We’re thrilled to share our brand-new International Students research project with you! Putting your thoughts and opinions in the center of our decision-making is what we do and we’re on a mission to explore, connect and expand our understanding of the experiences of our international student body.
Why take part?
Your feedback isn't just a formality. We will gather it, analyse it, and share the insights with University of Exeter stakeholders. By telling us about your experiences, you will not only help us create invaluable insights, but also directly shape the future of services and support available for international students. Your input will guide us to provide you with the support and resources you deserve and to tailor our services to better suit your needs and ensure that you have the best possible experience at the University of Exeter.
Want to get involved?
Enter your email below to be contacted with opportunities to participate and research updates!
By participating in the project, you're not only shaping your own journey but also contributing to a more supportive and accommodating environment for future international students. Join us in this exciting adventure and let's make a real difference in the lives of international students at the University of Exeter!
Key Objectives
- To understand what prospective international students envision when they choose Exeter as their academic home.
- To explore the gap between these expectations and the reality students face upon their arrival and during their university journey.
- To discover whether students feel they can shape our services and whether they see their reflections in the services we provide.
Through these objectives, we aspire to create an enriching, inclusive, and empowering experience for all international students at the University of Exeter. Your insights and experience are invaluable in helping us achieve these aims and shaping the future of our services, so we encourage you to be an active part of this exciting journey!
Research Stages
We held our “Let’s Talk” sessions earlier in November to listen to concerns, gather ideas and understand your needs. We heard your stories and experiences at these sessions and gathered over 270 pieces of feedback in total!
From our discussions we discovered:
Main reasons our international students chose to study at Exeter were:
- University’s reputation and high ranking
- Exeter’s location and beautiful campus
The best things students mentioned about their experiences were:
- Opportunity to meet new people.
- The University’s location
- Academic experiences (enthusiastic teaching staff and welcoming culture)
The worst things students mentioned about their experiences were:
- The weather
- Monotonous English classes
- Cardiac Hill
A big thank you to everyone who approached our stalls over the last two weeks. Your feedback is invaluable, and it’ll play a crucial role in shaping the next steps of the research!
The ‘Let’s Talk’ sessions provided us with a broad understanding of international students’ experiences and expectations, highlighting key themes that resonated across the student community.
Now, we are asking international students to complete our survey to help us delve deeper into these topics to better understand the experiences of this community during their time at Exeter.
The findings of this research will shape the focus groups scheduled for term 2 and, as a result, enable us to develop better initiatives to support and cater to the needs of our international students.
As a thank you for taking part, you will be entered into a prize draw. Prizes up for grabs are:
- 5 x £50 takeaway vouchers for groups of friends
- 10 x cinema tickets with popcorn for two
The survey is open between 22 November 2023 and 14 January 2024. Click here to complete the survey and help us make change!
To delve deeper into the topics that matter most, we'll also be conducting focus groups. This is another opportunity for you to share your thoughts and provide us with valuable input. By combining the insights gathered from our let’s talk sessions, surveys, and focus groups, we aim to create a comprehensive understanding of your experiences and aspirations.
