How to get the real picture of life at the University of Exeter

Viv Atureta is a PhD student in the University of Exeter’s maths department, working on research into how we measure and predict rainfall. Having completed her previous studies in Nigeria, she welcomed the opportunity to speak to current Exeter students about life at the university before she joined, and now does the same as a student ambassador via Times Higher Education’s Chat to Students platform.

Prospective students can view ambassadors’ profiles on the Chat to Students platform and choose to speak to someone with a similar background, experience or interests to them. Viv speaks to many students from Nigeria and other African countries, but adds that people with general questions about Exeter and academic life come from a range of countries and backgrounds.

“I know how important it is to get this information from someone who is walking the walk and living in that situation,” Viv explains. “You can ask them about accommodation, transport, the social life – things you would not ask a head of department.”

Viv now spends around 20 minutes a day responding to questions from prospective students. They ask a broad range of questions, from whether lecturers have an open-door policy to funding opportunities. Viv enjoys talking about both her work and other aspects of her life at Exeter because she knows it helped ease her own anxiety about enrolling. 

“I have the most engaging conversations when I draw on my own experience,” Viv says. “Lots of international students ask me about settling in, but even those who are from the UK have a lot of anxiety about moving away from home. I tell them about the support systems in place, how they can use lecturers’ office hours to communicate any issues.”

Viv also frequently signposts people to the university’s well-being services and encourages them to speak up if they’re struggling with any aspect of their studies.

“You can book a session to speak with a well-being adviser or even ask for timetable adjustments. You may not have struggled with your studies before and not want to ask for help, but it’s important to make use of these resources,” she says.

Viv believes that speaking with current students helps people feel more secure about their choice of university. “They’re applying for several universities rather than just one,” she says. “What swayed my decision for Exeter when I spoke to someone was the fact they responded quickly and sounded happy with their studies and the level of feedback they were getting. Now that I’m doing it, I can talk about the support I get and what’s going on in my life. We might not be able to answer everything immediately, but we can point them in the right direction.” 

To speak to student ambassadors from the .