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About Penryn and Truro, Cornwall

About

The University of Exeter has two sites in Cornwall; the Penryn Campus, shared with Falmouth University, and the Knowledge Spa at Truro Hospital, home to the University's College of Medicine and Health in Cornwall.

Our Cornwall campuses offer a close-knit friendly community, in an arrangement that is unique as we share the campus with Falmouth University; a leading specialist arts institution. This combination creates a vibrant community of students from science, engineering, humanities and arts backgrounds.

The Penryn Campus is located at the former site of Glasney College, an influential 13th century institution. Modern Penryn is home to a growing community of artists, young professionals, and university students. The nearby town of Falmouth offers a wide variety of boutiques, eateries, and social venues, and hosts a number of annual events such as the Oyster Festival and Sea Shanty Festival.

Truro is a short bus or train ride away. The city boasts stunning views of the impressive Truro Cathedral—site of the Cornwall campuses’ graduation ceremonies—as well as many opportunities for shopping, dining, and culture.

Although most students find that there is plenty to do right on their doorsteps, some head further afield to see what else Cornwall has to offer—including fantastic surfing on the north coast, art galleries in St. Ives, the beautiful gardens at the Eden Project, and the breathtaking views on The Lizard and Bodmin Moor. All of these and other destinations are easily explored by bus, train, car, and bicycle, or even, via the Coastal Path, on foot.

Thanks to our prestigious Green Flag Award, the scenic beaches and coves, and dramatic clifftop views, Cornwall is one of Britain’s favourite holiday destinations. The county also has a rich history of artistic and scientific innovation, making it a fascinating and stimulating place to live, work and study.

Places of note

Cornwall is blessed with a rich array of ancient, modern, and industrial history along its spectacular, rugged coastline.

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Food and drink

There's considerably more to Cornish cuisine than pasties; the region understandably boasts some of the best seafood in the world.

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Shopping and retail

Cornwall boasts a variety of unique, high-quality shopping establishments to cater to whatever needs a shopper might have. 

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Nightlife and going out

Not so much nightlife as day-and-nightlife, in Cornwall the long summer days and warm evenings alike hold plenty of potential.

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The outdoors

There's nowhere more beautiful than Cornwall on a sunny day. 

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Arts and culture

The spectacular coastal light has attracted artists and writers to Cornwall for hundreds of years; a legacy the county nurtures to this day. 

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Sport and leisure

The range of sports available for you to take part in in Cornwall is staggering, and there's a excellent range of local teams to throw your support behind as well. 

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Elsewhere in the region

There's a reason so much of the rest of the country comes to Cornwall on holiday: because it's spectacularly beautiful. 

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