Skip to main content

Order a Prospectus

Falmouth and Exeter Students' Union (The SU) oversees more than 125 clubs and societies that you can join, covering surfing, cricket, ecology, drama and shinty, to name a few. See a full list on the Students Union website.

"Cornwall really feels like a home from home for me now, and that’s thanks to my experience at Penryn. I’ve made some lifelong friends here and can’t wait to meet the people I’ve yet to"

Read Matt's post from our students' blog.

Building friendships with people from different countries, backgrounds and with different perspectives on life is an essential part of the university experience. Be inspired by these stories of diverse friendships from all of our campuses.

With coastlines to explore, charming cities and villages to visit, a culture of outdoor festivals, and the famous Cornish hospitality, what's not to love?

Take a look at our stunning Penryn Campus from above.

A Student's Guide to Life in Cornwall

Studying in Cornwall

Studying at the University of Exeter's Cornwall campuses is unique
  • University of the Year award runner up - in the influential The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023
  • Research excellence - 98% of our research rated as world leading or internationally recognised
  • Top 15 university in UK - the Guardian University Guide 2022 rates Exeter as 15th in the UK
  • International reputation - Exeter is ranked 143rd in the Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2022 and 149th in the QS World University Rankings 2022, placing it among the very best institutions worldwide
  • Shared Campus with Falmouth University creating a diverse mix of people and interests
  • Member of the prestigious Russell Group of research intensive universities
  • Support for students - our support staff are on hand to support you throughout your degree, from our Wellbeing and Disability Services, to support for care leavers, mature and estranged students
  • Beautiful campuses - Penryn Campus is a Green Flag Award Winner given in recognition of its well-managed, attractive, historic grounds.
  • A perfect location - our Penryn Campus is situated in the lively coastal community of Penryn, near Falmouth (Cornwall), with coast and countryside on the doorstep, a vibrant social atmosphere and beautiful natural resources

Find out more about our campuses in Penryn and Truro and what it’s like to study here, or take a look at our accommodation guide.

You can also read more about life in Penryn and discover what the county of Cornwall has to offer in our guide to life in the South West.  

University of Exeter Penryn Campus tour

The Penryn Campus is in a beautiful location, and having a shop, bar and gym all on campus is useful in the first year while you’re still getting used to the area. There is also a lot of support on the campus. At the start of this year I was allocated a student mentor and have recently had training on the equipment provided to me by the Disabled Students’ Allowances, both of which have been very helpful for getting me through my third year. Sharing the campus with Falmouth University means that there is a really nice mix of people and there are lots of societies in many different areas.

Jess, BSc Animal Behaviour, Penryn Campus

I have really enjoyed the diversity of people on campus, and the passion of the lecturers and how excited they are about their topics! When I first arrived in Cornwall it was very overwhelming. The Penryn Campus is very different to where I come from in the Maldives, but I love it now and couldn’t recommend it enough. The campus is very beautiful, and a fantastic place to study!

Munshidha, MSc Conservation and Biodiversity, Penryn Campus

The most enjoyable aspect of my course is how personal it is. As Penryn is a small campus, you very quickly become familiarised with your peers and lecturers, and this leads to a relaxed yet engaging atmosphere in lectures and practicals. Another bonus of my course is the focus on field-based learning. Within the first two months, I had already been on my first residential trip to the south-west of Cornwall. Since then, I’ve undertaken numerous field days as well as a week residential trip in the Isles of Scilly at the end of my second year.

Harry, BSc Environmental Science, Penryn Campus

I was offered a place at Penryn Campus through Clearing. I’d never been to Cornwall before and after the brilliant open day I decided to confirm my choice.

The beautiful location and the way the university treated me and my family, combined with the opportunity to meet one of my history lecturers prior to study was outstanding. My course has been excellent so far. It is totally different than I expected, for example I never thought I would enjoy looking at the theories and concepts behind History, yet I loved the way it taught me to question and see things in a different light. The same with Global History, originally, I couldn’t see myself studying it but when I came to it, it was really refreshing and rewarding.

Anya, BA History, Penryn Campus

Prospective Students

Find out which courses are available to study on our Cornwall campuses