Web and digital support for academics and research
Research site options
Research site options
Research site options
The Digital and Multimedia Design teams are both in-house resources available to support Academics and their research.
The Digital Team primarily build and maintain the University’s web site.
The Multimedia Design Studio are guardians of the University’s visual identity and provide a charging service that delivers on a wide range of projects from standard design for print work (brochures, reports, hand outs) to digital solutions (animations, films and videos) and bespoke wordpress web sites. Recent design projects can be viewed on our Instagram site. Animations can be found on our Youtube channel.
Website support
Any member of University of Exeter staff, or any University of Exeter postgraduate research student, can request a website/blog. (Undergraduate and postgraduate taught students at the University of Exeter may not request their own website/blog, although they may be given access to edit an existing website/blog by the relevant site owner).
When a website is required these are recommended available options:
Corporate University website style
The University website is built and managed using Site Manager, the web content management (CMS) system from Terminal Four (T4). All sites build using the CMS will be in the corporate style.
We can only build websites that fall into the official structure. For example official institute, network, centre and department research group sites. We don't have the capacity to build and support project or lab group websites.
WordPress options
The University of Exeter offers WordPress to staff and postgraduate research students across the University, enabling them to set up their own simple website or blog.
There is a standard University template with options to customise, to enable staff to easily build and manage their own sites. This is a free self service option.
The Multimedia Design team design and build bespoke websites (not in standard University T4 templates) using the WordPress platform. There is a cost for this service.
See below for further information.
The University has WordPress on a server that staff can use to set up their own simple websites or blogs. This option is free.
The Digital Team can provide guidance and advice but cannot help with the build or ongoing maintenance.
An example site.
Templates
We have developed two templates to enable staff to easily build and manage their own sites.
- Standard template to build a website
View more information » - Standard template to build a blog/news website
Blog platform guide »
Address/Url
These sites have the url www.sites.exeter.ac.uk/sitename.
Examples
Some examples of sites built using these templates include:
- https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/pgcescience/
- https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/careunderpressure/
- https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/gemini/
- https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/digitalbuzzuoe/
Request a site
The Multimedia Design team design and build bespoke websites (not in standard University T4 templates) using the WordPress platform. The University will host the site and you would be expected to be the ‘Site Owner’ and manage the ongoing maintenance of the website. Terms and conditions will need to be adhered to.
Examples
Some examples of sites built by the Design Studio include:
- https://eeist.co.uk
- https://shameandmedicine.org
- https://spidasproject.org.uk
- https://www.lovelockcentenary.info
Request a website
- Contact the Design Studio for more information.
- Please read the Terms and Conditions for commisioning a website via the studio.
Database driven functionality
If you require a website with any sort of database driven functionality then please contact either Research IT or your Faculty/Professional Service IT Business Partner for further advice on how to proceed and the options available. Please note there may be a cost attached to this.
Website hosting
The university will only host websites that are either built using the insitutional content management system (corporate university style) or our WordPress hosting service (see above).
If you have a specific need for a website that can't be achieved via either of those means then please contact Research IT.
URLs and domain names
If you would like to use a university sub domain (for example yoursite.exeter.ac.uk) then you will need to submit an IT Service Desk ticket to get this set up.
If you would like a standalone domain name (for example www.yoursite.com) then please contact Research IT who can help site this up via a third party domain buying service. Please note that there will be a cost attached to this.
Social Media support
If you need any help or support with social media, please contact the team via socialmedia@exeter.ac.uk.
Full details of the University's social media policy can be found at www.exeter.ac.uk/staff/employment/hrpoliciesatoz/socialmedia.