Student life
Guild support
Representing you
The Guild represents the interests of all students studying in Exeter to the University. Elected officers sit on a number of committees and make sure our students’ views are heard. This includes the University’s Budget Scrutiny Group where students can comment on and help the University make spending decisions. The Guild also represents our students externally to the local community, the media, the National Union of Students (NUS) and the Government. There are a wide range of representative positions which students get involved with. These can involve things like organising events, running campaigns and representing student views to the University.
The FXU Presidents at the Cornwall Campus work full-time to represent all students. They sit on boards and committees, communicating with the University to make sure students’ views are heard. In addition they represent the students to the local community, the media, the National Union of Students (NUS) and the government.
Supporting you
The Guild’s support services try to cater for every eventuality and any problems that might arise during your time at the University of Exeter. The Student Advice Unit employs professional staff who advise on legal, accommodation, financial and academic problems. The Guild also has a team of friendly and very approachable students who can give you lots of information based on their own experiences at Exeter, especially on settling in to university life or tips for successful house hunting. As well as the Advice Unit, there’s also VOICE, your student listening service. Operated by a dedicated team of student volunteers, VOICE is there for you from 8pm to 8am throughout term time to give information or just listen when you need someone. They can make sure you can contact the relevant support services when you need them.
At the Cornwall Campus the Student Support Service encompasses counselling, student living, the nursery, accessibility and chaplaincy, these services are provided by professional staff across the campus.
FXU also provides a confidential advice service, independent of the University. It covers financial, housing, legal and academic issues. The qualified and experienced advisers provide practical support and signposting to other services if needed.
For information on other support services, both academic and pastoral, available at our campuses, please see our Student Support and Academic Support sections.
Within the first week of being here, I was bombarded with
information about ways to get involved with the Students’ Guild and to
make the most of university life. I applied for a position as a student
representative for the first year Biological Sciences degree and this
gave me experience of communicating people’s problems and achievements
between the students and staff. This information then had to be
forwarded to the Student-Staff Liaison Committee where opinions and
opportunities are viewed and shared. I became more involved with this
committee when I applied to become the Chair. As Subject Chair for
Biosciences I am now responsible for all the representatives for all
years, within my department. Along with it being an important position of
trust, it is also a very interesting discussion point when in a job
interview and a very prominent attribute to have on your CV. On top of
this, it is a fantastic way to get to know your lecturers and other
students within the department.
Siân Harbon, Biosciences Subject Chair
