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What is the University of Exeter?
The University of Exeter is a UK university based in the South West of England, part of the Russell Group of research-intensive institutions. Its own site presents it as a place for study and research across undergraduate, postgraduate taught, postgraduate research, online, and degree apprenticeship routes, with campuses in Exeter and Cornwall.
University of Exeter
What it offers
- Study options: Undergraduate courses, Masters courses, PhDs and research degrees, online degrees, degree apprenticeships, professional education and teacher training (PGCE).
- Research and innovation: The university describes its research as working on greener, healthier and fairer outcomes, and runs Exeter Innovation for partnerships with organisations.
- Student experience: Accommodation, student life, careers support, funding and scholarships, and international student information.
- Ways to explore: Open Days, registering interest, virtual tours, and a course search.
H3. Who it suits It fits students who want a research-intensive UK university with a broad subject range and a South West location, and organisations looking for research partnerships or executive education. Prospective students should compare course structure, entry requirements and funding before applying, since these vary by programme.
A useful next step: use the course search to shortlist programmes, then check the Open Day and funding pages for your level of study.
How do I apply to the University of Exeter as an international student?
International applicants apply through the University of Exeter's own online application routes, choosing the path that matches the level of study. The main decision is whether you are applying as an undergraduate or as a postgraduate, because the process and the supporting documents differ.
Choose your route
- Undergraduate: Apply through UCAS, the UK's central admissions service, rather than directly to Exeter.
- Postgraduate taught (Masters): Apply directly to the university using its online application form.
- Postgraduate research (PhD): Apply directly, and expect to discuss a research proposal with a supervisor or department before or during the process.
- Online, degree apprenticeship or professional courses: Follow the specific application instructions listed with each programme.
What you will typically need
- Academic transcripts and certificates from your previous study
- English language test results, unless you are exempt
- A personal statement explaining your interest and fit
- References, usually academic
- A research proposal for PhD applications
- Passport or ID details, and possibly a visa history
Practical next step
Use the course search on University of Exeter to open the exact programme page, then check its "How to apply" and entry requirements sections. That page is the authoritative checklist for your subject; general university pages cannot confirm whether your specific qualification or English score is accepted.
A useful comparison
| Level | Where to apply | Key extra step |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | UCAS | Meet UCAS deadlines and write a UCAS personal statement |
| Postgraduate taught | Direct to Exeter | Upload transcripts and references in the online portal |
| Postgraduate research | Direct to Exeter | Agree a supervisor and submit a research proposal |
Funding and visas
International students should check scholarships and funding deadlines early, as these often fall before the course application deadline. Once you hold an offer, you will need to meet any conditions and then apply for a Student visa; the university's international pages explain the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) process.
Decision criterion
If you are unsure which route applies, ask one question: is the qualification an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate one? That single answer determines whether you go through UCAS or the university's direct portal. For anything ambiguous, contact the admissions team for your specific programme before submitting.
What undergraduate courses does the University of Exeter offer?
The University of Exeter offers undergraduate degrees across a broad range of subject areas, taught mainly at its Exeter (Streatham and St Luke's) and Cornwall (Penryn) campuses. Its own course search is organised by subject area, with entry routes for undergraduate, postgraduate taught, postgraduate research, degree apprenticeship and online study.
Subject areas typically available at undergraduate level
- Sciences: biosciences, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, geography, geology, environmental science, sport and health sciences
- Engineering: civil, mechanical, electronic, renewable energy and related engineering programmes
- Humanities: English, history, archaeology, classics, modern languages, theology and religion
- Social sciences: business, economics, accounting and finance, law, politics, international relations, sociology, criminology, psychology
- Health and medicine: medicine, nursing, medical imaging and allied health programmes
- Education and teacher training, including PGCE routes for graduates
How to find the right course
Use the university's course search and filter by level of study, subject, campus and entry requirements. If you are deciding between similar options, compare the module lists for each year and the type of assessment used, since two courses with similar names can differ substantially in content and structure.
A practical next step
Shortlist three or four courses, then check entry requirements and attend an open day or offer-holder event to see the campus and teaching facilities. For official course lists and current entry criteria, see University of Exeter. If you are also considering other Russell Group institutions, compare their course structures directly, for example UCL or The University of Manchester.
What funding and scholarships are available for University of Exeter students?
Funding at Exeter is mostly course- and country-specific: the university advertises scholarships and funding through a central "Funding and scholarships" section, but most awards sit with individual colleges, departments, or partner organisations. There is no single universal discount for every offer holder.
Who typically finds money
- International undergraduates and postgraduates: country or region awards, plus merit scholarships run by colleges.
- UK students: means-tested bursaries, care-leaver and estranged-student support, and subject-specific awards.
- Postgraduate researchers: funded studentships, often tied to a specific project or supervisor, advertised alongside the PhD.
- Degree apprentices: funding usually comes through the employer and apprenticeship levy rather than a scholarship.
How to check what you can get
- Start at the university's funding pages, then move to your subject's own page — many awards never appear in a central list.
- Note the deadline, which is often months before the course starts and separate from the application deadline.
- Check eligibility wording carefully: nationality, fee status, household income, and first-in-family criteria all vary.
- Ask the admissions team in writing whether your course has any automatic consideration.
A practical scenario
A prospective international master's student should treat the course page, the country-specific page, and any college funding page as three separate searches. A UK undergraduate from a lower-income household should look at bursaries and accommodation support instead, since merit awards at this level are rarer.
Where to compare
Government support is separate from university awards and worth checking first: GOV.UK for undergraduate finance, and UKCISA for international student money advice. For the university's own listings, use University of Exeter.
Next step: pick one specific course and one specific award, and confirm in writing that you meet every stated condition before the deadline.
What is student life like at the University of Exeter?
Student life at Exeter combines a research-intensive Russell Group environment with a campus-based, society-heavy experience in the South West of England. From the university's own pages, the picture is of a full wraparound: campuses, accommodation, student life, careers support and funding and scholarships are all presented as part of the offer, alongside academic study at undergraduate, Masters, PhD and online levels.
What shapes day-to-day life
- Campus setting: Exeter presents itself across multiple campuses, including a Cornwall presence, so your experience depends heavily on which campus your course sits on. A Penryn-based student and a Streatham-based student will have different daily rhythms.
- Accommodation: The university treats accommodation as a core part of the student experience rather than an afterthought, which matters most in first year when you are building your social circle.
- Student life and societies: The site carries a dedicated student life section and a "Student Voices" blog. That blog is the most useful thing to read before applying, because it is written by current students describing their own experience rather than by marketing staff.
- Careers and employability: Careers support is listed alongside study, suggesting it is embedded rather than saved for final year.
- Open Days: These are promoted as the main way to test the atmosphere in person.
A realistic reader scenario
If you are comparing Exeter with a big-city university, the trade-off is usually pace and cost against scale and anonymity. Exeter suits students who want a defined campus community, easier walking distances and a strong society scene, and who are comfortable in a smaller city. If you want a huge, anonymous metropolis with endless internship options on your doorstep, that is a different proposition.
Practical next step
Book an Open Day, then read the Student Voices blog for the campus you would actually attend, not the one in the prospectus photos. Ask current students three specific questions: how easy is it to get into your chosen societies, what is the accommodation situation after first year, and how do students get to placements or internships.
For comparison, look at how other Russell Group universities in smaller cities present their student life, for example University of Warwick and University of Bath, and use UCAS to check course-level details rather than relying on university homepages.
How can businesses partner with the University of Exeter through Exeter Innovation?
Businesses can partner with the University of Exeter through Exeter Innovation, the university's dedicated gateway for commercial collaboration. It positions itself as a partner for transformative innovation, drawing on Exeter's research and teaching to create "real and lasting impact" by working with organisations of all types and sizes on their innovation journey.
University of Exeter
H3 Practical routes a business can take
- Research collaboration: Work with academics on applied problems in areas the university describes as making the world greener, healthier and fairer.
- Innovation projects: Exeter Innovation frames itself around partnering across an organisation's innovation journey, so the starting point is usually a defined challenge or opportunity rather than a fixed product.
- Talent and skills: The university's teaching side includes Degree Apprenticeships, Professional Education and Executive Education, which are common ways employers upskill staff or bring in early-career talent.
- Regional engagement: Exeter lists regional engagement as a distinct activity, which matters if your business operates in the South West and wants local partnerships.
H3 Who this suits
| If you are... | Exeter Innovation is likely useful for... |
|---|---|
| A small or mid-sized company with a specific technical problem | Accessing research expertise without building an in-house R&D team |
| A larger organisation planning a multi-year innovation programme | Structured collaboration and links to researchers and facilities |
| An employer focused on workforce skills | Degree apprenticeships, professional and executive education |
| A Cornwall or South West business | Regional engagement and local partnership routes |
H3 A useful next step Before contacting Exeter Innovation, write a one-page brief: the problem you want to solve, the timescale, what you can contribute (data, funding, staff time, test sites) and what success looks like. That gives the university something concrete to match to a department or researcher.
For a concrete example, a regional manufacturer wanting to reduce energy use could approach Exeter Innovation with its process data and a target, then explore a research project with an academic group while sending a staff member onto an executive or professional course in parallel — combining a technical collaboration with skills development.
If you are specifically interested in Cornwall, the university's Cornwall presence is worth checking separately, since campus location can shape which expertise and facilities are easiest to access.
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