Quick Facts

• Own sports grounds and membership to local gym and sports complex
• Free punting in summer term
• Very well-equipped music practice room
• Continuous programme of visiting speakers e.g. David Attenborough, Charles Clarke
• Library open 24 hours a day
• University-wide known student garden with one of the most beautiful views in Oxford.
• Fourth oldest college – founded 1314
• The REAL Jordan College (the inspiration for Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights and set of The Golden Compass)
• Frequently seen on ITV’s ‘Lewis’, and Inspector Morse died in our quad!

Why should I choose Exeter?

Exeter is the oldest of the Turl Street Colleges, set right in the centre of Oxford near everything you could ever need. But walk through our lodge and it’s another world! We have one of the larger main quads in Oxford, and it is always full of Exonians eating lunch, chatting or just procrastinating. Carry on through Exeter College and you’ll see our gothic chapel, one of Oxford’s finest, and our Fellows Garden, where students can be found sunbathing, playing croquet or having a picnic!

There are several aspects of Exeter life that make us stand out from the rest. Traditionally, our hierarchy has been female-dominated, though men should not worry – this is more because of the modern attitudes that pervade the college than the suppression (or lack!) of male members.

We have our own JCR run charity – ExVac - which involves undergrads taking underprivileged children on 2 weeks away near Windsor. The scheme is adored by students and children alike and is a source of great pride for the college.

We are one of the few colleges to have an annual ball. Ours is known as one of the best in Oxford whilst being one of the cheapest!

We have our own American exchange program, with about 30 students coming over from Williams College in Massachusetts every year.

Sport is an integral part of college life and our success belies our average size. Our Boat Club is one of the largest and most successful on the river, and there are a range of popular and competition winning sports teams, from rugby to ice hockey! We also have one of Oxford’s largest college ski trips for novices and experts alike.

There are frequent open-mic nights, variety shows and music evening, and our choir is one of the most famous in Oxford, frequently touring all over the world. We also run the annual Turl Streets Arts Festival with Jesus and Lincoln, a weeklong festival of music, drama and art.

If politics is your thing, we have a very active JCR, from getting our own gym affiliation, to gaining membership of our top college bodies, to fighting for lower rents. If student journalism interests you, we have our own college magazine that is always looking for undergrad writers!

Great food is always on offer – we have won the Oxford college ‘chef of the year’ award for our food, and there is a range of food available from the sandwich bar from 12pm to 9pm.

Whilst our rent may be above average, Exeter has one of the most generous financial support schemes in the university and any student can apply. Moreover, although not everyone can live in, most students really enjoy the opportunity to live out in a house.

The college authorities are consistently supportive; work is taken very seriously and the college has a strong academic reputation, but extra-curricular activities are always encouraged.

With the majority of college inhabited by first years, the atmosphere changes from year to year, though what always remains is our active, close-knit community where all are welcomed.

Basic Info

Number of undergraduates: 350

Accommodation provision (how many years can students live in?): all first years, approx 30-40% of finalists

Rent (excluding meals): About £1,100 per term (but varies according to room)

Meal provision (what meals are available in hall and how much they each cost): breakfast - £1, lunch – £2.20, dinner - £3.65. Baguettes, paninis, soups and ice cream available at sandwich bar throughout the day.

Kitchen facilities (rough availability of kitchens in college accommodation): one shared JCR kitchen in college, roughly 1 between 15 off-site.

Bathroom facilities (how many rooms are ensuite, when facilities are shared, on average between how many?): A handful ensuite, most shared.

Library opening hours: 24 hours!

Famous alumni: Philip Pullman, J R R Tolkein, Roger Bannister, Alan Bennet, Will Self, Imogen Stubbs

College Phone Number: 01865 279600