Exeter, University of

University of Exeter

Age: 156, or 56 as a modern university

History: Traces roots back to the school of art in 1855. In 1863 it spawned a school of science; in 1893 it became the Exeter Technical College; in 1922 it acquired the title University College of the South West of England; and in 1955 it became a university in its own right.

Address: Three campuses. Streatham caters for arts, science, social studies, law and engineering. Across the city is St Luke's, home to the graduate school of education, sport and health sciences, and the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry. Carry on down the A30 to Cornwall to find the Cornwall Campus, Penryn, near Falmouth, which is shared with University College Falmouth, and opened in 2004.

Ambience: Mostly redbrick buildings set in 250-acre garden estate one mile from city centre. Beautiful beaches and Dartmoor close at hand. The university objects to the "green welly" tag that is often thrown at it and there has been a recent push to encourage more applications from students from less well-off backgrounds. Superior sports facilities and a gentle climate.

Vital statistics: A popular university, partly because of its sublime setting. Around 17,950 students - 16,550 full-time and 1,400 part-time . About three-quarters of undergraduates come from state schools and the proportion from lower socio-economic groups has been increasingly steadily as a result of the university’s efforts to widen participation. A quarter of undergraduates come from the South West. Undergraduate applications for entry in 2009 skyrocketed by 19 per cent (the national average was 8 per cent).

Added value: The university has invested over £140 million in new buildings and facilities in the last six years, ranging from new research centres and teaching facilities to the Students’ Guild building and nightclub. The university is now looking to the future with a planned investment in campus facilities in the region of £270 million over the next two years. The 2010/2011 academic year saw the launch of new degrees in clinical science, archaeology and forensic science, and civil and environmental engineering. Lots of sporting successes recently in the inter-university BUCS leagues. Exeter also has a fantastic student media network: The weekly newspaper, TV station and student radio have all won student media awards.

Easy to get into? No. Courses ask for anything from 280 to 400 UCAS entry points. Prospective students are expected to have extended their studies beyond the typical choice of three A-levels.

Glittering alumni: JK Rowling, author of Harry Potter; Radiohead's Thom Yorke; Felix Buxton from Basement Jaxx; Will Young, winner of Pop Idol; First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathan Band; Peter Phillips, son of the Princess Royal.

Transport links: M5 on the doorstep and London just over two hours away by train.

Who's the boss? Vice-chancellor and chief executive Steve Smith, a professor of international politics.

Teaching: Came 6th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Research: Ranked 15th out of 115 in the Research Assessment Excercise.

Overall ranking: Ranked 24th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: Popular student bars on campus include the Ram and nightclub 'The Lemmy', which has recently undergone a £1m refit. Over the last couple of years the 2,000 capacity Great Hall has seen concerts by Arctic Monkeys, Feeder, Funeral for a Friend, Bloc Party, The Fratellis, Seth Lakeman, The Enemy, James Morrison, The Kooks, Razorlight, Newton Faulkner, Keane and The Zutons.

How green is it? Quite – has just been ranked joint 22nd out of 138 universities graded by People and Planet for their ‘Green League 2011’.

Any accommodation? Yes. Self-catering is between £92 to £148 per week. A single room in catered accommodation costs anything between £134 and £196 per week.

Cheap to live there? Fairly. Private rents are between £70 and £80 per week.

Sports ranking: Ranked 8th in the BUCS league.

Fees: £3,375 per year for full-time undergrads starting in 2011. The university plans to charge £9,000 per year as of 2012.

Bursaries: In 2012 the university is offering a fee waiver of £3,000 for students whose declared household income is less than £16,000 per year. There are also sport and music scholarships available.

Prospectus: www.exeter.ac.uk/prospectus

UCAS code: E84