Our research expertise

Exeter is a vibrant centre for new ideas with an excellent research foundation. We are leaders in cutting-edge science, engineering, mathematics, and medicine research, as well as having a world-class reputation in the humanities and social sciences built up over many years.

Our research centres

Our research centres are the heart of our knowledge. Their expertise is diverse, extensive, and cutting-edge, ranging from materials and manufacturing laboratories and workshops, to environmental building services, financial and business consultancy, and much more.

Find out more about accessing the knowledge in our research centres.

The Science Strategy

Our Science Strategy has been established to invest strategically and further build capacity and reputation in science, engineering, and medicine. Our ongoing £230m investment in science, spread across staff, infrastructure, and strategic and capital projects, is resulting in significant output, with all our science contributing world leading research approved by the last RAE.

The Science Strategy particularly identified five key research themes, tackling global issues, where we have focused on building a critical mass of expertise. These are:

• Climate change and sustainable futures
• Extrasolar planets
• Functional materials
• Systems biology
• Translational medicine, personalised healthcare and public health

In the humanites and social sciences our primary areas of focus are:

• Genomics
• Medical history
• Middle Eastern and Islamic studies
• Migration and identity

You can find out more about the breadth and depth of our research expertise in all areas by looking through our directory of research activity.

Academic Colleges and subject disciplines

Our research and teaching is divided between six distinct academic Colleges, each containing a range of related subject disciplines designed to enable interdisciplinary working. These are:

• The Business School
• College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences
• College of Humanities
• College of Life and Environmental Sciences
• College of Social Sciences and International Studies
• Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry

See our research

These videos show some of the potential ways our research can be of benefit to business.