Times Good University Guide votes Exeter as top university in South West

High levels of student satisfaction, a low dropout rate and good research grades are making the University of Exeter a fixture in the top 10 of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide league table.

Exeter, which was The Sunday Times University of the Year in 2012-13, has seen a 29% growth in applications and demand for places in the last year and 51% over two years; a trend which looks set to continue. 

The main Streatham campus, close to the centre of Exeter, is one of the most attractive settings of any university and has benefited from investment in student residences. The jewel in the crown of the new developments is the Forum, which features an extended library, a new student services centre and technology-rich learning spaces.

The university’s other base is the £100m Penryn campus in Cornwall. Shared with Falmouth University, it offers degrees in biosciences, geography, geology, clean energy, English, history, politics and mining engineering. A £30m Environment and Sustainability Institute has opened on the campus and a new £5.5m facility will enable the Business School to expand into Cornwall in 2015.

University of Exeter Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Sir Steve Smith said:“I am absolutely thrilled that the University of Exeter has been named not only the best university in the South West, but also that we have risen to 7^th, our highest ranking to date. The united approach by both staff and students to ensuring that Exeter builds on its success each year is illustrated by our continued rise across a range of educational platforms. This is not only a proud day for everyone at the University, but also for the local community and for our many partners here in the South West and across the globe, who are crucial to our success.”

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2015 provides students and their parents with an invaluable first reference point on the path to finding a university place. It contains full profiles of all universities and the leading colleges of higher education. The league table is drawn up from criteria including student satisfaction, research quality, graduate prospects, entrance qualifications held by new students, degree results achieved, student/staff ratios, service and facilities spend, and university dropout rates.