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Overview

Being named Higher Education Institution of the Year in 2023 by the National Education Opportunities Network for its work in widening access to university confounds the traditional green wellies and VW Golf GTi image of Exeter students in popular culture. In fact, almost one in four students entered the university last September holding a contextual offer, which undercuts standard offers by two or three A-level grades in recognition of disadvantage. Places on some of the university's most popular programmes are ring-fenced for students who meet its widening participation criteria. There are also 3,000 degree apprentices, who split their time between paid work and study, more than at any other Russell Group university. Privately educated students make up just under 30% of the intake, and Exeter has undoubtedly attracted a chunk of those students who have been displaced by the recent change in admissions policies at Oxbridge. The main Streatham campus in Exeter - one of the UK's most beautiful - is home to the majority of students. There are smaller outposts at nearby St Luke's, which is home to its medical school, and at Penryn in Cornwall, on a campus shared with Falmouth University. 

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Paying the bills

All British students from homes with an annual income of up to £30,000 qualify for a yearly Access to Exeter bursary worth £800, rising to £1,260 for incomes between £16,001 and £25,000, and £2,100 for an income of £16,000 or less. There are generous sports scholarships for those who will add to Exeter's outstanding track record in inter-university sport, as well as choral scholarships - one of which is offered by Exeter Cathedral. Exeter has retained substantial discounts on accommodation fees for the 2024-25 academic year, introduced in response to the cost-of-living crisis. Students from homes with an income of £25,001 to £42,875 get a £750 discount, rising to £1,000 when income drops to £25,000 or below. It is not yet known if this will continue for students enrolling in September 2025. Room prices have climbed by up to 11.6% in Exeter this year, with smaller increases in Penryn of between 5% and 6.5%. Accommodation in Exeter now costs between £5,192 for a 42-week tenancy and £7,968 for 40 weeks.

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What's new?

Exeter is among a minority of research-intensive Russell Group universities to secure triple gold in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework, for student experience, outcomes and its overall rating. This puts it on a par with Oxbridge and ahead of direct rivals Durham, Bristol and the University of London institutions. The university's Strategy 2030 seeks to build on this success with improvements to the student experience and wbc247 teaching quality. Central to this is the growing network of 'makerspaces' on campus, which encourage innovation and the creation of prototypes using 3D printing and advanced robotic and digital simulation equipment. There has also been investment in new digital platforms for examinations, assessments and high-end learning resources. This will complement Exeter's top-quality, in-person teaching and allow for a properly blended academic experience for the digital age. The university has been pushing its eco credentials to applicants and students, too. Aiming to be carbon net zero by 2030, the university is installing air source heat pumps to replace gas boilers, as well as 2,000 solar panels to further reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

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Admissions, teaching and student support

All applicants from state schools who live in the 40% of postcodes either sending the fewest students to university or that are the most deprived get a contextual offer two grades below the standard offer. Students receiving free school meals get the same grade discount, while applicants from Exeter progression programmes and those who are care experienced get offers up to three grades under the published requirements. This is all part of Exeter's award-winning drive to diversify its intake (see Overview, above). Degree apprenticeships are central to this policy, too. While plenty of the Russell Group institutions have sidestepped degree apprenticeships, Exeter expects to have 3,600 apprentice learners on campus by 2025. This month an accounting finance manager apprenticeship will join the 10 undergraduate and seven postgraduate degree apprenticeships already offered. All staff, regardless of their role, are given training in mental health awareness and suicide prevention to better equip them for supporting students. This blanket approach is unusual and a strong response to several student suicides over the past decade. The university's wellbeing team provides daily drop-in sessions for students with mental health concerns, alongside online advice, resources and webinars. As part of the drive to keep those on campus safe, Exeter has introduced equality, diversity and inclusion training for students, alongside consent awareness training. 

ISSN: 2442-8787