University of Exeter
A Russell Group university with campuses in Exeter and Cornwall, strong in sport, sustainability research and business.
- Students
- 29,777
- 23,725 undergraduates
- International
- 18%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15.7:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £25,700
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1955
About Exeter
The University of Exeter traces its history to 1855 and received its royal charter as a university in 1955. It is a member of the Russell Group, with its main Streatham Campus and St Luke's Campus in the city of Exeter, and the Penryn and Truro campuses in Cornwall. In 2025/26 it had 29,777 full-time-equivalent students, 23,725 of them undergraduates. Streatham Campus alone had about 22,850 FTE students in 2025/26.
Teaching and research are organised into three faculties: Environment, Science and Economy; Health and Life Sciences; and Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Exeter has won the Queen's Anniversary Prize four times, for diabetes, children's health, genetics and pollution research, and it is ranked joint 20th in the world for work on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Exeter has one of the strongest sporting cultures in the UK: it was 4th in the 2024/25 BUCS sport rankings. Its graduates are in demand, with Exeter ranked 13th for targeting by top UK employers in The Graduate Market 2026. It suits students who want a traditional campus university with high entry standards, outdoor space and a strong social and sporting life.
Lucem sequimur
“We follow the light” — university motto
Why students choose Exeter
Exeter is ranked 136th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 11th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2027.
Sport is central: Exeter was 4th in the 2024/25 BUCS rankings and the top sports university in the South of England and Wales.
150 Exeter Excellence Scholarships worth £15,000 a year are available to international undergraduates starting in 2027/28.
Students can study at Penryn in Cornwall, a smaller campus set in 100 acres of countryside near Falmouth, as well as in Exeter itself.
Admissions
2027 entry (September 2027)
Selectivity
Exeter does not publish an overall offer rate. It says that if it receives a large number of applications for a programme, it may not be able to make offers to everyone predicted to meet the typical offer.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Course-specific for 2027 entry: AAA to AAB (Computer Science), AAA (Law LLB), A*AA to AAA with at least a B in Mathematics (Economics), A*AA (Medicine BMBS); contextual offers from ABB to BBB, e.g. AAB to ABB for Economics and AAB for Medicine |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | 36/666 to 34/665 (Computer Science); 36/666 (Law); 38/766 to 36/666 (Economics); 38/766 (Medicine); contextual offers from 34/665 to 30/555 |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 90 Profile B1 (e.g. Economics, Law, Computer Science): IELTS 6.5 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section, or TOEFL iBT 90 with 20 in speaking and 18 in writing, listening and reading (4.5 overall on the new scale for tests from 21 January 2026). Profile G (Medicine): IELTS 7.5 with no less than 7.0 in any section, or TOEFL iBT 110 with 25 in each section. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
BMBS Medicine; UCAT required. Interviews (MMI) run from December to March.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Most undergraduate courses.
- UCAS final deadline before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applications received after this go into Clearing.
UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry are confirmed on ucas.com. For 2026 entry, first-years had to apply for accommodation by 31 July to be guaranteed a room; check the 2027 date. Exeter Excellence Scholarship applications for September 2027 are already open to offer holders.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS with a personal statement, predicted grades and a reference. Medicine applicants must also sit the UCAT, use no more than four UCAS choices on clinical programmes, and shortlisted applicants attend Multiple Mini Interviews (in person or online) between December and March. Contextual offers are made to eligible applicants.
What admissions looks for
- Predicted or achieved grades in line with the typical offer, plus any required subjects (for example A-level Mathematics at grade B for Economics).
- GCSE English Language at grade C or 4 for courses such as Economics.
- For Medicine, a strong academic profile and UCAT score to reach interview, then performance in Multiple Mini Interviews.
- Contextual factors: eligible applicants receive lower contextual offers.
Tips for applying to Exeter
- 1 Apply early for popular courses: Exeter warns it may not be able to make offers to everyone who meets the typical grades if demand is high.
- 2 For Medicine, put no more than four clinical choices on UCAS, sit the UCAT, and prepare for MMI interviews between December and March.
- 3 International applicants should apply for an Exeter Excellence Scholarship as soon as they hold an offer: 150 undergraduate awards worth £15,000 a year are available for 2027/28.
- 4 Consider the with Industrial Experience or Year Abroad versions of Business School degrees if you want placement experience.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
The Access to Exeter Bursary is awarded automatically to home undergraduates with household income below £30,000, based on Student Finance information. For 2027/28, Exeter offers 150 Exeter Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships worth £15,000 each year as a reduction of international tuition fees, within £8 million of scholarships for international students; there are also sport, music and regional awards.
- 150 awards worth £15,000 each year (international students)
- Exeter Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships 2027/28
- £8 million
- International scholarship funding 2027/28
- Automatic for home students with household income below £30,000
- Access to Exeter Bursary
Academics
Economics (BSc)
A*AA to AAA with Maths, taught in the Business School with industrial experience and year abroad variants; international fee £25,700.
Law (LLB)
AAA or IB 36/666 typical offer, with contextual offers of ABB; international fee £25,700 for 2027 entry.
Medicine (BMBS)
Five-year degree with UCAT-based shortlisting and Multiple Mini Interviews; A*AA typical offer.
Computer Science (BSc)
BCS-accredited degree with an industrial experience option; AAA to AAB typical offer.
Research
- Exeter has increased the proportion of its research that is world-leading by more than 60% and grown its research community by 70%.
- Ranked joint 20th in the world for work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Four Queen's Anniversary Prizes, including for diabetes and vascular health research (1996), genetics and diabetes research (2005) and ecotoxicology and pollution research (2020).
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
- University of Exeter Business School
Exeter is ranked 13th for targeting by top UK graduate employers in The Graduate Market 2026 (High Fliers), and its careers service was ranked 3rd in the UK in the 2025 Student Crowd Awards.
Student life
Most Exeter students are based on the Streatham Campus in Exeter, with teaching buildings, halls and sports facilities together; medicine, health and education students also use St Luke's Campus. Sport is a major part of life, with 52 clubs and a top-four finish in the BUCS rankings. In Cornwall, the Penryn campus near Falmouth offers a smaller community set in 100 acres of countryside. First-years who apply by the deadline are guaranteed accommodation.
- 4th in the 2024/25 BUCS sport rankings and the top sports university in the South of England and Wales.
- 52 sports clubs, competitive and recreational.
- Napoleon, the Streatham campus cat, has his own page on the university website.
- Reed Hall, a Victorian mansion with formal gardens, is on Streatham Campus.
Housing. Unaccompanied first-year undergraduates (home or international) who firmly accept an offer and apply for accommodation by the deadline (31 July in 2026) are guaranteed an offer of accommodation.
Location
Exeter is a city in Devon in south-west England, and the university's Streatham and St Luke's campuses are both in the city. The Penryn campus in Cornwall is set in 100 acres of countryside near the coastal town of Falmouth, giving students there a very different, outdoor-focused setting. Exeter Airport serves the region.
Nearest airport: Exeter Airport (EXT)
Notable alumni
- JK J. K. RowlingAuthor of the Harry Potter series
- AG Abdullah Gül11th President of Turkey
- SJ Sajid JavidFormer Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary
- AG Ameenah Gurib-Fakim6th President of Mauritius
- VK Vanessa KirbyActress
- ZT Zara TindallOlympic equestrian medallist
- PS Patrick SandersFormer Chief of the General Staff of the British Army
- GM Gabriel MakhloufGovernor of the Central Bank of Ireland
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for Exeter?
For 2027 entry, typical offers include AAA to AAB for Computer Science, AAA for Law, A*AA to AAA with Maths for Economics and A*AA for Medicine. Contextual offers go down to ABB or BBB for some courses.
How much are Exeter's international fees?
For 2027 entry, international fees on course pages are £25,700 a year for Economics and Law, £31,500 for Computer Science and £49,300 for Medicine.
Does Exeter offer scholarships for international students?
Yes. For 2027/28 there are 150 Exeter Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships worth £15,000 a year off tuition, part of £8 million in international scholarships. You apply once you hold an offer.
Does Exeter Medicine require the UCAT and interviews?
Yes. A-level applicants must sit the UCAT, applications are ranked on academic profile and UCAT score, and shortlisted applicants attend Multiple Mini Interviews between December and March. The UCAS deadline is 15 October 2026.
Is Exeter a Russell Group university?
Yes. Exeter is a Russell Group member, ranked 136th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 16th in the UK in The Times and Guardian guides for 2027.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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