Students from the USA at the University of Exeter
There are currently more than 190 students from the United States of America studying at the University of Exeter. We are an FAFSA eligible Title IV institution. Discover why international students choose to study with us and find out about our entry requirements, agent representatives, and funding opportunities.
136th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of UK universities.
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Entry requirements
The information below will allow you to check qualifications from your country or territory to see if they may be accepted for entry to the University of Exeter, and the equivalent grades required. Our course pages contain typical entry requirements that are commonly held by UK applicants. You can find out details on our English language requirements here.
Undergraduate entry requirements for students from the United States of America
You can apply through UCAS.
IB/A-Levels Curriculum
If you are taking A-Levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma, you will be eligible for direct entry if you meet your chosen programme’s entry requirements; see the relevant page of our undergraduate courses for details.
US High School Curriculum
Alternatively, undergraduate applicants from the U.S. can meet our general entry requirements – the equivalent of three UK A-Levels – by successfully completing their high school diploma with the following options:
- 3 x ‘Advanced classes’ from the following:
- Advanced Placement (AP) classes
- Advanced classes or high school honors classes
- And/or
- Advanced Placement (AP) tests
- College-level class credit
Students can combine these options to meet our standard A-Level requirements. Examples can include:
- One Advanced Placement test, one college-level class, and one high school honours class credit.
- Two advanced classes and one college-level class credit from a dual enrolment programme.
The options above can also be used to meet subject-specific requirements. For programmes with Maths and Physics subject requirements, and for Medicine programmes, Advanced classes are considered on a case-by-case basis (please contact americas@exeter.ac.uk if you have any queries). For subject-specific requirements, please see the relevant page of our undergraduate courses.
Provided any specific subject requirements are met with the above, students can also meet our entry requirements by successfully completing their high school Diploma with:
- ACT (composite score) or
- SAT Score
Grade Equivalencies
| British A-Level | AP Test | Advanced Classes (Alphabetical Grade) e.g. AP, honours, advanced |
Advanced Classes (Percentage % Range) e.g. AP, honours, advanced |
College-level Class / Dual enrolment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Can be taken in any grade | Grade 11 and 12, one year in duration |
Grade 11 and 12, one year in duration |
Minimum three units/credits or one semester in length. See notes on College-level classes |
|
| A | 5 | A+ A A- |
90-100 | A+ A A- |
| B | 4 | B+ B B- |
80-89 | B+ B B- |
| C | 3 | C+ C C- |
70-79 | C+ C C- |
AP Physics
- For programmes specifically requiring A-Level Physics – we can accept AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, or both AP Physics C tests: Electricity and Magnetism and Mechanics.
A-Level Mathematics subject requirements
We can consider:
- AP Calculus AB or BC
- College-level credit in an appropriate class
- Advanced class taken in Grade 11 or 12 (considered on a case-by-case basis)
ACT/SAT
We can also accept a composite ACT score or an SAT score as described in the ACT/SAT Equivalencies table below, provided you meet any subject-specific requirements with the relevant Advanced Placement test or appropriate college-level credit.
| UK A-Levels | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| A*AA | 32 | 1430 |
| AAA | 31 | 1400 |
| AAB | 30 | 1370 |
| ABB | 29 | 1340 |
| BBB | 28 | 1310 |
Associate degrees
The University welcomes students with a community college background.
First year entry
Students completing one or two years of an associate degree from a US community college can be accepted onto the first year of an undergraduate degree with an A-Level grade equivalency as described in the Associate Degree Equivalencies table, and by meeting any subject-specific A-Level requirements with appropriate academic class credit.
| British A-Levels | Associate Degree |
|---|---|
| A*A*A | GPA of 3.6 or higher |
| A*AA | GPA of 3.5 |
| AAA | GPA of 3.4 |
| AAB | GPA of 3.3 |
| ABB | GPA of 3.2 |
| BBB | GPA of 3.1 |
Second year entry
US community college students successfully completing their full two-year associate degree can apply for second-year entry on a case-by-case basis. You must demonstrate (via your college transcript) that you have covered most/all subjects of year one content of the course for which you are applying.
When you are completing your UCAS form
In order to assist our Admissions team, remember to include any of the following qualifications or tests you may have already taken, or will be taking in your senior year. The following are the most important to mention and will help our team process your application:
- English and Maths class grades from Grade 10, 11 and 12
- Any high school honours classes
- Any AP classes
- Any AP test grades
- Any college-level classes from Grade 11 and 12
- Any ACT test results (composite score)
- Any SAT Scores
- Associates degree GPA if applying from a community college
After submitting your UCAS application and obtaining your UCAS personal ID number please email our Admissions team (ug-ad@exeter.ac.uk) with a copy of your most recent transcript. Please remember to quote your UCAS ID number in this and any future correspondence. The institutional College Board number is 6592. The institutional ACT number is 5469.
More information
Postgraduate entry requirements for students from the United States of America
Postgraduate Taught
For direct entry onto our Masters courses you will be required to hold a relevant Bachelors degree with a grade equivalent to a UK Second-class honours (2:1 or 2:2); please check the relevant page of our Masters courses for the exact entry requirements of your chosen course.
We consider applications on a case-by-case basis, but the table of Grade Equivalencies for Entry to Postgraduate Taught Courses, would generally apply.
| UK Bachelors Degree | US Bachelors Degree |
|---|---|
| First-class Honours | 3.75+ / 4.0 GPA |
| Upper Second-class Honours (2:1) | 3.2+ / 4.0 GPA |
| Lower Second-class Honours (2:2) | 2.6+ / 4.0 GPA |
If you are interested in our Finance Masters courses or Management Masters courses but do not quite meet our entry requirements, you may be able to gain entry by first attaining a Graduate Diploma via our International Study Centre.
Postgraduate Research
For entry onto postgraduate research programmes (including PhD) you will need to hold a relevant Masters degree, supported by a strong research proposal.
More information
Eleanor, studying BA English and Creative Writing
“I fell in love with Exeter immediately. Not only were the people friendly, but they also completely supported my dream of becoming a writer without blinking - something I had never experienced... I found kindred spirits in my peers and mentors in my professors, people who loved what I loved and wanted to discuss it.
Uni is tough, but it's 100% worth it - and the big jump will set you leaps and bounds ahead in life."
Scholarships and funding opportunities
We are investing £8m in a range of scholarships to support international and EU students paying international tuition fees, who choose Exeter for their studies in 2027/28.
Our Exeter Excellence Scholarships, recognise outstanding academic achievement and support students from around the world to take their place in our vibrant, global community.
For September 2027, these competitive tuition fee scholarships are worth:
- Undergraduate (Bachelors): £15,000 (recurring for each eligible year of study)
- Postgraduate taught (Masters): £15,000 (for the first year of study)
Find out more about available scholarships and funding opportunities
Until 26 November 2026, offer holders for eligible Masters programmes for January 2027 entry can still apply for a 2026/27 Exeter Excellence Scholarship. If you are considering Postgraduate Taught (Masters) study beginning in January 2027, please visit our January Start Masters Degrees webpage.
FAFSA eligible 'Title IV' institution
The University of Exeter is an FAFSA eligible 'Title IV' institution. We participate in funding schemes for US students, including the William D. Ford Stafford Loan Program (Subsidised, unsubsidised and PLUS Direct Loan). You can find out more by visiting our Federal Aid for US Students webpage.
Immigration and visa support
The International Student Support Office can provide you with advice on any immigration and visa matters you may need help with, including applying for your student visa.
