University of Exeter

Excellence in postgraduate study in the beautiful South West

The University of Exeter is an established, well-respected university with an outstanding research record, located in one of the UK's most stunning regions. A safe, student-friendly city, Exeter is consistently rated one of the best places to live in the UK for the quality of its facilities, low crime rate and fantastic countryside.

A leading research-led university

We are ranked 12th overall and 10th for research quality in the Times Good University Guide 2011. In the Research Assessment Exercise (2008) all our subjects were assessed as including world-leading (4*) research and nearly 90 per cent of our research was rated as being internationally recognised.

Our research strength is further reflected by the 2010/11 annual government grant for teaching and research, where we received the largest increase in research funding amongst research-intensive UK universities.

As a postgraduate student at Exeter, you can benefit from our research strengths in a number of ways: PhD students receive first-class research supervision, while Masters students benefit from teaching from those actually writing the books and research papers. What's more, as part of our sustained commitment to developing new talent and building research capacity, we invest millions of pounds annually in postgraduate funding.

Exceptional locations

The University is made up of three campuses. The Streatham Campus, the University's largest site in Exeter, is one of the most beautiful in the country. The St Luke's Campus offers modern facilities in a traditional setting which has retained its vibrant, collegiate atmosphere. The now well established Cornwall Campus, which opened in 2004, is set in 70 acres of countryside. Close to the waterside towns of Penryn and Falmouth, the Campus offers peace and tranquillity as well as a lively student community.

Our virtual tours enable you to take a look around our beautiful campuses for yourself.

Postgraduate programmes available

There are over 200 postgraduate programmes available within five Colleges. The postgraduate study site provides full details of available opportunities as well as information on funding and fees.

Being a postgraduate at Exeter means more than just studying at a well respected and popular university. In addition to our beautiful campuses, many students comment on the friendliness of other students and staff.

Postgraduates are an integral part of the University and are well represented in the Guild; our students' union for Exeter-based students. Winner of the NUS Students' Union of the Year 2010, the Guild offers support through the Postgraduate Union and wide range of clubs and societies.

Investment in student and research facilities

To maintain our growing international reputation, we are investing in the very latest facilities. The Streatham Campus is benefiting from a £275 million investment programme which will revitalise and the heart of the campus and includes an extended and refurbished main library and landscaped piazza. At our Cornwall Campus an Environment and Sustainability Institute is planned, which will be a world leader in research into the causes and consequences of environmental change and how to manage its effects, while St Luke's Campus has benefitted from a refurbished library and postgraduate common room.

£38 million has been invested in high quality student accommodation, with some self-catering residences in Exeter reserved exclusively for postgraduates and an £11 million development programme has given Exeter some of the best sports facilities in the country. These include indoor tennis facilities to LTA standards and a new cricket centre.

Dedicated support and training

Postgraduate students benefit from a variety of additional support to help them study and successfully complete a postgraduate degree with us:

Financial support
We invested millions of pounds annually in scholarships, bursaries and studentships for postgraduate taught and research students. See our funding database search for awards currently available.

Supporting PhD students for success
Our successful and popular Effective Researcher Development Programme provides structured training sessions to help ensure PhD success. Our eProfile system provides a web publishing tool for you to showcase your research profile, providing a powerful means to promote your work to the academic community, collaborators, sponsors and employers.

You can find out more about how to apply and what it's like to study for a PhD at Exeter via our interactive online module.

The building blocks for a successful career
We have former postgraduates now employed with a range of blue chip organisations and in the public sector, within the National Health Service, local government and the Armed Forces.

Our Careers and Employment Services offer a wealth of expertise, career opportunities and useful resources. These include workshops specifically designed for PhD or Masters students which, for example, seek to improve job hunting skills or interview techniques.

"The University of Exeter is an excellent place to study. The lecturer and staff of the University are very supportive and prepared to meet every student's needs. As an international student, I found easy to settle down for my programme and get integrated into university life."

Postgraduate politics student, 2009/10