Hello everyone! I’m George, a final year student studying BA (Hons) International Relations with Proficiency in Spanish at the University of Exeter. I’m originally from Kent, UK and in this blog I’m going to be sharing with you the main reasons why I chose to study at this fantastic university and why Exeter may be the place for you to study too 😊.
Deciding which university to study at during my final year of school was by far the biggest decision I have ever had to make. Academically, I wanted to study somewhere that would push my intellectual boundaries, support my career journey, and allow me to fully explore my degree discipline. Socially, I wanted a university with lots of societies to get involved with and lots of like-minded and friendly people. Choosing a university is also choosing where you will live for a key stage of your life and personal development. I wanted to live in a city that was busy with lots of things to do – somewhere that wasn’t too big that it was overwhelming but wasn’t too small that I would become bored. Exeter certainly fitted the bill here.
After visiting Exeter on two occasions and doing some good research about the academic, social, and city aspects of the university, I settled on Exeter as my top university choice. Now in my final year, I can say with confidence that Exeter was the right choice. It has certainly delivered for me on both the academic and social fronts, and I have enjoyed living in this great city. Moreover, I have lived in three separate locations during my studies, all in different areas of the city and I have enjoyed all three a lot. Living in a nice part of the world has definitely enhanced my university experience. While there are many reasons why I chose Exeter, I have collated them into three main points which I will now delve into.
Academic Opportunity
After leaving school, I was ready for a new academic challenge – one that would push me intellectually and one that would give me the opportunity to develop both existing and new skills. Exeter has given me both.
Exeter provides great flexibility in their academic courses, right from the first year of study. This is something I discovered on an open day when I asked staff and students about it. They were not wrong. I have been able to tailor my degree to my interests through choosing modules from a vast list of options throughout all three years of my degree. This has allowed me to explore my degree discipline with ease and without constraint. In this way, Exeter really desires that its students graduate with a significant breadth of knowledge. Moreover, the module flexibility that Exeter provides transcends academic disciplines and departments. In my first year I was able to study a module on Middle Eastern politics run by the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies which I loved. Some universities might only allow students to study modules within their specific discipline, so this flexibility really made Exeter stand out.
Furthermore, Exeter requires its students to undertake a variety of assessed work, not just essays. Again, this was something that I realised during my research about the university prior to choosing it as my top choice. During my time at Exeter, I have been assessed on giving presentations, group projects, writing foreign policy reports and briefings, opinion-based pieces, and personal research questions. This ensures students learn and are equipped with a wide range of skills before entering the workplace, and it is a broader reflection of the career-orientated degrees which Exeter provides. I really wanted to study at a university which embeds a career focus into its degrees, and it was clear from the start that Exeter provides this.
Another significant reason why I chose to study at Exeter was that the University offers the opportunity for students to learn a language which they can add to their degree title! I remember speaking with a lovely lady about this opportunity during an Exeter Open Day. I have since pursued Spanish during all three of my years here, and I have loved the balance of learning Spanish alongside my main degree. Learning Spanish has certainly widened by career options and enhanced my employability. More often than not, there is a language section in job applications and thus Exeter has given me another string to my bow. It’s great that you can add a language element to your degree after starting at Exeter.
Exeter is a very career-orientated university. From day one, the Career Zone supports Exeter students on their career journeys from putting on networking events to organising employment schemes and workshops!
Campus and Location
The second I set foot on Streatham Campus, I felt at home. Nestled on a hillside, with many green spaces, it is one of the most beautiful campuses in the UK. With a mix of old buildings like Reed Hall and modern architecture in the Forum, the campus naturally creates a unique and special atmosphere.
Located in Devon, Exeter offers something for everyone – the urban and the countryside. The city is filled with a variety of cafés, shops, restaurants, and nightlife – all with student-friendly vibes. A short train ride away is the beautiful Jurassic Coast with scenic beaches and quaint towns like Exmouth, Dawlish, and Topsham. Plus, Dartmoor National Park is also right on Exeter’s doorstep for days out with friends and the opportunity to explore the nature the South West offers! With so much to do in the city and nearby, Exeter’s vibe and location is a major factor which drew me to study here. I would highly recommend those considering Exeter to explore the city and surrounding areas as well as the campus itself. My view of Exeter warmed further after visiting the city and surrounding areas because I could really see myself thriving in this place. As I mentioned earlier, choosing a university is more than choosing a degree and a campus – it is where you are going to live. From my two visits, I knew Exeter was going to be a place where I could thrive when I wasn’t on campus too, this was an important part of my decision to choose Exeter. I found the Streatham Campus stunning when I visited, both to look at but also the great atmosphere. I know I study best in places which have a thriving atmosphere and are architecturally pleasing. I also love that Exeter is situated in a broader area of great natural beauty. It has been great exploring Dartmoor and the coastal areas during times of stress – I feel very rejuvenated afterwards.
Student Life and Community
Another key factor in my decision to study at Exeter was the strong sense of community and the friendly people who study and work at the university. From the first time I visited, everyone I spoke to – students, staff, alumni – spoke so highly of the friendly and supportive atmosphere that Exeter has. After spending three years at Exeter, I can tell you that this atmosphere is a very real part of this university. Staff go the extra mile to support Exeter students both academically and from a wellbeing perspective. Students are very motivated, happy, and friendly people who support each other too.
Exeter has something for everyone; this is an important point to make. With a plethora of academic, social, and sports societies, Exeter is a place where you can finetune your greatest passions but also try something completely new! For example, I took up pickleball, a completely new sport which I hadn’t even heard of before joining Exeter. I love going to the sports park every Friday evening and playing with my friends. Before university I always loved to wakeboard and windsurf, I didn’t know Exeter had a society for this before joining and so I was very excited when I found their stall during Welcome Week. I have been able to progress in these sports with the Windriders society. With this society I have also done two wakeboarding trips to Rock in Cornwall as well as a windsurfing trip to Fuerteventura! I have also been thoroughly involved with both the International Relations and Hispanic societies, serving as President and Social Secretary. I have made new friends through all of these society experiences, and it has been great having many different groups of friends. The number of societies and extracurricular clubs has continued to grow since I joined in 2023, and I have no doubt that it will continue to do so in the future. At Exeter, the opportunity to fully explore your interests and try new things are endless.
Final Thoughts
Every university journey is unique, but in my case, the University of Exeter simply ticked all the right boxes. It’s a place which has allowed me to grow into the confident person I am today, and I am incredibly grateful to Exeter for all the support and fun times it has given me. When I was deciding which university to go to, initially it seemed like there was too much choice out there – there are a lot of universities available. But once I conducted some research and visited Exeter, it was clear to me that the decision wasn’t too hard at all. For me, Exeter clearly stood out from the crowd.
If you’re currently trying to choose a university, my advice is simple: book onto an Exeter Open Day, chat with the students and staff, and explore the city and surrounding areas. You never know, it might just be the perfect place for you too.
George 😊