Hello! My name is Raitieli and I will be discussing student halls within the city of Exeter. Having lived here for 5 years now, after graduating from my Bachelors and now studying for my Masters, I spent most of these amazing years of my academic journey living in student halls based in the heart of the city.
I hope this blog is informative and helpful in regards to accommodation off campus and truly encourages you to consider the benefits of living off campus in the city of Exeter.
Getting Around
In regards to getting around, living in the city centre is such an amazing benefit to any student. I simply have to step outside my doorstep and I am already in town and in close proximity to so many shops, grocery stores and cute cafes where I occasionally study and meet my friends. In terms of distance, it takes about two minutes to get from my accommodation to the city centre or high street, and about twenty minutes to get to campus.
Travelling to and from campus:
If you’re not too fond of walking, Exeter has many bus routes you are able to take as well. There are buses that go from the city centre directly to the University, so if you ever have one of those days where you a bit too tired to walk to campus with the hills that Exeter has to offer, a bus that goes directly to Streatham or St Luke’s campus is definitely the option for you! You don’t need to worry about timings, as the buses run from 6:20 am-23:24 pm. They also come very often and run every day of the week. Another good thing to remember with transport around Exeter, is how affordable everything is. In regards to bus services, usual ticket fees are only £2 but discounts such as bus passes are also available. When living in student halls based in the city centre, you therefore don’t have to worry about transport costs too much: having everything in close proximity and not having to travel far to get the basic essentials for your day-to-day life has truly been one of the best things about living here: convenience and close proximity of things can be a simple breath of fresh air and generally make life less stressful.
The City
Being so close to the city, I was able to naturally explore and check out the scenery in the area. To my surprise, I found how much historic and sentimental value Exeter carried with a lot of culture in relation to the Roman Era. The architecture such as the cathedral, Exeter Castle, Northernhay and the Rougemont Gardens are great spots to see in person. Along with these historical locations, there are many cute cafes for study dates where you can soak in the soft and calming aroma of caffeine and casual conversation with my friends during the summer- which would not have been a possibility if we all didn’t decide to go out and explore the city!
International shops nearby:
- Mesopotamia
- 168 Asian Store
- African and Caribbean Basket
- Best One International
- Heera International Foods
- Continental Food Stores
- Yonk Asian Supermarket
My favourite places in the city
Some of my favourite places include:
- The Undergrad Cafe
- The local library in Exeter
- The Quay
- Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery (RAMM)
- Exeter Phoenix
My Experience
I can safely and confidently say that living in student halls based in the city has made my university experience far more special. The events that I was able to attend have offered so much opportunity career wise, socially and network wise. As well as this, the accommodation that I lived in throughout my Bachelors and Masters degrees all offered outstanding facilities (I go into more detail on these below). Not only has my experience been enjoyable, but my safety and security has always been a top priority. If any new students feel the same, and are maybe nervous of seeing and living in a new city, don’t worry – your safety will always be a top priority if you choose to live in accommodation in the centre of Exeter!
In this next section of my blog, I will be discussing my own personal experiences that showcase the social aspects and benefits to living in the city centre, the facilities they have available for students, as well as the safety precautions and procedures in place.
Social aspects:
Many student halls in Exeter have a large shared space available for all students to use. This space can have a kitchen, games such as a pool table or foosball table, study spaces etc… This common space is often used by many societies and is where social events are hosted and organised. As a natural introvert, living in student halls allowed me to branch out and socialise more at university, meeting new people from all walks of life. There are often karaoke events, potlucks, games nights and other events that might pique anyone’s interest! If you would like to organise an event yourself, the booking system is so simple as well, making it easy to book rooms for you and your friends to enjoy an evening together in these student halls.
Facilities available:
- Gyms – if you enjoy physical activity, but in the comfort of your own home, you’ll be happy to know that many student halls provide a gym with lots of different equipment. If not, there are many gyms in the city centre which offer fairly affordable memberships.
- Laundry room
- Common space
- Kitchens – similarly to the common space, the kitchen is another shared area that is also bookable for many student halls. For those who like to cook and host for their friends or family, living in student halls based in the city is definitely a good option for you.
- Reception area – from my experience, the staff at student halls have always been so friendly and helpful. They understand the stress and pressure students may be under and are always willing to help. They cater to everyone, including both local and international students, and so you’ll feel at home in no time.
- Security – if you ever get locked out or need assistance, a security team is always available. Some student accommodation blocks also have a policy that after a certain time in the evening, certain areas of the student halls are no longer accessible to anyone who isn’t a resident, providing an added element of safety.
In conclusion, living in student halls off campus has truly elevated my university experience and exposed me to an abundance of social events. As someone that is naturally introverted and tends to keep to herself, I’d say that living off campus really helped me embrace the social aspects of student life and placed me in a position to interact and explore the city through an entirely new perspective.