Âéw¶¹´«Ã½

Hi everyone,

We have reached the start of the new academic year and I wanted to welcome you on to campus for what is sure to be a fantastic year. The campus has already been a hive of activity throughout Welcome Week and it has been a joy to see so many of you enjoying the activities on offer.

I am really looking forward to maintaining that buzz throughout the year, now that the vast majority of teaching has returned to campus. It will be my first year since starting at Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ in January 2021 that I will get to see campus operating in a normal way, with all of you here.

I still remember clearly my first night at the University of Exeter as an undergraduate. The journey from my home in Darlington took so long that I arrived a day earlier. Practically alone in a hall of residence, it felt pretty miserable that first evening. I summoned up the courage to walk around the floor of my hall until I heard noise from another room and knocked on the door. Vanessa became a firm friend from that moment on and by day two, as the others arrived, we felt like old hands at the university experience. So please do reach out to offer that friendly word or nugget of advice to your fellow students as we support each other into this new year.

Whether you are just starting your Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ journey or returning to Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ for another year, we want you to know we are here to support you every step of the way. The Healthy Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ Hub will provide you with quick access to booking appointments, masterclasses and hints and tips about staying well. Please lean on these sources of support as and when you need them.

Alongside your studies, I know a lot of the memories you make at university come from the extra-curricular activities you take part in and has lots of opportunities for you to develop your skills and make new friends. They are your student voice on campus and the university works collaboratively with them to ensure you are represented.

DSU Executive Officers Amir (Union Development), Aashni (Opportunities and Engagement) and Aliya (Welfare)

Our campus will remain busy throughout October as our brilliant Black History Month programme returns, featuring book launches, talks and dance classes all celebrating the heritage, history, arts, culture and accomplishments of people across the African, Caribbean and South Asian diasporas in the UK. I recommend going along if you get the chance. 

Finally, I’d encourage you to take a look at the updated Current Students webpages which contain information about life at Âéw¶¹´«Ã½, student support, graduations and much more. They are a great way to keep everything you need to know in one place. I recommend you bookmark it on your laptop or smartphone, so you can refer back to it throughout your time at university.

Best of luck for the year ahead.

Katie Normington,
Vice-Chancellor, Âéw¶¹´«Ã½.