University of Exeter - but it’s in Cornwall?

[77seven]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has DC at, or applying to l, Exeter as I find the website a bit confusing, to be honest. It states there are three different campuses, but the main one is quite far flung from the other two and is actually in the far end of Cornwall, by the look if it Is this where they would be based for a subject such as Geography? Would anyone know? Also, it states that this campus is shared with the University of Falmouth, so how does that work?
Many thanks if anyone can help..

The main one is in Exeter which is the streatham campus , St Lukes is also in Exeter and was I think previously a teacher training college. Penryn and Truro campuses are in Cornwall .

The website is here: geography.exeter.ac.uk/index.html and says they are located in Exeter and Falmouth. It looks like it depends what type of geography you choose as to where you go.

Using my amazing googling skills for geography you would be based at either Streatham or Penryn campus. They even encourage you to visit!

Thankyou. What seems odd is that if you study geography on the Penryn campus, they “only” ask for AAB, with or without the overseas placement, but the for Exeter campus course with the year overseas its A*AA.

That is simply because the Streatham campus is much more popular.

I would have thought the faculty for geography would be based in one place?

Also, it must be at least an hour’s drive from Exeter to Penryn? There’s a direct trains from London to Exeter, but being in the Penryn campus would maybe double the journey time because you’d have to drive around the moor or get local train connections. Its practically at Land’s End.

An hour? Closer to 2. It takes 90 minutes to get from Exeter to Truro by car and the Penryn campus is a good 20-30 minutes further down. Trains would involve a change in Truro and probably Plymouth too. Train fares are blistering expensive.

You would have a very different experience in Cornwall, but obviously it's on the coast and Falmouth itself is far nicer as a location than Exeter (speaking as a Cornish person). It's famous for its creative degrees.

Yes Im sure it’s beautiful but that journey would be something else, especially in summer when the roads are packed with tourists.

It is odd that one uni basically runs two parallel Geography departments with different entrance requirements. Is the Penryn campus basically Falmouth Uni and all the courses that once came with it, just now under the name of Exeter?

Looking for a fifth potential option for UCAS, but I think this one is a bit convoluted,

I hadn't realised quite how big Penryn is now. Falmouth has always been the creative specialist college, but it looks as though Exeter is running a full campus down here now with 6000 students. I would imagine there would be a very different vibe, as you can't pop back to the home counties at the drop of a hat, hence the lower offers.

Penryn campus is amazing and it's a great area to live if you like an outdoor lifestyle. Exeter obviously is closer to the rest of the world and offers city life. It really depends what your dc is looking for.

Yes, you’re probably right. It’s too far for us, I think and he’d find it too remote. Shame because the Streatham campus is asking for the same grades as Cambridge and LSE (A*AA) and we were looking for a “less of a stretch” option!

I think I’ll re-investigate Bristol

I've visited Penryn campus, if you have the chance go and see. It's a lovely area.

Has your DC got an offer from LSE? Their usual offer is AAA rather than A*AA.

Exeter Uni is completely separate from Falmouth Uni although they share a campus at Penryn. Exeter courses have never been run by Falmouth. The new, shared campus is only about 20 years old. It's out on a limb on the outskirts of Penryn. The bus service into town is regular but the subsidised bus route was scrapped this year and its costings students a fortune to get anywhere. Car parking is also extortionate and there are huge tensions with student parking in Penryn where there was already inadequate parking for residents.
Falmouth's original campus is on Wood Lane in the middle of Falmouth where the School of Art and various associated courses are based. It's set in semi-tropical Gardens with sea views.
It does have a very unique vibe.

Sorry, LSE is AAA yes. UCL is either A*AA or AAA, I’d have to check. Kings London is AAB though.

Thanks gnome. It’s does sound unique. I guess you’d have to love surfing

think I’ll re-investigate Bristol

Had your DS discounted it for a particular reason? Having visited, DD said she'd happily live in the city, bit wouldn't want to go to the university.

How does your DS himself feel about the remoteness of the Penrhyn campus?

Re Geography have you looked at Loughborough? Standard offer is AAB

If you're looking for an insurance option, have you considered Cardiff University? A quick google says their typical offer is significantly lower than the ones you've mentioned.

Marching, Bristol are asking AAA, but they only offer a BSc (no BA) and I get the impression it’s more geared towards for physical geographers (could be wrong though)?

Thanks - no we hadn’t looked at Cardiff or Loughborough. We will do!

Exeter is worth investigating because of the second campus option. We know someone who missed their grades for the Streatham campus, not geography, but was offered Falmouth. They still graduate with a University of Exeter degree, and I assume most employers won't ask too many questions. Their degree apparently allowed them to transfer to the Streatham campus for their second and third years if they did sufficiently well in their first. They did well but chose not to transfer. Sharing a campus with Falmouth U meant lots of arts and drama happened on campus and they were enjoying the extra curricular too much to want to move.

So missed grades, but still able to graduate with a degree from a prestigious university, plus a vibrant campus which some really love.

Exeter Penryn is a bit marmite. But don't discount it. DD hated the Exeter campus when we visited for open day. Someone there told her to visit Penryn; the minute she set foot on the campus she had her #1 choice.

Cons:
Once you've done your year in halls, you'll move out to either Falmouth (10 minute bus trip) or Penryn (10-15 minute walk). The new SU team has made bus price negotiation on of their top priorities.

It's a LONG way down by either car or public transport. Weekends at home will be fewer if you don't already live in the south west.

If your DC wants a city experience, with lots of clubs, Penryn won't be for them.

Pros:
It's a small, intimate uni. Lectures, tutor groups and seminars are smaller than lots of unis. Quality of teaching is still TEFL Gold, your degree is still "Exeter". DD is definitely "known by name" within her department and beyond. Also grade requirements are lower (as the campus is less popular).

Vibrant uni - the Arts Uni and the Exeter lot share the campus and all facilities, the students union is joint. Heaps of societies, especially great if your DC is into music/arts.

The location - DD is a 10 minute walk from two amazing beaches or a busy harbour and estuary. The outdoor life is fantastic and the town is full of independent shops, bars, restaurants. I've lost count of the photos sent to the family group chat of DD sat on the beach with a gang of mates.

Hope this helps.

DS could have got into Exeter (Penryn) via Clearing in the summer, with the grades he got. But he was put off with being five-seven hours from home, so ended up going to his back-up university instead. However, Exeter is further up the league table than the one he's at, so sometimes I do wonder whether he made the right decision.

However, if you have an outdoor sailing/surfing/swimming type of DC I would have thought the Penryn campus a great option.

Thankyou so much for all this. It’s an interesting one because yes, as Needmoresleep says, you could potentially come out with the same “Exeter” Geography degree as someone who studied at the Streatham campus, which must be very competitive if it’s asking for the same grades as Cambridge. From Penryn, you can still do the overseas placement year as well and I agree, an employer wouldn’t know the difference.

To be honest, even though DS has grown up in London, he’d be pretty much fine anywhere as long as he makes good friends - the most important part of any uni experience! But that journey would just be too much, I think. It would probably be quicker / easier to get to Scotland!

I could see him quite happily in a London uni, but I do also think there’s something to be said for studying in a campus setting in a calmer environment. Plus, you get to experience a different part of the UK which, let’s face it, many kids in London have no idea about

Thx is again!