Pay for Grades B, C and D
Arrangements for colleagues on grades B, C and D can be found in the tabs below.
View our updated pay structure here.
Changes to Grade B
Colleagues in Grades B and C are currently paid local rates, which are based on the Foundation Living Wage (FLW).
The Foundation Living Wage is reviewed each year, with announcements of uplifts around November, and payment of any increased rates from the following April.
Our local rates for most colleagues in Grade B are currently higher than the pay grades negotiated nationally for university staff.
National pay increases are negotiated annually. When national pay increases are agreed, if the uplifted national rate is higher, colleagues will move onto that rate. Where the local rate remains higher, colleagues will stay on their existing rate.
For most colleagues, this means that current pay will not change after the implementation of the 2026/7 national pay negotiations that affect other grades. This ensures Grade B colleagues continue to receive the most favourable rate of pay available.
In October 2026 it was announced that the Foundation Living Wage will rise to £14.10 an hour - this uplift will be paid to Grade B colleagues in April 2027.
Pay scales
The first point on the University’s grading scheme (L1) will continue to track the Foundation Living Wage (FLW).
Other points in Grade B are aligned to the nationally negotiated JNCHES scale as follows:
| Pay scale |
Salary from 1 August 2026 (local rates) |
National rate |
|---|---|---|
| L1 | £25,528 | £25,179 (JNCHES point 12) |
| L2 | £25,911 | £25,754 (JNCHES point 13) |
| L3 * | £26,320 * | £26,320 (JNCHES point 14)* |
| L4 | £26,694 | £26.615 (JNCHES point 15) |
* L3 is paying the national rate as after the August 2026 pay uplift that is higher than the local L3 salary.
Future increases
If a future increase to the FLW means that the bottom point on the payscale becomes higher than the point above it, then that higher point will also be set at the FLW rate.
The FLW uplift due to be announced in October/November 2027 will be paid from April 2028
University of Exeter review of pay
After April 2028, there will be a joint University-trade union review of the implementation date of the FLW. This review may be brought forward if there is a local or national review of the full pay spine.
We will also review aligned pay points again following the next national pay award, expected in August 2027.
Increments
Colleagues in Grade B will continue to receive annual increments on 1 August each year, subject to a minimum of 6 months’ service in the grade, up to the grade maximum of L4 / JNCHES 15.
Updated on 16 October 2026
Changes to Grade C
Colleagues in Grades C are currently paid local rates, which are based on the Foundation Living Wage (FLW).
The Foundation Living Wage is reviewed each year, with announcements of uplifts around November, and payment of any increased rates from the following April.
Our local rates are currently higher than the pay grades negotiated nationally for university staff. This means that current pay will not change after the implementation of the 2026/7 national pay negotiations that affect other grades.
This ensures Grade C colleagues continue to receive the most favourable rate of pay available.
In October 2026 it was announced that the Foundation Living Wage will rise to £14.10 an hour - this uplift will be paid to Grade C colleagues in April 2027.
Pay scales
Points in grade C are aligned to the JNCHES scale as follows:
| Pay scale | Salary from 1 August 2026 (local rates) | National rate |
|---|---|---|
| L5 | £28.029 | £27,241 (JNCHES point 16) |
| L6 | £28,589 | £27,865 (JNCHES point 17) |
| L7 | £29,161 | £28,592 (JNCHES point 18) |
| L8 | £29,744 | £29,354 (JNCHES point 19) |
| L9 | £30,339 | £30,180 (JNCHES point 20) |
Future increases
If a future increase to the FLW means that the bottom point on the payscale becomes higher than the point above it, then that higher point will also be set at the FLW rate.
The FLW uplift due to be announced October/November 2027 will be paid from April 2028
University of Exeter review of pay
After April 2028, there will be a joint University-trade union review of the implementation date of the FLW. This review may be brought forward if there is a local or national review of the full pay spine.
We will also review aligned pay points again following the next national pay award, expected in August 2027.
Increments
Colleagues in Grade C will continue to receive annual increments on 1 August each year as long as they have worked a minimum of 6 months’ service in the grade, up to the grade maximum of L9 / JNCHES 20.
Updated on 16 October 2026
Changes to Grade D
Under the arrangements agreed earlier this year with our local trade unions, colleagues in grade D received an interim pay increase from April 2026. Following confirmation of the national pay uplift, the new national pay rates will now replace those interim rates.
This means colleagues on grade D will move to the new nationally agreed rate, with any adjustment to salary reflecting the difference between the interim rate already being applied and the new nationally agreed rate.
Colleagues will see changes in their October pay, and any uplift will be backdated to 1 August 2026, ensuring colleagues receive the full value of the uplift from the start of the pay year.
Updated on 8 October 2026
The details can be found on Trent Self Service. Then click on your current job (under “My Employment”) - – this will take you to details about your current grade and pay.
The Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES). This is the central committee for multi-employer national negotiations and dialogue on pay and pay-related issues. Each year, JNCHES negotiates changes to the national payspine, with uplifts normally taking effect from 1 August each year.
Colleagues in Grades B and C have already received a 6.7% pay increase from November 2025.
Our local rates for most colleagues in Grades B and C are currently higher than the pay grades negotiated nationally for university staff. This means that current pay will not change after the implementation of the 2026/7 national pay negotiations that affects other grades.
There are annual uplifts to the Foundation Living Wage. The first point on our pay grades (L1 in Grade B) will continue to track the Foundation Living Wage (FLW) with future uplifts implemented in April. The increase to the FLW announced by the Living Wage Foundation in autumn 2026 will be implemented in April 2027 and the announcement in autumn 2027 will be implemented in April 2028.
Colleagues in grade D will see changes in their October pay, and any uplift will be backdated to 1 August 2026, ensuring the full value of the uplift from the start of the pay year.
Grade E begins at point 25, from £34,630. Grade E colleagues can currently progress through scale point increments up to point 27, which pays £36,320. Since August 2026 the top payscale point in Grade D has been point 23, currently £32,722, maintaining a clear differential between the top of Grade D and the first point of Grade E. Colleagues in Grades D and E will benefit from a 2% pay uplift and will see this increase in their October 2026 pay, backdated to 1 August 2026.
Figures are based on full time pay in October 2026.
All car parking charges are being looked at as part of an overall parking review. Information on this will be provided in the coming months.
No. All points in Grade B will use the FLW or local rates if they are higher than the national pay spine points 12-15. This ensures colleagues continue to receive the most favourable rate of pay available.
We continue to support joint work at a national level to review the payspine. The employers’ aim is to seek agreement with trade unions to a new pay spine which is properly costed and affordable. This joint work has already begun on the basis that any new pay spine will be implemented no earlier than 1 August 2027.
In May 2026 University and local Trade Unions Unite, Unison and UCU worked together to make changes to grades B, C and D to provide greater clarity. The unions and the University meet regularly to discuss pay among other key issues.
We remain committed to paying the Foundation Living Wage.
A joint review of the national payspine by UCEA, representing higher education employers, and the sector trade unions has commenced. The employers’ aim is to seek agreement with trade unions to a new pay spine which is properly costed and affordable. Any new pay spine will be implemented no earlier than 1 August 2027 following consultation at a local level with trade unions.