This is our story...
Officially founded in 1955, but with roots tracing back as far as the 1800s.
Officially founded in 1955, but with roots tracing back as far as the 1800s. Our journey began with the creation of the School of Art in Exeter in 1855 by Sir Stafford Northcote, with a belief in access to knowledge.
Things look a bit different today and we’ve come a long way... – new campuses, cutting-edge facilities, a complete visual rebrand, and global recognition – but our values remain the same. Whilst we’re loyal to our heritage, we aren’t afraid to move with the times in our commitment to building a positive future, for all.
1920s
1922
We move to our permanent home on the Streatham Estate
1922
We are granted University College status, along with an annual government grant.
1950s
1955
We receive our Royal Charter and achieve full University status, launching four founding faculties: Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Law.
1959
We open the Queen’s Building, the new home for our Arts Faculty. Designed to support multidisciplinary teaching and research in English, History, Modern Languages and Digital Humanities.
1960s
1963
We build a range of new halls of residence and science labs to respond to the government's expansion of higher education.
1967
The purpose-built Northcott Theatre opens on the Streatham campus, replacing Exeter’s old Theatre Royal and adding a new cultural landmark to the city.
1970s
1970
We expand into Cornwall, founding the Institute of Cornish Studies.
1972
The Amory Building opens, accommodating our growing social sciences department. The building becomes a hub for innovation interdisciplinary collaboration.
1974
Our partnership with Kenyon College, Ohio is established, our longest-standing global partnership.
1978
We become a two-campus University as St Luke's College of Education (dating back to 1840) joins the institution.
1980s
1984
The Princess Royal officially opens the New Library building. A central learning space that continues to evolve as a digital and cultural hub.
1990s
1993
The historic Camborne School of Mines - founded in 1888 to meet the needs of local industry – becomes part of the University.
1993
We launch our dual legal degree with Rennes University, a pioneering partnership that continues to define our shared academic identity.
1999
The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum opens on the Streatham Campus, becoming the largest cinema museum in the UK outside the British Film Institute.
2000s
2000
The Innovation Centre opens on the Streatham Campus, marking a stronger focus on business partnerships and entrepreneurship in the region.
2000
We establish the Peninsula Medical School (in association with the University of Plymouth)
2004
We expand our reach across the region with the opening of the £69 million Penryn Campus in Cornwall.
2004
We mark the first year of teaching Medical School students at the Truro Knowledge Spa.
2006
Penryn Campus received a visit from Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to open the new Learning Resources Centre, where the Queen unveiled a plaque.
2009
A £300 million capital investment programme begins, transforming our campuses with the construction of many new buildings, including the Forum on Streatham Campus.
2010s
2012
We join the Russell Group of leading research-led universities.
2012
Her Majesty the Queen returns to Streatham to open our new Forum building.
2012
Our £30 million Environment and Sustainability Institute opens at our Penryn Campus, tackling environmental change through world-leading research and innovation.
2012
Following our membership to the Athena SWAN Charter in 2011, we are awarded a Bronze Athena SWAN Award, recognising our commitment to eliminating gender bias and developing an inclusive culture that values all staff.
2013
We win The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year.
2013
Our new University of Exeter Medical School launches, following a 10-year partnership with the University of Plymouth.
2016
We're awarded Sports University of the Year by The Times and The Sunday Times. Reflecting our outstanding commitment to health, wellbeing and student performance.
2016
We start to offer Degree Apprenticeships, becoming one of the first Russell Group universities to create customised programmes.
2016
Our most famous campus resident Napoleon is first sighted on the Streatham Campus.
2017
The £52 million Living Systems Institute opens at the Streatham Campus, pioneering novel approaches to understanding diseases and diagnosis.
2017
The Digital Humanities Lab opens, providing cutting-edge facilities for research that fuses arts, culture, and technology.
2017
We achieve a Gold rating in the inaugural Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
2017
We establish the QUEX Partnership (now the UQ-Exeter Institute), with the University of Queensland. Strengthening our research, education and industry collaboration in healthy living, sustainable futures and digital transformation.
2017
Our Exeter Scholars programme launches, a free programme giving students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of student life at the University of Exeter.
2017
In partnership with Keypath, we launch our first Online-taught programme MA Education.
2018
The Global Systems Institute is launched, bringing together experts to tackle climate change and create solutions for a sustainable future.
2018
The Environmental Sustainability and Resilience (ENSURE) partnership is created with The Chinese University of Hong Kong, uniting researchers addressing global environmental challenges.
2018
We are awarded a Silver Institutional Athena Swan, with all our STEMM departments holding awards at Bronze or Silver level.
2018
Our Renewable Energy Engineering Facility (REEF) building opens on the Penryn Campus, providing dedicated workshop and laboratory space for projects in Renewable Energy.
2019
Our 12m Stella Turk building opens, housing more than 250 researchers, working across disciplines to help tackle global challenges.
2020s
2020
Professor Lisa Roberts becomes our new and first female, President and Vice-Chancellor, following the retirement of Professor Sir Steve Smith after 18 years in post.
2020
We win our fourth Queen’s Anniversary Prize for our world-leading research tackling the effects of marine plastic pollution.
2021
We launch Strategy 2030, setting out our values, purpose, and commitment to create a sustainable, healthy, and socially just future.
2021
We are awarded the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers Quality Mark recognising our support and commitment to students who have left local authority care or are estranged from their family.
2022
Our new University of Exeter brand launches, aligning our ambitions, values and positioning for the future.
2022
We win the Times Higher Education Business School of the Year Award.
2023
We are awarded Triple Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for Overall Performance, Student Experience, and Student Outcomes.
2023
We join the Worldwide Universities Network, partnering with 20+ leading research universities across six continents to drive global collaboration on sustainability, health, justice, and social challenges.
2023
We launch of our new Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability in Cornwall, bringing together experts from across a broad range of disciplines.
2024
We win the Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership.
2024
Our new Centre for Resilience Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) facility opens on our Streatham Campus - the UK’s first purpose-built, transdisciplinary water research centre.
2025
Our Streatham Campus grounds are officially recognised as an accredited Botanical Garden by Botanic Gardens Conservation International. Recognising our dedication to biodiversity, conservation, and sustainability.
2025
We achieve the University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) Award by Student Minds. One of only 22 UK Universities to be recognised for our commitment to student and staff mental health and wellbeing.
2025
We set out plans to establish a pioneering branch campus in Cairo with Ain Shams University, becoming the first Russell Group university to set up such an educational partnership in Africa.
2025
We are named University of the Year in the 2025 UK Social Mobility Awards. A prestigious national honour that recognises our impactful work to break down barriers and widen access to higher education.