Exeter College
Graduates make a valuable, and valued, contribution to life at Exeter, both through regular events designed to stimulate intellectual debate and through the thriving MCR, which in 2026 will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its foundation.
A view across Front Quad towards the Chapel, with the MCR on the left. Credit: University of Oxford Images / John Cairns Photography
About the college
The college is one of the oldest in the University. Graduate students enjoy a lively and supportive community within Exeter's historic walls.
The Senior Tutor and the College Adviser system, provided by the college and independent of departmental or faculty supervision, build links with the college’s full-time academics. The college's modern graduate centre at Exeter House on Iffley Road provides a warm and welcoming base for graduates from all over the world.
The college funds several generous graduate scholarships, including one reserved for Exeter College students who want to stay on for a further degree - the Amelia Jackson Senior Studentship.
Key facts
| Students (total*) in 2025-26 | Full-time places in 2027-28 | Part-time places in 2027-28 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taught graduates | 90 | c. 64 | c. 6 |
| Research graduates | 200 | c. 42 | c. 0 |
| Undergraduates | 350 | N/A | N/A |
*Total across all year groups (see source data)
1314
Facilities
The recently-renovated Jackson Library has generous opening hours, both in term-time and over the vacations. The library has a collection of over 34,000 books on open shelves and an additional 34,000 in its historic collections, including manuscripts and early printed books, which provide a particularly useful resource for students involved in historical research. The library also provides access to a wide range of electronic books and resources.
The college has a general computing room for all students, as well as dedicated computing facilities for graduate students.
There is wireless internet access in most parts of the college, including the library, lecture theatre and the MCR, the college's graduate common room, located within the historic Turl Street site.
In 2017, the college opened a new site in central Oxford, just a few minutes’ walk from Turl Street. The Cohen Quadrangle provides accommodation for undergraduates and study and social spaces (including a learning commons and lecture theatre) for the whole Exeter College community – including graduate students.
Exeter College has its own playing fields, squash courts and boathouse. Free gym and pool membership at the Iffley Road sports complex is currently arranged through the student common rooms.
Exeter maintains an internationally-renowned choir and hosts an annual arts festival in collaboration with other nearby colleges on Turl Street.
Exeter College is committed to enabling disabled students to participate as fully as possible in college and university life. Like many other facilities in the University, the college is made up of very old buildings, which can make disabled access to certain areas difficult for some applicants. Prospective students are advised to contact the Academic Registrar to discuss specific requirements and how they might be addressed in advance.
The welfare and wellbeing of all members of the college is an important aspect of Exeter’s collegiate life. Central to welfare at Exeter College is the Welfare Team, whose members can provide specific advice or liaise with external services if necessary. The Welfare Team is composed of the Welfare Lead, the Welfare Officer and College Nurse, and the Junior Deans, who are further supplemented by other College Officers (such as our Harassment Officers and Safeguarding Lead) and students with relevant welfare training, like Peer Supporters.
The college also maintains an excellent relationship with the college Doctors, the University Counselling Service and the Disability Advisory Service. Exeter College’s Academic Registrar further functions as the college’s Disability Lead, who is happy to answer any queries relating to disability-related support or financial assistance. The college’s Senior Tutor is also available at any time to discuss academic issues with postgraduate members of Exeter College.
Exeter College's Middle Common Room (MCR) has a strong reputation as a friendly, comfortable and welcoming graduate student body, with a deep sense of community among Exeter graduates. The traditional and cosy MCR facilities located within the city centre are always available for students to catch up with friends over a cup of tea. The MCR is a popular spot to relax between lectures, and is open 24-hours a day.
The MCR social calendar is filled with bops, exchange dinners and social events co-hosted with other Oxford colleges, games and film nights, excursions and weekly tea and cakes.
A 'parenting' scheme also helps new graduate students find their footing upon arrival in Oxford and acclimatise to college life.
The college and Exeter’s MCR hold events throughout the calendar year which are designed to give graduate students the opportunity to socialise, share their own research, and meet distinguished alumni.
Accommodation and meals
Accommodation for full-time graduate students is available at Exeter House, the college's graduate centre in vibrant East Oxford. There are a selection of rooms including a small number of flats for couples and families. Rooms, however, are not guaranteed and must be requested well in advance as they are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Graduate students may continue to live in Exeter House after their first year, subject to availability. Exeter's postgraduates also enjoy living in private accommodation following their first year, alongside the friends they made whilst staying in Exeter House.
Facilities at Exeter House include:
- fully-equipped self-catering kitchens
- two laundry rooms
- computing facilities
- two common rooms
Meals can be taken in the college’s dining hall at its historic Turl Street site and in the Dakota Café at the modern Cohen Quadrangle. A free graduate High Table meal is served once each year. Students can book themselves and their guests onto special dinners two times per week during term time, in addition to other pedagogical and special occasion dinners throughout the academic year.
Courses
For entry in 2027-28
This college accepts graduate students for the following courses:
- MPhil + DPhil in Economics (full time)
- MSc in Advanced Computer Science (full time)
- MSc in African Studies (full time)
- DPhil in Ancient History (full time and part time)
- MPhil in Ancient History (full time)
- MSt in Ancient History (full time)
- MSt in Ancient Philosophy (full time)
- DPhil in Anthropology (full time and part time)
- MSc in Applied Digital Health (full time)
- DPhil in Area Studies (Africa) (full time and part time)
- DPhil in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (full time)
- DPhil in Astrophysics (full time)
- DPhil in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics (full time)
- DPhil in Atomic and Laser Physics (full time)
- Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems (EPSRC CDT) (full time)
- Bachelor of Civil Law (full time)
- DPhil in Biochemistry (full time)
- MSc by Research in Biochemistry (full time)
- DPhil in Biology (full time)
- MSc by Research in Biology (full time)
- DPhil in Biomedical Sciences (NIH OxCam) (full time)
- BPhil in Philosophy (full time)
- Chemical Synthesis for a Healthy Planet (EPSRC CDT) (full time)
- DPhil in Chemistry (full time)
- MSc by Research in Chemistry (full time)
- DPhil in Classical Archaeology (full time)
- MPhil in Classical Archaeology (full time)
- MSt in Classical Archaeology (full time)
- DPhil in Classical Languages and Literature (full time and part time)
- MSc in Clinical and Therapeutic Neuroscience (full time)
- DPhil in Clinical Medicine (full time)
- DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences (full time and part time)
- MSc by Research in Clinical Neurosciences (full time and part time)
- MSt in Comparative Literature and Critical Translation (full time)
- DPhil in Computer Science (full time)
- DPhil in Condensed Matter Physics (full time)
- DPhil in Criminology (full time and part time)
- MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice (full time)
- MPhil in Development Studies (full time)
- DPhil in Earth Sciences (full time)
- MSc by Research in Earth Sciences (full time)
- DPhil in Economic and Social History (full time and part time)
- MPhil in Economic and Social History (full time)
- MSc in Economic and Social History (full time)
- DPhil in Economics (full time and part time)
- MPhil in Economics (full time)
- Engineering Biology (EPSRC and BBSRC CDT) (full time)
- DPhil in Engineering Science (full time and part time)
- MSc by Research in Engineering Science (full time)
- DPhil in English (full time and part time)
- MSt in English (650-1550) (full time)
- MSt in English (1550-1700) (full time)
- MSt in English (1700-1830) (full time)
- MSt in English (1830-1914) (full time)
- MSt in English (1900-present) (full time)
- MSt in English and American Studies (full time)
- MPhil in English Studies (Medieval Period) (full time)
- Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) (part time)
- DPhil in Finance (full time)
- MSc in Financial Economics (full time)
- DPhil in Fine Art (Contemporary Art History and Theory) (full time and part time)
- DPhil in Fine Art (Practice-led) (full time and part time)
- DPhil in Genomic Medicine and Statistics (full time)
- DPhil in Geography and the Environment (full time and part time)
- MSt in Global and Imperial History (full time)
- MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy (full time)
- MPhil in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature (full time)
- MSt in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature (full time)
- Healthcare Data Science (EPSRC CDT) (full time)
- MSt in Histories and Cultures of Colonisation (full time)
- DPhil in History (full time and part time)
- MSt in History (British and European History 1700-1850) (full time)
- MSt in History (Early Modern History 1500-1700) (full time)
- MSt in History (History of War) (full time)
- MSt in History (Intellectual History) (full time)
- MSt in History (Medieval History) (full time)
- MSt in History (Modern British History 1850-present) (full time)
- MSt in History (Modern European History 1850-Present) (full time)
- MSt in History (US History) (full time)
- MSt in History (Women's, Gender and Queer History) (full time and part time)
- DPhil in History of Art (full time and part time)
- MSt in History of Art and Visual Culture (full time)
- MPhil in History of Science, Medicine and Technology (full time)
- MSc in History of Science, Medicine and Technology (full time)
- DPhil in Information, Communication and the Social Sciences (full time and part time)
- Inorganic Materials for Advanced Manufacturing (EPSRC CDT) (full time)
- MSc in Integrated Immunology (full time)
- Intelligent Earth (UKRI CDT in AI for the Environment) (full time and part time)
- DPhil in Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science (full time and part time)
- DPhil in International Development (full time and part time)
- DPhil in International Relations (full time and part time)
- MPhil in International Relations (full time)
- MPhil in Islamic Studies and History (full time)
- MSt in Jewish Studies (full time)
- MPhil in Jewish Studies (full time)
- MPhil in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies (full time)
- MSt in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies (full time)
- MPhil in Latin American Studies (full time)
- DPhil in Law (full time and part time)
- MPhil in Law (full time)
- MSc in Law and Finance (full time)
- MSc in Learning and Teaching (part time)
- Magister Juris (full time)
- DPhil in Management (full time)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) (full time)
- Master of Fine Art (MFA) (full time)
- Master of Public Policy (MPP) (full time)
- DPhil in Materials (full time)
- MSc in Mathematical and Computational Finance (full time)
- MSc in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics (full time)
- MSc in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing (full time)
- MSc in Mathematical Sciences (full time)
- DPhil in Mathematics (full time)
- MSc by Research in Mathematics (full time)
- MSc in Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science (full time)
- MPhil in Medical Anthropology (full time)
- MSc in Medical Anthropology (full time)
- DPhil in Medical Sciences (full time and part time)
- MSc by Research in Medical Sciences (full time and part time)
- DPhil in Medieval and Modern Languages (full time and part time)
- MSt in Medieval Studies (full time)
- DPhil in Migration Studies (full time)
- MPhil in Modern Languages (full time)
- MSt in Modern Languages (full time)
- MSc by Research in Molecular and Cellular Medicine (full time)
- DPhil in Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease (full time)
- DPhil in Musculoskeletal Sciences (full time and part time)
- MSc by Research in Musculoskeletal Sciences (full time)
- MSc in Neuroscience (full time)
- DPhil in Neuroscience (1+3) (full time)
- DPhil in Oncology (full time)
- MSc by Research in Oncology (full time)
- Oxford 1+1 MBA Programme (full time)
- DPhil in Particle Physics (full time)
- MSc by Research in Pharmacology (full time)
- DPhil in Pharmacology (full time)
- DPhil in Philosophy (full time)
- MSt in Philosophy of Physics (full time)
- MSc by Research in Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (full time)
- DPhil in Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (full time)
- DPhil in Politics (full time and part time)
- MPhil in Politics (Comparative Government) (full time)
- MPhil in Politics (European Politics and Society) (full time)
- MPhil in Politics (Political Theory) (full time)
- DPhil in Population Health (full time and part time)
- DPhil in Primary Health Care (full time and part time)
- DPhil in Public Policy (full time and part time)
- Quantum Informatics (EPSRC CDT)
- MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies (full time)
- MSc in Reproductive Genetics (full time)
- Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Net Zero (EPSRC CDT) (full time)
- MPhil in Russian and East European Studies (full time)
- MSc in Social Anthropology (full time)
- DPhil in Social Data Science (full time and part time)
- MSc in Social Data Science (full time)
- MSc in Social Science of the Internet (full time)
- MPhil in Socio-Legal Research (full time)
- DPhil in Socio-Legal Studies (full time and part time)
- MSc in Statistical Science (full time)
- DPhil in Statistics (full time)
- MSc by Research in Statistics (full time)
- Statistics and Machine Learning (EPSRC CDT) (full time and part time)
- Superconductivity: Enabling Transformative Technologies (EPSRC CDT) (full time and part time)
- DPhil in Surgical Sciences (full time)
- MSc by Research in Surgical Sciences (full time)
- MSc in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (full time)
- DPhil in Theoretical Physics (full time)
- MPhil in Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology (full time)
- MSc in Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology (full time)
- MSt in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (full time)
- MSt in World Literatures in English (full time)
Location
Exeter College is located right in the centre of Oxford, next to the Bodleian Libraries and close to the science laboratories.
Contact details
For application process enquiries, please refer to our frequently asked questions.