Autumn Term Accommodation
Finding accommodation in Exeter:
If you know you will be living in Exeter for the full academic year, please visit the accommodation website to view University accommodation options and to make an application.The letting period is for approximately 42 weeks (depending on residence) and trainees will be responsible for payment for the full period of the accommodation contract.
However, the majority of PGCE trainees do not live in University accommodation as they need to live near to their placement locations from January onwards.
For those already based in the South West, choosing to commute to the campus for the autumn term is a popular option. For those who do want to move to the Exeter area for the autumn term and are looking for short-term private sector accommodation, the Accommodation Office canvases local residents and landlords for information about suitable vacancies to help students secure accommodation in the Exeter area and advertises these details through Studentpad our free, accommodation search engine.
Accommodation for PGCE students advertised on Studentpad includes private short term rentals and lodgings with host families. These adverts are only accessed upon entering a password. The password is sent to you in your course offer letter/email but if you can't locate this you can request this password by contacting ExeterAO@exeter.ac.uk and including your nine digit student ID number.. As we receive new information about available rooms, the adverts will be updated. In our experience, landlords tend to advertise after Easter and adverts will continue to be placed throughout the summer. For further information on accommodation options, please see www.exeter.ac.uk/accommodation/students/postgraduatestudents/pgce/.
Our private housing webpage will help with your search and we will update this information as landlords inform us of other accommodation available for shorter lettings.
It is likely that the type of accommodation available to you will be a 'homestay' where you share the house with the landlord. These will be listed on the studentpad website and these pages will help with this search. We will update this information as landlords inform us of other accommodation available for shorter lettings.
If you are considering living with a Resident Landlord/Host Family or in a self-contained flat, you will find that this type of accommodation is only advertised 6-8 weeks before the start of the academic year so you may need to delay looking for this type of accommodation until early part of the summer before you want to move in.
To narrow your search on Studentpad you can:
- use the Contract Type? box to select with Short Lets (up to 23 weeks) or Short/Long lets so that only properties available for short term letting are displayed.
- or use the Living arrangement? box to select Resident Landlord/Host Family so that only properties available for short term letting are displayed.
You may find that landlords will only consider letting to groups of students and we would recommend using the message board on studentpad to forms groups. Please contact us to be emailed the password to gain access.
There are also a number of purpose-built private halls of residence within the city which offer individual tenancies who may offer short term contracts. These tend to be similar to University accommodation with cluster flats or en-suite and studio rooms available for all-inclusive rents. Please check the contract length they are offering you is suitable for your requirements.
PGCE students are based at the St Lukes Campus and students will want to consider housing in this area. You may also wish to receive information from the university about your teaching placement before securing accommodation. Please see below for local areas:
Close to both the Streatham and St Lukes Campus
- Central
- St James
- Mount Pleasant
Close to the St Lukes Campus
- Heavitree
- Newtown
- St Leonards
- St Thomas
There is a regular bus service between the two campuses and Exeter is a cycle-friendly city.
We would also recommend that PGCE students consider living at areas which are on a bus or train route such as: Dawlish, Exmouth or Teignmouth, especially if your placement is located nearer these places. Bus route information can be found on the Stagecoach Bus website. Train information can be found on the South West Trains website.
Further advice and information to help you source your accommodation in and around Exeter can be found on our private housing webpage
Finding accomodation near your placement schools:
The Initial Teacher Education Partnership Office usually notifies trainees of their provisional placements in late July (see Placements sections for more details). They recommend that you do not commit yourself to long term accommodation until your placements are confirmed in the Autumn term. The Partnership Office has a database for accommodation across the region (excluding Exeter and surrounds) and you will have access to this when you commence the course.
If you are a School Direct trainee and your placement schools are not in the Exeter area, we would advise you to contact your lead school for information on accommodation options available to you in the local area.
