Uni of Exeter for civil service

Hi everyone!
I'm a Year 12 student looking at universities to study International Relations. I'm predicted A*A*A and my top 2 are HSPS at Cambridge and IR at Bath. Now I'm looking at backup unis and Exeter seems like a great choice due to their flexible major/minor system, which would allow me to do French as a minor (I don't want to do a joint honours because of the compulsory year abroad). Since I'd like to go into the civil service, and especially diplomacy, I wonder how attractive Exeter is to employers. It seems like one of the lesser known RG unis, but I really like it there. Is their careers advice service any good?

Reply 1

McGinger

Its the degree that matters - the Civil Service really will not care where you got it.

Reply 2

Muttley79

Original post by J5j5lok

Bath is a good uni but not RG ...

The uni you go to doesn't matter.

Reply 3

username872704

I interview candidates for engineering roles in my part of the CS. As others have suggested, I won't really care where you got your degree from, though I might be more interested if it's from the OU as that says a lot of positive things about the candidate.

I'll be interested interested in whether your quals match the role requirements, what modules you did as well as the experience/skills you bring to the table and any extra hobbies or activities you do that I might be able to pick skills and competencies from (you'd be surprised how many professional skill sets go into building a PC, restoring a car or modernising your house uses).

You put the best effort you can into a degree that suits your career goals at the uni that appeals to you in the city/town that gives you the best university adventure experience possible...... and you will do just fine and have no reason to feel regrets.

My first Uni adventure was at Exeter btw and I've long been fond o the city and Uni. Since then, I've been to Plymouth, Cranfield and the OU and enjoyed my time at all of them. It's a nice city, though a bit expensive sometimes but it's a good place to be.

All the best and if there's any Qs I can answer, let me know.

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 4

ageshallnot

One of my close relatives went to Exeter and now works for the Foreign Office.

Reply 5

J5j5lok

Original post by Grim_Squeaker

I interview candidates for engineering roles in my part of the CS. As others have suggested, I won't really care where you got your degree from, though I might be more interested if it's from the OU as that says a lot of positive things about the candidate.
I'll be interested interested in whether your quals match the role requirements, what modules you did as well as the experience/skills you bring to the table and any extra hobbies or activities you do that I might be able to pick skills and competencies from (you'd be surprised how many professional skill sets go into building a PC, restoring a car or modernising your house uses).
You put the best effort you can into a degree that suits your career goals at the uni that appeals to you in the city/town that gives you the best university adventure experience possible...... and you will do just fine and have no reason to feel regrets.
My first Uni adventure was at Exeter btw and I've long been fond o the city and Uni. Since then, I've been to Plymouth, Cranfield and the OU and enjoyed my time at all of them. It's a nice city, though a bit expensive sometimes but it's a good place to be.
All the best and if there's any Qs I can answer, let me know.

I didn't know that modules mattered! Also, what does OU stand for? The Open Uni?

Reply 6

username872704

Original post by J5j5lok

I didn't know that modules mattered! Also, what does OU stand for? The Open Uni?

Yeah, Open Uni.

By modules mattering I mean, if you are applying to us for a job in electrical/avionics roles (for example), we might be looking to see if you've done any electrical or electronics modules or communications tech modules. For a Naval Architecture role, if you haven't done a degree/masters in it then we might be looking for structural modules or engineering modelling on the degree you did do. It's why a lot of ads have "Degree/postgraduate qualification in xyz, or another relevant subject" or words to that effect. Gives us wiggle room for when we have candidates apply who are perhaps not 100% fitting the profile but are 110% someone we want in based on other elements of their application..

That's usually done at the sifting stage where we first check a CV has all the stuff to meet the 'essential requirements' on the job advert. Then we sift again to look at the detail and score people against the criteria to see who we will bring to interview.

International Relations will no doubt be a bit different than engineering and the focus on module choices will likely not be as important. Sounds cool though and perhaps quite relevant right now.