Applying

How to apply

All applications for full-time study (irrespective of year of entry) must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) using their Apply online system. You can do this through your school or college, if they are registered with UCAS, or independently. Full details and instructions can be found on the UCAS website.

Each application cycle starts in September. Your application should normally reach UCAS between 1 September and 15 January. Applicants for Medicine or Dentistry must apply between 1 September and 15 October.

We guarantee that all Home/EU applications received by the UCAS deadline of 15 January are given full and careful consideration. Applications received after this date will be considered on an individual basis, depending on availability of places.

When completing your application, you may find our guidance on how we assess your application useful in helping you to understand the key indicators we look for that demonstrate your potential to us. 

Completing your application form

You may apply for up to five choices of institution or course. Exeter’s code is E84 EXETR. If you are applying for a course that is offered at our Cornwall Campus please note that these programmes are indicated by ‘Cornwall Campus’ after the title and you should indicate ‘C’ under ‘Campus Code’ in the ‘choices’ section of the application.

If you are applying for a Flexible Combined Honours programme, Y004, Y006  or Y003, you should clearly indicate the subject areas that you wish to study in the ‘choices’ section of the application.

Applicants for Medicine (A100, A101, A103, A104 or A106) or Dentistry (A201) can only choose four medicine or dentistry courses. However, you may use your other choice for alternative non-clinical subjects. The code for Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry is P37 PCMD - see Medicine.

You will be asked to sign a declaration on the application form, which confirms that the information you have given is true, complete and accurate. Discovery of false information or omissions from the application form could lead to an offer being withdrawn or, in the case of students already registered, to their withdrawal from the University. If you firmly accept our offer of a place, we will require documentary evidence of any qualifications as stated on your UCAS form if these are not verified by UCAS.

Additional information

You may be asked to provide additional information in the form of transcripts, academic reference (if not already supplied) or information on alternative qualifications held. When supplying this information, your Personal Identification Number (PID) or student number and the course(s) you have applied for must be included. If you wish to send further information about a change in circumstances, a change in academic qualifications, or details of exceptional circumstances that may affect your application, we would also ask that you include your Personal Identification Number and course details.

International applicants

If you live outside the UK, you should also apply via UCAS using Apply online. Advice is available from British Council offices and other centres overseas, such as your school or one of our local representatives. You can obtain contact details for your local British Council Office. Details of approved University representatives can be obtained from the ‘In Your Country’ section of our International Students website.

We encourage you to apply as early as possible and before 15 January but will continue to consider applications from international students until 30 June if places are available. If you think you may be assessed as a ‘Home/EU’ student for tuition fees purposes, then you should apply by 15 January.

If you feel that it would be helpful to provide transcripts of any international qualifications then please email these direct to the Admissions Office, so that we have them when your application arrives from UCAS.

Applicants wanting to study at the University for only one or two semesters under our Study Abroad programme should apply direct to the University. Application forms are available from the Study Abroad website.

If English is not your first language and you have not completed your education in an English-speaking country (ie, the UK, Anglophone Canada, USA, Australia or New Zealand), you will need to submit evidence of a good command of English before starting your degree programme. Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Age of applicants

The University welcomes applications from people of all ages and applications will be considered on their individual merits. If an offer of a place is made to an applicant who will be under the age of 18 at the time of admission, certain legislative procedures will be necessary in order to fulfil the University’s duty of care for students. Policy details for prospective students who will be under 18 at the time of admission can be found on our page for students under the age of 18.

There is no upper age limit for applications although the University has a responsibility to ensure that the investment made by public funds in relation to NHS training for certain programmes is realised in terms of length of service within the health service.

Applying as a mature student

At the University of Exeter we welcome applicants who may not have come directly from school or college and who wish to return to education at different stages of their lives. Students who wish to study full-time should apply through UCAS. Please see our section for mature students for guidance on applying to the University.

Applying for deferred entry

We are happy to consider applicants who intend to take a gap year between school/college and university, although the number of places for deferred entry for popular programmes is limited. In some cases, higher offers may be made than the published typical grades. Please indicate what you intend to do during this year on your UCAS form so that we can take this into account as part of our selection process.

Applying for direct entry to the second year

We will consider applications for second year entry subject to places being available. Entry into the final year of a degree programme is not normally considered or permitted. For more details see our page on second year entry.

Students with a disability

We welcome applications from students with disabilities and do all we can to ensure that your participation in both the academic and social life of the University is as successful as that of other students. We consider it beneficial for you to visit the University before applying and can arrange informal visits on an individual basis. We also arrange and discuss further support for applicants at Offer-Holder Visit Days and interviews. Support is available for students at all our campuses, details of which are given on our Student support page.

Further information about our AccessAbility service in Exeter can be found on the AccessAbility website. AccessAbility can provide information on Disabled Student Allowances, diagnostic testing, and one-to-one tuition and exam concessions. At our Cornwall Campus the Accessibility Centre offers the same service.

We encourage you to complete the declaration of disability and indicate any special needs (in particular health) on the UCAS form if appropriate. This will not affect your chances of being offered a place but will help us plan for your support.

Part-time study

Applicants who wish to take any of the programmes outlined in this prospectus on a part-time basis should apply direct to the University, normally between 1 September and 30 June. However, it should be noted that part-time study is not always available for all programmes and you are advised to check with the relevant academic School on availability. International students should also note that UK student visas only permit the holder to study full-time. Application forms are available from the Admissions Office.

Criminal records declaration

UCAS ask that any relevant criminal convictions be declared on the application form. A criminal record is not necessarily a bar to admission and each case is considered on an individual basis and will depend upon the nature of the offence. Where an offer is recommended, the offence(s) will be considered by a panel of appropriate University staff.    

Candidates who receive an offer of a place for programmes which includes working with children or vulnerable adults, will require a satisfactory enhanced disclosure check via the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). For further information please see our Criminal Records Bureau pages.