Student Accommodation in Exeter

The best areas for finding student accommodation in Exeter are Pennsylvania, Exeter City Centre, St. James, Newtown, Heavitree, Mount Pleasant, and St. Leonard's. Each excellent neighbourhood in Exeter has its own unique characteristics. Pennsylvania is popular for zero commute to Streatham Campus, while St. James and Newtown for proximity to both campus and local amenities; Exeter City Centre, for its vibrant social scene. Heavitree, Mount Pleasant, and St. Leonard's are also popular areas for their affordability and convenient public network connections. To help make informed decision, we list the detailed information of the best areas for student housing in Exeter:

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is the most popular student area in Exeter and also the traditional affluent area of Exeter. Sitting right on the doorstep of the Streatham Campus, you can really roll out of bed and into lectures. This area is only a short bus ride to the Exeter City Centre. Pennsylvania also features hilly surroundings, creating a peaceful environment and strong community feel for ones who prefer tranquility and a higher quality of life. Average rent in Pennsylvania Exeter is about £208 per week.

• Streatham Campus: 5-10 minutes on foot.
• City Centre: 20-25 minutes on foot (downhill), or 10 minutes by bus.
• Highlights: Closest to campus, prestigious residential area with good security.

Exeter City Centre

Exeter City Centre is the buzzing heart of all action, and the place where Exeter Bus Station is located. The biggest advantage of living here is easy access to everything. You can easily catch a direct bus to no matter St Luke's or Streatham Campus, as well as Exeter College, saving a lot of time and effort to climb the mountain. At the same time, renting a student letting in Exeter City Centre means Princesshay shopping centre, cinemas, and restaurants are just downstairs, offering the ultimate convenience. Average rent for university accommodation in Exeter City Centre ranges from £195 to over £250 per week.

• Streatham Campus: 10-15 minutes by bus.
• St Luke's Campus: 15 minutes on foot.
• Highlights: Transport hub, everything downstairs.

St. James

St. James is located between the city centre and the University of Exeter's main campus. St James Park station and the football stadium are minutes away. More importantly, it is next to Sidwell Street, where filled with Chinese Super League and Asian restaurants. Choose your private student accommodation Exeter in St. James at around £190 to over £215 per week to enjoy walking distance to lectures and also milk tea at your doorstep, leading to the perfect balance between study and life.

• Streatham Campus: 15-20 minutes on foot.
• Sidwell Street: 5 minutes on foot.
• Highlights: Close to the stadium and the Chinese supermarkets, with easy access to both the university and the city centre.

Newtown

Newtown is a historic red-brick neighbourhood in a prime location, between the city centre and St Luke's Campus. For ones attending St Luke's campus, just minutes to the east is the campus, to the west is the cinema and bus station. Choose an Exeter house for students here to get the tranquillity of a residential community without sacrificing proximity to the bustle of city life. It takes approximately £160 to over £200 per week to get a room to let in Newtown, Exeter.

• St Luke's Campus: 5-8 minutes on foot.
• City Centre: 5-8 minutes on foot.
• Highlights: Quiet in the midst of a bustling area.

Heavitree

Heavitree is the go-to pick for students going to St Luke's Campus (Faculty of Medicine, Education, and Sport Science). It has its own High Street, where you can find bakeries, supermarkets, pubs, and everything you need. Besides, Heavitree boasts many shared houses and a stronger community atmosphere. Compared to the city centre, rental prices at Heavitree are more budget-friendly, around £150 to £190 per week.

• St Luke's Campus: 5-10 minutes on foot.
• Streatham Campus: 20 minutes by bus.
• Highlights: For St Luke's Students, convenient and cheap.

Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant is situated next to St. James and Heavitree, a hot choice for those looking for value for money. Housing rent in Mount Pleasant Exeter costs £160 to £195 per week. With Polsloe Bridge railway station, getting to Exmouth beach or the city centre is a piece of cake. Exeter student pad at Mount Pleasant primarily consists of traditional student houses, typically offering generous space and providing ideal for ones who enjoy a lively atmosphere and group living.

• St Luke's Campus: 10-15 minutes on foot.
• Transport: Polsloe Bridge railway station.
• Highlights: Spacious rooms, ideal for St Luke's students and group living.

St. Leonard's

St. Leonard's is adjacent to the River Exe and the Royal Dornoch and East Anglia Hospital, and it is one of the poshest areas in Exeter. Away from the hustle and bustle of the main campus, it offers a relaxed lifestyle with its independent boutiques on Magdalen Road and the Quayside area. It is particularly well-suited for medical students undertaking hospital placements, or postgraduate students seeking a certain lifestyle and possessing sufficient funds. Average rent for Exeter student housing in St. Leonard's is around £170 - £210 per week.

• St Luke's Campus/Hospital: 5-10 minutes on foot.
• Quayside: 5-8 minutes on foot.
• Highlights: Leafy and quiet, next to the hospital and the River Exe.

Exeter student accommodation offers plenty of room types to suit every need, including studios, en-suites, shared rooms, and one to several bedroom apartments. Unsure what room type you like? Check the details of sought-after room types in Exeter student houses and best recommendations with us:

Studio

Student studio flats in Exeter offer a self-contained living space that includes a bedroom, a kitchenette, and a private bathroom all in one room, perfect for students seeking for absolute privacy. 

• Average Rent: £185 - £280 per week.
• Top Picks: The Depot, Queen Street Studios, and Cricket Field Court (double occupancy available for couples).

En-suite

An en-suite room is a bedroom that includes a private bathroom attached to the room, which offers a perfect balance between privacy and budget. 

• Average Rent: £150 - £210 per week.
• Top Picks: Popular student flats in Exeter offering en-suite rooms are Clifton Place and Clifford House.

Non En-suite

Non en-suite room is only a bedroom without private bathroom, usually cheaper than en-suites with the compromise of shared bathroom facilities.

• Average Rent: £120 - £200+ per week.
• Top Picks: Northernhay House, New North Road, and Library Lofts.

Shared Room

Shared room is a bedroom shared between two or more individuals, considered as the best option for cheap student accommodation in Exeter. This is the standard room type for university student halls, while also available in private housing options.

• Average Rent: £125 - £175+ per week.
• Top Picks: Check Dean Clarke Lofts if you're looking for a shared room.

1 Bed Apartment

One-bedroom Flats in Exeter offers a larger size than a studio, with a separate bedroom, divided from the kitchen and living area. No cooking smells near your bed!

• Average Rent: From £280 per week.
• Top Picks: The Printworks, The Northfield, Hill View Place.

2-5 Bed Apartment

Apartments include 2-5 separate bedrooms, a living area, a kitchen, and one or several bathrooms, for a family or a group of friends to live together.

• Average Rent: £335 - £770 per week.
• Top Picks: Church View (2B), City Reach (3B).

Student Housing in Exeter offers different lease term options, including Full-Year Lease Term, Academic-Year Lease Term, Short-Term/Semester Lease Term, Rolling/Flexible Lease Term. Among these choices, the most common fixed term is Academic-Year Lease Term, around 32 weeks or 40 - 44 weeks. Full-Year Lease Term is the most popular one among Exeter students, 48 - 51 weeks. Short-Term/Semester are flexible but not easy to find, 10 - 25 weeks. However, short-term student accommodation in Exeter, summer stays, hostels, and hotels are also available with uhomes.com. Here is a quick breakdown on the lease term of student apartments in Exeter:

Full-Year Lease Term

Full-Year Lease Term lasts for 48 - 51 weeks, covering summer vacations. Exeter student housing with Full-Year contact is ideal for international students or ones planning to stay or have internships/part-time jobs in the UK over summer. Popular full-year term housing options are like The Depot and Kingfisher Exeter.

Academic-Year Lease Term

Academic-Year Lease Term option is designed around university terms, suitable for first years and those going home during holidays. Academic-Year contacts for student properties in Exeter usually last for 32 weeks or 40 - 44 weeks, and may not include Christmas/Easter stay.

Short-Term/Semester Lease Term

Short-Term/Semester Lease Term options last for 10 - 25 weeks, which is very limited in student halls but more common in private housing or exchange student housing in Exeter. Hill View Place is one of the few properties in Exeter offering 17-23 week contracts. Book early as these sell out fast.

Rolling/Flexible Lease Term

Rolling/Flexible Lease Term option is suitable for summer schools or short visits, and the time range can be negotiated according to your arrangement, daily, monthly or flexible end date all accept. If you need summer student accommodation Exeter or housing with Flexible Lease Term, check out Church View or City Reach which offering flexible bookings ranging from 1 night to several weeks.

As the popular student accommodation rental platform, uhomes.com is aimed to provide you more than a room to stay, but more of a home away from home. With students in mind, we care for every detail from cost and location to services and living experience. Book student properties in Exeter with us and you will benefit from:

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• All-Inclusive Bills: Rent covers water, electricity, heating, and internet. No hidden costs.
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Widest Options on Exeter Student Accommodation (60+ Properties)

From the city centre to St Luke's, we cover it all. Whether you need a luxury PBSA studio, a cosy private house, or a modern apartment, choose from over 60 properties to find your perfect match.

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The cost of living in Exeter is £1,000 to £1,500 per month on average, 8.5% lower than that in the neighbouring city of Bristol. This figure covers housing, food, utilities, transport, entertainment, and other expenses, where the rent of student accommodation at Exeter takes up the highest ratio. Here is a detailed breakdown of average cost of living in Exeter for a student:

Tips to Save Money on Renting Exeter Accommodation:

Apart from personal lifestyle, the cost largely depends on the student accommodation in Exeter you choose.

• Choose affordable areas: If you're on a limited budget, looking for shared accommodation, or live slightly outside the city centre, consider affordable areas like Heavitree and Mount Pleasant.
• Go All-inclusive: Opting for a cost-effective student housing in Exeter with all-inclusive bills on uhomes.com will help you save a lot of money on utilities and internet.
• Walk or bike: If choosing our Exeter student flats located close to the campus within walking distance (like Pennsylvania or St. James) or with a bike storage service, life will also get much easier.

Exeter serves as the economic powerhouse of the West and is also home to several of the world's top universities. Famed for its exceptional educational setting and growth prospects, Exeter draws thousands of students each year to study and reside here. Below are the key features of the two major universities in Exeter:

1. University of Exeter

The University of Exeter is a member of the Russell Group of Universities in the UK and is recognized for research excellence, quality teaching, and high levels of student satisfaction. The University of Exeter is ranked 155th in QS World University Rankings 2026, and climbed to 11th in the Complete University Guide 2026. Famous for comprehensive academic excellence, the university has 20 disciplines ranked top 10 in the Complete University Guide, including Marketing, Sports Science, Geology, Classics, etc. Famous alumni of University of Exeter include J.K Rowling, Thom Yorke, and Dina Asher-Smith. The two campuses of University of Exeter, Streatham Campus and St Luke's Campus have unique features. Streatham as the main campus containing lecture halls, study spots, and places to grab food. St Luke's is best known for Sport and Health, as well as teacher training, and it also easily balance between studying and student life due to the proximity to the city centre. For accommodation aspect, high-quality options of student lettings in Exeter near the University are Cricket Field Court (7 min walk), The Northfield (9 min walk), and New North Road (16 min walk).

2. Exeter College

Exeter College is a well-known further education College in Exeter, with student satisfaction at the top of various national surveys. It offers a wide selection of quality academic, technical, and vocational results, named best in the South West for employer satisfaction in Apprenticeships. The campus is only a few steps from the city centre, with many student properties nearby, such as Walnut Gardens (5 min walk), New North House (2 min Walk), and Clifton Place (6 min walk).

Exeter is well served by many public transport options, such as buses, bicycles, taxis, and trains. These transport links connect the city centre, shopping centres, and student accommodation in Exeter, making everyday life and travel more accessible for you. Exeter is a compact city, but its hilly terrain means choosing the right transport mode is key. For your convenience, we list the common transportation modes in Exeter and the transport tips for navigating this ancient hilly city:

Bus

Stagecoach runs the buses here. You will mostly use the D Bus and H Bus, which are basically the university shuttles connecting the City Centre, Streatham Campus, and St Luke's.

• Tip: Don't buy single tickets every day. Get a "Unirider" pass for the term; it saves you a lot of money, around 30% Off, and covers the whole network.

Train

There are two main stations in Exeter: Exeter St Davids (down by the river, main line to London/Bristol) and Exeter Central (right in the city centre). With a 16–25 Railcard, students can get 1/3 off most train fares in Exeter and also across Great Britain.

• Local Hack: Walking from St Davids up to the city centre is a steep climb. If you have luggage or groceries, just hop on a train from St Davids to Central. It takes 3 minutes and saves you a massive hike.

Walking

Most things are walkable from your student rentals, but check your route.

• To St Luke's: An easy, flat 15-minute walk from the High Street.
• To Streatham: Expect a 15-20 minute uphill walk from town. It’s a workout.
• Weekends: Head to the Quayside for a nice flat walk along the river.

Cycling

There are many bike-friendly routes in Exeter, including scenic riverside paths and quieter backstreets. In addition, because of the hills, you will see Co-Bikes (electric rental bikes) everywhere. They are great for getting up to campus if you don't want to wait for the bus. If you bring your own bike, check if your apartment has storage (most of ours do), as leaving it on the street isn't recommended overnight.

Student life in Exeter is lively, wonderful, and relaxed, offering a balanced mix of world-class academics, vibrant activities, rich cultures and histories, safe living environment, and beautiful natural scenes. The soul of Britain lies deep in the fields, and the city of Exeter is right in the heart of the historic Devon countryside, leading to a beautiful, poetic place consistently ranked as one of the best places to live, work, and study in the UK. In this vibrant, energetic city, beauty, food, and shopping are all available. Exeter is a compact city, walking or biking around to find a divine little shop with unique tastes in an old alleyway, or for a daily commute from the university campus is possible if your student accommodation in Exeter is not too far away. Thanks to the small and compact feature, takeaways and food delivery are always covered, letting you enjoy delicious food without leaving your home.

There are so many unique and delicious restaurants and cafes in Exeter, including Harry's Restaurant, Bill's Exeter Restaurant, and the Fat Pig Exeter. Every year, the town of Exeter hosts the annual Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink, held by people from all over the UK, who join the annual event and sample the food together. Apart from food, Exeter has a lot of fun activities. You can go boating at the Double Locks Pub, which can take care of all your eating, drinking, and entertainment. Or you can take a look around the marina. Kayakhub Exeter or Saddles and Paddles are great options - and for those who don't want to paddle, there's also cycling, canoeing or paddle boarding. If you are planning to immerse yourself in the heart of Exeter's nightlife, iconic Imperial, Old Firehouse, and Hole in the Wall are all the sites deserved to try. Meanwhile, Fever and Timepiece are also student favourites. If you're looking for a short trip, take the train to Exmouth Beach - train tickets are cheap, too.

Exeter is also a city with a profound history and an independent art scene. From the grand Cathedral, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, the Underground Passage, and the Red Coat Guided Tours, you can see the traces of our ancestors and hear their calls dating back to the Romans in AD50. For art and music, the Exeter Phoenix is home to gigs, theatre, galleries, cinema, comedy, workshops, and anything you can imagine. Exeter has a real sense of individuality, and its varied cultural scene is embraced by proud locals, where you can feel and see it  in your daily life in Exeter.

Exeter's history and attractions are among the things that make the city unique. There are many tourist attractions in the city centre or near your Exeter student housing, such as culture vultures, who will love the Cathedral and the former monastery Exeter Priory. Students who study here will never feel bored with the exciting things to do in Exeter. Here are some of the most popular attractions in Exeter that you should not miss:

1. Exeter Cathedral
2. Underground Passages
3. Guildhall
4. Quayside
5. Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
6. Northernhay Garden
7. Benedictine Priory of St Nicholas
8. Crealy Theme Park & Resort
9. Exeter Synagogue
10. Pebblebed Vineyards