Hi everyone! I’m Riccardo, a second-year undergraduate student studying Classics and Art History.
I’m originally from Italy, where I study at the University of Bologna, and I’m currently spending a year in Exeter thanks to the Erasmus+ programme. Needless to say, I was terrified before leaving: I had to say goodbye to friends, family, and my hometown for an entire year and move to a completely unfamiliar place in a country I barely knew. A thousand worries kept swirling in my head: “What modules will I take? How will I make friends? What if I need help while I’m there?”
Let’s be honest – I didn’t really know what to expect before leaving. I didn’t even know where Exeter was! I only discovered the city while scrolling through the endless list of possible destinations. So what convinced me to choose this city in the UK? And what made me pick the University of Exeter among so many other options? Keep reading to find out – because that’s exactly what I’ll be talking about today.
Module selection
As I mentioned, I study at an Italian university and so I’ve been in Exeter just for this academic year. Part of the Erasmus+ programme required me to select a number of modules that would be recognised once I returned to Italy.
Because of this, choosing the right host university was crucial: you don’t want to run the risk of your home university rejecting your modules once your exchange is over! Among the many available destinations, Exeter stood out for the wide range of modules it offered. I’ve taken classes like Roman Philosophy, Latin Literature, and Renaissance Art. What’s more, even though my exchange was within the Department of Classics & Art History, I was free to choose modules from other areas as well, so I ended up taking a few Italian Literature classes too.
I have to admit, studying Italian Literature in English was a bit surreal, but definitely fascinating! The freedom Exeter gave me in choosing what I wanted to study, as well as the richness of its academic options, were two major reasons it caught my attention. Now that my year abroad is coming to an end, I can say I couldn’t be more satisfied with the quality of teaching at Exeter, I’ve learned so much during these months!
Supportive environment
Another key factor in my decision was the incredible support Exeter offers their students. From my very first email exchanges with the administrative team, I noticed how friendly and responsive everyone was – two qualities you really appreciate when you’re about to spend a year at a university you know nothing about. Browsing the University’s website, I also saw that Exeter provides mental health services and a centre for medical support. I’m not ashamed to say I made use of the psychological support service during my first couple of months here, to help me adjust to such a new environment. And because I did, I can confidently say it was fantastic. The team was always kind and understanding, helping me deal with my worries and making it possible for me to enjoy what has turned out to be a wonderful experience. It’s important to note that I knew about all these services thanks to the University website. In fact, one of the things that put Exeter at the top of my list was how clear and thorough the website was. I’m sure you’ll agree that being able to quickly and easily find the information you need is essential – and in Exeter’s case, that was absolutely true. I personally also found the student blogs and social media videos incredibly helpful – they really helped me start to imagine what life at this University might be like.
Security
Now picture this: you tell your parents you’ll be leaving soon to spend nearly a year alone in a foreign country. I bet they’d be panicking, right? Mine certainly were.
One thing that really helped reassure them was knowing I’d be going somewhere safe and supportive. For one, the University of Exeter guarantees accommodation to all incoming year-abroad students. So, when the time came to look for housing, I didn’t have to stress out or hunt for a room. I simply filled out a form on the University website, and a couple of months before I left for the UK, I received my contract. I’m genuinely very grateful that the University provides this guarantee, especially because I was able to live on campus, surrounded by other students. I was placed at Birks Grange, right at the foot of the infamous ‘Cardiac Hill’ (a steep hill path leading up to the main Streatham Campus). Personally (though I know not everyone would agree!) I loved Cardiac Hill. It’s green, full of curious squirrels, and walking up it brings you right past Reed Hall, one of Exeter’s most beautiful buildings.
Birks is also in a great location: very close to Exeter St David’s station, just ten minutes on foot from the heart of Streatham Campus, and twenty minutes from the city centre. Another bonus of living on campus is the Estate Patrol service – Exeter’s own security team, available 24/7. And in case you were wondering: yes, they’ll even help you out if you lock yourself out of your room!
Location
If I said I had always dreamed of coming to England because I loved the country, I’d be lying. In fact, this was my first time in the UK, and I came because of my year abroad. Of course, I wanted to improve my English and hopefully develop a British accent, so I was aiming for a place at a university in England. I’ve also always loved nature and green spaces, as matter of fact I grew up surrounded by them, so I was looking for a city with plenty of parks and opportunities to relax outdoors.
While researching online and talking to a student who had done the same exchange programme two years before me, I learned that Exeter is an incredibly green city. That’s when I started to picture my life there. If you didn’t already know, both the campus and the city are nestled in the heart of the gorgeous English countryside. In spring, walking through campus feels like stepping into a painting – endless stretches of flowers everywhere: wisteria, bluebells, and daffodils.
Do you Remember Wordsworth’s poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud? That’s exactly what living in Exeter feels like:
“All at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.”
As if that weren’t enough, the River Exe runs right through the city centre, offering a lovely riverside path where students can walk or enjoy lunch while watching swans glide by.
And yes – it gets better. The sea is only thirty minutes away by train, and trust me, as soon as the sun comes out, every student rushes to the beaches of Exmouth to soak up the sunshine.
Student life (maybe the most important thing)
As a student, I was also thinking about life beyond books! I wasn’t worried about getting bored in Exeter, and rightly so: even though it’s not a big city, the centre is full of pubs and restaurants offering everything from British to Asian cuisine. There are also nightclubs and a wide range of events, so there’s always something fun to do with friends. One of my favourite events was the Silent Disco inside the Cathedral – dancing in one of the most majestic buildings in the city was simply magical. Something else that really struck me was how much the University values inclusivity and individual expression. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I was truly pleased to see the University had entire web pages dedicated to inclusion and mutual respect, as well as support services for those in need. Exeter also takes pride in celebrating the multicultural backgrounds of its students, and as an international student, I couldn’t have been happier. One of the best parts of studying here has been meeting people from all over the world and learning about their cultures and traditions. But did the reality match what I read online? The answer is yes. From Welcome Week to the final days of the third term, Exeter has hosted events like the Cultural Festival, Chinese New Year, Diwali, and Pride. In short, this is definitely a place where everyone can feel welcome and at home.
Final thoughts and final weeks in Exeter
I hope this blog post has helped clear up some doubts about studying in Exeter and has given you a glimpse of what this fantastic university has to offer. If I could go back in time to when I sent off my application a year ago, I’d make the same choice all over again. Exeter has given me so much: I’ve met incredible people, and it breaks my heart to think that in just a few weeks, I’ll have to say goodbye to this city.