Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Exeter is a campus university in a small, friendly cathedral city. Most students are based at Streatham, a hilly, green campus that's a Registered Botanic Garden, about 15 minutes' walk from the city centre. Health and sport students are mostly at St Luke's, on the other side of town, and there's a separate campus in Cornwall.
It suits people who want a strong Russell Group university without the big-city sprawl. The catch is cost: halls are not cheap, with most rooms over £200 a week, and Exeter is a long way from most of the UK. Expect hills, rain and a lot of fresh air.
Known for
The University of Exeter is 3rd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 61.2, above the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham University | 61.5 |
| 2 | University of East Anglia | 61.2 |
| 3 | University of Exeter | 61.2 |
| 4 | University of St Andrews | 59.5 |
| 5 | University of Sussex | 59.4 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
5th of 124 · Innovation Score 71
5th of 124 · Balance Score 59.7
6th of 124 · Value Score 73.4
13th of 124 · Employability Score 42.4
15th of 124 · Freshers Score 65.5
16th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 66.3
18th of 124 · Sustainability Score 65.8
18th of 124 · Affordability Score 67.2
18th of 123 · Happiness Score 62.6
18th of 122 · Careers Score 41.4
19th of 124 · Societies Score 64.5
21st of 124 · Social Score 64
23rd of 124 · Safety Score 57.7
25th of 124 · Nightlife Score 61.3
35th of 124 · Inclusion Score 69
Exeter as a student city
Ranked 6th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 63.3.
The University of Exeter appears in 45 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 1st | of 61 | 159 |
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 1st | of 60 | 162 |
| Nursing | 2nd | of 85 | 204 |
| Criminology | 3rd | of 94 | 215 |
| Medicine | 1st | of 30 | 105 |
| Archaeology | 1st | of 28 | 103 |
| Neuroscience | 1st | of 26 | 110 |
| Biomedical Science | 4th | of 93 | 196 |
| Business and Management | 5th | of 114 | 226 |
| Physics | 2nd | of 45 | 138 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering | 3rd | of 67 | 161 |
| Marketing | 4th | of 88 | 202 |
| Psychology | 5th | of 108 | 212 |
| Economics | 4th | of 85 | 179 |
| Geology | 1st | of 21 | 91 |
| Politics | 4th | of 78 | 167 |
| Philosophy | 3rd | of 54 | 142 |
| Film Production | 5th | of 87 | 207 |
| Biology | 3rd | of 51 | 143 |
| Computer Science | 6th | of 102 | 215 |
| PPE | 2nd | of 31 | 99 |
| History | 5th | of 76 | 167 |
| Biochemistry | 4th | of 60 | 157 |
| Radiography | 2nd | of 29 | 91 |
| Sociology | 6th | of 86 | 191 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 6th | of 66 | 123 |
| Law | 9th | of 97 | 186 |
| Forensic Science | 3rd | of 31 | 100 |
| Sports Science | 8th | of 78 | 171 |
| Anthropology | 3rd | of 24 | 84 |
| International Relations | 9th | of 71 | 147 |
| Accounting and Finance | 4th | of 30 | 192 |
| Media and Communication | 12th | of 79 | 170 |
| Data Science | 8th | of 50 | 120 |
| Environmental Science | 8th | of 47 | 122 |
| Zoology | 7th | of 37 | 108 |
| Geography | 12th | of 63 | 139 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 15th | of 77 | 158 |
| Classics | 4th | of 20 | 71 |
| Chemical Engineering | 8th | of 30 | 81 |
| Civil Engineering | 17th | of 58 | 118 |
| Engineering (General) | 9th | of 30 | 85 |
| Robotics | 11th | of 32 | 93 |
| Teacher Training 2026 table | 6th | of 10 | – |
| Theology and Religious Studies 2026 table | 10th | of 10 | – |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
The Students' Guild, based in Devonshire House on Streatham Campus, runs over 300 societies and represents every student automatically. The campus has a sports park within walking distance of teaching buildings, and the Forum is the hub for study space, food and student services. Exeter itself is compact, so the city centre's pubs, bars and Quay are a walk away. At weekends, Dartmoor, Exmouth and the south Devon coast are easy trips by bus or train.
University halls cost £146–£342 per week (2026/27 undergraduate rooms, bills included) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
The university says it guarantees "an offer of accommodation if you apply by 31st July 2026" and you are an unaccompanied home or international undergraduate (or an unaccompanied international postgraduate, or a study abroad or exchange student) who has firmly accepted an offer for a full academic year starting in September. 'Unaccompanied' means you're not living with a partner or children. The guarantee doesn't promise one of your four preferred residences, and home-fee postgraduates aren't covered.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowancroft Mews | St Luke's | standard (shared bathroom) | £146.16/wk | One of the cheapest undergraduate options, at St Luke's rather than Streatham. |
| St David's | City | standard (shared bathroom) | £159.88/wk | A cheaper city option near St David's station. |
| Lafrowda | Streatham | standard and en-suite | £169.19/wk | The cheapest self-catered rooms on Streatham Campus (en-suite £221.48). |
| Birks Grange Village | Streatham | standard, en-suite and studio | £193.62/wk | Self-catered blocks sit close to building works converting the old catered accommodation; new rooms are due by September 2027. |
| Nancherrow | St Luke's | en-suite | £202.86/wk | En-suite rooms at St Luke's, handy for health and sport students. |
| Lopes Hall Catered | Streatham | standard or twin | £215.04 (twin), £255.50 (single)/wk | Traditional catered hall. Price includes meals and bills. |
| East Park | Streatham | standard and en-suite | £217.21/wk | Self-catered flats on Streatham Campus (en-suite £242.90). |
| Holland Hall Catered | Streatham | en-suite | £341.74/wk | The most expensive undergraduate option. Near the West Park building works. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Right next to Streatham Campus and the most popular area for student houses.
Up the hill above campus: quieter, residential, and a short walk to lectures.
Close to the city centre, with lots of terraced houses and easy access to St Luke's.
Further east and a bit cheaper and calmer, best for St Luke's students.
Top tip
Applications for September entry open at the beginning of April, and you need to apply by 31 July to be covered by the guarantee. You pick four preferred residences, but they're not guaranteed, so pick a spread of prices. For second-year houses, use Studentpad, and ask the Guild's advice team to check your contract before you sign.
The university estimates a single student in Exeter needs about £1,300–£2,000 a month for basic living costs. Rent is the biggest chunk: self-catered halls cost roughly £150–£270 a week with bills included, and private rooms £135–£250 a week before bills. Exeter is cheaper than London, but hall prices are on the high side for a small city.
Getting around
Exeter is compact and walkable, though very hilly. Streatham is about 15 minutes' walk from the city centre and 10 minutes from St David's station. Stagecoach route 4 links Streatham, St David's, the city centre and St Luke's every 10–15 minutes, and single bus fares are capped at £3. Students can get discounted day, weekly and 28-day tickets through the Stagecoach app.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Exeter is 3rd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 61.2. Its strongest results are for innovation (5th), work-life balance (5th), value for money (6th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Exeter places highest for Mathematics (1st of 61), Drama, Theatre and Performance (1st of 60), Nursing (2nd of 85), Criminology (3rd of 94). Across our awards, it also stands out for innovation.
Yes. Exeter joined the Russell Group in 2012. It's also part of the GW4 Alliance with Bath, Bristol and Cardiff.
Yes, if you meet the conditions. New unaccompanied undergraduates who apply by 31 July and have firmly accepted their offer are guaranteed an offer of accommodation for the full academic year. It doesn't guarantee one of your preferred residences.
Most students are at Streatham, the main campus on the hill north of the city centre. St Luke's, about 20–25 minutes' walk away on the east side of town, hosts much of health and sport. Some courses are based at Penryn or Truro in Cornwall, so check your course page.
For 2026/27, undergraduate hall rooms range from about £146 a week (Rowancroft Mews) to about £342 a week (catered en-suite at Holland Hall or Pennsylvania Court), with bills, wifi and contents insurance included. Most rooms cost over £200 a week.
Yes. The city is small enough to walk almost everywhere, though it's very hilly. The number 4 bus links Streatham, St David's station, the city centre and St Luke's, and fares are capped at £3 a single. Trains run to Exmouth, Plymouth, Bristol and London.
HESA figures for 2024/25 put it at 33,105 students, including 23,500 undergraduates. About 22% come from outside the UK.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
