Hello! I’m Zara, a (now) graduate who has lived in Exeter for four years while completing my degree. I have done my fair share of moving in and out of the city and so I feel I have some wisdom to impart, having made many mistakes in the past. Hopefully by reading this advice you can avoid making the same ones as me!
Packing for your accommodation
Don’t overpack! I have heard many tales of a flat with four toasters and three air fryers. I totally understand the impulse to bring everything you have ever owned, trust me, but you won’t thank yourself when you can barely walk in your room, or when you are moving out and realise you haven’t touched half of your things.
A great thing about Exeter is that there are so many charity shops to get cheap things sustainably on the high street. If you want things new, there are also home sections at Sainsburys, John Lewis, M&S, B&M and H&M in the city centre, as well as many more. During moving in weekend last year these shops weren’t even too busy, so don’t worry if you need to buy a few things when you first arrive.
If you are moving into a house or a flat in your second or third year, definitely reach out to the landlord or building managers to see what you will need to bring (especially think about toasters or kettles) so that you don’t all overpack and end up with four kettles. Some essentials I think are often overlooked are hooks to place on cupboard doors to hang things like towels or bags for some extra easy storage; door stoppers in case you have an ‘open door’ kind of flat; laundry baskets that you can easily carry to your laundry points and storage boxes to put things under your bed.
Packing for the seasons
The second is packing for all weather. Devon is the one of the warmest regions of the UK, with some of the best weather, which means even in winter you might need that SPF. Having even just a hat and some sunglasses is necessary, I find. If you are an international student, also don’t underestimate British rain: bring an umbrella and a raincoat!
Exeter as a city is gorgeous and lovely to walk around, but it can get hilly, so a good pair of shoes you are happy walking in is an absolute must. The main thing I have really enjoyed having is a nice picnic blanket, especially for the warmer times during terms 1 and 3. They’re also great for beach days, which can happen any time of year (especially if you are a part of the Exeter University open water swimming society, who go for a morning swim at Dawlish beach every Sunday). I wish I could say I braved it more, but I only went a handful of times in autumn and summer!
There’s a lot to do in Exeter and around the southwest, so making sure you have the right gear for what you want to do is super important. That being said, if you do want to do more outdoorsy things, there are societies like the Expedition Society that have a lot of kit you can borrow, so check with whatever societies you want to join first before buying lots of stuff you don’t need.
Say yes
The third is to get involved early and say yes often. There’s always A LOT going on in Freshers’ Week, which is the week before term officially starts. Usually, move-in days for first years are Friday-Sunday, and then Freshers Week runs from the Monday-Friday after that. There are SO many society events and nights out happening in the week that are great to go to, even if it feels outside your comfort zone.
I personally haven’t drank during my time at university, but I still had so much fun at the daytime events, and the evening socials I attended were also super fun – I just left before the club portion or when I felt I wanted to go home. Because Exeter is generally a safe city with safe zones to walk home in at night, I never felt like safety was an issue for me. None of this advice is limited to first years either: I attended society events in Freshers’ Week every year, as every year I wanted to try something new! Because there are so many choices, I never struggled to find something to do.
Do check the Students’ Guild page for what societies are on offer, or you can find their Instagram pages by going to the Guild’s Instagram and seeing who they follow (lifehack for you to speed up finding the Instagram pages!). You’ll make so many connections early on this way, which will help you feel more at home here in Exeter, and that’s a pretty big part of moving in!
Explore
Another way to feel at home in Exeter is to explore! Not just the campus, but the city. I have absolutely loved this, exploring Exeter Castle, and the Roman walls, the quay, all the meadows and fields. I’ve lived in Duryard and Pennsylvania and now in Pinhoe, which on a map spans a massive part of the city, and I have adored each part of it. I rarely need Google to get around now as I know where everything is, and that has really made Exeter feel like home.
Since Exeter is so safe and there are so many lovely walks – even the walk to the shops for me overlooks rolling hills with old churches and church bells – it is really enjoyable to walk around and explore. I haven’t even managed to do all the exploring I wanted to, as I have yet to do the underground passages walk, which takes you through, you guessed it, the city’s underground passages. There is simply so much to do, so be sure to see as much as you can, especially with your new friends and housemates, to get a sense of the city.
Avoid comparison
The final thing is to remember not to panic or compare yourself to others. Some people’s first week will be CRAZY BUSY, and they’ll post a billion videos of them having the most fun at clubs and out with their new friends, and some people will mostly spend their time on their own settling in and learning the ropes, and that’s okay! At the end of the day, these are all just tips and take what you feel is helpful for you, but there is no right or wrong way to go about it. You will eventually settle at your own pace, so remember to enjoy the excitement of moving somewhere new! Especially if you’re leaving home for the first time.
If you need support
I’ll finish by saying if you do struggle, the student health centre and wellbeing team are totally there to help you. They are on high alert during move-in times because they know how hard it can be, but remember, thousands of students are in your same position, and Exeter is a really easy university to find your niche in.