Improving the Student Experience at Exeter

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Starting university is about more than attending classes and completing assignments. At Exeter, students can also take on roles that allow them to represent other students and contribute to university discussions. 

This guide explains Student Representation and Leadership at Exeter, including representative roles, leadership opportunities and how students can speak for the wider student community. 

What Does Student Experience Mean at Exeter?

University life is more than attending lectures and completing assignments. The student experience at Exeter can include learning and teaching, assessment and feedback, academic support, wellbeing, facilities, technology, careers, campus life and access to university services.

Because these areas are connected, improving one part of university life can involve several teams. The University of Exeter explains that student input is an important part of how it works to improve courses, facilities and technology.

This means Improving the Student Experience at Exeter is not simply about collecting opinions. It also involves looking at what those experiences show, identifying areas that may need attention and considering appropriate responses.

Student views may be gathered through surveys, focus groups, consultations, student voice activities and other feedback channels. However, these are only part of a wider improvement process.

Improving the student experience involves looking at different parts of university life, including academic, social, welfare and support needs. Higher education institutions can use evidence, guidance and practical approaches to identify areas where the student experience can be strengthened.

Resource:Improving the Student Experience – Higher Education

How Does Exeter Identify Areas for Improvement?

Student feedback can help identify patterns, concerns and areas where students may need better support. The University can consider this information alongside other evidence, institutional priorities and professional knowledge.

For example, Exeter's Success for All work uses student engagement and evidence to identify barriers affecting access, experience and outcomes. Its 2025 Impact Report describes work involving students and staff around areas including accessibility, cost of living, employability, wellbeing and transition into university.

The University has also documented work focused specifically on the international student experience. Its International Student Experience Working Group looked at themes, gaps and persistent challenges affecting international students and used existing research alongside student engagement to develop recommendations and an action plan.

This shows why improvement should not be viewed as a single step. A concern may need to be examined, discussed with relevant teams, considered alongside other evidence and then translated into an appropriate action.

Common Areas That May Be Reviewed

These areas do not mean that every concern automatically results in a change. Instead, they show the broad range of issues that can form part of student experience improvement.

Improving Teaching and Learning Experiences

Academic life is one of the most important parts of the student experience. This includes teaching, course content, learning resources, assessment and feedback.

Exeter's current student voice information gives a documented example involving marking criteria. The University says it heard concerns about consistency in marking and feedback and that departments are working to make marking criteria clearer, helping students understand what is expected and how they can achieve stronger marks.

The University has also been reviewing undergraduate programmes and modules through its Curriculum for Change project. Exeter states that the 2024/25 review and revision of undergraduate programmes and modules involved collaboration with colleagues and students and aims to enhance the undergraduate student experience and graduate outcomes.

These examples show that academic improvement can involve both immediate areas of concern and larger reviews of education provision.

Students do not need to expect every piece of feedback to produce a visible change. Academic decisions can involve curriculum requirements, educational evidence, resources and wider university priorities. Student experience is therefore one part of a broader decision-making process.

How Student Support Can Respond to Student Needs

A positive student experience also depends on students being able to access appropriate support when they need it.

Exeter's student voice information gives an example of Pastoral Mentors, stating that students asked for more support and that there is now a Pastoral Mentor in every academic department.

The University's wider Success for All work also focuses on barriers that can affect student success. Its 2025 Impact Report describes collaborative work involving students and staff around financial pressures, accessibility, employability, wellbeing and support services.

For international students, Exeter has also described work aimed at understanding gaps and persistent challenges in the international student experience. This included reviewing existing student research and developing recommendations through an action plan.

This approach is important because student needs are not always the same. Different groups can experience university life differently, so improvement work may need to consider accessibility, finances, transition, wellbeing and other circumstances.

Facilities and Technology Are Part of the Experience

The physical and digital environment can also influence everyday university life.

Exeter currently highlights several facility-related improvements on its student voice page. These include improvements to sports facilities, such as a new changing facility at Duckes Meadow planned for autumn 2026, as well as refreshed sports facilities and upgrades to the gym and cricket centre at Streatham Campus.

Technology can also be reviewed based on how students use it. Exeter's MyExeter app has received updates covering accessibility, login reliability, event information, check-in, performance and other functions. The University says the app is being developed with continuous user feedback.

The wider lesson is simple: student experience includes the systems students use every day, not only what happens inside a classroom.

Why Recurring Issues Matter

One individual experience can be important, but repeated concerns may provide stronger evidence that an issue deserves wider attention.

For example, the University has described work where student research and engagement helped identify themes, gaps and persistent challenges affecting international students. Recommendations were then developed into an action plan.

This kind of process helps move from an individual concern to a broader understanding of an issue.

However, student feedback is not the only source of evidence. Universities also need to consider academic requirements, professional expertise, available resources, accessibility responsibilities, institutional strategies and other evidence before deciding what action is appropriate.

That is why students should think of feedback as a meaningful contribution to improvement rather than a guarantee that a requested change will happen.

Communication Is Part of Improvement

Making a change is only one part of improving the student experience. Students also need to understand what is happening.

Clear communication can help students see whether an issue is being reviewed, what action is being considered, or what has already changed.

Exeter's student voice approach highlights this idea by showing examples of changes connected with student feedback, including Pastoral Mentors, My Career Zone, sports facilities and clearer marking criteria.

The University also describes student voice as part of its approach to creating and improving the student experience.

For students, this creates an important feedback loop:

Student experience → feedback and evidence → review → action or response → communication → further review

Not every issue will follow exactly the same path, but this gives a useful way to understand how student input can become part of wider improvement work.

How Students Can Contribute Constructively

Students can contribute to improving university life without needing to become heavily involved in formal student activities.

They can:

• Explain an issue clearly rather than only expressing frustration.

• Give specific examples when providing feedback.

• Mention whether an issue affects a wider group of students.

• Share constructive suggestions where appropriate.

• Use the relevant university feedback or support channel.

• Check for updates when an issue is being reviewed.

• Recognise that some university decisions require wider evidence and consideration.

The University's Student Voice Partnership provides opportunities for students to contribute to shaping education and the wider student experience.

The important point is that participation does not automatically mean a particular request will be accepted. Constructive student input helps decision-makers better understand experiences and consider where action may be useful.

For a broader overview of how students can have their voices heard at Exeter, see our related guide: Student Feedback and Representation at Exeter.

This wider guide explains the different channels through which student views can contribute to university discussions, while this article focuses specifically on the improvement process that can follow.

Support for Bangladeshi Students via SGE

For Bangladeshi students planning to study at Exeter, understanding the student experience is only one part of preparing for university.

Shabuj Global Education (SGE) can support students throughout their Exeter journey:

• Course Guidance: Get help choosing a course that matches your academic background and future plans.

• Application Support: Receive guidance with documents, application requirements and personal statement preparation.

• Visa and Pre-Departure Support: Get step-by-step guidance while preparing for your UK student visa and departure.

• Ongoing Guidance: Continue receiving support as you move from application to university life.

Choosing the right university involves looking beyond rankings and course titles. Understanding teaching, support, facilities, student services and the wider experience can help you make a more informed study decision.

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A Practical Way to Understand Exeter's Approach

Improving the Student Experience at Exeter is an ongoing process rather than a single project.

Student experiences can help identify areas that need attention. Those experiences may then be considered alongside other evidence, university priorities and professional expertise. Depending on the issue, the response may involve teaching, academic support, facilities, technology, wellbeing, accessibility or wider services.

For students, the most useful approach is to share clear and constructive feedback and understand that improvement can take time.

Exeter's own examples show that student input can form part of changes and wider improvement work, but each issue needs to be considered on its own evidence and circumstances.

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