Hey y’all ! A while ago, I attempted to start a review of study spaces on campus, naming it “where would Amber study” or WWAS for short. It was a flop.

Since then, we have had loads of study space audits on campus – my personal favourite being one done by a returning librarian which gave cold hard evidence to the Uni that we like modern spaces with lots of light and plugs, and has led to some neat improvements in the library around making it more welcoming with a mural, and improving navigation, But, at the request of the lovely people of Beginning at Bath, I give you Amber’s guide to quiet spots on campus ??

 

Always calm, always quiet

Sensory Room

TLDR: The sensory room comes from collaboration with disabled students, it has a main sensory area and DSA appointment rooms you can book. Remember to request access, and double check how to get there as it is a bit hidden away. It is open 24/7.

 

The sensory room in the library was a true labour of love – getting off the ground thanks to the librarians and disability service alongside collaborating with our disabled students group DAG (which I chaired in final year, and the following chair Jess took up a lot of work for the room too!). Please note that you need to request access to the sensory room.

The room is on the third floor of the library and can be a bit difficult to find. If you are able to use stairs/don’t mind traversing the busiest library floor, I would recommend entering the library from the parade, using the stairs at the far end of the learning space, and coming up to the third floor. From there, go through the double doors, and follow the set of doors to your right. Otherwise (or if you don’t want to go through somewhere busy and loud!), 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.

 

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.

 

Polden Commons

Polden Commons was opened up for all students last semester. It is an informal space with booths and tables/chairs, as well as a microwave, sink, and hot water boiler. This could be used socially or for study. It is open 8:00 – 19:00 on weekdays during termtime (as otherwise it serves breakfast for B&B guests), and you just need to scan your library card at the door to get in.

 

6WS

6WS used to be a massive lecture hall, but is now a quite open study space with plenty of plugs. It is open 8:15- 22:00 every day, and 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.

 

Milner Centre

Always my wild card, the Milner Centre is a building for postgrad Biology that I holed away in for my dissertation writing. Upstairs, it has high tables and chairs, seats and tables, and comfy seats alongside low-level tables. There are plugs hidden in the floor, and it is very much a space that calls for quiet work. As a heads-up there are sometimes conferences and widening participation activities for primary schools here.

 

Near or you have to go through busy places

Library basement / Level One

The library is open 24/7, always warm, and the basement is always amazingly 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.

 

A bit variant, but usually good for a quiet corner

The Edge (great for socialising too !)

The ground floor of the Edge is currently informally split in two. There is a large open area by the back glass wall with tables and chairs, as well as longer bench tables with high chairs that gets a lot of natural light. There is then large ‘boxes’ with seats in that split this area, and provide a more shaded softly lit area complete with a honky tonk piano, bean bags, more tables, and bookcases full of board games etc (we are also looking to set up consoles, so watch this space!)

 

Chancellors Building

Chancellors Building often has empty rooms (which you can check via scanning the QR code on the door, via MyTimetable, or via CompSci student Penn’s genius “froom”) but also has a rogue studypod, and a spattering of small ledges and chairs. DAG tends to run sensory friendly study sessions here (as well as socials!) and I would recommend checking them out!

 

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.

 

4ES, by the windows

By the windows in 4ES, 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.

 

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, the former of which you used to be able to get to by going up the back stairs. But you didn’t hear that from me.

 

Set to have sensory hours, and not strictly for study!

Watch this space for more info on sensory hours from our community officer Benji, but as a sneak peek…

The Plug and Tub

The Plug and Tub is set to have no music/lowered lighting in the mornings. This is also (as well as the student centre) where we tend to have Tabletop Society set up – they are always busy (and loud!) but absolutely a charm.

 

Lime Tree

Lime Tree is set to have a section with lowered lighting and no music – in their words "quiet hours between 3pm to 5pm, 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."