- University launches Target Bath, which will see 50 Black British students receive free and personalised support to successfully apply
- Scheme launched in partnership with diversity recruitment specialist Rare, which runs the successful Target Oxbridge programme
- Participants will hear from Black British students studying at the University, and will receive one-to-one support with their university applications
- Students will take part in Discover Bath, the University’s free residential programme
Rare and the University of Bath have announced the launch of Target Bath, a new programme aimed at helping students of Black African and Caribbean heritage gain places at the University of Bath.
Target Bath is free of charge and is open to Black British students in Year 12. The programme will provide support to 50 students through both Year 12 and 13, providing insight into life at Bath as a Black student and is Rare’s first partnership with a UK university following the successful Target Oxbridge scheme.
Students on the programme will receive one-to-one support from the team at Rare, the diversity specialist with a proven track record of improving the representation of Black British students at the UK’s top universities. Rare will help the students to choose the degree course that is best for them, to prepare for their UCAS application and to write their personal statement.
The University of Bath, which is funding the programme, will provide Target Bath students with access to role models in the form of current Black British students studying at the UK top 10 ranked University. Students will receive advice on applying to the university from its outreach and admissions teams, as well as the chance to experience academic sessions with tutors from the University of Bath. Participants will also benefit from Bath’s extensive experience in offering internships and placements, and students participating in the programme will be in part selected based on their interest in incorporating placements into their undergraduate experience.
Target Bath students will also be offered a place on Discover Bath, the free summer residential programme run by the university, either in-person if Covid-19 restrictions allow, or online.
The programme will launch online, providing students with webinars and online group mentoring sessions. Students will also be able to join an online community of Target Bath students to share their interests, questions and thoughts about university.
If Covid-19 restrictions are loosened in the summer, Target Bath students will take part in a visit to the University of Bath to meet with their mentors in person and explore the campus and city. All travel expenses will be paid.
To be eligible for the programme, students must be in Year 12 and of Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other heritage (including mixed race students). Students will have achieved 5 or more GCSEs at grades 9, 8, 7 or 6 and will be academically able to study at Bath in their chosen subject. Priority will be given to students who meet the University of Bath’s widening participation criteria, such as having a home address in an area of low progression to Higher Education, or high levels of deprivation.
Students, teachers and parents can find out more about Target Bath here: https://www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/target-bath/. Applications are open until Sunday 14 February 2021.
Naomi Kellman, Rare’s Senior Manager for Schools and Universities, said: “I am very excited to be working with the University of Bath to launch Target Bath. Rare has been working since 2012 to improve the representation of Black British students at the UK’s top universities. It is brilliant to be able to expand this work further and to have the opportunity to showcase all that Bath has to offer to the students we work with. I hope to see an increase in the number of Black British students studying at the University of Bath over the coming years.”
Professor Ian White, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath, said: “I am delighted that we are launching the Target Bath scheme in partnership with Rare. This important initiative will increase representation of Black British students and widen participation at one of the UK’s top universities, but also offer gifted students from an under-represented group support to achieve their potential.
“I am looking forward to seeing the first students take part in the scheme and eventually welcoming the first cohort to study here with us at Bath.”