Ask a Current University of Exeter Student - Bella

Hi!
I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about what the area is like please? What's near by, transport links, getting housing after first year, that sort of thing. I have an offer from Exeter, but I haven't chosen my firm/insurance yet. Thanks so much!

Hi there, congratulations on your offer!
I would say Exeter is slightly more of a rural area than some other busy cities - the city centre is very social and bustling but has plenty of green spaces, cute cafes, and quaint little independent shops too. It’s got historic areas and attractions like the cathedral, the Quayside (perfect for an evening walk), and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum. Equally, there’s a wide variety of supermarkets, bars, clubs, and other modern amenities which make it a really fun and convenient place to live.
Of course we’re also close to Dartmoor which is perfect if you’re someone who loves to hike or be in nature! One of my favourite things about the area is the proximity to the beach - it’s only a 20-30min train journey away and is such a fun way to destress after summer exams or deadlines. There are also lots of little coastal towns and villages to explore like Topsham, Sidmouth and Teignmouth which are easily accessible by train, making for great days out.
Exeter is pretty well connected by train - it’s only 2-3 hours to London - with a few train stations scattered about so you’re pretty much guaranteed to have one within walking distance no matter where you’re living. The city is very walkable but if you’re going a bit further out - a quick trip to IKEA, for example - there are plenty of bus services available so it’s easy to get around.
In terms of housing after first year, there are plenty of options so you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something that suits you. I was definitely a bit worried that I wouldn’t find anywhere as lots of people I knew started forming groups and looking at options very early on, but there will always be somewhere for you even if you take a bit longer than your peers like I did! I ended up finding a lovely group of people through societies and friends of friends, and we basically just met up, agreed on what sort of things we were looking for - price range, location, etc - and browsed some housing websites like Student Cribs together. We did lots of viewings which I’d say is quite important in deciding - when we visited the place we’re currently living we got to talk to the current tenants who couldn’t recommend it enough! I’m in a building with around 10 flats all occupied by students, but there are plenty of proper houses all around the city which rent to students, as well as options for studios if you’d prefer to live alone.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
Bella
University of Exeter Student Ambassador