A brief profile of the University

The University of Exeter combines world class research with excellent student satisfaction at its campuses in Exeter and Cornwall. It is a member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive universities. Formed in 1955, the university has 18,000 students from 130 different countries. Its success is built on a strong partnership with its students and a clear focus on high performance. Exeter's research focuses on 'real world' issues and recent breakthroughs include the identification and treatment of new forms of diabetes and the creation of the world's most transparent, lightweight and flexible conductor of electricity.

Exeter was voted the Sunday Times University of the Year 2012/13. It is ranked amongst the UK’s top 10 universities in the Higher Education league tables produced by the Times, the Guardian and the Sunday Times. It is also ranked amongst the world’s top 200 universities in the QS and Times Higher Education rankings. 

Exeter has always been among the leaders for student satisfaction, never having been outside the top 10 in the National Student Survey. The senior management team has sought to build on this strength by putting student service at the centre of its strategy. The Students Guild is involved at the earliest stages of strategic planning and given a major role in making spending decisions through a specially created Budget Scrutiny Group. This has led to a remarkable degree of joint thinking and team work.

The most visible expression of this partnership is the Forum, a £50m student services building at the heart of the Streatham Campus which features additional library, study and retail space. The Forum was exhaustively developed to revolutionise student services at Exeter, which were previously scattered around the campus. 

Exeter’s success has been built upon strong foundations of leadership, governance and management, a relentless focus on performance and a sector leading partnership with its students.