Sheralyn Morey, a 3rd Year English student and editor of Exeposé, the Exeter student newspaper tells us why this small Devon city nestled between the coast and Dartmoor is a great place to study.

Being a student in Exeter

Exeter is a great place to study. The city is very student-friendly, but it is easy to escape the student bubble as the coast and Dartmoor are just a short journey away. Exeter has the usual range of high street shops, and there are more of these since the Princesshay development opened recently. There are also some alternative shops and small boutiques if you know where to find them. Check out Gandy Street which is said to be J.K. Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter, from her time at Exeter. The city is small enough to be able to walk everywhere, but there are bus services running regularly to and from campus. Exeter is safe in comparison to many other cities, students usually walk home in a group after a night out but a taxi won’t break the bank as it rarely costs more than £5 from any of the nightclubs to anywhere around campus.

The cost of living...

Pint of beer: £1.80

Cinema ticket: £4.70

Nightclub entry ticket: £3 (on a student night)

Meal: £5 at most ‘studenty’ pubs

Study time

There are two campuses in Exeter - St Luke’s and Streatham. St Luke’s is much smaller and has a close community atmosphere which is a contrast to the large campus at Streatham.

The main library has just been updated and along with some rather exciting colourful furniture, there are now machines so you can check out and return books 24-hours a day. There is also a facility to book popular books online in advance for when you need them, and to renew book loans online to save you the trek up the hill. There is plenty of room to study in the library and there is a 24-hour main computer room there along with IT rooms in some departments for students’ use.

Assessment varies from subject to subject, with some subjects placing more emphasis on exams and some more on essays. Every student has a personal tutor who is the first point of call if you have any problems. You can also sign up for office hours with lecturers in your department. Contact hours depend upon subject, and range from six hours a week for arts subjects such as English or history, to up to 25 hours a week for courses such as maths or physics.

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