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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Exeter uni

50 replies

Lovemusic33 · 09/07/2021 14:16

Dd1 is at the end of her first year in A level and is looking at uni’s, she has always had her heart set in Exeter, due to covid she has been unable to visit. Dd1 has Aspergers and some mobility issues. Is there anyone that can give us some insight into what it’s like at Exeter uni? Is there support for those with Autism? What’s accommodation like? And is there much walking involved getting to lectures?

Sorry for all the questions 😬, having not been to uni myself I have no idea what it’s like. I’m hoping she will be able to visit before applying next year.

OP posts:
BackforGood · 09/07/2021 22:45

There is more than one campus, so will depend on what subject.
I only went to an applicants day that my dd was invited to so am not the best person to ask but this might bump for you.
It would be a bit of a trek from the campus we were on to the main campus (we took a shuttle bus they put on).

Edmontine · 10/07/2021 06:28

www.mumsnet.com/SearchArch?search_origin=mobile&mustmatch=Exeter+&dontmatch=&nickname=&titles_only=on&fromDate=2020-07-10&toDate=2021-07-10

Exeter threads over the past year ... Lots on the university.

NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 10/07/2021 10:06

Pay particular attention to @BackforGood's comment. One of the Exeter University campuses is at Falmouth in Cornwall (there's one at Truro, too, but I'm not sure whether any undergraduate courses run there), so it's very important to know where she would be based for her course. Falmouth is a very long way from Exeter.

BackforGood · 10/07/2021 14:48

The one we were on was in Exeter, but it was a smaller Campus, not the main one even within Exeter.
It was a lovely site, but I think would be quiet to live there. Which of course would suit some people.

titchy · 10/07/2021 14:57

It's one of the hilliest campuses in the UK - visit if she has mobility issues!

NewIdeasToday · 10/07/2021 15:16

Most universities have a team who support students with disabilities. They’ll be happy to talk to a potential applicant about their needs and how they can be supported. Good luck to your daughter.

Franklin12 · 10/07/2021 15:28

There are hills galore in Exeter

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 10/07/2021 18:03

Thank you, she wants to do English lit, she seems to think it’s in the main campus?

OP posts:
thecognoscenti · 10/07/2021 18:52

Yes that will be on the main campus. It's still quite spread out and very hilly, so if she has mobility issues she will need to bear that in mind.

The campus is lovely and the uni itself is great if she's someone who doesn't want a huge city experience. The course is excellent.

AvocadoPlant · 18/07/2021 20:32

Even after they break up for summer you can still visit the campus although obviously would only be able to see the outside of the buildings. But it would certainly give you an insight into what the terrain’s like.

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 18/07/2021 20:44

Thank you, we are going to Exeter in October half term for a few days so hopefully we can visit so she can at least see the outside. We visit Exeter often so she knows the city centre pretty well. She’s had he heart set on Exeter for a while and her grades suggest that she should be offered a place.

OP posts:
lastqueenofscotland · 19/07/2021 11:14

Yes if she has mobility issues definitely visit, it’s incredibly hilly. I did my undergrad there a million years ago and the only way up from some of the the halls is an incredibly steep hill (dubbed cardiac hill)

ifigoup · 19/07/2021 11:32

Most of the teaching buildings in Exeter are open access, so you’d be able to go inside and look around even out of term time. It is indeed hilly, but the campus is fairly compact and close to the city centre with very regular buses.

Disability support is also good.

MrsKDB · 19/07/2021 11:36

It’s incredibly white, both as a university and city. If diversity is important to you it won’t tick that box.

Its also very hooray Henry.

I would have hated it but guess it suits some people.

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 19/07/2021 12:30

@MrsKDB

It’s incredibly white, both as a university and city. If diversity is important to you it won’t tick that box.

Its also very hooray Henry.

I would have hated it but guess it suits some people.

Dd looked around Oxford and the thing she liked about it was the diversity so that’s a shame that Exeter doesn’t have that. We live in a area that’s not very diverse (in the middle of nowhere), dd is very left wing and says that Exeter is very left wing?

Dd is very well spoken but doesn’t come from a rich background 🤣, I guess her having Aspergers makes her speak like a scientist 🤣.

She may apply for Oxford as school is pushing her too (because not many state school kids get places) but she seems to be set on Exeter as long as they can provide support for her disabilities and her Autism.

OP posts:
HasaDigaEebowai · 19/07/2021 12:33

My understanding was that Exeter isn't very left wing.

HasaDigaEebowai · 19/07/2021 12:42

Why don't you do a campus tour though? They're running all summer

UpturnedUmbrella · 19/07/2021 12:52

Hello! I live in exeter and have visited the uni many times- as well as planning to do a masters there in a few years! I suggest you check out Ruby Granger on YouTube she is a current English lit student at exeter and she might give you an idea of the course - uni life etc.

I’d say exeter is not left or right, you will find both here, the Exeter MP has been there many years and is labour/left and there is a huge pride/respect festivals (there was pre-pandemic). However the surrounding areas annoyingly lots of tories/right wing- although tbh I’ve never seen anything or felt unwelcome etc. If you have any other questions specifically I am happy to try and answer Smile

RainingYetAgain · 19/07/2021 12:58

If you know the city centre you know it's really hilly! It's a while ago, and I don't know about support for autism but when we went to a post offer day and asked about dyslexia support, DS was asked why he was bothered as he was obviously able as he had received an offer. He was a newly identified dyslexic with processing problems and feeling his way. This was a student rep on the student support stand.
He rejected the offer and then had a letter after resuts saying he could change his mind and go there.
He was well supported at Nottingham.

HasaDigaEebowai · 19/07/2021 14:08

I just asked my friends DS about the Left wing comment.

He laughed. He said that whilst he would agree that students in general are typically relatively liberal, Exeter University is more a breeding ground for future tory politicians and conservative voters. Its a long way from the woke lands of Oxford.

He doesn't think its racist (but he is white).

AvocadoPlant · 19/07/2021 14:08

@Rainingyetagain how horrible for your DS. Good to hear he got the support he needed at Nottingham.
My DD sounds quite similar in that she was diagnosed in Y13.
She is is due to start in September and so far has been very well supported by Exeter uni, including weekly mentoring sessions being set up. And her new laptop with all the adaptive s/ware is being delivered today and she has a session on how to use it later in the week. Our experience of the student support has been first rate.

poppy1973 · 19/07/2021 14:12

Sorry, really interested in this thread and Exeter Uni. We haven't considered this uni for my ds as we assumed the costs of living out of halls for 2 years would be so expensive. Is it expensive to rent and live as a student after their first year in halls at Exeter ??? We haven't considered Oxford, Cambridge and London Uni's as we can't afford a huge amount for rent for our ds.

BigWoollyJumpers · 19/07/2021 14:13

Exeter University is more a breeding ground for future tory politicians and conservative voters. Its a long way from the woke lands of Oxford

Surely that's an either or comment, both are very similar in demographics.

poppy1973 · 19/07/2021 14:14

My ds would therefore be in his element !!!