Discover the best universities, events, and experiences that make Exeter the perfect city for students
Exeter is home to one prestigious institution offering exceptional education and student experiences.
The University of Exeter is consistently ranked in the UK top 15 and global top 200 — a Russell Group institution with outstanding research, a gorgeous leafy campus, TEF Gold teaching quality, and a reputation for an exceptional student experience in the heart of Devon.
Exeter is consistently ranked in the UK top 15 — a Russell Group university with outstanding research output and TEF Gold teaching quality. Particularly celebrated for law, business, psychology, geography, and climate science. Students benefit from research-active staff, excellent facilities across two campuses, and one of the best graduate employment records in the UK.
Exeter is a vibrant, compact city with a stunning Norman cathedral, thriving independent food scene, and incredible natural surroundings — Dartmoor National Park is 30 minutes away and the stunning South Devon coast is equally close. London Paddington is just over 2 hours by direct GWR train. Bristol is 75 minutes. Cornwall is easily accessible.
With 22,000+ students from over 130 countries, Exeter has a thriving, internationally diverse student community. The Guild of Students is one of the UK's most active — with 300+ societies, outstanding sports facilities, and a social life that takes full advantage of the city's beauty. Exeter's compact size means the student community is tight-knit and easy to be part of from day one.
Exeter offers top 15 academic quality at notably lower living costs than London, Oxford, or Cambridge. Average student rent runs £600–£850/month. The university offers bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. Exeter's independent café, restaurant, and bar scene is excellent value, and the outdoors — Dartmoor, the coast, the canal — is completely free.
Discover the best areas to live based on your budget, lifestyle and university.
The area directly surrounding Exeter's main Streatham campus — the most popular location for students who want to roll out of bed and into lectures. St David's Hill leads straight down to the city centre and train station. Lively, convenient, and with a strong student community feel. Among the most sought-after locations for second and third years.
Leafy, residential streets to the north of the Streatham campus — popular with students who want a quieter atmosphere and attractive Victorian housing without being far from university. A 10–15 minute walk to campus and well-connected to the city centre by bus. Good independent cafés and a community feel that students tend to love.
An affordable, student-friendly area east of the city centre — popular with students looking for lower rents without sacrificing good bus links to both campuses. A mix of terraced housing and some larger student houses. Increasingly popular as Streatham-adjacent areas fill up, and well-connected to both campus and the city centre.
A lively, sociable area close to the city centre — popular for students who want to be near Exeter's nightlife, restaurants, and the independent shops along Fore Street. Close to St Luke's campus and within cycling distance of Streatham. Heavitree Road has a great mix of student houses and good local amenities. Popular for big house-shares.
Everything you need to know about student accommodation in Exeter.
Secure your student accommodation using these four steps the year before moving in.
Start researching areas and viewing properties for next year. Get a feel for the market before competition heats up.
Peak house hunting season — the best properties go fast. View, decide, and secure your place early!
Last chance to secure places and sign contracts. Don't leave it any later — good options will be gone.
Finalise details, arrange deposits, and prepare to move in. Summer admin sorted before the new year starts.
The best websites and resources for finding student housing in Exeter— from official university portals to local letting agents.
Our in-depth review of the top local letting agencies in Exeter — rated for responsiveness, value, and student experience.
The official Exeter accommodation portal — covering university halls on Streatham and St Luke's campuses, and private sector guidance for returning students in St David's Hill, Pennsylvania, and Newtown.
Visit siteThe University of Exeter Students' Guild housing advice service — including vetted private landlord listings, tenancy guidance, and support for second and third year students searching for houses near both campuses.
Visit siteReputable nationwide student accommodation site with Exeter listings — great for finding shared houses near Streatham campus in Pennsylvania, St David's Hill, Newtown, and Heavitree Road.
Visit siteStudent property search across Exeter with hundreds of listings. Filter by area, price, and bedrooms to compare Pennsylvania, St David's Hill, Newtown, Polsloe, and Heavitree Road.
Visit siteSearch private rentals and shared houses across Exeter. Great for comparing prices in all student neighbourhoods — from campus-adjacent St David's Hill to the more affordable Polsloe and Newtown.
Visit siteFind individual rooms in shared houses across Exeter — ideal for joining an existing household near Streatham campus or the city centre in Pennsylvania, Newtown, or Heavitree Road.
Visit siteGet a realistic estimate of living costs in Exeter with our interactive calculator
From the best student nights out to walking routes around the town, get to know Exeter with our range of guides written by local students.
Whether your child is considering studying at Exeter or already enrolled, this guide covers costs, safety, accommodation, and what life is really like as a student at one of the UK's most beautiful and highly-ranked universities.
The University of Exeter guarantees all first-year students on-campus or managed accommodation — a significant reassurance for parents. From second year, most students move to shared houses near Streatham campus in Pennsylvania, St David's Hill, or Newtown — all within easy walking distance. The private rental market in Exeter is competitive; students should start searching from November of their first year for the following September.
Exeter offers Russell Group Top 15 quality at notably lower living costs than London, Bristol, or Brighton. Typical monthly costs run £1,050–£1,300 including rent, food, transport, and social life. Average shared house rent runs £600–£850/month — significantly cheaper than most comparable universities. The university offers bursaries and scholarships for eligible students, and the outdoors — Dartmoor, the Devon coast — is completely free.
Exeter is a prestigious Russell Group university ranked in the UK top 15 and global top 200 — with TEF Gold teaching quality, outstanding research output, and an exceptional graduate employment record. Particularly celebrated for law, business, psychology, geography, and climate science. Two campuses — Streatham and St Luke's — sit in the heart of Devon's most vibrant city.
Exeter parent information →Exeter provides comprehensive counselling, mental health advisors, financial hardship funds, disability services, and academic support. The Students' Guild is one of the UK's most active — with 300+ societies and outstanding welfare services. Exeter's compact, walkable size means support is always accessible, and the city's friendly, community-oriented character makes a genuine difference to student wellbeing.
Exeter student wellbeing →Parents are warmly welcomed at University of Exeter open days. Tour the beautiful Streatham campus and St Luke's, meet academic and welfare staff from your child's department, and see the city that students consistently describe as one of their biggest — and best — surprises. Exeter's open days are genuinely enjoyable: the campus, city, and surrounding Devon countryside make for a memorable visit.
Exeter University open days →Exeter Cathedral, the Roman walls, and the independent shops on Fore Street are all in the city centre. The Exeter Phoenix arts centre hosts free and low-cost cultural events year-round. Dartmoor National Park is 30 minutes away — extraordinary hiking at no cost. The stunning South Devon coast is similarly close. Bristol is 75 minutes for a bigger city experience; London is just 2 hours by direct train.
Exeter is consistently considered one of the safest university cities in the UK — a compact, walkable historic city with a strong community feel and a large student population that shapes its character significantly. The main student areas — Pennsylvania, St David's Hill, Newtown, and Heavitree Road — are all well-established and safe. The university has active welfare and security services, and Exeter's relatively small size means students very quickly feel at home and secure.
Typical monthly costs range from £1,050–£1,300 including rent, food, transport, and social life — making Exeter significantly cheaper than London, Bristol, or Edinburgh, while offering comparable or better academic quality. Rent averages £600–£850/month for a room in a shared house. The university offers bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. Dartmoor and the Devon coast keep outdoor activities essentially free throughout the year.
Exeter provides comprehensive counselling, mental health advisors, financial hardship funds, and academic support. The Students' Guild runs active wellbeing services and a highly regarded student advice team. The university's pastoral support system includes personal tutors and college welfare officers. Exeter's compact size and friendly culture mean problems are more likely to be caught and addressed early than at larger, more anonymous universities.
Exeter is well-connected for parent visits. London Paddington is just 2 hours by direct GWR train — with frequent services throughout the day. Bristol is 75 minutes. When you visit, Exeter itself is genuinely rewarding: the Cathedral, the independent restaurant and café scene on Fore Street, and easy day trips to Dartmoor or the South Devon coast make for excellent parent weekends. The surrounding Devon countryside is some of England's finest.
The University of Exeter welcomes parents at open days — tour the Streatham and St Luke's campuses, meet academic and welfare staff, and get honest answers about student life, fees, bursaries, graduate outcomes, and the support available in one of England's most beautiful university cities.
Everything you need to know about student life in Exeter.
