Study at the
University of Exeter
A Russell Group leader in research and sustainability
The University of Exeter is a collegiate plate-glass research university. It opened its doors in 1963 and now has over 17,900 students who study in thirty academic departments. It is a campus university, covering over 500 acres of land just south-east of the city of Exeter in Northeast England.
The University has two campuses, called Heslington West and Heslington East. It has nine residential colleges spread across the 2 campuses.
The latter campus only opened in 2009 and is home to 3 of the 9 colleges and a sports village, while the former houses 6 and also incorporates York Science Park and the National Science Learning Centre. This makes for a very green and open campus!
Exeter has produced many distinguished alumni across diverse fields, including J.K. Rowling (author of Harry Potter), Thom Yorke (Radiohead), and numerous leaders in business, politics, and the sciences. The university’s graduates boast an impressive employability rate, with 92% securing graduate-level roles or further study within 15 months, at companies like Deloitte, Rolls-Royce, and IBM.
Academic matters
The University of Exeter is a highly selective institution, with the average student at the University achieving a UCAS Tariff of 430, the 19th highest in the UK. Only 78.5% of applicants receive offers of admission, the joint 15th lowest in the Russell Group, a self-selected association of 24 public research universities in the United Kingdom.
The Times University Guide said of Exeter that “The university is increasingly recognised as a permanent fixture in the top rank of British higher education” and that “No university had a better record for teaching quality.”
In 2019, it was also ranked 12th in the UK both for the quality of its research and in the overall national rankings by The Guardian.
Student Life
The collegiate system at Exeter creates a lively social atmosphere. Each student is randomly assigned a college, to which they belong for the rest of their degree. Most colleges have a Junior Common Room for undergraduate students, managed by the elected Junior Common Room Committee, and a Graduate Common Room for postgraduate students, as well as a Senior Common Room, managed by elected representatives of the college’s staff. The Sunday Times asserted, “The colleges are tight-knit communities within the university and enjoy a healthy rivalry.”
The students’ union at the University of Exeter plays an important role, with its membership consisting of the entire student population. There are over 200 societies on offer, from ‘Hummus Appreciation Society’ to ‘Opera Society’. What’s more, each college has its own JCRC or students’ association, which provides many services, including organising college events and student welfare services.
Interestingly, the University of Exeter is home to both the oldest student television station and the oldest independent radio station in the United Kingdom. In addition, York’s student newspaper, Nouse, has won many Guardian Student Newspaper awards, thanks to its website and its outstanding journalists. Moreover, the University of Exeter Music Society and the University of Exeter Drama Society are 2 of the University’s largest societies, and both put on performances and/or concerts every week during term time. Naturally, with all of these achievements and societies, there is a real culture of creativity, artistic enquiry, and journalism at the University.
Combining world-class research, outstanding teaching, a beautiful campus setting, and a supportive community, the University of Exeter offers a truly exceptional student experience!
How do I apply?
To apply to Exeter, you need strong academic results and rigorous preparation.
What are the different stages of the application?
There are several steps:
- Apply through UCAS
- Receive a conditional offer
- Meet the requirements of your offer
- Confirm your acceptance
The details of these steps are covered below and on the University’s website.
How to begin an application:
Candidates apply via the British online platform UCAS, uploading a personal essay (Personal Statement), their predicted grades, and a letter of recommendation from one of their teachers. Students may only submit one Personal Statement for all the universities they apply to (maximum of 5 choices). The Personal Statement, which must be no more than 4,000 characters, should explain why students want to study their chosen course, what aspects particularly interest them, what steps they have already taken to engage with the subject (reading, conferences, internships etc.), and, if possible, what aspects they are looking forward to studying.
Conditional offer and acceptance:
If students succeed in all these stages, in January they will receive a ‘conditional offer’ of admission. This means that they will be accepted if they attain the required grades (most often a high grade in their end-of-high-school exams and in a standardized English test: 7.5 in the IELTS, for example).
What is the deadline for applying?
Deadlines:
The deadline for applications to the University of Exeter is January 15 of a student’s final year of secondary school or sixth-form college (Year 13).
When should you start preparing for the University of Exeter?
We strongly recommend that you start preparing at the end of Year 11 or the beginning of Year 12. If you can, start your reading and think about what to write in your Personal Statement as early as possible. Some candidates, particularly those whose English is weaker, should consider starting even earlier. See this link for useful information for international candidates.
Try to find aspects of your chosen course that genuinely interest you, and think carefully about why you want to study this subject: after all, you are applying to study it full time for at least 3 years.
Can you visit the campus?
To check upcoming visit days at Exeter, see this page.
What is the student profile at the University of Exeter?
Before deciding to apply to Exeter, we recommend that you review the specific academic requirements of the course you are interested in. Some applicants may also be asked to attend an interview as part of the application process.
Fees
The UK government has confirmed that from 2021/22 entry, EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals are no longer eligible for home fee status or financial support from Student Finance England. You can find out more here.
Tuition fees vary depending on whether your course is laboratory-based or classroom-based. If your course is both, you will pay the higher fee.
When working out the cost of any university, you should also factor in the cost of living.
Exeter provides an estimate of the cost of living on its website, with a detailed list of the costs you can expect, including housing and social expenses.
You can expect an average budget of around £10,000 per year, including accommodation, transport and personal expenses.
Are you ready to study at the University of Exeter?
We’re here to help!
University of Exeter Admissions 2026
The University of Exeter is a Russell Group university, ranked 153rd in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Located in the beautiful South West of England, it has two campuses (Exeter and Penryn in Cornwall) and welcomes 30,000 students, 27% of whom are international. Applications are made through UCAS, with a January 29 deadline (October 15 for Medicine). The average admission rate is 70%, but some courses are selective: Medicine (8%), Law (20%) and Business (30%). Baccalauréat applicants need a Mention Très Bien, with an average of 17/20 or above. IELTS requirements range from 6.5 to 7.5 depending on the programme.
Exeter 2026: Tuition Fees and Student Life
International tuition fees at Exeter for 2025–2026: GBP 25,000–32,000 per year. Arts and Humanities GBP 25,000, Social Sciences GBP 27,000, Business GBP 28,000, Sciences GBP 30,000, Medicine (MBBS) GBP 42,000 (pre-clinical) / GBP 49,000 (clinical). Housing in Exeter costs GBP 500–800 per month, and the cost of living is 40% lower than in London. Total annual budget: GBP 38,000–48,000. Exeter is ranked in the UK top 10 for student satisfaction.
Exeter’s Top Programmes
Exeter excels in Business (its Business School is in the UK top 15 and AACSB-accredited), Medicine (UK top 10), Psychology, Sport Science, Geography (UK top 5), English Literature and Drama. The University of Exeter Business School offers BSc degrees in International Business, Economics, Finance, Accounting and Marketing. After your bachelor’s degree, the Graduate Visa lets you work in the UK without restriction for 2 years. JK Rowling studied at Exeter.