All you could want from a University
My first term at Exeter was reasonably enjoyable. The hall I got into was nice enough and close to Campus but it was quite expensive and I know a lot of the other halls can be far away from Campus and you have to walk along way to get onto Campus. The people in my halls were really easy to get along with although they tended to be quite posh which I didn’t really mind but a bit more of a variety would have been nice. I know some people who hated the posh aspect of Exeter (has one of the highest percentage of people coming from private schools), although it is only really a problem if you go for halls like Holland Hall which has a dreadful reputation. Fortunately there are quite a lot of History students since Exeter has a great department and they tend to be the coolest people you will meet at Uni (with maths students at the bottom). As a general rule the worse the quality of the accommodation the more down to earth the people are and the more likely you are to have a nice time. Although I liked the people in my halls enough, I didn’t like staying in catered accommodation as it was always a bit of a pain going to dinner if you were socially awkward like me. I moved halls to self catered which was a better fit for me although it was further away from Campus. You can still socialise with people in your flat but you probably won’t have to socialise as much if you don’t want to – which was perfect for me.
The City of Exeter itself is quite pretty and the Cathedral square is gorgeous. It was quite a change compared to where I’m from in the north of England, although there are a considerable number of Homeless people which is quite shocking and can also be annoying when they try to busk. I usually end up giving them all my change when I’m walking back drunk from a night out which you can expect to do a lot in the first few weeks. I didn’t particularly enjoy clubbing- dancing to terrible music non stop for two hours whilst being able to talk to anyone because the music is too loud. However, that’s just me and the clubs in Exeter were far better than the ones Ive been to at home and most people tend to go out twice a week so it must be good! Exeter does have quite a small city feel to it but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing since their are plenty of clubs, pubs, cinemas, a dominoes, a bolling alley etc. What more could you want! On the other hand, It is really annoying that it is so isolated though and the fact that it takes me 5 and a half hours to get home is an unfortunate consequence.
The campus itself is very pleasant with lots of green spaces and the Forum which is a stunning building. It is a bit annoying that it is at the top of a hill from my hall now (as well as many others) and I have often skipped a lecture just because I couldn’t be bothered to walk all the way up.
I study Maths and I don’t particularly enjoy it but the course is still quite good. There are plenty of tutorials and work to hand in and it is quite easy to catch up if you fall behind since most lecturers post recordings of the lecture online. The Maths course takes a while to get going and I’m not too fond of it since I don’t like all the memorisation of definitions, techniques and proofs (which you have to do unless you’re super smart). Also the lecturers are a bit hit and miss – you can get a really good one or you can get a lecturer who obviously has no passion for teaching and is more focused on research. I also recommend skipping the lectures and watching them back online at 1.25 speed since some of the lectures speak so slooowllly. The learning atmosphere in Exeter is nice and relaxed and not competitive at all since you are easily able to balance your studies alongside extra curricular activities. My impression is this is the way most people on the course prefer it since it is my impression that they’re studying maths for the job prospects rather than out of enjoyment. This might be for you but for me I think I would have preferred a more competitive learning environment at a more academic university such as Durham where you will probably get pushed harder . Having said that If i get a 2:1 then I have fairly good career prospects but I am dreading the work I have to put in.
Overall, Exeter University is a pleasant campus located at the edge of a pleasant city, with good halls of residences which can be a bit far from the Uni. The courses are fairly reputable but you don’t have to spend that much time studying which can be a good thing but for me I liked to be pushed so would prefer a more intensive course (I’m thinking about reapplying for General Engineering). The people tend to be nice and you should make friends, just remember to learn some social skill before you get to Uni otherwise you might end up like me with no friends and having to change halls because you don’t want to go to dinner on your own.
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