Exeter University - In Depth

Founded: 1885 as a school of art, becoming a university college in 1922, a university in 1955.

Structural features: Peninsula Medical School, joint with Plymouth University. Also involved in Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) initiative at new campus in Falmouth: University of Exeter in Cornwall (UEC) including Camborne School of Mines (see separate description), plus some other degree courses (conservation biology, ecology & geography); together with Falmouth College of Art, Institute of Cornish Studies and other Cornwall-based courses and life-long learning programmes.

Site: 2 modern campuses in Exeter: Streatham Campus, a 245-acre garden site 1 mile from city centre; St Luke's Campus 1 1/2 miles away and 1/2 mile from city centre. Also new campus (2004) at Falmouth, Cornwall.

How to get there: By train (2h hours from London to St David's Station); by coach (links from most other areas of country); by road (M4/M5 links Exeter with London, Midlands, South Wales and the North); by air to Exeter, Plymouth or Bristol airports. University campus is 10 mins' walk from St David's station or minibus service (8-9.30am and 4-6pm Mon-Fri).

Academic features: Modular degree programme allows students in arts subjects, law, social sciences, psychology to design their own programme from beginning of 2nd year around 1 or 2 fields of study. Modules in mathematics, IT and physics also available. Suitably qualified entrants may apply for entry direct to second year.

Awarding body: Exeter University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BEd, BSc. BEng, LLB, LLB(Eur), BM, BS, BSc(Ed), BMus, MEng, MChem, MMath, MPhys.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years for eg courses with education, European study or languages and undergraduate Masters'.

Library & information services: 1 million volumes and journals; separate subject libraries, especially law and education.

Specialist collections: Rare editions, examples of early printing. Bill Douglas and Peter Jewell Collection (history of cinema and popular culture). University also runs the Devon and Exeter Institution Library (West Country material). Annual expenditure on information provision, £141 per (FTE) student for library and IT provision. Separate IT service, access up to 24 hours/day. All open access PCs connected to library and internet; virtually all student rooms have network points for own PCs; special IT equipment for disabled users. IT support in person, by phone or email at helpdesks on weekdays. Introductory talk to new students on library and information services; introductory and some advanced IT courses on use of major systems and software packages.

Student advice & services: Health centres; counselling service; chaplaincy; family centre on Streatham Campus, run jointly with Guild of Students; Guild welfare advice centre. One-stop disability resource centre provides advice and support.

Amenities: Shops, bank etc on campus; Guild buildings with licensed bars, launderettes, etc; Northcott Theatre (with its own professional company, also provides for amateur productions).

Sporting facilities: 60 acre playing field for rugby, football & cricket plus, 23-acre site with county-standard cricket, football and rugby pitches and all-weather cricket square. Sports hall on Streatham Campus, offering wide range of facilities including squash courts, exercise, health & fitness studios, open-air swimming pool, all-weather pitches, tennis centre (4 indoor. 4 outdoor floodlit courts), playing fields, athletics track. Indoor heated swimming pool and gymnasia at St Luke's. Sports scholarships.

Accommodation: All first year undergraduates in university accommodation (guaranteed). 4000 places available (but more under construction): 1900 full-board places at £97 per week (£115 for ensuite), term time only; and 2200 self-catering places at £55-£72 pw (£86 for ensuite). October-July (some excluding Easter); 240 places in university-owned houses close to campus; also 16 family flats and 65 studios for postgraduates. Most students live in privately owned accommodation for 2 years, £50-£100 pw self-catering.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £5705 (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term-time work: Some regular work available on campus in halls of residence, plus casual work in bars, refectories, stewarding, office work, cleaning and waitressing; also Careers Advisory Service runs Earn and Learn jobscheme with searchable database of jobs (part-time and vacation); links with local Jobcentre and employment agencies.

Financial help: Total available £388,000 government (access to learning) funds; 720 awards made, average £440. Help targeted towards disabled, mature students and those with dependants, in cases of financial hardship and those with serious domestic difficulties; mostly as grants but some loans for short-term emergencies. Apply for help to Student Funding Team.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £8160 pa (classroom), £10,080 (lab/studio).