Hi everyone! I’m Emily, I am a first-year student at the University of Exeter studying BA(Hons) Modern Languages. Originally, I am from Stafford, and this time last year I was filled with anxiety and nerves as I applied for universities not knowing what my future entailed. Hundreds of questions would echo around my head like ‘Am I applying to the right place?’, ‘Will I cope with moving hours away from home?’ and ‘What should I expect from university?’, so I understand exactly how daunting the process can be. I also know first-hand that choosing which universities to apply for can be a stressful experience and can pose many difficulties, from researching course modules to finding out what the university location has to offer. However, I can now look back at all these worries and smile, knowing that it has all worked out better than I could have possibly imagined: I am living in a city that I love, surrounded by an amazing group of people, making the best memories ever! Choosing the right university for you is really important so to help ease some of the worries you may have and hopefully answer some of your pressing questions, here are some of the reasons why I chose to study at the university of Exeter.
Location
The University of Exeter has three campuses spanning across the gorgeous southwest England. The campus which I am based at (Streatham) is situated in the beautiful city of Exeter, in the county of Devon, characterised by a stunning natural landscape of beaches and greenery whilst also capturing some breath-taking historic architecture and a lively city atmosphere. This makes it the ideal place for escaping university life for a while and enjoying a relaxing stroll through nature. One of my favourite parts of living here so far has been exploring the areas around me: from hikes across the gorgeous countryside of Dartmoor which is scattered with animals roaming freely and rivers flowing through the forests, to a sunny day at Exmouth beach swimming in the sea with my friends, to sitting outside the Cathedral enjoying a bite to eat; Exeter really does have something for everyone. Whilst it is a relatively small city (giving it a friendly, close-knit feel), it also captures the buzzing student nightlife of the bigger cities so provides a perfect balance of comfort and excitement. This was crucial to me as someone coming from a relatively small town, I didn’t want to feel too overwhelmed in a new city but I still also wanted to enjoy a night out, so for me Exeter hits both of these criteria. Coming from the West Midlands, I had grown up with very limited access to beaches which is devastating as someone who loves nothing more than a swim and surf in the sea! With Streatham Campus being only a short 20 minute train journey from the beach, I’d be lying if I said that this isn’t a very exciting prospect to me and may have slightly influenced my decision!
Study abroad
Another factor to consider is the vast range of study abroad opportunities that the University of Exeter provides, which can be tailored to suit you. As someone studying a languages degree, ensuring that the University provided a variety of study abroad options and offered support for students was essential for me as a year abroad is built into the course. Currently, I am planning to do a work placement in Portugal over the summer at the end of year 2 and then spend year 3 studying in Brazil! However, even if you’re not studying a language, nearly all of the courses offer the option to study or work abroad or both! The University of Exeter is really flexible with how time abroad can be completed; it doesn’t have to be a year so you can do whatever fits in with you. If you choose to work, they also provide the option to split the year into multiple placements with different companies in different countries if you want to, which can be a great way to explore new places and figure out what you enjoy the most. It is also an amazing way to create contacts and gain experience to add to your CV. There are lots of people you can get in touch with if you have any queries about going abroad and numerous lectures are put in place to give you information and help you through the process. This was extremely reassuring to me, and I’m sure many others, as the prospect of spending a year in a foreign country can definitely be daunting, but with the help of the Uni I have not felt alone in the process at all!!
Open Days at the University of Exeter
The University of Exeter hosts a number of open days and offer holder days for prospective students. These are designed to let you have a look around campus, see the facilities and accommodations and to speak to people on your course. I attended an Offer Holder Visit Day at Exeter when I was deciding which university to put as my first choice and I found it to be really valuable experience as I was able to ask questions and see the whole campus in person. I attended a lecture for my Modern Languages course which provided me with some really useful information about what I should expect and which modules I could choose from. It also allowed me to get a feel for how lectures would be, which I found quite comforting as I had never experienced one before and the jump from a classroom environment to a lecture where you are working completely independently can be daunting. Luckily, this experience eased my nerves as there was a very positive atmosphere, and a sense that everyone was there to help each other each out as we were all in the same boat. I found that this was also a great way to meet people studying the same languages as me, and many of us exchanged numbers or social media details so that we already knew a few people before even starting University in September . The University also give out a lot of freebies like tote bags, stationery and even t-shirts so I would definitely recommend you to go! If you are an international student or are unable to attend any of these open days, don’t worry as there’s lots of places on the Exeter website where you can have a look around the campus virtually, and it lists the emails of people you can get in contact with if you have any queries.
Campus university
The University of Exeter prides itself on being a campus-based university – and rightfully so! It is packed with gorgeous greenery, community areas, study spaces, an on-site doctors and even an outdoor swimming pool! Providing a range of facilities on your doorstep, Exeter university is extremely convenient and accessible for everyone, and it means that don’t have to trek far if you have a nasty hangover! It also has a range of gorgeous historic architecture like Reed Hall and the Washington Singer Building (which I recommend everyone to have a look around if they get the opportunity to), whilst incorporating a modern take with new builds such as the Sarah Turvill Multifaith Centre. The vast expanses of nature that occupy the campus provide great spots to go for a relaxing walk or meet up with your friends. Additionally, the variety of social areas and cafes encourage a friendly atmosphere where you are always bumping into someone to talk to which creates a strong community feel. I think that this is really important, especially for in first year when you may not know anyone, it is so easy to meet people! The campus aspect of The University of Exeter makes it feel very safe, even as a female walking alone in the dark I have never felt worried on campus as there is a 24-hour safety patrol who are always on call and can be contacted via phone or through the SafetyZone app. They ensure that the campus is always a safe and welcoming environment, and they also provide services such as first aid, emergency repairs and access to locked rooms. Whilst the campus has everything you could need, the idyllic location means that you are still close to the city centre so have the best of both worlds!
Sports and societies
The strong sense of community is undoubtedly extended through to the societies and sports teams that everyone can get involved with at the University. From chilled, social sport to competitive BUCS teams, Exeter university provides a vast range of options, open to people of all abilities! This is perfect if you want to try something new like pickleball or korfball, or maybe restart a sport that you loved as a child or even if you want to move up to a professional, competitive level of sport. I decided to join netball Uni League 2 which is a chilled out, pitch up and play style of netball which is perfect if you just want something fun and social with a low commitment. There is also an amazing gym on campus which spans over two floors with a more cardio focused top floor, and free weights on the bottom floor. It has a huge range of high-quality machines and dumbbells and with it being located on campus, you won’t have to venture far at all to get there, so you can save all your energy for the workout. There is also ADC which is a gym for high performance sports training which is perfect for more intense, sport-focused workouts. It is also used by the powerlifting society which I am a member of. We do two weekly meets here where we train together and support each other on our lifts. It is also a very social environment where we catch up with each other and have a chat while training. If this wasn’t impressive enough, the campus also boasts multiple tennis courts, and outdoor pitches located at the sports park. However, sport isn’t for everyone, and if that’s the case then there’s so many other societies to choose from, providing a mix of sober and party socials. I personally am an avid member of surf society where we do weekly trips to beaches in Devon and Cornwall and even trips abroad to places like Morocco and Portugal. I would encourage everyone to join at least one society as it is a great way to relax from studying and meet new people – I have met some of my closest friends through societies! During fresher’s week, nearly all the societies hold taster sessions, where you can go and try them out and meet other people for completely free! This is an amazing way to try lots of different things without the pressure of having to commit to them, because if you decide that it’s not for you that completely fine! There is no financial pressure to commit to it.
League tables and course modules
Whilst surfing and sport are all so much fun, we do also have to consider the academic side (boring I know! But essential!). Arguably, the most important factor to think about is if the University is the right academic institution for you. As of 2025, the University of Exeter ranks in the top 20 universities in the UK according to the Guardian and has been continually consistent with this prestige in the previous years. It is also a member of the Russell Group, which means that it is part of a collection of 24 leading, research- intensive UK universities committed to excellence in both teaching and research. When applying to universities, this was important to me as it is highly regarded by employers and often something that they will look for. Module choice is also a key factor, and I found that the University of Exeter had one of the best module selections covering a variety of extremely thought-provoking topics. You can access a full list of modules for your course by searching ‘University of Exeter module information 2025 for (your course)’. I think this is a really good way to get a strong understanding of what your course will entail and what sorts of topics you can choose from.
A few last words
I hope this blog answered some of the questions you may have about studying at the University of Exeter, and given an insight into some of the amazing opportunities that the university provides. I can genuinely say that choosing the University of Exeter is one of the best decisions I have ever made: I have met some of the most amazing people and made lifelong memories, I can’t wait to see what new adventures it brings.