Study

Sport

Sport is an important part of life here at the University of Exeter. We are renowned for our sporting reputation and we pride ourselves on inclusivity – catering for all abilities from casual sports enthusiasts to high performance athletes. Our superb facilities allow us to offer a large variety of participation opportunities for all students. Whatever your ambitions, you’ll have every chance to take part in sport and fitness activities.

We believe that sport and wellness should be embedded into student life. Choose from our 52 sports clubs, our social sport programme, and various wellness initiatives offering the chance to get involved in activities throughout the region. If you’re interested in coaching, volunteering, or enhancing your CV then you can get involved in our coach education programmes too.

We are consistently in the top 5 in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) rankings, finishing 5th in the 2021/22 table and totalling our highest ever BUCS points and with more teams supported. We are currently the No.1 Sports University in the South of England and Wales with more teams supported in 2022/23 we expect more growth and even more points.

We continuously invest in sport, health and fitness with some exciting plans for further improvement to ensure excellence in sport for everyone.

Performance Programme

Our Performance Programme offers assistance to top level student athletes in our Performance sports: Rugby Union, Hockey, Cricket, Golf, Netball, Tennis, Lacrosse and Sailing.

Performance Sports athletes receive elite professional coaching, sports science services, physiotherapy, athlete lifestyle support and strength and conditioning training.

Sport in Exeter, Devon

Facilities on Streatham Campus, Exeter

Our £8.6 million Russell Seal Fitness Centre houses an extensive range of equipment including a free weights room, Synrgy 360, Wattbike area and HIIT zone. The centre is also home to a range of fitness classes, personal training and workshops.

  • 200-station Russell Seal Fitness Centre
  • international standard water-based hockey pitch
  • sand-based astro
  • 3G rubber-crumb
  • Exeter Tennis Centre
  • Devon Cricket Centre
  • short-course golf practice area
  • squash courts
  • sports hall
  • outdoor 25m pool
  • fitness studios
  • athlete development centre
  • performance analysis suite

Facilities on St Luke’s Campus Exeter

St Luke’s Sports Centre is home to our indoor pool, sports halls and gym.

Off campus

Off campus, we also have two large grass sports grounds and a boat house on the canal.

Sport clubs in Exeter, Devon

Find out more about student sports clubs but they include:

  • American Football
  • Archery
  • Athletics
  • Badminton
  • Men’s Basketball
  • Women’s Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Canoeing
  • Caving
  • Cheerleading and Gymnastics
  • Clay Shooting
  • Climbing
  • Men’s Cricket
  • Women’s Cricket
  • Cycling
  • Dodgeball
  • Fencing
  • Men’s Football
  • Women’s Football
  • Golf
  • Men’s Hockey
  • Women’s Hockey
  • Jiu Jitsu
  • Karate (Shotokan)
  • Korfball
  • Lacrosse
  • Netball
  • Polo
  • Powerlifting
  • Riding
  • Rifle
  • Rowing
  • Rugby League
  • Men’s Rugby Union
  • Women’s Rugby Union
  • Sailing
  • Snooker and Pool
  • Snowsports
  • Squash
  • Sub Aqua
  • Surf
  • Swimming
  • Table Tennis
  • Taekwondo
  • Tennis
  • Touch Rugby
  • Trampolining
  • Triathlon
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
  • Windriders

Sport in Penryn, Cornwall

Facilities on the Penryn Campus, Cornwall

Watersports feature strongly in Cornwall; it’s one of the best places in the country for surfing and sailing, and the Penryn Campus has great links with local water sports providers and clubs, including traditional Cornish gig-rowing clubs.

The Penryn Campus has a £4 million Sports Centre offering high-quality sports facilities for staff, students and the community. The centre includes a four-court sports hall, available to hire for a variety of sports and events; a large, versatile studio offering classes, and a spacious, 90-station gym equipped by leading UK experts Pulse Fitness. Away from the gym, the campus has easy-to-use outdoor gym equipment and a multi-use games area, which offers an all-weather, floodlit facility for five-a-side football and other sports.

Sports clubs in Penryn, Cornwall

All the Students’ Union supported clubs are set up and run by students, and change each year to reflect current interests. Students can set up their own clubs and societies if there is sufficient demand. Current clubs include:

  • Badminton
  • Cheerleading
  • Climbing
  • Cycling
  • Duke of Edinburgh
  • Football (men’s and women’s)
  • Hockey
  • Horse-riding
  • Kayaking
  • Kung Fu
  • Lacrosse
  • Netball
  • Rugby
  • Sailing
  • Sea Swimming
  • Shinty
  • Snowsports
  • Squash and Tennis
  • Surfing
  • Swimming
  • Tang Soo Do
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Volleyball

As a keen pole vaulter I was lucky to have such an amazing coach and training group here. The University has supported me through competition and training with the Sports Bursary scheme, so I’ve had the privilege to represent them in competitions.

I became President of the Athletics Society this year which has been so rewarding and has meant even further contact with the local athletic community.

The History course at Penryn was unique because the modules integrated other subjects like science and technology with history. The small class size allows for more interesting and developed discussion as well as one-to-one support from lecturers. Aside from academia, Penryn Campus is beautiful, with lovely coastal walks and beaches nearby.

Read more from Megan

Megan

Studying History