The University of Exeter is a public research university in Exeter, Devon, South West England, United Kingdom. The university was founded and received its Royal Charter in 1955, although its predecessor institutions, the Royal Albert Memorial College and St Luke’s College, were established in 1900 and 1828 respectively. It is a member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive UK universities.
Exeter is ranked 9th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021 league table for English universities, 11th in the Guardian University Guide 2020 and 12th in the Complete University Guide 2020. In national league tables drawn up by other publications Exeter has been ranked as high as 4th place overall (in The Sunday Times 100 Best Universities guide) and 3rd place for graduate employability (in The Economist Which MBA? global ranking).
The university has four campuses: Streatham and St Luke’s (both located in Exeter); and Truro and Penryn (both located Cornwall). The latter two are constituent colleges of the university. Combined they offer over 350 undergraduate courses to more than 22,000 students each year. Undergraduate courses at both campuses are organised into academic schools: Business; Economics; Education; Engineering, Mathematics & Physical Sciences; Humanities & Social Sciences; Life Sciences & Environment; Medicine & Health Sciences.
The main campus is situated on Queen’s Drive just outside the city centre where it shares its site with the Met Office Headquarters for Devon & Cornwall – one of several major employers based within close proximity to the campus. To the south-east of this area is another large employer – Derriford Hospital which also provides clinical placements for medical students at Peninsula Medical School – one of only four such schools within England (the others being at Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Keele University and Hull York Medical School). Students based at Cornwall campuses have access to purpose-built student accommodation located on or near these sites too.
Teaching quality at Exeter was graded as ‘Excellent’ by an independent QAA audit published in 2009 while 92% of research was deemed ‘World Leading’ or ‘Internationally Excellent’. In 2015/16 there were 515 full-time equivalent academic staff across all four campuses with a student:staff ratio ranging from 12:1 at Truro/Penryn up to 17:1 at Streatham Campus . Facilities available to students include libraries holding over 1 million books plus e-resources , computer clusters , a 24hr learning centre , performance spaces , gymnasiums , tennis courts etc.. There are also numerous support services available including careers advice , disability support services , chaplaincy etc.. Alumni benefits include free membership to Sportspark – UoE’s on-campus sports facility – as well discounts from many local businesses .