Cornwall campuses

Research in Cornwall

Research on our Cornwall campuses encompasses a diverse range of themes; from renewable energy, conservation and construction to healthcare, culture and government.

We have a wide range of first class facilities, including the Environment and Sustainability Institute, Science and Engineering Research Support Facility and The European Centre for Environment and Human Health.

Student on beach with seaweed

Our researchers collaborate with local businesses, as well as leading international institutions, to address global and local issues in science, medicine and society.

The University of Exeter is ranked 31st in the world, 8th in Europe and 6th in the UK in the 2023 Leiden University Rankings, when the quality of publications is taken into account. The latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) recognised 99% of our research as being of international quality.

We have an international reputation as Cornwall’s pre-eminent research institute, and our academics bring more than £16m of research income into Cornwall every year – money we use to create three additional jobs for every academic member of staff.

Our researchers have received awards from prestigious institutions such as the Zoological Society of London, EMBO, The British Ecological Society and the Royal Society.

Their research has been published in leading scholarly journals, generated tremendous impact, locally, nationally and internationally, and feature heavily in national and international media.

Read more about the University's research across all campuses.

Find out more

People

Brendan Godley

Facilities

Impact

Bee on flower

Food Sustainability

Though traditional agribusiness models dominate the food industry, at the University of Exeter Business School, we're cultivating a revolutionary approach.

Our "place-based" research prioritises collaboration with local communities. By working directly with farmers, businesses, and policymakers, we're fostering a shift towards sustainable and socially responsible food systems, from the ground up.

Healthier oceans

Seal looking down at camera. Sun shining through water behind seal.

Covering 70% of the earth’s surface, our oceans absorb 90% of the world’s heat and one third of all human-produced carbon dioxide. They are the beating heart of our planet. Which is why preserving them is a challenge we must rise to.

Our breadth and depth of expertise, interdisciplinary approach, long term partnerships and global reach are already having an incredible impact around the world.