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🎓 Study in the UK · Russell Group

University of Exeter

Founded 1955 by royal charter (origins 1851). Russell Group since 2012. QS World 2026 number 155 (top 200 worldwide, #13 UK Times Univ Guide 2026, #14 UK Complete). TRIPLE GOLD Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 (rare, only a few RG). University of the Year UK Social Mobility Awards 2025. JK Rowling iconic alumna (Harry Potter author, French and Classics 1986)! 30,000 plus students, 7,000 plus intl from 150 plus countries. Iconic Climate Science: 5 of the most influential UK climate scientists are at Exeter! 92 percent graduate placement rate, top 10 most targeted UK employers. Acceptance about 76-87% (accessible!). NO LNAT required for Law.

University of Exeter Streatham Campus
#13 UK
Times Univ Guide 2026
92%
graduate placement rate
#155
QS World 2026
£24-48k
intl tuition 2026-27

About the University of Exeter

The University of Exeter was founded in 1955 by royal charter (origins date back to 1851, West of England School of Art plus other institutions). Russell Group since 2012 (one of the newest RG members alongside QMUL, York, Durham). Location: Exeter, Devon, South West England, a historic city with Exeter Cathedral (12th century), 2.5 hours by train from London. 3 campuses: Streatham (main, 22,414 students, 245 acres of beautiful parkland!), St Luke's (Education plus Medicine), Penryn Campus Cornwall (Environment plus Sustainability plus Mining - shared with Falmouth).

What makes Exeter unique: TRIPLE GOLD Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 - one of few Russell Group universities with this distinction (teaching, student experience, student outcomes all Gold!). University of the Year UK Social Mobility Awards 2025. QS World 2026 number 155 (top 200 worldwide). Times University Guide 2026: number 13 UK! Complete University Guide 2026: #14 UK. Guardian University Guide 2026: #18 UK. REF 2021: 99 plus percent of research rated international quality, 12 subjects in the Top 10 UK for world-leading impact! CWTS Leiden Ranking: #7 UK for research quality, #38 worldwide. THE Impact Rankings 2024: top 10 worldwide for the SDGs including Clean Water, Aquatic Life, Climate Action. 92 percent graduate placement rate! Top 10 most targeted UK employers (Graduate Market). Top 5 BUCS sports league 6 years running. 400 plus clubs and societies. JK Rowling is the iconic alumna (Harry Potter author, French and Classics 1986, dedicated Exeter in Philosopher's Stone!).

TOP Exeter specialisms: Climate Science plus Environmental Science: 5 of the most influential UK climate scientists are at Exeter! Top 10 UK for Environmental Science research. Penryn Campus Cornwall: dedicated to Sustainability plus Marine Biology plus Mining Engineering, unique in the UK. Business School: top 10 UK for Business, MSc Business Analytics, Accounting and Finance, MBA. Law: top UK (no LNAT!). Data Science plus Computer Science: top UK for AI plus data analytics. Psychology: top UK. Geography: top 5 UK. Economics: top UK. English: top UK (JK Rowling heritage!). History plus Politics plus International Relations: top UK. Medicine MBChB (St Luke's): top UK. Engineering: Engineering Sciences, top UK for renewable energy. 473 UG courses plus 224 PG courses.

For Romanian students, Exeter is an excellent option for those passionate about Business, Law, Environmental/Climate Science, English/Humanities, with a focus on employability plus social mobility. MAJOR Exeter ADVANTAGES: (1) TRIPLE GOLD TEF 2023: top UK teaching; (2) Iconic Climate Science: for Romanians passionate about the environment plus sustainability; (3) 92 percent graduate placement: the strongest career promise; (4) NO LNAT required for Law (versus Oxford/UCL/KCL/LSE/Durham/Bristol/Nottingham); (5) Acceptance about 76-87%: one of the most accessible Russell Group universities; (6) Devon coastal living: high quality of life, costs below London; (7) Penryn Cornwall: unique in the UK for marine plus environment studies. Typical Romanian profile: real-track Bac with Business/CS/Math/Economics, science-track Bac with Med/Environmental/Marine/Geography, humanities-track Bac with Law (no LNAT!), English (JK Rowling!), Politics, History. Notable alumni: JK Rowling (Harry Potter!), Thom Yorke (Radiohead frontman), Robert Bolt (Lawrence of Arabia screenwriter), Andrew Strauss (England cricket captain).

How to apply to Exeter

1

UCAS application (E84)

You apply through UCAS, a maximum of 5 choices in total. Exeter uses institution code E84. UCAS application fee: £28.95. Exeter has 473 plus undergraduate programmes: Business (top 10 UK), Law (no LNAT!), Environmental Science (top 10 UK!), Climate Science, Data Science, Computer Science, Economics, Geography, Psychology, English (JK Rowling heritage!), History, Politics, Medicine MBChB (St Luke's), Marine Biology and Mining Engineering at Penryn Campus Cornwall. BONUS: the option to study at Penryn Cornwall for environment-focused programmes.

2

Deadline 14 January 2026 (Medicine 15 Oct!)

Standard UCAS deadline for Exeter: 14 January 2026, 18:00 UK time, for most courses (September 2026 entry). EXCEPTION Medicine MBChB: deadline 15 October 2025. UCAS Apply opens September 2025. UCAS Extra: until 26 February 2026. Exeter does NOT offer a January intake for UG (only selective PG).

3

Tests: UCAT (Medicine), NO LNAT (Law)

Exeter advantage vs other Russell Group: NO LNAT required for Law. Exeter is NOT in the LNAT consortium (Oxford, UCL, KCL, LSE, Durham, Bristol, Nottingham, Glasgow, SOAS all require LNAT). For Medicine MBChB at Exeter the UCAT is MANDATORY (University Clinical Aptitude Test, which replaced the BMAT from 2024). No TMUA required for Math/CS/Economics (versus Warwick/Imperial/LSE/Cambridge). For Business, Environmental Science, Climate Science, CS, Data Science, Psychology, Geography, Humanities: there are NO mandatory tests, only UCAS plus Personal Statement plus predicted grades plus an academic reference.

4

Personal Statement (NEW 2026 FORMAT)

The UCAS Personal Statement is REFORMED for 2026 entry, structured into 3 sections with specific questions. Total about 4,000 characters. STRICTLY ACADEMIC for the UK. For Exeter Climate Science / Environmental Science: passion for the environment, citing Exeter climate researchers (Tim Lenton, Pierre Friedlingstein), awareness of activism. For Business: business experience, financial markets, leadership. For Law (no LNAT): critical thinking, current affairs, legal work experience. For English: in-depth reading (you can mention the JK Rowling alumna heritage), literary criticism. For Medicine: clinical work experience, NHS-like volunteering.

5

IELTS / TOEFL (by December)

Minimum Exeter IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, no less than 6.0 per component for most courses. Higher 7.0 plus for Medicine, Law, English Literature, Education. TOEFL iBT 90-100. PTE Academic 62-70. Valid for 2 years. An international high school taught in English may be an IELTS waiver in some cases.

6

Conditional offer + Baccalaureate

Conditional offers based on predicted grades. For the Romanian Bac: Bac average 8.5-9 plus and 8.5-9 plus on the relevant track for standard courses, 9 plus for competitive ones. Equivalent to ABB-AAB A-Levels standard, AAA competitive. Business: AAA. Law (no LNAT): AAA-A*AA. Medicine MBChB: A*AA plus Biology and Chemistry plus UCAT. Environmental Science/Climate Science: AAB-AAA plus Sciences. CS/Data Science: AAA plus Math. English: AAA. Humanities: ABB-AAA. IB accepted: 32-38 points.

Costs for Romanians

Intl Tuition 2026-27 (£23,700-£47,600/yr)

Classroom (Humanities, Law, Business, Arts)£23,700-£27k/yr
Lab/Sciences/CS£27-32k/yr
Environmental/Climate Science£27-31k/yr
Engineering£29-33k/yr
Business School (top 10 UK)£28-32k/yr
Medicine MBChB (5 years)£40-47k/yr

Total cost 3 years BSc Honours (£100k-£135k)

Tuition 3 years BSc/BA~£71-99k
Accommodation Exeter£5-8k/yr
Food/transport/misc~£3-5k/yr
Total 3 years BA (Humanities)~£100-115k
Total 3 years Sciences/CS~£110-125k
Total 3 years Business School~£115-130k
Exeter advantage vs London: savings of about £15-25k over 3 years on accommodation/living vs UCL/Imperial/LSE/KCL. Cost of living in Exeter about £10-14k per year, below London (Devon coastal living is reasonable). Streatham campus halls £130-180/week, private off-campus £450-600/month. 5-year Medicine MBChB: about £230-265k. Post-Brexit (2021), Romanians pay full Overseas fees, but Exeter has invested £5 million in intl scholarships for 2025/26.
Exeter financial aid policy

Strictly merit-based

Exeter does NOT offer need-blind/need-aware like a US Ivy. For intl undergrads, there is NO need-based financial aid. Scholarships are strictly merit-based: awarded on the basis of exceptional pre-university grades, motivation letter and academic performance. Exeter is University of the Year at the Social Mobility Awards 2025: a strong focus on access and widening participation.

Intl undergrad scholarships

Up to £10,000

£5 million invested in intl plus EU scholarships for 2025/26! Exeter International Excellence Scholarship: up to £10,000 off tuition for outstanding intl students. Global Excellence Scholarship: up to £5,000. Country-specific and Faculty-specific (Business School, Engineering, Medicine). Sports and creative scholarships. For Romanians: apply separately from UCAS, deadlines April-May. Competitive: about 5-10 percent of intl students receive an Exeter scholarship.

Critical for Romanians: Brexit

Full Overseas fees

Since 2021, EU citizens (Romanians) pay full Overseas fees (no longer the home rate of £9,535/year). You no longer have access to UK Student Loans. Exception: pre-Brexit settled status or Irish citizenship. Exeter CAS visa requirement: proof of tuition funds plus £1,023/month living costs. Accommodation guaranteed if you apply by the deadline.

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Want to apply to Exeter?

Exeter offers a rare combination: TRIPLE GOLD TEF 2023 plus University of the Year Social Mobility 2025 plus JK Rowling alumna plus 5 of the most influential UK climate scientists plus 92 percent graduate placement plus Acceptance about 76-87% (accessible!) plus #13 UK Times Univ 2026 plus Devon coastal living plus £5 million in intl scholarships plus NO LNAT required for Law. International Excellence Scholarship up to £10,000. Our UK mentors guide you step by step. The first mentoring session is 100% free.

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Frequently asked questions

How hard is it to get into the University of Exeter?

Exeter is one of the most accessible Russell Group universities with an acceptance rate of about 76-87 percent (similar to Queen's Belfast, Cardiff). For Romanians: predicted A-Level grades ABB-AAA (equivalent to Bac 8.5-9 plus) for standard courses. Competitive: Business AAA, Law (no LNAT) AAA-A*AA, Medicine MBChB A*AA plus UCAT, Environmental/Climate Science AAB-AAA plus Sciences, CS/Data Science AAA plus Math. Exeter advantage: no LNAT required for Law, no TMUA required for Math/CS, which simplifies the application.

How much does the University of Exeter cost for Romanians?

Post-Brexit 2021, Romanians pay Overseas fees. Tuition 2026-27: £23,700-£47,600 per year. Classroom (Humanities, Law, Business, Arts): £23,700-£27k. Lab/CS: £27-32k. Environmental/Climate Science: £27-31k. Engineering: £29-33k. Business School (top 10 UK): £28-32k. Medicine MBChB 5 years: £40-47k. Cost of living in Exeter: about £10-14k per year, below London (Devon coastal living is reasonable). Total 3 years BA for a Romanian: about £100-115k Humanities, about £110-125k Sciences/CS, about £115-130k Business. 5 years Medicine: about £230-265k.

What scholarships are there at Exeter for international students?

Exeter has invested £5 million in intl plus EU scholarships for 2025/26! Exeter International Excellence Scholarship UG: up to £10,000 off tuition for outstanding intl students. Global Excellence Scholarship: up to £5,000. Country-specific scholarships. Faculty-specific scholarships: Business School, Engineering, Medicine. Sports scholarships (Exeter top 5 BUCS 6 years running!). Merit-based only (NOT need-based). For Romanians: apply separately from UCAS, April-May. Competitive: about 5-10 percent of intl students receive an Exeter scholarship. Plus UK Chevening (postgrad only).

Do I need to take the LNAT or UCAT for Exeter?

Exeter advantage: no LNAT required for Law. Exeter is NOT in the LNAT consortium (Oxford, UCL, KCL, LSE, Durham, Bristol, Nottingham, Glasgow, SOAS all require LNAT). No TMUA required for Math/CS/Economics (versus Warwick/Imperial/LSE/Cambridge). For Medicine MBChB at Exeter the UCAT is MANDATORY (University Clinical Aptitude Test, which replaced the BMAT from 2024). For Business, Environmental Science, Climate Science, CS, Data Science, Psychology, Geography, English, Humanities: there are no mandatory tests, only UCAS plus Personal Statement plus predicted grades plus a reference.

Why is Climate Science at Exeter special?

Exeter is the centre of UK climate science! 5 of the most influential UK climate scientists are at Exeter, including Tim Lenton (climate tipping points, IPCC contributor), Pierre Friedlingstein (Global Carbon Budget lead), plus others. Unique benefits: top 10 worldwide THE Impact Rankings 2024 for the SDGs Clean Water, Aquatic Life, Climate Action! Partnership with the Met Office (UK Meteorological Office, HQ in Exeter!) - extraordinary placement opportunities. Penryn Campus Cornwall: dedicated to Sustainability plus Marine Biology, by the ocean. Programmes: BSc Climate Science, BSc Environmental Science, BSc Marine Biology, MSc Climate Change. Requirements: AAB-AAA plus Sciences. Tuition: about £27-31k/year. Careers: Met Office, UNEP, IPCC, climate consulting, the renewable energy industry (Exeter Devon = UK wind/solar/tidal energy hub!).

Which are the strongest Exeter courses for Romanians?

Exeter is renowned for: Climate Science plus Environmental Science: top UK, 5 of the top UK climate scientists here, Met Office partnership. Business School: top 10 UK, MSc Business Analytics, Accounting and Finance, MBA. Law: top UK (no LNAT!). Data Science plus CS: top UK for AI plus data analytics. Psychology: top UK. Geography: top 5 UK. Economics: top UK. English: top UK (JK Rowling alumna - French and Classics 1986!). History plus Politics plus International Relations: top UK. Medicine MBChB (St Luke's): top UK. Marine Biology at Penryn Cornwall: unique in the UK. Mining Engineering at Penryn: unique in the UK! 473 UG courses, 224 PG courses. 92 percent graduate placement rate!

What is student life like in Exeter?

Exeter is a historic city in Devon, South West England, with the iconic Exeter Cathedral (12th century), 2.5 hours by train from London. The university: 30,000 plus students, 7,000 plus intl from 150 plus countries. 3 campuses: Streatham (main, 245 acres of beautiful parkland!, 22,414 students), St Luke's (Education plus Medicine), Penryn Cornwall (Environment plus Sustainability plus Marine Biology - shared with Falmouth). 400 plus clubs and societies, including the Harry Potter Society (JK Rowling alumna heritage!), football, surfing, drama, dance. Top 5 BUCS sports league 6 years running! Accommodation guaranteed for first-year and intl students. Cost of living about £10-14k per year, below London. Devon coastal living: high quality of life, surfing, walking in the countryside, a foodie scene. Transport links: train to London Paddington 2h30min. Exeter Airport connects to Europe.

Can I stay in the UK after graduating from Exeter?

Yes, through the Graduate Route visa. After graduating from any Exeter degree (BSc, BA, MSc, MBChB, LLB), you are automatically entitled to 2 years on the Graduate Route (3 years for a PhD) without a sponsor. Visa cost: £822 plus £1,035 per year IHS. Exeter has a 92 percent graduate placement rate! Top 10 most targeted UK employers (Graduate Market). Exeter graduate salaries: Business School: £30-50k consulting/finance (Big 4, Deloitte, IBM, Rolls-Royce - top Exeter recruiters!); Medicine MBChB: £33-37k FY1 NHS; Law (no LNAT): £30-50k regional UK plus the City of London; Climate Science/Environmental: £28-45k Met Office (HQ Exeter!), UNEP, renewable energy, consulting; CS/Data Science: £30-50k tech (Google, Microsoft, fintech); Engineering: £28-45k (renewable energy specialty); English/Humanities: £25-35k (publishing, BBC, journalism). Top Exeter recruiters: Deloitte, Rolls-Royce, IBM, Met Office, EY, PwC. For Romanians: Exeter has a 71-year reputation, the JK Rowling legacy, and a global alumni network of 200,000 plus members.

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