University of Exeter 2025 starters

[hedwig123]

Hi, I can’t find a thread for students who are off to Exeter this September so I thought I would start one unless I can be directed please? My daughter decided at the last minute she wanted to apply here and got in. We live 4.5hrs away. She is my eldest so it’s all new.

I also have a DC thinking of firming or insuring Exeter. As an insurance, it does seem like it could be tricky getting decent accommodation via the uni itself, so wondering if anyone’s DC have experience of Hill View Place, which is a private halls and looks close to the campus? TIA.

Great to hear from existing parents! would also welcome feedback on private halls (which look good and near campus). Does anyone know if it impeded getting a house for 2nd year as the tenancy is longer?

My friend’s son was in hillview place in his first year- now in second and he found it very good and was happy there. I truink she said 2 were international students the didn’t see, can’t remember further details, he put Exeter as first choice but was allocated a studio flat after not putting it as an accommodation choice but they quickly sorted Hillview place

Some were signing up for houses in second year within the first couple of months. Mine was slow to find a group and only properly looked for a house in February, they found one…

Whether you’re in private halls or uni ones the pressure to get your second year house asap is there, so it makes no difference.

My DS has firmed Exeter as his first choice today.
So do they have issues with getting the accommodation they want normally?
We will be aiming for the cheeper options. Now a little worried that he may not actually get in where he picks. Really don't want to end up in the super expensive halls.
Glad to see so many positive reports about the uni though, we loved it when we visited and it is actually one of the easiest by train for us.

I think the cheapest, eg old lafrowda are not as popular so more likely to get a room there. But I’m only going on what I’ve heard from one student. I am far from the expert! You can access info on the stats of applications for the different halls but I haven’t looked at it so only going on what I’ve been told once again.

Thanks for the info, @Flashinggreen. My concern is that private halls might have a lot more international students only there for an exchange year, or postgrads, so a smaller pool from which to find friends /flatmates for the longer term and fewer people going through the fresher experience. But of course realise they should hopefully meet their people through the course and clubs too.

In Hillview he had 2 international students who they didn’t see. Think he made friends/future flatmates from societies.

My son is in East Park, non en-suite so 10 in the flat, he has struggled with a pit of a kitchen and wouldn’t really say any of them are his friends. All halls are pot luck, he is sharing next year with friends from a society,

So my message re halls is don’t overthink it. I thought he wouldn’t get any of his accommodation choices but got his first due to it being an unconditional offer.

His recommendation would be put down the closest.

Some are appalled at the thought of sharing a bathroom, but when I was a student in the 90s en-suites were rare. En-suite rooms are more expensive.

Definitely encourage going to the society fair and trying things out.

Oh that's good. DS had ideas of en suite after the tours. But we were at uni in the 90's and can't see why he can't deal with a shared bathroom like we did. LOL.
I'm guessing most don't go for the most expensive though? I heard other parents telling kids they can share a bathroom like they did at the open day so assumed most would opt for cheeper? Maybe we really are the mean parents then. I just want him to be happy and make friends.

One of my friends was appalled at the thought of her DD sharing

There’s a lot of Exeter students with plenty of money…

East Park non en-suite is one between 2 and 1K less a year than en-suite, so very civilised.

En-suite flats have 5-8 per flat, I wonder if he’d have been better off in a smaller flat… yes for me too happiness and making friends is most important but I must say it’s been a rollercoaster.

Check out uniofexeter instagram as there was a good post on stories on accommodation which is in highlights

My eldest DC is at Exeter, just going into Finals. It's all making me feel very nostalgic! It will go by in a flash so take photos and grab every opportunity that presents itself. Ds was in Penny C for year 1 and then moved into a private rental with his year 1 flatmates for year 2 and 3. There will be be a mad panic of sorting out houses for year 2 at about oct reading week...there is plenty of housing stock, just the one near the uni go first. Hold your nerve if not sure!

I could see it all going on on a FB group but didn’t want to put more pressure on him so kept my mouth shut. February was a bit late 😂but I think the group is more important than the actual house.

my ds is thinking about Exeter as an insurance - he loves the university but the course is not quite the one he wants. I do worry about the private halls simply because it looks like they are quite long rents - effectively the whole year - while second year houses will probably start in June (?) which means potentially paying double for a couple of months. I imagine with the renters rights reforms more landlords will anticipate students giving notice early so either up the rent or start new tenancies earlier. The new rules do not apply to the purpose built student accommodations, even though they are the most expensive ones with the most stringent tenancies! It does make me worry about Exeter as anything other than a firm choice - and even then it does not seem there is a guarantee you will be on campus. But it is so lovely and the OHD was great. Dilemmas!

yes this is my concerns, Hall are 40 weeks right but the private ones seem.to make you sign up Sepetember to Sepetember. My older sons 2nd and 3rd year houses were always June to June. I cant afford double rent over the summer when they're not even there ...

DS’s house next year is September to July I think

@Rumplestiltz @Blueskiesnotgrey My DC is also likely to put Exeter as insurance but accommodation is a real concern. The private halls look fantastic but very expensive and given that Exeter students seem to finish before Easter we could be paying for 5-6 months when they might be back home. Not sure there are any another options though...Given how many people will be in this position though, I imagine at least they will be mixing with plenty of other first years and not just wealthy international students.

Exeter Uni Catered Hall only have a 32 week contract so although you pay more, it's over a shorter time.
Prestige Student living which has 4 different blocks of accommodation across Exeter also offer 44 week contracts which helps. The vast majority of students finish early June so return after Easter break to finish exams and socials for the year such as EGB - not many leave after the Easter hols.

Is that university halls? Just googled it and can't find a private option with that name. If you don't put Exeter as firm you have to find private accommodation unfortunately.

Some of the prestige student living rooms that have the 44 week contract already seem to have gone like the basic en-suite. I am increasingly thinking it is a very risky insurance option if you don’t want a mad scramble and ending up with some very expensive and potentially not ideal accommodation either location wise or integration wise. But very keen to hear from anyone who has had a different experience.