Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At ASE, we believe in meeting students where they are, and also challenging them to grow their perspectives and experiences.

Our commitment to valuing diversity requires that all members of the ASE community work toward inclusive excellence. This means that ALL members of the community - students, faculty, and staff - contribute to the larger goals of diversity, inclusion, and equity.

By diversity, we mean the concept of representation, participation, integration, and interaction of individuals from different races, ethnicities, nations of origin, gender identities and sexual orientations, socioeconomic status, age, ability, and religion, while also recognising that all of us have multiple identities.

Although our courses have a deliberate British focus to them, ASE has always striven to ensure that our teaching is representative of the diverse and multi-cultural nature of British history and society.

ASE is continuously focused on providing a variety of voices within the classroom.

Some ASE courses are offered with an obvious diversity focus, such as: Queering the Gothic, Contemporary Black British Literature, Re-visiting the Museum, Women, Lunacy & Literature, Black Fantastika, and Patterns of Power: Theories of Gender, Race, Class and Sexuality in Contemporary Society.

Other courses deliberately include elements of diversity within the teaching framework, with an intentional focus on examining the work of a wide and inclusive range of authors and writers throughout history as well as in the contemporary world. To give just one example, Vikings: Myth & Reality – looks at gender, sexuality, and attitudes to disability in the Viking world, and makes use of English, Frankish, Sámi and Arabic sources alongside the Scandinavian material to examine cultural difference across the Viking world.

Our Summer School - with its rotating array of faculty - allows us to offer core courses including Bath, Britain and the Black Atlantic alongside one-off courses such as Queer Victorians and London Calling/Londyn Dzwoni: Transnational Narratives of Migration and Belonging.

The ASE Core Lecture Series is attended weekly by all students, with ASE faculty and local scholars discussing topics such as ‘Bath, Bristol, & The Trans-Atlantic Trade’, ‘Constructing Gender & Identity in Ancient Law & Myth: Ancient Mirrors for Modern Times’ and ‘Why LGBTQ History Matters’. This forum allows students to learn together and engage in conversation in a supportive and intellectually challenging environment.

In addition to purposefully broadening viewpoints in the classroom, ASE also works to promote diversity in student engagement within the rest of the programme and the greater community.

Students who wish to concentrate on historic and present day questions of equality and justice can apply for ASE internship placements with organisations such as the M-Shed and Georgian House museums in Bristol and local professional network B in Bath.

Our Certificate of Cultural Enrichment is designed to help students explore questions about culture and identity, via their commitment to join in community activities and then participate in regular discussions about their experiences.

ASE hosts a full schedule of social and cultural activities - such as day trips, movie nights, a baking competition and a pub quiz - and we’re actively looking at issues of accessibility and diversity in our offerings. Because we’re a small programme, we’re able to be responsive to student needs and interests.

The ASE Bulletin is also published weekly to keep students updated on community offerings. Opportunities range broadly, for example: talks by diverse authors at our neighbourhood bookshops, a local Queer Coffee gathering, and Black History Month events.

We’re continuously expanding our ASE library holdings to include a wide range of voices and perspectives. Whether students are researching for coursework or simply reading for leisure and personal exploration, we hope to provide a growing collection that reflects the breadth of human experience.

All ASE students benefit from an associate membership to the Bath Spa University Student Union, meaning that they have the opportunity to join a variety of student clubs and societies. These organisations can provide a welcoming and supportive space to connect with peers who share various interests and aspects of identity.

We aim to widen participation in the ASE experience by offering a range of scholarships that promote equity and inclusivity.

At present, the need-based scholarships focused specifically on increasing diversity include the Don Nunes scholarship – available to a student from an under-represented population – and the Mike Ruiz scholarship – available to a student from the LGBTQ+ community. Additional need-based scholarships and assistantships are also available, with the goal of making the ASE programme more accessible to students from varied socioeconomic backgrounds.

Every student at ASE is assigned a staff mentor, available to discuss any questions or concerns - from dealing with homesickness, to finding support for their identity within the community.

ASE staff can also help to connect students to our local partner, Focus Counselling, and to medical care if needed. ASE’s Rainbow Mentor is also available to support LGBTQ+ students, and our Safeguarding Mentor supports students through any issues of gender discrimination.

Students who need academic accommodations are supported by the Director of Studies to ensure that these are provided in their courses. If students have particular needs with regard to housing, identified during the admissions process, we also will do our best to accommodate these needs with the resources available.

ASE staff participate in regular training to enhance our ability to serve students. This includes attending conferences and workshops focused on diversity in international education. We have also hosted in-house training on topics such as mental health and trans awareness. Time and funds spent on training are an essential investment in providing the best possible programme for all ASE students.

If you have questions about your own needs during the programme, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.

We welcome conversations about how we can best support you.