Exeter · Student city guide
A beautiful hillside campus, a small, friendly city and beaches and Dartmoor on the doorstep. This is how Exeter actually works for students: where to live, what it costs and where to go out.
2
University of Exeter campuses in the city, Streatham and St Luke's
£150–£230
a week for a room in a shared house
£2.50
for a short bus trip around Exeter
30 min
or less by train to the beach at Exmouth
Last checked: November 2026
Campus to coast
Exeter is small and walkable, but hilly. The University of Exeter's main Streatham campus sits on a hill just north of the city centre, with St Luke's campus on the east side for health, sport and education. Here's how the student map fits together.
Bring good shoes: most students walk everywhere, and the hill up to Streatham is a workout. Bus singles are capped at £3 until the end of 2026, and short trips around the city are £2.50.
1
The university's main campus, with gardens, the Forum, the Students' Guild and most first-year halls.
2
The student houses between campus and town, a short walk to lectures.
3
The cathedral, the high street, Gandy Street's cafés and most of the clubs.
4
The university's second campus and the residential streets around it, east of the centre.
5
Riverside pubs, kayaks, cycle paths to Topsham and Move, an underground club.
“As the graffiti littered around town proudly proclaims: ‘Devon is Hevon’. I largely agree.”
Rachel Brooks, Unifresher Exeter writer · Read: is Exeter good for students? →
University
The University of Exeter is the city's big university. Where you study shapes where you'll live: Streatham students mostly live around St James and Pennsylvania, while St Luke's students often choose Heavitree and Newtown.
Russell Group · Streatham
The main campus, on a green hillside just north of the centre, home to most subjects, the Students' Guild and most first-year halls.
Heavitree Road
A smaller campus east of the centre, home to the medical school, sport and health sciences and education.
The University of Exeter also has a campus in Penryn, Cornwall. Compare universities across the UK →
Neighbourhoods
Six areas cover most of Exeter's student housing. Exeter is one of the pricier student cities outside London, so the pound signs show how areas compare with each other.
£££ · Classic studenty
01
Exeter's student heartland, right between campus and town. Terraced houses, the train station and a short walk to everything. Houses go fast.
Best for: Streatham students who want to be where everyone is
££ · Leafy and hilly
02
Bigger houses on the hill east of campus, quieter than St James and still a walk to lectures.
Best for: second-years who want more space
££ · Good value
03
A residential area with its own shops and pubs, close to St Luke's and often a little cheaper.
Best for: St Luke's students and anyone keeping rent down
££ · Close to town
04
Terraced streets just east of the centre, between town and St Luke's, with cafés and independent shops.
Best for: students who want a walk to town and St Luke's
££–£££ · City living
05
Purpose-built student flats near the high street, Sidwell Street and the clubs, often with bills included.
Best for: first-years who didn't get halls and anyone who wants to walk everywhere
££–£££ · On campus
06
Most first-years live in university halls on or around the Streatham campus, from catered halls to self-catered flats.
Best for: first-years
Want to compare rents? The University of Exeter's 2026 radius map shows typical shared-house rents in each area and how far they are from campus.
See the rent mapNot sure where to live?
Tell us which campus you're on, what matters most and your budget, and we'll point you to an area to start your search.
1. Which campus are you on?
2. What matters most?
3. What's your budget?
Shared houses between campus and the clubs, with everyone you know on the same street.
Find a letting agentWhere to book
Compare Exeter's letting agents and student accommodation providers, or work out which type of housing suits you.
Shared houses · Exeter
The student letting agents worth knowing in Exeter, and what to check before you sign.
Read the guide →
Purpose-built · Exeter
Our overview of Unite Students' rooms, prices and what's included, including its Exeter buildings.
Read the overview →
Second year
How to decide where to live after first year. In Exeter, St James and Pennsylvania houses are often gone by January.
Read the guide →
Not sure yet?
The pros, cons and costs of each, so you know what to look for.
Compare your options →
Money
Exeter is one of the more expensive student cities outside London, mostly because of rent. The good news is you can walk almost everywhere. Pick a lifestyle to see what a typical month looks like.
Shared house in St James, a weekly night out and the odd takeaway.
Rent
£780
Bills
£100
Food shop
£175
Buses
£25
Going out
£110
Phone and everything else
£70
About £15,120 a year
£1,260 a month
Estimates to help you plan, not quotes. Exeter rents vary a lot by street, and many houses don't include bills, so check before you sign anything.
Where a typical £1,260 month goes
■ Rent · 62%
■ Food · 14%
■ Going out · 9%
■ Bills · 8%
■ Everything else · 5%
■ Buses · 2%
Money tips
1
Walk, and buy bus tickets in the app
Exeter is small enough to walk. Short city bus trips are £2.50, singles are capped at £3 until the end of 2026, and a Stagecoach student termly pass covers unlimited travel.
2
Head for the beach
Exmouth and Dawlish are a short train ride away, and a day by the sea costs almost nothing.
3
Do the free stuff
The Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM), the Quay, Northernhay Gardens and walks along the river and canal are all free.
4
Look for midweek deals
Club nights and drinks are cheaper midweek, and student nights are where everyone goes anyway.
5
Start your house hunt early, but carefully
St James and Pennsylvania houses are often taken by January. Agree housemates early, but always view properly and check bills before you sign.
“Timepiece (fondly known as TP) is probably the most popular club in Exeter, especially for students.”
Lili Kibble, Unifresher Exeter writer · Read: the best clubs in Exeter →
Going out
Exeter's nightlife is small but busy, all within a short walk of the centre. Pick a scene to see where students go.
Talk like a Devonian
Guess what each one means, then tap to check.
Proper job
Great, well done.
"You've fixed the boiler? Proper job."
Dreckly
Sometime later, maybe. Don't hold your breath.
"I'll do the washing up dreckly."
Alright me 'ansum
A friendly hello.
"Alright me 'ansum, what can I get you?"
Grockle
A tourist, especially in summer.
"The beach is full of grockles."
Mazed
Confused, or a bit mad.
"I was mazed after that exam."
Where's it to?
Where is it?
"The Guild? Where's it to?"
Cream first
The Devon way to eat a scone: cream, then jam. Don't argue.
"It's cream first in Devon."
Devon is Hevon
Exeter's favourite graffiti slogan. You'll see it around town.
"Sunset on the beach? Devon is Hevon."
Written by Exeter students
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Partner with usJust arrived?
Eight small jobs that make your first term in Exeter much easier. Most take ten minutes.
✓
Register with a GP
Sign up near your term-time address before freshers' flu hits. Your uni will point you to a local practice.
✓
Download the Stagecoach app
Short city trips are £2.50, and student termly passes and flexible tickets can save money if you bus regularly.
✓
Get a 16–25 Railcard
A third off most rail fares, so it pays for itself after a couple of trips home.
✓
Find your Students' Union
Go to the Freshers' Fair and join a society or two. It's the easiest way to meet people outside your flat.
✓
Save campus security's number
Every university has a 24-hour security line. Put it in your phone now.
✓
Check your contents insurance
Bikes, phones and laptops do get stolen in student areas. Find out whether your halls or house already include cover.
✓
Learn your route home
Know your way back up the hill to St James, Pennsylvania or campus, and stick to busy, well-lit roads at night.
✓
Sort a TV Licence if you need one
You need one to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer, even on a laptop or phone.
Useful links
University accommodation, travel tickets and the admin every student needs to sort.
FAQs
Is Exeter a good city for students?
For most people, yes. It has a beautiful campus, a safe, friendly feel, and beaches, Dartmoor and the coast close by. It's smaller and quieter than big cities, and rent is on the high side.
Which area of Exeter is best for students?
Streatham students usually live in St James or Pennsylvania after first year. St Luke's students often choose Heavitree, Newtown or St Leonard's. Most first-years live in university halls.
How much is student rent in Exeter?
A room in a shared house often costs about £150–£230 a week, based on the University of Exeter's 2026 rent map, with St James at the top end. Many houses don't include bills.
Is Exeter safe for students?
Exeter is generally seen as a safe city, and it was awarded Purple Flag status for its night-time economy in 2026. Take the usual care at night and stick to busy, well-lit routes.
How do students get around Exeter?
Mostly on foot. Short city bus trips are £2.50 and singles are capped at £3 until the end of 2026. Trains run from Exeter St Davids to the coast, Bristol and London.
What is Exeter famous for?
Exeter Cathedral, its Roman and medieval walls, the underground passages, Devon cream teas and being the gateway to Dartmoor and the coast.
Pitch a guide or join our team of student writers. We're always looking for people at the University of Exeter.
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