Location
Living in Exeter
Exeter has a population of around 118,000 and is consistently rated as one of the best places to live in the UK. Exeter’s popularity as a growing business centre means the city is weathering the current economic climate better than some cities. Unemployment is below the national average and the University’s campus investment projects have contributed towards Exeter retaining its status as an investment centre.
It is a safe, student-friendly city with a vibrant and fun culture and relaxed atmosphere. Most new students find that Exeter is not a particularly expensive city in which to live, and that you can enjoy a relatively high standard of living.
The cafés, restaurants, pubs and modern shops of the city centre mix easily with Exeter’s historic buildings. The city centre itself has an impressive shopping centre with all the stores and facilities you’d expect in the regional capital. But the real enjoyment of shopping in Exeter is to explore the side streets and some of the more unconventional shops, such as the Cathedral Green with its bars and restaurants or Gandy Street with its diverse range of shops selling designer labels, jewellery and gifts.
The city’s arts centre, the Exeter Phoenix, offers top quality theatre, dynamic dance, live music from around the world, exhibitions of visual arts and crafts and thought-provoking films. Exeter’s Northcott Theatre is based on the Streatham Campus and stages its own productions as well as touring shows, comedy nights and concerts. The Vue Cinema is the main cinema in Exeter but the Picturehouse is also very popular. Its programme includes art house and classic films as well as major blockbusters and it has a café/bar with fabulous views.
The nightlife in Exeter is dominated by a diverse range of bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants in the city centre, with student nights most nights of the week. Performers from the London stand-up comedy circuit regularly visit the Comedy Club at the Corn Exchange. Live music can be enjoyed throughout the city in various venues, on campus and at the large Westpoint Arena.
To introduce you to the city and surrounding area, one of our students has compiled a comprehensive Guide to Exeter. This guide will give you all the information you'll need about what to do and where to go as you make Exeter your new home.
You can also find out more about Exeter from these external websites:
Exeter celebrates history and embraces today... its thriving nightlife, lively cultural scene and rich history make it well worth a visit. This old city is young at heart thanks to a large student crowd and plenty of bars, clubs and cafés, especially around the revitalised quay area.
Lonely Planet Guide to Great Britain
Why did I choose Exeter? Like you are doing now, I looked at the prospectus. My programme was one of the best in the country and at the forefront of research, the University’s ranking was also high and I got a feel that the University was very student orientated, and welcoming. Everyone I knew who had been had loved it. So I went along to the Open Day and my decision was made. I haven’t looked back since.
Exeter really has so much to offer. Aside from being a campus university, close to the city centre, it has beautiful countryside on its doorstep. Everything you need is also on campus – an excellent library, fantastic sports facilities, cafes, study rooms, SU bar and campus cinema; you name it and it’s there. The support you get for your programme is also fantastic, and includes tutorials, online resources, office staff, module choices, and lecturer help.
Andy Morton, BA Geography
Before embarking on my search for a university, I’d been told by older friends and family that I’d know when I found the university that was right for me. I didn’t expect this would be the case, but from the moment I set foot on the Streatham Campus I felt at home. It’s not until you visit the University and meet the staff and students that you really understand the ethos of the place. There are so many opportunities and so many things going on, and Exeter students just love getting involved. Whether it’s sports, volunteering, working or joining societies, there seems to be something here for everyone.
The University’s location is something I was really impressed with. It’s great how the city is big enough to satisfy any student’s needs, yet small enough that you’ll bump into friends on the High Street or night out. Being a campus university, it’s also great how everything you need is so close together and in such an idyllic setting.
Dan Harnett, BA English and German
