Our newly created “Admission Insights” articles aim to bring greater attention to international universities as viable options for students. While we’ve traditionally focused on US colleges, it’s also become clear that tremendous opportunities exist beyond our own borders that are worth a closer look. Here, through a series of interviews with admission officers, we provide key details about their schools and links where you may find more information.
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1. Please share a brief overview of the University of Exeter.
The University of Exeter, a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-led universities, is a UK Top 15 University and in the Top 150 in the prestigious QS World University Rankings 2022, that offers 3-year Bachelor’s and 1-year Master’s programmes.
The University of Exeter combines world-class research with excellent student satisfaction at its campuses in Devon and Cornwall, Southwest region of England, which has fabulous national parks and beaches. The recent G7 Summit was held near our campus in Cornwall.
We have a 95% on-time completion rate and 90% of graduates in or due to start employment or further study fifteen months after graduation. Alumni include author J.K. Rowling and NYU President, Andrew D Hamilton. We feature more than 250 clubs and societies, and were a former “Sports University of the Year.”
2. What is typically your percentage of enrolled international students?
Our average percentage of enrolled international students is around 24% and we currently have students from more than 150 countries studying at our campuses. Exeter currently has around 27,300 students of which 6,700 are international, including 260 students from the USA making for a really vibrant and inclusive academic community.
3. Are there any special requirements for international students versus domestic? If yes, please share them. e.g. In the US, we require a TOEFL score or equivalent.
For applicants whose first language is not English, we accept a variety of English language tests. Where an offer of a place is conditional on you meeting our English language requirement, you will need to meet that condition before your offer is made unconditional and you can apply for a visa to begin studying with us.
Our programme pages show entry requirements for each specific programme. If you are unsure whether your qualification meets our entry requirements, you can find out more information on our Entry requirements pages, by clicking on the country or region in which you have studied.
Accepted English language tests are IELTS and IELTS Indicator with a required score depending on the programme.
Other acceptable English language tests available here.
4. What resources are available at your school to help support international students?
Once you have gained a place at the University of Exeter, we have a team of International Student Advisers dedicated to supporting International students across all our campuses.
Whether you are coming to the UK for the first time for a short period or you have visited before, the International Student Support Office can help you with what you need to do before you arrive and when you get here as a new international student.
We are absolutely committed to your education, health and wellbeing and our dedicated International Student Support Office produces a useful International Students Guide with lots of information and is on-hand to answer any questions.
A few of the helpful services we provide include:
Airport Collection Service: To aid in your travel to the UK, we run our Airport Collection Service from London Heathrow to your campus.
Global Chums Mentoring Scheme: This is designed to answer questions when you arrive, help you settle into campus life quickly, and provide you with some familiar faces around campus.
Students also have access to:
- Wellbeing support
- On-campus Health Centre
- Disability, Accessibility Support including Individual Learning Plans
- Childcare
- Religious Provision
- Education Support Advisers
- Students’ Guild Advice Service
- Academic Skills Support
- Career Zones – Employability and Careers Service
5. Do you offer financial assistance or scholarships for international students?
Our academic colleges offer subject and programme-specific scholarships for international students including our Global Excellence Scholarships which provide a range of full, £10,000 and £5,000 tuition fee scholarships.
Students from the US can apply for a FAFSA Federal Loan to help finance their study.
6. For US universities, there is great emphasis on Extracurricular Activities as part of an applicant’s overall credentials. Of what relevance are these in your admission requirements, and are these encouraged for student participation once enrolled?
Your personal statement, which is part of your application, is academically focused and therefore, talking about your interests and hobbies should be done in a way that supports the rest of your application. Your personal interests should only make up a small proportion of your overall personal statement.
However, we strongly encourage students to participate in their interests and hobbies when they come to the University of Exeter. We have more than 250 clubs and societies including the American Society, media, campaigning and volunteering groups, and the Harry Potter Appreciation Society! (J.K. Rowling earned her Bachelor’s at Exeter).
We have a thriving sports programme where you could play a competitive sport as a part of one of our 51 different clubs, or you could be a part of a participation event.
7. What would you say is unique or stands out about your university among others?
Why The UK and the University of Exeter can be a great choice for international students:
- Three-year Bachelor’s and one-year Master’s programmes
- Our Business School is ‘triple crown’ accredited (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA)
- Stay and work for up to two years on completion under the new Graduate Immigration Route
- Ranked in top 150 in the Times Higher Education and QS World University Rankings 2022
- Study Abroad and Professional Placement options plus “Proficiency in Entrepreneurship” pathway
- Former Sports University of the Year and consistently in the Top 10 of the British Universities and Colleges Sports League
- Rated Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework
- Member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-led universities with 98% of research rated as world-leading or internationally recognised
- Our campuses in Devon and Cornwall are in one of the safest regions of the UK with some of the most stunning countryside and coastlines in Britain on our doorstep – check out these short drone videos of our Streatham and Penryn campuses
- Access to our Career Zone forever as a graduate
- Competitive tuition fees and living costs
8. Have you found that graduates are well prepared for the international workplace upon completing their degree?
90% of graduates are typically due to start employment or further study fifteen months after graduation.
The Career Zones at our campuses offer help at all stages of your career planning, whether you are still deciding what to do, planning for your future, or competing for jobs. Even if your degree doesn’t include a placement as a core element of the course, we offer excellent opportunities to gain real business experience.
As a graduate from the University of Exeter, you are not only entitled to all of the fantastic resources that our Alumni Office can offer, but you also have access to the Career Zone forever.
*For more information, be sure to visit our University of Exeter Profile