board, single and shared rooms allocated first come, first served, a 10-minute walk from the college, staff on site 24 hours and an in-house chef. Homestay is available to students aged 16 and over, with at most four students per family, full board and families located within Bath. Students aged 18 and over may arrange private student halls themselves, but the college does not arrange private accommodation and cannot act as a guarantor. On visas, the official pages state that all non-British nationals need a visa to study, that Bath Academy is a Student Sponsor able to sponsor Student or Child Student visas, and that students under 18 staying in the UK for more than 28 days must have a parent or guardian who is a British resident. International student support includes a welfare officer, an out-of-hours emergency number, and guidance on visas, National Insurance, opening a bank account and registering with a doctor, plus an Academic English Development programme covering academic writing, presentations and IELTS preparation. The college’s own pages also list social events, enrichment sessions and day trips as part of international student life.
Application Process and Academic Year
Application at Bath Academyfollows the steps on the official Admissions page: submit the initial information, then visit the college for a tour and an informal interview with the Principal or Vice-Principal — or join an online meeting if you are outside the UK. The website provides an online application form, an electronic prospectus, and open days that the college says run every day. The published term dates give the shape of the academic year: for 2026/27, the autumn term starts with registration and induction on 1 September and classes on 7 September, with half term 19–30 October and the term ending 18 December; the spring term begins 4 January 2027 with A-Level and GCSE mock exams 11–15 January; and the summer term resumes 12 April, ending 2 July for A1 and GCSE students and 30 July for the second UFP intake. There is no single published application deadline; the college advises contacting admissions early to confirm places and entry points.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age can international students start at Bath Academy? The age rules depend on the course and accommodation: two-year GCSE from 14, intensive GCSE from 15, college residence from 14, homestay from 16, private halls from 18. Do I need IELTS? Yes, with course-specific minimums: 5.0 for GCSE, 6.0 for A-Level, 5.5 for UFP, 6.5 for the medical foundation programme, and 6.0 for the University of Bath route. Do international fees include accommodation? The official schedule says international fees include college residence or homestay. Do students under 18 need a guardian? Students under 18 staying more than 28 days must have a parent or guardian who is a British resident. Can I arrange my own accommodation? Students 18 and over can, but the college does not arrange or guarantee private accommodation.
Summary
Bath Academypublishes a complete official picture for international applicants: small-class programs from GCSE to foundation level, course-specific IELTS and grade requirements, a two-column fee schedule with accommodation included in international fees, and clear application, visa and accommodation arrangements. Fees and dates move each academic year, so treat the August 2026 versions as a starting point and confirm against the latest official pages. If you would like help matching a student’s age, English level and budget against the college’s current published requirements, our advisers here can walk you through the official information and the application steps.