We know that you’re always on the lookout for places to study without too many distractions. Education Officer Amber has put together a list of the best quiet study spaces on campus.
Dedicated Quiet Study Spaces
Sensory Room
The Sensory Room comes from a collaboration with librarians and disability service alongside our disabled students group DAG. Please note that you need to request access to the sensory room. You can do this by contacting the disability co-ordinator team via disability-supportworkers@bath.ac.uk.
It has one main room that has stim toys, adjustable lighting, bean bags, and plenty of plugs, alongside bookable rooms with desks for DSA appointments.
The room is on the third floor of the library and can be a bit difficult to find, but the library has new signage for this! . If you can use stairs or don’t mind traversing the busiest library floor, enter the library from the Parade, use the stairs at the far end of the learning space up to the third floor. Go through the double doors and follow the set of doors to your right. Otherwise, use the lift, and when you reach the third floor, go straight ahead through the quiet study space, and follow the set of doors on your left.
Polden Commons
Polden Commons is an informal space with booths and tables and chairs, as well as a microwave, sink, and hot water boiler. This could be used socially or for study. It is open 08:00–19:00 on weekdays during term time (as otherwise it serves breakfast for B&B guests), and you just need to scan your library card at the door to get in.
Polden Commons can be accessed with no steps via the west side of campus. If you're taking a bus, you can get off on the North Street stop by The Avenue, and head to 10 West. You can also go under the Parade, but it is usually busy with vehicles and badly lit.
6WS / The Learning Commons
6 West South used to be a massive lecture hall (and before that, a staff space with a bar and bowling alley!) but is now an open study space (“The Learning Commons”)with plenty of plugs. It is open 08:15-22:00 every day, is often quite empty, and is preferred as a quiet study space. It gets plenty of natural light thanks to the glass walls, so keep this in mind if you are light sensitive.
6WS is also accessible via The Avenue and has a ramp access route on the side.
Milner Centre
The Milner Centre is a building near 4 South. Upstairs, it has a variety of seating arrangements. There are plugs in the floor, and it is a space that encourages quiet work. There are sometimes conferences and widening participation activities for primary schools here.
The Milner CentreMilner itself has step-free access from the bus but the study space is upstairs so you may need to take a lift.
Near Busy Places
Library Basement/Level One
The library is open 24/7, always warm, and the basement is often quiet. You can access this floor via the lift, or via the stairs on your right as you enter from the parade. It has plenty of plugs, individual study pods, and a computer lab.
Busier Spaces
Chancellors Building
Chancellors Building often has empty rooms (which you can check via scanning the QR code on the door via MyTimetable) but also has a study pod, and small ledges and chairs. The Disability Action Group runs sensory friendly study sessions here.
The Chancellors Building has step-free access, but study spaces may need to be accessed via a lift.
East Building
East Building has some tables and chairs scattered across the higher levels – but these are not consistent, have limited plug access, and seeing it is home to one of the biggest lecture theatres, tends to get super noisy around lectures.
East Building is flat and has some study space downstairs, but you may need to use a lift to get upstairs.
4ES, By the Windows
By the windows in 4 East South, there are sets of tables and chairs next to plugs. These are few and only fit a couple of people, but get a glorious amount of light, and seem positively glorious when the doors are open during good weather.
Disclaimer from a student in DAG: "It’s kind of a corridor so you do get the occasional group walking through at varying levels of noise, and it can get quite busy there during architecture tutorials & reviews”. 4ES is flat.
10 West
10 West has some spots on the second floor (level 3) with plugs, which you can get to by turning right instead of carrying on up the stairs. They are also home to the graduate study space and graduate commons.
Sensory Hours
Spaces across the university are set to have quiet hours, which don’t have to necessarily have to be for study! Keep an eye on social media for more quiet and sensory hours.
The Plug and Tub
The Plug and Tub is set to have no music/lowered lighting in the mornings.
Lime Tree
Lime Tree is set to have a section with lowered lighting and no music: "quiet hours between 15:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday during term time. The soft seating area at the East Car Park end will have the lighting dimmed and music turned off."