Exeter University

What's it like as a place to live? Whenever anyone asks what Exeter is like, the first response is usually 'green'. And it's true. The campus is a truly unique and beautiful environment to live and study in, which encapsulates services and facilities for students over a reasonably small and navigable campus, whilst also integrating with the city. You could say that we have the best of both worlds as students - the green, beautiful valley and historic buildings of campus, together with the modern convenience of a growing city.

How's the student accommodation?There is a variety of accommodation on and off campus run by the university, a lot of which is relatively newly built. A lot of the accommodation is really nice - for the more expensive halls you definitely get what you pay for (ensuite, double bed etc), but there are also cheaper options which are just as good. There is a mix of old halls with lots of tradition, and new halls - but wherever you are the atmosphere is usually what makes your year in first year! There is also plenty of good private accommodation in Exeter, so you will always be able to find a house for your second and third or fourth years. The university provides a housing list of private let accommodation which is a bible for anyone looking for a house! The price range is pretty good too, with the cheapest houses ranging from about £60-£65 a week.

What's the student population like? Everyone I know at Exeter has found their own niche. There is so much going on that it would be difficult not to find a group of like-minded people! Campus is very friendly, and the population is growing more diverse with each year. In comparison to other campuses Exeter isn't particularly international, and campus can seem a little homogenous sometimes, but the atmosphere is always really friendly.

How do students and locals get on? The Students' Guild does a lot of work with the community to try and engage them with the positive aspects of what students bring to the wider Exeter community. Particularly through volunteering through Community Action and RAG (Raising and Giving). However, like any other university, students and residents do sometimes come into conflict over issues such as noise. I wouldn't say there were any no-go areas per se, except perhaps a few of the pubs which are known to be very local!

What's it like as a place to study? There is a mixture of traditional and non-traditional courses at Exeter, and most degree programmes offer the flexibility to include different degree areas into your course. Facilities vary from department to department, but the library has recently had some investment put into it, and there is a decent amount of flexible work space around campus.

What are the teaching staff like? A lot of Schools benefit from having renowned academics teaching courses. The university is research-led, so there are sometimes cases where the staff can seem more interested in their own research priorities than student concerns. However, in most cases the staff are generally helpful and interested in encouraging and supporting students to fulfil their potential.

What are student societies like? There are hundreds of societies run by students as part of the Students' Guild. From archaeology soc, to wine soc; beats and bass, to jazz orchestra; stop aids society, to international society. There is a wide range of societies to cater for all your interests, and if there is something that you would like to see that isn't currently being done then you can set up your own society. There is also a strong volunteering community at Exeter - Community Action runs a variety of student-led projects in the community, and Raising and Giving (RAG) runs a range of events and activities raising money for different charities. Media is also very strong, with Exepose (the campus newspaper), X-TV, Xpression FM, and X-media online all with a keen student membership.

What's a typical night out? There's a range of activities that students get involved in during their time at Exeter. Many students frequent the Ram and the Lemmy, the student bar and club on campus. During the week students will also venture into town to clubs and bars, especially as part of society socials - most notably in Arena and Timepiece. If you're up for something a bit different then there is a good music scene with lots of gigs on campus (recently we've had the Zutons, Feeder, Seth Lakeman, Razorlight, The Fratellis) and there are large-scale events such as the Summer Ball (a full night of revelry going on till 5am!) going on throughout the year.

And how much does it cost? On campus you might spend £10-15 in a night - depends how many rounds you buy! In town might be slightly more expensive, but prices on campus range from £2 a pint to £2.10 for spirits and mixers.

How can you get home safely? Exeter isn't a particularly large city so you'll never be far from home, but you should still think about your safety. Students should, and usually do, stick together in groups to walk home after a night out, and there are good taxi services around the city.

Is it an expensive place to live? Your loan should last the term so long as you are sensible about what you spend your money on - ie if you stay away from Princesshay, the almighty shopping centre!

Average price of a pint? £2 on campus in the union bar. Slightly more expensive in town.

And the price of a takeaway? About £8 for a pizza (half-price with a RAG card!), £2 for cheesy chips.

What's the part-time work situation? A lot of students work part time while they study, both in town and on campus (either for the Students' Guild or the university). Pay will obviously vary depending on the type of job, but the relatively new shopping centre in town has created a lot more student-friendly jobs. The Students' Guild and university jointly run 'The Works' the job-shop, which will help you find a part-time job to suit you.

What's the best feature about the place? Probably the compact nature of campus, and the city. Everything is accessible and really close - you can escape from the city in 20 minutes and find yourself on a beach or up in the moors, and yet you're still living in a city that has everything you could need to hand.

And the worst?  The hills and the rain!

And to sum it all up? It may be hilly, and it does rain a lot, but that all adds to the charm of Exeter. It's a place that you will always find yourself coming back to long after you've graduated - not least because the experience Exeter provides both academically, and in terms of extra-curricular activities, such as societies and volunteering, gives students an all-round grounding whilst living in a beautiful campus in the heart of Devon. 

 Richard Hill, Mike Slemen (England rugby players); Paul Jackson (BBC comedy producer); Tony Speller and Bowen Wells (Tory MPs); Paul Downton, Richard Ellison (England cricketers); Thom Yorke (Radiohead); Emma B (Radio 1 DJ); Peter Phillips (Princess Anne's son); J K Rowling (author); Will Young (singer).  

Contact Guild President, tel 01392 263540, email president@guild.ex.ac.uk, website www.exeterguild.org.

Cornwall Campus is shared with Falmouth University College, so look up that or contact FXU President UECC, tel 01326370774, email presidentuecc@fxu.org.uk or check the website www.fxu.org.uk