Terms | Application Deadlines | Eligibility | Course Information | Program Fees | Passports & Visas | Housing and Meals 

The University of Exeter is one of the highest ranked universities in the United Kingdom. The university boasts a diverse range of courses through its seventeen academic schools, as well as 70 research centers. Exeter is also known for its Students’ Guild, which is active both locally and nationally. There are 220 affiliated student societies and an additional 50 sport clubs. The University of Exeter Business School in one of the top in the UK and a very good option for business and economics students. If you study abroad at Exeter, you can brag that you attended the same university as J.K. Rowling! 

 

Exeter has two campuses located in the southwest of England open to exchange students. W&M students can choose to study at one of these campuses. The main Streatham campus in Exeter is a beautiful campus in the heart of Devon and only a 15 minute walk to the city center. Many of the buildings have recently been updated, and Streatham is home to the largest number of academic departments. The Penryn campus in Cornwall (about 2 hours away from Exeter) is close to the vibrant coastal town of Falmouth, and has a smaller, collegiate atmosphere. In addition to business and humanities, Penryn offers courses in Life and Environmental Sciences, Math and Geology. Courses in renewable energy are also available. Penryn offers the newest academic, research, and residential facilities. Take a virtual tour of each of the campuses. 

A Note on Exchange Programs:  
Exchange programs require a balance of sending and receiving students, therefore exchange programs may not consistently be available in the semester you are seeking to study abroad. Please inquire with the GEO Advisor for the most up-to-date information on your program choice, and have some alternative programs in mind should the exchange program not be available or be competitive.  

Terms: 
Academic Year (mid-September – mid-June)
Fall Semester (mid-September – December) *The normal Exeter term runs until early January, but alternative assessments are available for some disciplines if students need to return before then. 
Spring Semester (mid-January – June) *Students are expected to stay until mid-June, throughout the examination period.

Application Deadlines:
Academic Year: March 15
Fall Semester: March 15
Spring Semester: October 1

After students are nominated by W&M, they must submit an online application to Exeter by October 31 (spring) and April 30 (fall).

Eligibility:
W&M student in good standing; minimum 3.0 GPA

Course Information:
Students may choose from the full university curriculum, with the exception of chemistry courses. Students should take at least half of their modules in one subject area to reduce the possibility of timetable clashes. Even though students request modules when applying, they are not guaranteed, and they will be finalized upon arrival in Exeter during the registration period. Students need to be flexible because the University of Exeter cannot guarantee availability of specific modules. Please note that Psychology courses are often oversubscribed and not available to visiting students. 

Exeter offers a British Culture Seminar designed for study abroad students that covers early early modern to present day cultural forms, including film and literature. This course is optional and is worth 4 W&M credits. 

The credit conversion from Exeter credits to W&M credits is as follows:

15 Exeter credits = 4 W&M credits
20 Exeter credits = 5 W&M credits
30 Exeter credits = 8 W&M credits

Except for History, all courses must be pre- or post-approved. History courses will be automatically approved as HIST 299 once students submit a syllabus to the Global Education Office. Grades will not appear on W&M transcripts or be included in GPA calculations.

When selecting courses, students should be careful to select courses that are all at the same campus, as it is not possible to take courses at both the Streatham and Penryn campuses due to their distance.  

Grand Challenges is an optional project week in mid-June, open to students studying at Exeter during the spring semester. It is a project-based learning experience where students are invited to choose from a range of global issues and carry out group research to create an innovative solution to a real-life problem. It's supported by leading academics and external experts and is designed to improve student employability.

Program Fees:
The tuition exchange agreement between William & Mary and University of Exeter allows W&M students to pay their regular tuition and fees to W&M while taking classes at Exeter. Students will pay for housing and meals on-site in Exeter.
 
Students are also billed a $475 study abroad fee. International medical/evacuation insurance is required for all students who study abroad and a fee of $170 is applied to the W&M student account prior to the start of the program. Students are responsible for airfare and visa costs. 

There may be a limited amount of funds offered from Exeter directly to go towards accommodations (usually approximately 500 GBP).  NOTE: This award is not guaranteed to be offered every year. Please contact the GEO advisor to see if it is currently being offered. 

Passports & Visas:
Students participating in semester long study abroad programs do not need to apply for a visa in advance, but they must bring the required entry documents. Students can receive the short-term study visa upon arrival in the UK. Please familiarize yourself with the visa requirements prior to applying. Use the UKVI's website to check if you need a visa. 

As a reminder, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of the program.

Housing & Meals:
Room and board are paid on-site in Exeter. Students studying at the Streatham campus for a full academic year are guaranteed university-owned housing. Students studying at the Streatham campus for a single semester are not guaranteed university-owned housing. Some students may be placed in university-owned housing if they apply for accommodation early enough and there is enough space available. These rooms are limited, however, and the majority of students will seek accommodation in the private sector. 

Since there is limited on-campus housing, students should apply for accommodation as soon as they are accepted. There are various options, including catered (breakfast and dinner 7 days a week) and self-catered (no meals with shared kitchen). Housing costs vary depending on accommodation and whether single or shared, catered or self-catered. Students studying for only one semester should view the Accommodations website for study abroad and exchange students, which details a list of privately owned or managed flats and apartments close to campus. The town of Exeter is a safe, student-friendly, and cycle friendly city with good bus routes to the university.

Students studying for one or two semesters at the Penryn campus are guaranteed university-owned housing, provided they apply by the accommodation deadline. 

For more information on how to apply, please review the Apply/Register section of our website.