Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you are an exchange student you must be nominated by your home university before you can apply to study with us. 

You can find out more information on our Application webpage.

The exam period takes place in January. Depending on your department, you may have exams scheduled during this time and would normally be expected to remain on campus until the end of the exam period.

Some departments may offer alternative assessments. If you are unable to stay until the end of the January exam period, we advise that you contact the relevant academic Hub as soon as possible to discuss whether an alternative arrangement can be made.

Entry Requirements

To appy, you must:

• Have successfully completed a minimum of one year of academic study at your home university
• Have the equivalent of a UK 55-60% average in your studies
• Meet any co-/pre-requisites for the modules you wish to take (these are listed in the individual module descriptions)

English Language Requirements

Unless you are a national of a majority English-speaking country, you will need to provide evidence that you meet the required level of English to study at a UK university. 

Please refer to the full list of accepted English language qualifications and the minimum scores/grades required for guidance.  

After You Apply

1. Acceptance confirmation

This email confirms your acceptance and includes detailed information to help you prepare for your studies at the University of Exeter.

2. Acceptance letter (PDF)

The second email will include a PDF acceptance letter for you to download and print.  This letter can be used to support applications for Visitor immigration permission and will confirm:

• your student number
• your study period
• any tuition fees

Visa and Immigration Advice

All visa and immigration queries must be directed to our International Student Advice Team at visaadvice@exeter.ac.uk.

Please note that the Inbound Team cannot provide advice on immigration matters.

Which Visa Do I Need?

• Full academic year: You must apply for a Student Visa.  
• One semester: You will usually enter the UK with Visitor immigration permission unless you want to work, in which case you will have to apply for the Student visa, even if you are studying for one semester. 

For further details, please visit the visa advice pages.

If you hold a British or Irish passport and travel using this passport, you do not need a visa to enter or study in the UK.

Full-Year Students

• Full-year students starting in September are guaranteed university accommodation provided they apply by the 31st July deadline.

Semester 1 (Autumn Term)

• A limited number of rooms on Streatham campus are available for Semester 1 exchange students.
• These are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis once accommodation applications open.
• Many Semester 1 students choose to live in private accommodation where several options are available.

Semester 2 (Spring Term)

• Semester 2 exchange students are often able to live in on-campus accommodation.
• Students may also choose to search for private accommodation, for example through Studentpad.

Private Student Accommodation (PBSA)

• Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) providers in Exeter may offer shorter-term contracts suitable for exchange students. More information can be found here.
• On the Students' Guild website you'll find lots of useful information, including the pros and cons of renting from a PBSA and a guide to Exeter PBSAs. 

Further Information

• Students studying in Exeter can find details on the Accommodation in Exeter webpage.
• Students based at our Penryn Campus should refer to the Accommodation in Cornwall webpage.
• Guidance on renting privately, including local area information and practical advice, is available on the University’s private housing pages.

You can also find key information in the Private Accommodation Guidance document.

The accommodation application portal opens:

• April for full-year students (September start)
• May for semester 1 students (September start) 
• November for semester 2 students (January start)

Please note that you can only apply for accommodation after your application to study with us has been processed and you have received your acceptance email.   

We recommend you look at our page on Accommodation and additional information can be found on the Study Abroad and Exchange Students webpage. 

Please contact the Accommodation team at ExeterAO@exeter.ac.uk  Further contact information can be found here.

The Inbound Team is not involved in accommodation allocation.

Course Load

Exchange and study abroad students are expected to study the full-time course load while at Exeter.

• Full-year students: 120 Exeter credits (60 ECTS)
• One semester students: 60 Exeter credits (30 ECTS). 

The number of modules you take will depend on the credit weighting of each module. 

Reduced Course Load

In some cases, students may take 45 Exeter credits per semester if they have written permission from their home university. 

Maximum Course Load

Students cannot study more than the full-time course load. This is university policy to ensure a manageble workload and to support student wellbeing. It also ensures that places on modules are available to other exchange students, as some subjects have limited capacity. 

Understanding Exeter Credits

• 1 Exeter credit = 10 notional study hours
• A 15-credit module = approximately 150 notional study hours

These hours include scheduled teaching, independent study, and other learning activities. 

Choosing Your Modules

For more information about available modules and how to apply, please visit our module page.

European exchange students must choose 75% of their modules in the subject of the agreement we have with their home university. 

International exchange students can choose across different subject areas (according to the terms of our exchange agreement), excluding the Medical School, Liberal Arts, and the Graduate School of Education. However, this will increase the likelihood of timetable clashes, so you must be flexible with your module choices.  At least 50% should be in one subject area. 

On your module request form you must list more than the full-time workload (8 module choices per semester in order of preference), approved by your home university in advance, so that you have alternatives if some modules are unavailable or don't fit with your timetable.

You must meet any pre-requisites stated in the module description.

Credits and Modules

In England, a full-time undergraduate Bachelors degree usually takes three years to complete and is made up of credit-rated modules that reflect the workload required.

• Full academic year: 120 credits
• One semester: 60 credits

At the University of Exeter, modules are worth 15 or 30 credits. This means that students studying for one semester will usually take between 2 and 4 modules, depending on the credit weighting.

Study Hours

One academic credit represents 10 notional study hours.

For example, a 15-credit module equals 150 notional study, including: 

• scheduled teaching
• guided independent study
• other learning activities such as placements  

Teaching and Assessment

The academic year is divided into two semesters.

• Semester 1: September - December, with assessment in January
• Semester 2: January - March, with assessment in May

Some modules will be taught across both semesters, with final assessment, usually in the form of examinations, taking place at the end of Semester 2.

The module descriptor will confirm when a module is taught and how it is assessed. Please also refer to the academic calendar for key dates. 

Postgraduate Study

A Master's degree (Postgraduate Taught) usually lasts one year and it involves 180 credits, equivalent to 1,800 hours of full-time study. 

Finding Module Information

To explore the modules available to you, please consult the departmental module lists on their websites. You can find links to these on the 'Module Selection' page.

Each department webpage provides a module description, which typically includes:

• subject content
• any co-/pre-requisites
• credit value
• total study time
• teaching/learning method
• assessment methods
• the term in which the module is taught.

Understanding Module Descriptions

Module descriptions include information such as the module code, credit value, and teaching term.

Example module description

How to read the module code

• The first three letters indicate the subject
  • Example: SOC = Sociology
• The first number indicates the level of study
  • Example: SOC2005 is a Level 2 module, normally taken by second-year undergraduate students 
• The credit value indicates the expected workload
  • Example: 30 credits equals 25% of the full-year workload (120 credits)
• The term/semester shows when the module is usually taught
  • Term 1 = Semester 1
  • Term 2 = Semester 2

We cannot guarantee modules as this depends on timetabling and availability. However, we aim to give you a good idea of the modules you are likely to study before you arrive.

When completing your study plan, please list 8 modules per semester in order of preference.

Each department manages module allocation differently, but most begin the process before you arrive, using the modules listed on your study plan.  Your final study programme will be confirmed when you arrive at Exeter or Penryn.

Students coming in September can book on to the Airport Collection service .  It's organised for all new international students and operates from London Heathrow airport, taking students to the Exeter and Penryn campuses.  There is a small charge.

This service is not available for semester two students, however it is easy to get to Exeter from most major airports.

For more information see the International Student Advice webpages.

Yes, students arriving in September take part in Welcome Week, a week of information sessions and social events before the start of classes. We recommend you have a look at the Pre-Arrival Information pages and attend the pre-Arrival Webinar, where you can find information about the Orientation programme.

Students arriving for semester two will also have an Orientation programme during the first week.  There is also the opportunity to attend Re-Freshers' Week in January to get involved in the extra-curricular societies we have on offer for both Exeter and Penryn based students.

Orientation programme details are posted on the University website for new students once they have been confirmed.

Prior to arrival, you will receive a welcome email with details on how to complete your online registration.

You will be able to complete online registration once you have completed international student clearance.

For more details on the online registration please see this website.

Semester dates are found on the academic calendar. 

The semester one exam period is in January.

Depending on your department, you may have exams scheduled during this time and would normally be expected to remain on campus until the end of the exam period. However, some departments may offer alternative assessments. If you are unable to stay until the end of the January exam period, we advise that you contact the relevant academic Hub as soon as possible to discuss whether an alternative arrangement can be made.

Second semester and full-year students may need to stay for the examination/assessment period in may/June. Exam timetables will be released in March. If your exams are online, or your department agrees to arrange alternative assessments, you may be able to leave early. Please note your accommodation contract will still be in effect.

Please note that while teaching and assessment are organised over two semesters, our holidays are organised over three terms.  The important dates for your study period at Exeter are the semester dates.  Those studying for the full-year or semester two will benefit from a University holiday over Easter (4 weeks).  Many of our students use this time to travel.

"I have been accepted for exchange at the University of Exeter but I have received a message saying I have incomplete documentation and that I need further information to register for my programme, please can you resolve this issue?"

Students who require immigration permission to study in the UK must present certain documents on arrival at Exeter (such as your passport, visa, boarding pass) before you are able to complete online registration.

Full details will be provided in your pre-arrival support emails from the University.

The way you learn at University of Exeter is likely to be different to what you will have experienced before. Depending on your course, you may be involved in some or all of these types of teaching.

Academic Studies in the UK

• Independent study is important - working on your own for significant periods of time
• Students are expected to develop critical judgement, which means an ability to assess whether an argument is coherent and well supported by evidence
• Our teaching stimulates and challenges our students, while motivating them as independent learners and critical thinkers

From campus life to your studies, the current students webpage lists a full A-Z list of services and support for current students including Welfare Support for students in Devon and Welfare Support for students in Cornwall.

When you leave Exeter you automatically become one of our alumni.  A range of discounts are available to Exeter alumni including sports, library, accommodation, learning and conference facilities, travel, home and garden, fashion and beauty and more.  Discounts are also available on postgraduate study. There are opportunities for you to come back for lectures and events.  Access to career advice, internship opportunities and graduate level work resources continues long after your studies at Exeter finish.

Once you have completed your studies at Exeter you could also consider submitting a profile to describe your Study Abroad experience with us. Profiles of students giving testimony about their time at the University of Exeter provide an invaluable insight into the real experiences of our students, helping to inspire and inform prospective and current students.

Please see the Alumni website for further information and remember to update your contact details.

Transcripts for Semester One students will be emailed to the student and the International Office of their home university in March. 

Transcripts for Full Year and Semester Two students will be emailed to the student and the International Office of their home university in July.  

If you are an independent fee-paying student a copy will be emailed to you.  A copy can also be emailed to your home university, if requested. 

If you require additional copies, or if you are a former study abroad/exchange student, please email inbound@exeter.ac.uk 

Undergraduate marking criteria.  For undergraduate modules the pass mark is 40%

RE-ASSESSMENT

Where a student has passed an assessment at the second attempt, a formal mark of 40% is normally recorded.

Postgraduate marking criteria.  For postgraduate modules the pass mark is 50%.

RE-ASSESSMENT

Where a student has passed an assessment at the second attempt, a formal mark of 50% is normally recorded.

Mark conversion is the responsibility of your university.  We do not advise on this as different universities can use different systems.

Your Exeter transcript will be sent to your home university once marks have been confirmed for all students studying at Exeter.  Sometimes transcripts may be delayed, often in the case of semester one students where alternative assessments have been granted and later deadlines set.