The College
Exeter, one of the three 'Turl Street Colleges', is in the middle of Oxford. It would be difficult to be more central. It's a short step to just about everything - cafes, shops, libraries, lectures, the science labs, the parks and the river (or more exactly, rivers: it's hard to get away from water in Oxford). With its exquisite Chapel, tranquil Fellows' Garden and terrace overlooking Radcliffe Square, the College is an enviable place to call home.
Step into our front quadrangle, and you are in another world. Over it soars our magnificent Victorian Gothic Chapel, whose spire dominates the Turl Street skyline. It was designed by George Gilbert Scott as a scaled-down version of the Sainte Chapelle in Paris. Behind the quad is one of the loveliest gardens in Oxford, with a secret view over the heart of the city. In summer, it is one of the nicest places imaginable to sit with a book, or just sit, or play croquet.
The College is full of history. J.R.R. Tolkien was an undergraduate here, as were William Morris and Edward Burne Jones. Alan Bennett and Martin Amis studied here; Philip Pullman, another Exonian, based Jordan College on Exeter. The fictitious Inspector Morse died in the front quad.
Exeter College is not known for its dominance in any one field, but rather for its strength in a multitude of subjects. It offers world-class teaching in a wide range of subjects, combined with careful supervision to monitor students' progress. We have 320 undergraduates, 200 graduates and 43 Fellows. Like other colleges, we also have Lecturers who help with our teaching and enable us to cover the wide range of subjects in which we admit students. They are often Fellows of other colleges.
We have strong American links through a special programme that brings 26 students each year from Williams College in the United States: we think we have the most authentic Thanksgiving Day dinner in Oxford!
The College not only provides teaching; it also offers food, accommodation, sporting and social facilities. It holds special events for its students, such as a Burns Night dinner and a New Orleans jazz concert. It also pays special attention to helping students choose their future careers, with an internship programme backed by Old Members (as we call alumni). And it also fosters strong links with the outside world through a special seminar programme, in which prominent public figures talk to groups of Exeter College students.
As you would expect from a small, close-knit College, there is a caring atmosphere, where people look out for other people. With such a supportive and buoyant atmosphere at Exeter, College life is great fun and hugely sociable.
Further information is available in our Prospectus.
