Where do my University fees go?

Teaching and Learning

At the heart of all we do at the University of Exeter, is the desire to create an outstanding teaching and learning environment, as outlined in our strategy for 2030.

To achieve this we need to attract and support leading academics from around the world, who are experts in their field. They work with you through teaching and research to create the best possible learning experience. 

It is for this reason that the bulk of your University fee goes directly towards enhancing your academic experience. It is an investment we are committed to and one of the reasons why we are currently rated solid Gold within the Teaching Excellence Framework - achieving a Gold Overall rating, with Gold aspect ratings in both Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

This supports a wide range of activities including:

• Academic salaries
• Access to your academic tutor who primarily offers academic guidance but also general advice, support and signposting 
• Field trips
• Use of specialist equipment
• Salaries and administrative costs of the professional services staff who directly support teaching, including timetabling and other processes

Research and Scholarship

We know that our students place great value on learning alongside academics and practitioners who are experts in their field. We believe that learning in a research-rich environment adds significantly to the experience of our students especially when they have opportunities to undertake research, scholarship and discovery alongside our academics. This research-intensive approach doesn’t just provide a valuable learning experience for our students but can open up new avenues of thought for the academics themselves.

The great majority of funding for research is won in competition with other universities and research organisations, and there are two main sources.

First, our academics undertake globally significant research projects funded by, and often in collaboration with, dedicated research councils, UK government departments including the NHS, European Union research funding, industry sources and charities such as medical charities tackling disease, and community organisations. These collaborations with other organisations help our academics and students to better understand the global challenges we face and identify new avenues of intellectual curiosity, alongside direct exposure to those organisations for our students.  

Second, research and our cutting-edge facilities for research and teaching are supported by an annual grant known as Quality-Related (QR) funding which recognises the outstanding quality of our research, the impact that research has on society and the economy, and the vibrant environment we create for research and innovative teaching. This is evaluated through the Research Excellence Framework. The University’s reputation globally is strongly aligned to the quality and impact of Exeter research. You can read about the difference this research has been making here.

In recognition of the symbiotic relationship between education and learning and research, the contribution that it makes to your development into graduates of distinction and to the international competitiveness of the University, a proportion of total tuition fee income supports research and scholarship.

Establishing the University of Exeter as one of the top institutions in the UK and the world, with exceptional student experience, has required and continues to demand skilled and expert leadership.

The University's Senior Management team is led by its President and Vice-Chancellor, along with the Provost, Registrar and Deputy Vice-Chancellors. Together they develop and implement the leading strategy needed to provide students with the best possible University experience. They are supported in this by ten Professional Services, including around 3,000 vital support staff (full-time equivalent). These Services are supported by tuition fees and other University income and they include the following activities:

• Alumni and supporters: Our alumni community helps you keep in contact with the University following graduation and introduces you to a wide network of thousands of fellow graduates from all around the world. Our graduates also help students and recent graduates while you are at university, in areas such as careers advice and mentoring. Last year nearly 10,000 alumni actively volunteered with us - giving more than 15,000 hours of their time 
• Impact, Innovation and Business: Our Innovation, Impact and Business work helps to support our world-class research and education to make a real difference in society. It seeks to create opportunities for collaborations, drives place-based innovation and helps our academics to generate research impact. IIB also builds key relationships with leading partner organisations and generates income to support the University
• Human Resources (HR): this element of the tuition fee funds the HR element which supports academic staff and those involved directly with the student experience
• Finance: In the 2024/25 financial year, the University had a total income of £681 million. Ours is a dynamic institution operating across several campuses and interacting with students, staff, alumni and partners from around the world. Our highly skilled finance team oversees the University’s complex accounts and budgets
• Compliance, Governance and Risk: ensuring we operate safely and legally is fundamental to everything we do. Our team of experts offers professional advice, support and guidance to University staff on institutional, academic and corporate governance. It also oversees key aspects of legislative and regulatory compliance 
• Policy, Planning and Business Intelligence: We want the University and its students and staff to continue to thrive long into the future, thus ensuring an Exeter graduate is much sought after. In order to create the right strategies to do this, the senior executive team needs high quality and relevant information. Our expert teams provide the very latest data, analysis, monitoring and reporting to inform our strategic planning.

These teams are also supported by funding from other sources of income, such as research. 

Building a diverse, inclusive educational community which welcomes students from around the world is an important priority. We also have important regulatory and ethical responsibilities to address barriers to equal opportunity which may prevent students from the UK progressing to higher education, if that’s the right choice for them.

Our student recruitment, outreach and widening participation teams work to promote the University to new students across the world. They also make school visits throughout the UK to increase awareness of higher education in general and what our University can offer. Many students work alongside our outreach, recruitment and admissions teams as paid  Student Ambassadors at our Open Days, providing advice and guidance in schools and within our fair access programmes which support under-represented students to make informed choices about their future. We receive around 50,000 undergraduate applications alone every year from around the world.

We have a range of scholarships and bursaries available to students and a proportion of University fees go towards supporting this important area, including around £6 million in student funding support specifically for home students from low-income households and under-represented backgrounds, to support fair access and retention. Extensive scholarships and studentships are also available for postgraduate students. A further £1.6m is spent on hardship and emergency support for students who experience unexpected financial difficulties.

We invested £3.8m during 2024/25, maintaining our long-term trend of increased spend in supporting disadvantaged and under-represented students to enter higher education.

Other income streams also contribute to the scholarship and bursary provision, including some scholarships established through the generosity of our alumni, including our Exeter Scholars programme.

Our excellent academics need the right facilities in order to support delivery of your degree. This includes lecture theatres, seminar rooms, academic offices, laboratories and specialist areas, as well as social and study space within academic buildings.

We continually invest in our teaching and academic space. Additional spending includes:

• Maintenance of buildings
• Reduced value of buildings over time (building depreciation)
• Cleaning
• Security

Ensuring we have the right library and IT facilities to support your studies is fundamental to your success, which is why 8% is spent on maintaining and investing in these crucial services.

This gives to access to a number of library facilities such as:

• Access to Penryn and Streatham Campus libraries
• 1.25 million diverse digital resources and around 1 million physical resources (books, journals and audio-visual). At Penryn Campus library, this also includes access to 25,000 videos and DVDs and 3,000 geological maps
• Access to over 500 unique Archives, 50,000 rare books, and a Cinema Museum with more than 93,000 items. 
• Our library champions help to guide what the library provides every year
• A range of study spaces from silent to group study available 24/7
• Support with finding and using resources, as well as study skills, through a 24/7, 365 chat service, libguides, workshops and 1:1 appointments.

As well as a number of IT facilities such as:

• The My Exeter app, that we're continually developing based on your feedback, to improve the experience for our students
• IT service desk – assisting with issues around internet access to virus problems, as well as running laptop clinics
• Access to specialist software in IT suites
• Free downloads of key software such as Microsoft office
• Our Digital Hubs provide support, on campus and online, to help you use all the digital tools we have available

‌In order to attract the best students and academics and to ensure the value of your degree is maintained long after you graduate, we must continually invest in our future. This includes capital investments which help to bring the very best facilities for your student experience and enhance our teaching and research capabilities.

During the past decade we have invested hundreds of millions of pounds in our campuses, including the creation of innovative and stunning new buildings such as the new Multifaith Centre, Living Systems Institute (LSI), Science and Engineering Research Support Facility (SERSF), South West Institute of Technology (SWIOT), Centre for Resilience Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) in partnership with South West Water, The Creative Quadrant (CQ), a new Wellbeing Centre to support student appointments, and new student residences East Park, in partnership with UPP.

As well as building new facilities, we also invest in refurbishing our existing spaces to upgrade teaching and student study areas. In recent years we have enhanced Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Neuroscience and Creative Industries spaces to ensure they meet industry standards to prepare you for your future careers, and create spaces that are more flexible and better meet modern study needs. We have enhanced study and library spaces at our St Luke’s Campus and we continue to invest in sports facilities, including a new changing facility at our Duckes Meadow sports pitches, which is due to open in late 2026.

We continue to invest in our campuses and we have a number of projects in progress that will complete in the next five years, such as the Al Qasimi Building to expand interdisciplinary research on the Middle East region and Global South, refurbishments at the Penryn Campus to make significant improvements to research and education spaces, and modern, low-carbon student residences West Park. Plus we continue to invest in order to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions, including installing solar panels on our buildings and land, converting heating systems to renewables, upgrading lighting to energy efficient LEDs, and installing a wind turbine to supply power to our Penryn Campus. .

We also use other sources of income to create the best facilities to support the student and academic experience. And just as the students before you have invested in future facilities which have come to fruition in time for your studies, so you will play your part in ensuring the University of Exeter's future students can also grow and thrive within the best possible learning environment.

Your wellbeing is a priority. We aim to help you feel confident, supported, and ready to make the most of every opportunity throughout your student life. 

We invest 5% of your tuition fee in wellbeing services and support, which includes:

• On-campus healthcare: You can access a doctor (GP) on campus at our Student Heath Centres located on our Streatham and Penryn campuses.
• Wellbeing support: Our Wellbeing team at our Devon campuses and Wellbeing Team at our Cornwall campuses provide mental health and wellbeing services, support, events and resources.
• Disability support: Our Accessibility teams, on our Exeter campuses and Cornwall campuses, work with students who have disabilities or long-term health conditions, to help you participate fully in university life.

Additional support available on campus, which is funded through other streams include:

• Pastoral Mentors: provide a point of contact in your department who can support you if you are facing challenges that impact your ability to study and be successful in your programme.
• Independent advice: The Students' Union (Cornwall) and Students' Guild (Devon) offer free, confidential advice on money, housing and academic matters.  
• Childcare: Nursery places are available for students on the Streatham and Penryn campuses
• Religious and spiritual support: Our multifaith chaplaincies on Streatham Campus and Penryn Campus offer guidance, pastoral support, and signposting for a range of faiths. They can also connect you with local places of worship.  

We continue to work closely with our student community to review and improve our wellbeing and mental health services. We achieved the University Mental Health Charter Award in 2025.

We don’t just focus on your academic life with us, we also provide services to support you in making the right career choice following graduation and secure employment as you begin your career. That’s why we spend 1% of your fee on the Career Zone and other employability opportunities.

This provides access to:

• The Career Zone: offering help with career planning, building up the right skills and job hunting from the minute you start university, up until three years after graduation. The services they offer include:
  • Career guidance and 1:1 appointments
  • Internships and placements
  • Employer presentations
  • Access to My Career Zone for events, appointments, jobs and more
  • CV and application support
  • Practice interviews
  • Skills sessions
  • Careers Mentors
  • Webinars
  • Careers fairs
  • The Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders’ Award
  • Access to a wide range of work experiences, including Global Leadership experiences
  • Careers support within the curriculum

The University of Exeter is unique in having two Students’ Unions supporting students and they play an integral role in your student experience. Each year we give the Students’ Unions a block grant to spend on opportunities and services to support you. This is equivalent to 1% of your University fee.

If you're studying in Cornwall you are represented by The Students' Union (SU). Their opportunities and services include:

• Representation through the President and Vice President and academic representatives
• Over 150 student-led societies and sports clubs
• Leadership and development opportunities
• Free and low-cost trips to explore the best attractions in Cornwall and the UK
• Paid job opportunities for students
• Free, impartial advice service
• Volunteering and fundraising

• Have your say: Your Full-Time Officers and student reps make sure your views are heard and acted on to improve your student experience.
• Find your people: Join over 300 societies and student groups, start something new, or go along to a variety of events across the year.
• Build your skills: Take on leadership roles, develop your experience and grow your confidence from becoming a rep to leading a society.
• Explore more: Discover Devon and beyond with free and low-cost trips throughout the year.
• Get creative: Become a music member for £13 a year and get access to instruments and practice facilities.
• Earn while you study: Apply for flexible, paid roles with the Guild. There are over 70+ student roles available, from content creators to EDI consultants and receptionists.
• Get support when you need it: Their free, independent Advice Service is here to help with housing, wellbeing and finance. Or pop by their reception
• Study your way: Pop by Devonshire House or G48, South Cloisters for dedicated study space, complete with kitchenettes and microwaves to keep you going.

We believe sport and wellness should be embedded into student life so we make sure we support a range of fantastic opportunities.

• In Devon this means access to a number of facilities at the Sports Park and St Luke’s Sports Centre including fitness suites, all-weather pitches, swimming pools and more. It also includes the wide range of social sport opportunities and a huge variety of sports clubs available through the Athletic Union.

• In Cornwall this means access to the £4million Sports Centre which includes a sports hall and fitness suite. The funding that supports access to a huge variety of sports clubs run by the Students' Union is included within the Students' Union budget (see Students' Union and Students' Guild). 

The University is a multi-million pound institution. In 2024/25 alone our total income was £681 million. In order to remain one of the top universities in the world the University also has to invest heavily in new infrastructure and facilities.

In common with many large scale companies, the University seeks to raise income at times when interest rates are competitive, in order to maximise its investment opportunities. This does mean that a proportion of your fees (1%) goes towards meeting those interest rate costs.

A: No we divide it up between income streams. For example, the tuition fees will pay a proportion of the Human Resources cost – the amount that would be needed for HR to support our teaching academics, who in turn support you. 

A: The physical and mental benefits of taking part in sport means that it is an essential part of university provision and so we ensure a proportion of each budget goes towards it, including Tuition Fees. However, in order to provide the best facilities possible for all participants we also need to charge a fee. 

A: The Students' Guild and The Students' Union both have representatives on the University Council where budgets and financial decisions are scrutinised. You can raise any suggestions or concerns with them at any time.

We also welcome comments about your teaching and learning experience and you can do this via your tutor, Guild/Students' Union rep, course rep or Student Voice Partnership.

You can also feedback your comments about this information or any other aspect of your student experience to studentcomms@exeter.ac.uk. 

A: No. The University’s accommodation portfolio is self-funding and not reliant in any way upon tuition fees.