Exeter University's Student Population: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Exeter is a research university in the West Country of England, with campuses in Exeter, Devon, and Cornwall. It is one of the few universities that are members of the Russell Group and have a Gold award from the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). The university has a diverse student community, with over 25,000 students from 130 countries and over 125,000 alumni worldwide. In recent years, the university has been at the centre of a debate regarding the accuracy of its reported student numbers, with some sources claiming that the true number of students based in the city may be significantly higher than what has been previously disclosed.

The University of Exeter has over 25,000 students from 130 countries

The University of Exeter is a research university based in the West Country of England, with campuses in Exeter, Devon, and Cornwall. It combines world-class research with excellent student satisfaction, and is one of the few universities to be a member of the Russell Group and hold a Gold award from the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). The University of Exeter has over 25,000 students from 130 countries and a further 125,000 alumni across 183 countries. This provides a truly global experience and a diverse, inclusive environment for its academic community of staff, students, and visiting researchers.

The University of Exeter's origins can be traced back to the middle of the 19th century, with its predecessor institutions, St Luke's College, Exeter School of Science, Exeter School of Art, and the Camborne School of Mines, established between 1838 and 1888. These institutions later formed the University of Exeter, which received its royal charter in 1955. The University has four campuses: Streatham and St Luke's in Exeter, and Truro and Penryn in Cornwall. The University is primarily located in the city of Exeter, where it is the principal higher education institution.

In recent years, the University of Exeter has consistently understated its student numbers, with figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act confirming between 7,500 and 12,000 more students based in the city each year than officially reported. This has had major implications for council planning policies related to student accommodation. The University's published student numbers for the 2021-22 academic year were around 11,500 lower than the true figure, which was confirmed to be 39,450 students based at its Exeter campuses.

The University of Exeter offers a broad range of courses across 40 subject areas and provides great choice and flexibility to meet the diverse needs of its students. It also offers opportunities to study abroad, gain work experience, learn foreign languages, and access outstanding careers support, helping its students stand out to employers. Additionally, the University has excellent teaching and research facilities across its campuses, including laboratories for science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine, as well as humanities.

With its combination of world-class research, excellent student satisfaction, and a diverse and inclusive community, the University of Exeter offers a rich and transformative educational experience to its over 25,000 students from around the world.

The university has four campuses: Streatham, St Luke's, Truro and Penryn

The University of Exeter is a research university in the West Country of England. It has four campuses: Streatham, St Luke's, Truro, and Penryn.

Streatham Campus

Streatham is the main campus and is located in Exeter, Devon. It sits on a hillside overlooking the city centre. The campus has several galleries, including the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, and a Sculpture Walk featuring pieces by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. The campus library holds over 1.2 million physical resources, including historical journals and special collections. It also offers a range of facilities and services, such as catering outlets, a medical centre, a counselling service, and a children's day-care centre. The Streatham Campus is known for its beautiful surroundings and has been described as "sublime" by The Independent.

St Luke's Campus

St Luke's Campus is located on the east side of Exeter city centre, just over a mile from the Streatham Campus. Founded in 1854 as a teacher training college, St Luke's has a long history and a vibrant, collegiate atmosphere. The campus offers various facilities, including a library, IT support, modern seminar rooms, lecture theatres, a health and fitness studio, and an indoor heated swimming pool. The Cross Keys cafe provides a large communal space for students to eat, study, and socialise. The St Luke's Campus is also home to the Graduate School of Education, the largest academic school at the University of Exeter.

Truro Campus

The Truro Campus is located in Truro, Cornwall, and is part of the University of Exeter Medical School. It can be easily accessed by car, train, or bus. The campus is approximately a two-and-a-half-hour train ride from Exeter and a 15-minute train ride from Penryn. The University of Exeter Medical School accepted its first students in 2013 and has since become a hub for health and wellbeing research and education.

Penryn Campus

The Penryn Campus is located in Penryn, Cornwall, and is shared with Falmouth University under the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) initiative. The campus is set in 100 acres of countryside, close to the towns of Penryn and Falmouth. It has a population of around 4,000 students and is home to internationally renowned departments, such as the Camborne School of Mines and the Centre for Ecology and Conservation (CEC). The Business School at the Penryn Campus features a specially designed area for business engagement called 'The Collaboratory'.

The university's annual income for 2023-24 was £666.6 million

The University of Exeter is a research university in the West Country of England, with its main campus in Exeter, Devon. It has over 25,000 students from 130 countries and over 125,000 alumni in 183 countries. The university's annual income for 2023-24 was £666.6 million, a slight increase from the previous year's £633.5 million. Of this, £350.6 million came from tuition fees and education contracts, £72.8 million from funding body grants, £129.2 million from research grants and contracts, £13.5 million from investment income, and £6.8 million from donations and endowments. The university's total expenditure for the year was £480.5 million.

The University of Exeter has four campuses: Streatham and St Luke's in Exeter, and Truro and Penryn in Cornwall. The Penryn campus is shared with Falmouth University under the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) initiative. The university's origins can be traced back to three separate educational institutions that existed in the city of Exeter and Cornwall in the 19th century. The predecessor institutions, St Luke's College, Exeter School of Science, Exeter School of Art, and the Camborne School of Mines, were established in 1838, 1855, 1863, and 1888, respectively. These institutions later merged to form the University of Exeter, receiving its royal charter in 1955.

The university has a strong focus on research, with recent breakthroughs including using drone surveys and computer modelling to plot extreme Arctic erosion, improving diagnosis and treatment for cancer and diabetes, and developing a 7-point plan to address the climate emergency through economic reform. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 showed that Exeter had increased its world-leading research proportion by more than 60% and expanded its research community by 70%.

In terms of student numbers, the University of Exeter has consistently understated its true figures, as revealed by Freedom of Information requests. While the university reported 27,276 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) students at its Streatham and St Luke's campuses last year, the actual number was over 39,450, including both full-time and part-time students. This discrepancy has had significant implications for council planning policies related to student accommodation in Exeter.

Exeter is a Russell Group university

The University of Exeter is a member of the Russell Group, a collection of 24 leading UK universities. These institutions are committed to maintaining the highest standards of research, teaching, and learning, as well as fostering strong relationships with businesses and the public sector. As a Russell Group university, Exeter plays a significant role in the UK's intellectual, cultural, and economic landscape, attracting top academics and students from across the globe.

Exeter's membership in the Russell Group underscores its reputation for research excellence. The university's research endeavours have a tangible impact worldwide, addressing pressing global challenges. Its research prowess is evidenced by its world-leading status in Sport Science and Theology and Religious Studies within the Russell Group. Furthermore, in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), Exeter ranked 16th nationally, with 98% of its research deemed internationally significant.

Beyond research, Exeter, as a Russell Group university, also excels in teaching. This is reflected in its Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment, a testament to its outstanding teaching quality and student satisfaction. The university's commitment to working in partnership with its students has resulted in consistently high student satisfaction ratings in the National Student Survey.

The University of Exeter's status as a Russell Group university extends beyond academics. With a turnover of over £350 million, Exeter plays a pivotal role in the economy of southwest England. The university's global outlook is evident in its diverse student body, with over 25,000 students from 130 countries and a vast alumni network spanning 183 countries. This international presence enriches the academic community and fosters a diverse and inclusive environment.

The university has a strong focus on sport, ranking as the number 1 sports university in the South of England and Wales

The University of Exeter is a member of the Russell Group of leading UK research universities, combining excellence in teaching and research with an outstanding student experience. The university welcomes over 30,000 students from more than 150 countries to its four campuses: Streatham and St Luke's in Exeter, Devon, and Penryn and Truro in Cornwall.

The Sports Park at the Streatham Campus includes an Athlete Development Centre, all-weather pitches, Cricket, Golf, and Tennis Centres, as well as the Russell Seal Fitness Centre and an outdoor swimming pool. The St Luke's Campus, which is home to Sport and Health Sciences, features an indoor heated swimming pool, a sports hall, and an air-conditioned health and fitness studio. Students based in Exeter also have access to off-site facilities such as the Boathouse and sports grounds.

The Penryn Campus in Cornwall offers students a range of excellent facilities, including a 90-station gym, outdoor gym equipment, a sports hall, and an all-weather multi-use games area. With its focus on sport, Exeter consistently finishes in the top 10 in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) rankings each year.

In addition to its sporting prowess, the University of Exeter also excels in other areas. It is ranked among the top universities in the UK and is placed 13th in the Times University Guide and 18th in the Guardian University Guide for 2025. The university's Mining and Mineral Engineering subject is ranked 14th globally, while its Sports-related subjects, Geophysics, Geology, Classics and Ancient History, Geography, Archeology, Environmental Sciences, Earth and Marine Sciences, and English Language and Literature are all in the top 50 worldwide.

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