On-campus pathway
Activity strands 2024-26
South West only
Students based in the south west of England (Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Bristol, and Dorset)
Applications for this pathway are now open - apply here. Please read the information below thoroughly before submitting your application.
Programme eligibility:
In order to apply, you must meet the following general eligibility criteria:
You live in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Bristol, or Dorset
You are studying at a non-fee-paying school (state school) or are home-educated
If you are studying at a fee-paying school on a full scholarship or bursary, you are able to apply on this basis. Please note that we may ask for evidence of your full scholarship or bursary. If you are home educated you are able to apply, but must meet at least one of the ten programme eligibility criteria
You are in year 12
You have achieved a minimum of 8 GCSEs at grades 9–4 (A*–C), to include GCSE Maths and English at grade 4 (C) and above
You are a Home/EU registered student, or you expect to be so by the time you apply for higher education
(If you are not a Home student for tuition fee purposes but meet the eligibility criteria for our Sanctuary Scholarship (for refugees / asylum seekers / people with limited leave to remain), then we would welcome an application from you
PLUS
You must meet at least one of the following ten additional programme eligibility criteria:
1. You live in a neighbourhood where a low percentage of young people progress to higher education as defined by your home postcode
If you are not sure then you can use our postcode eligibility checker to find out if your postcode qualifies. This will also be checked by the University of Exeter once you have submitted your application.
2. You live in a low-income neighbourhood as defined by home postcode
If you are not sure then you can use our postcode eligibility checker to find out if your postcode qualifies. This will also be checked by the University of Exeter once you have submitted your application.
3. You are in receipt of free school meals
This statement will be verified with your school or college.
4. You are eligible for school bursaries
This statement will be verified with your school or college.
5. Your parents have not studied at university
6. You are or have been living in care
Anyone who has been or is currently in care or from a looked-after background at any stage of their life, no matter how short. This care may have been provided in one of many different settings, such as in residential care, foster care, kinship care, or looked after at home with a supervision requirement.
7. You have caring responsibilities
Anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem, or an addiction, cannot cope without their support.
8. You have a disability
9. You are an estranged student
We define an estranged student as someone who does not have the support and approval of their family, and who often has no contact with their family at all.
10. You are a refugee or asylum seeker
Defined as a student who has submitted a claim for asylum within the UK and is awaiting a response, who has Limited Leave to Remain in the UK, who has been awarded Humanitarian Protection or Refugee status in the UK, or who is the dependent family member of someone with one of these immigration statuses.
NB: If you do not fulfil one of these ten additional eligibility criteria but you have experienced difficult family or individual circumstances that have affected your performance in exams and possibly the likelihood of you going to university, then we invite you to apply, and each case will be considered on an individual basis.
Participation in the Year 12 south west pathway of the Exeter Scholars programme will give you the opportunity to develop knowledge of what it is like to study a subject of your choice at university level. You can choose from the different subject activity strands listed below, and gain access to both academics and current students from your subject area of interest.
Each subject activity strand will consists of a set number of subject activity sessions that are delivered between January and October 2025. Each subject activity strand has a minimum time commitment, which you will be required to meet in order to successfully pass the programme; this minimum time commitment amounts to approximately 18 to 20 hours throughout the year. The majority of the subject activity sessions will take place at one or more of our university campuses, with some subject activity strands including field trips. Exact dates, locations, and session formats will vary from subject to subject, but will be confirmed for you if your application is successful. Full travel costs for each subject activity session will be refunded to you through our travel bursary procedure.
The activity for each subject activity strand have been put together to support all Exeter Scholars participants in realising their potential to excel in higher education and achieving their long-term goals.
Subject activity strands: content and dates
All successful applicants will be assigned to an Exeter Scholars subject activity strand.
IMPORTANT: We aim to place participants on their first choice of subject activity strand, but due to demand and availability we are not always able to do so. In this case, we will place participants on their second choice of subject activity strand. Please do try to choose a subject for your second choice that you would be just as happy to study as part of the Exeter Scholars programme.
IMPORTANT: Subject activity strands take place in either Exeter (Devon) or Penryn/Truro (Cornwall) or a mix of both. If you would find it difficult to travel to either of those locations, please pay close attention to the primary location of your first, second and third choice chosen subject activity strands. If you are placed on a subject activity strand that you are not able to travel to because you did not check this beforehand, we will not be able to swap you to another subject activity strand.
Students interested in Law (Pathways to Law): Due to the nature of the programme, if you wish to apply for Law (Pathways to Law), you must add this as your first choice on the Exeter Scholars application (there is not an option to select Pathways to Law as a second or third choice) and complete the additional Sutton Trust Application form. If you wish to apply for the Law strand, you need to submit two forms - our form and the Sutton Trust form. However if you're applying for any of the other strands, you only need to submit ONE form.
Select your subject of interest below to find further details about the content, dates, times, and locations for each subject activity strand.
If you are not sure which subject you want to study in the future, then pick the subject activity strand that sounds the most exciting to you! You will still get all of the benefits of the Exeter Scholars programme, including the alternative offer, regardless of which subject activity strand you complete and even if you decide to apply to study a different subject at university.
