Summer Graduation Brochure 2025 (Wednesday 23)

THE MACE AND ARMORIAL BEARINGS OF THE UNIVERSITY

The Mace was presented to the University in 1933 by University architect Emanuel Vincent Harris. It is approximately four feet long with a solid silver shaft and head. The finial at the top contains a representation in enamel of the University’s coat of arms. This symbolises the historical associations of the University with the locality. The triangular gold castle with three towers comes from Exeter’s coat of arms and is thought to represent the Rougemont Castle as alluded to by the red background. The 15 gold bezants around the edge of the shield are from Cornwall’s coat of arms, whilst the green cross on a white background is from Devon County Council’s coat of arms. The theme of learning is symbolised by the book with gold edges and a Latin inscription translating roughly as “We follow the light”.

YOUR CEREMONY

We hope you have a fantastic day and enjoy the ceremony. Just to let you know, we undertake filming and photography during the day which we may use for promotional purposes at a later date. We’ve done our best to ensure that the information presented in this brochure is correct at the time of going to print (June 2025).

History

The Congregation for the Conferment of Degrees is the occasion whereby a ‘graduand’ receives the degree of the University. The graduates are then known as alumni and are entitled to use post-nominal letters.

The ceremony has its origins in medieval times. This is reflected in the use of Latin phrases such as in absentia for graduands being awarded in their absence and honoris causa which is applied to honorary degrees.

Academic dress of gown, cap and hood worn by graduates, University officers and academic colleagues also originated in the medieval period. The varying colours of the gowns and hoods and the subtle variations in their style and cut indicate the degree obtained and the awarding university.

Music

The music for the ceremonies is performed by the Graduation Brass.

Processional music: Introit and Flourish was commissioned through the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra by the University to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the University in 2015. The music was composed by Stephen Montague.

Order of ceremony

• Processions enter

Please rise and remain standing until all the processions have taken their position and the Chancellor has invited you to be seated.

Processions enter in the following order after the Marshal’s address:

Academic, Senate, Council and Emeritus Professors’ procession;

Civic procession (if attending);

Chancellor’s procession including the Honorary Graduand and/or College of Benefactors inductee (if attending); The Chancellor and the President and Vice-Chancellor are the last people to enter and are preceded by the University Mace Bearer.

• Welcoming address by Sir Michael Barber, Chancellor, University of Exeter (or his representative)

• Address by Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Exeter (or her representative)

• Conferment of the first cohort of graduands

• Public oration and award of Honorary Degree and/or College of Benefactors induction, or external speaker if applicable

• Conferment of additional cohorts of graduands

• Vote of thanks from the Students’ Guild/Falmouth & Exeter Students’ Union Sabbatical Officer, or nominated apprentice for Degree Apprenticeship ceremonies

• Closing address by Sir Michael Barber, Chancellor, University of Exeter (or his representative)

• Processions exit

Please stand while the processions leave in reverse order. The processions are then followed by the graduates as directed by the Marshals. Guests may then leave the ceremony venue to meet their graduates outside.

THE CHANCELLOR

Sir Michael Barber

The Chancellor’s Role

The post of Chancellor dates back to 1955, when the University of Exeter was created with the award of a Royal Charter from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Sir Michael Barber is the seventh Chancellor of the University of Exeter. The first Chancellor was Mary Dowager Duchess of Devonshire. She was followed by Lord Amory, a former Chancellor of the Exchequer; the scientist Sir Rex Richards; and the barrister Lord Alexander. In 2006, the actress and writer Baroness Floella Benjamin was installed as Chancellor, stepping down in 2016. Businessman and former government minister, The Lord Myners of Truro CBE, succeeded Baroness Benjamin in 2016, and was Chancellor until he stepped down at the end of 2021.

The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the University and is a part-time, honorary appointment. The Chancellor’s most public role is to preside over degree ceremonies, and behind the scenes to act as an important adviser and advocate for the University.

Sir Michael Barber has been Chancellor of the University of Exeter since 1 January 2022. He is a world-leading authority on education and public service delivery and the Founder and Chairman of Delivery Associates, which works with government leaders across the world to enable them to deliver their domestic policy priorities. He is the author of ‘How to Run a Government’ (Penguin 2016) and ‘Accomplishment: How to Achieve Ambitious and Challenging Things’ (Penguin 2023).

Sir Michael was educated in York and studied history at the University of Oxford, where he was President of the Queen’s College Student Union. He was a teacher from 1979 to 1985 and subsequently a Professor of Education, first at the University of Keele and then at the Institute of Education, London.

In 1997, Sir Michael embarked on a highly successful career in central government, initially as the Chief Adviser on School Standards in the Department for Education. In 2001, he founded the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit at No 10 Downing Street, which he ran until 2005.

From 2005 to 2011 he was a partner at McKinsey and Company and Head of its global education practice. From 2011 to 2017 he was Chief Education Advisor at Pearson, where he played a key role in Pearson’s strategy for education.

From 2017, Sir Michael was inaugural Chair of the higher education regulator, the Office for Students, a role from which he stepped down in March 2021. In June 2023, he took up the role of Chair of the South West Social Mobility Commission, which aims to drive forward transformational change in education and employment outcomes for disadvantaged young people in our region. In September 2024 he was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Effective Delivery. He has also recently become the Government’s Envoy on Governance in the Palestinian Authority.

Sir Michael lives in North Devon with his family, and in 2022 took up the role of Chair of Somerset County Cricket Club. In 2009, the University of Exeter awarded Sir Michael an Honorary Doctorate of Laws in recognition of his many achievements. For several years Sir Michael was a distinguished visiting scholar at Harvard School of Public Health. In 2005, he was knighted for his services to improving government.

THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR

Professor Lisa Roberts

Professor Lisa Roberts became President and ViceChancellor of the University of Exeter on 1 September 2020. In her role, Professor Roberts is responsible for the executive leadership and management of the University, promoting and advocating for the University globally, nationally and locally, and ensuring the delivery of the University’s Strategy 2030, with its vision to use the power of our education and research to create a sustainable, healthy and socially just future.

Before joining Exeter, Lisa was Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Leeds, where she led on the development of the university’s research and innovation strategy. During this time, she led a major step change in the quality and impact of the university’s research and in business collaborations, launching a new city-wide team of senior city stakeholders through the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (REAP). Before joining Leeds, Lisa was Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Surrey, leading the Schools of Bioscience and Medicine, Psychology and Health Sciences, where she also developed and launched the eighth School of Veterinary Medicine in the UK, and developed a successful One Health Strategy.

Professor Roberts is a Professor of Virology, having studied for her PhD at the BBSRC Institute for Animal Health (now the Pirbright Institute) and the University of Kent. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Product Development Manager for Procter and Gamble in the UK and Belgium. Lisa is a board member of the Russell Group and a board member of Universities UK (UUK), where she currently sits as the UUK Policy Lead for Student Experience, Education and Skills, and will take up the role of Vice-President (England and Northern Ireland) on 1 August.

Lisa also chairs the IDP Connect Strategic Advisory Board, and is an inaugural Commissioner for the South West Social Mobility Commission. In 2023, she was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Surrey.

A Welcome from the President and Vice-Chancellor

A warm welcome to this wonderful graduation celebration. On behalf of everyone at the University, I would like to say what an honour it is for us to share this very special day with you. Graduation is a chance for all of us at the University to join you in celebrating your achievements, and give thanks to the friends, family and supporters who have been there for you during your studies. I hope that this special day will be a memorable occasion and that you enjoy your well-earned celebrations.

Graduation is also a time to reflect on your university journey, and on everything that you have achieved. A university education is about more than your degree – it is about growing and developing yourself, challenging your own assumptions and absorbing new perspectives, so that you are equipped for the global workplace. You graduate today having demonstrated the knowledge and skills you need to go out into the world and to help forge a greener, healthier and fairer future. Everybody has the power to change the world for the better, and I know that you will be successful in whatever you choose to do next.

As a graduate of the University of Exeter, you now join a vibrant alumni community which extends to more than 195,000 people across the world. These people carry Exeter with them in everything they do and I encourage you to become an active participant of our alumni family.

Congratulations again on your fantastic achievements, of which you should be very proud. I hope you leave Exeter with fabulous memories that will last a lifetime, and that you continue to stay in touch in the years ahead.

THE PROVOST AND DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLORS

Professor Dan Charman

Senior Vice-President and Provost

Professor Dan Charman has held the role of Senior VicePresident and Provost at the University of Exeter since August 2023. He was previously the inaugural Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the new Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy and before that was the Dean, and then Pro-Vice-Chancellor, of the College of Life and Environmental Sciences. He undertook his undergraduate degree in Agricultural and Environmental Science at the University of Newcastle and completed his PhD in physical geography at the University of Southampton, subsequently working at the University of Waterloo, Canada, and the University of Plymouth before coming to Exeter in 2009. He is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and is an Earth system scientist researching long-term ecosystem and climate change, with a focus on peat-forming wetlands and the global carbon cycle.

As Provost, he is deputy to the President and Vice-Chancellor and represents the University externally through Universities UK, The Russell Group and other networks. Dan leads the academic community, working with the Pro-Vice Chancellors and Executive Deans of the University’s three faculties and the Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellors across research and impact, education and student experience, global engagement, Cornwall, people and culture and business engagement and innovation. His primary responsibility is to lead the delivery of the University’s Strategy 2030, through the development and implementation of the major academic strategies, and the University academic planning, resourcing and budgeting process.

Professor Krasimira TsanevaAtanasova

Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Impact)

Professor Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova is Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Impact and Professor of Mathematics for Healthcare.

Professor Tsaneva-Atanasova earned her undergraduate and MSc degrees in mathematics at the University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria and her PhD in applied mathematics at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Following postdoctoral fellow positions in the USA and France she spent five years at the University of Bristol. She joined the University of Exeter in 2013.

She has previously held a number of leadership roles at Exeter including the Associate Dean for Global and the Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Impact in the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy. Professor TsanevaAtanasova’s research addresses open questions in Health and Life Sciences by means of mathematical modelling and analysis including advanced data analytics.

As Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Impact), Professor Tsaneva-Atanasova oversees a total research portfolio of more than £500 million and leads the research and impact strategy for the University. Her overarching responsibilities include our preparation and submission for the Research Excellence Framework in 2029; interdisciplinary institutes, networks and centres; strategic leadership of our Doctoral College, the University Ethics Committee and the Research and Impact Executive Committee; and ensuring our research is utilised and impacts positively on the wider world. Professor Tsaneva-Atanasova represents the University externally via a number of research-related groups including GW4, our regional alliance of the Universities of Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and Exeter, and as Chair of the UUKi Global Research and Innovation Network (GRIN) (2024-2025).

Professor Richard Follett

Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement)

Professor Richard Follett leads the development and delivery of the University’s Global Strategy and has oversight of the University’s global activities, including student recruitment, global experiences for staff and students, establishing and leading the University’s relationships with key global partners, and engaging alumni around the world.

An elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Richard is also Professor of American History and a specialist on the history of African American slavery. Richard joined Exeter in January 2023 from the University of Sussex. He is a graduate of the University of Wales, the University of London, and the University of Illinois. He obtained his doctorate from Louisiana State University where he was a Fulbright scholar.

Exeter’s Global Strategy lays out the University’s vision to be a truly global institution by extending our presence, reach and impact around the world. We aim to be an internationally recognised leader in human health and wellbeing, sustainability, and social justice; to grow our mutually beneficial partnerships; to diversify our international student community; and to provide an inclusive and world-class staff and student experience. In his role Richard works with Exeter’s leading international partners, including the University of Queensland, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tsinghua University, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Arizona State University, Université Paris-Saclay and Duke University. Exeter is a member of the prestigious Worldwide Universities Network and Venice International University.

Richard has worked in more than 30 countries, including visiting appointments at the Universities of Lagos, Nanjing, Peking and Heidelberg, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He was Chair of Universities UK Africa and Middle East Network from 2020-2023.

Professor Tim Quine Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience)

Professor Tim Quine is the Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience and Professor of Earth Surface Science. Tim is responsible for leading the delivery of the University’s Education Strategy, and the Education and Student Experience vision within our Strategy 2030.

Tim’s brief is captured in the Education Strategy commitments to Success for All our Students and Valuing Educators, and encompasses the undergraduate and taught postgraduate student journey from arrival, through excellent teaching, learning and assessment, to the next stages in graduate life. He maintains a close partnership with the Students’ Guild in Exeter and the Falmouth & Exeter Students’ Union in Cornwall to ensure that our students’ interests are central to our plans for continuous enhancement. He also works closely with the Education Leadership Team including the three Faculty Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellors (Education) to ensure that the University maintains its excellent academic standards and continues to innovate in teaching and learning for the benefit of all students, as was recently evidenced by the University’s Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023.

He is a graduate of University College London where he obtained his Bachelors degree in Archaeology. Tim went on to complete his doctorate at the University of Strathclyde, and his research in earth surface science focuses on perturbation of the terrestrial carbon cycle and ecosystem services by soil erosion and sediment deposition. Tim’s research projects have seen him collaborate with researchers in universities and research institutes in China, India, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Bolivia, Saudi Arabia, Australia, New Zealand and many European countries. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and member of the Russell Group Education Network.

THE PROVOST AND DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLORS

Stuart Brocklehurst Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Business Engagement and Innovation), Director, Green Futures Solutions

Stuart Brocklehurst is Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Business Engagement and Innovation, leading the University’s collaboration with business and our drive to deliver innovation through our research and education. In addition, as Director of Green Futures Solutions he heads up the University’s drive to translate our world leading work on climate change into practical impact.

Stuart started his career in banking, holding a number of roles with Barclays in the UK and Africa, then as Senior Vice President for Digital Commerce at Visa International CEMEA leading the adoption of new business models and technologies. Following a period as a Partner at consultancy Carbon, Stuart joined Amadeus in support of its initial public offering and served as Group Communications Director after the flotation. He went on to run his own business in machine learning technology up to its sale in 2022.

Stuart is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, a Chartered IT Professional, a Chartered Manager, a Freeman of the City of London, and holds a degree in theology from Oxford. He has served on numerous company boards, as a Further Education College governor, on the synod and Bishop’s Council of the Diocese of Exeter and as a Leadership Fellow of Exeter Business School. He is Chair of the Exeter Science Centre Advisory Board; the Military Education Committee for Devon and Cornwall; and is Vice Chair of the Great South West Pan Regional Partnership. He is on the boards of SETsquared; GW4; the Centre for Resilience in the Environment, Water and Waste; the South West Investment Fund’s Strategic Advisory Board; and the Liveable Exeter Place Board.

Professor Martin Siegert Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Cornwall)

Professor Martin Siegert is Vice-President and Deputy ViceChancellor for Cornwall and is responsible for the strategic development of the University of Exeter’s activities in Cornwall.

Martin is a polar scientist who uses airborne and ground-based geophysics to explore the subglacial environment of Antarctica, and to understand how the ice sheet has changed in the past and how it may change in the future. He has undertaken three Antarctic expeditions and has been the UK lead on over a dozen international scientific exploration programmes across the continent. He has published over 250 papers, has written/ edited eight books and has convened five major international conferences concerning Antarctic exploration.

Using his knowledge of polar and climate change, Martin has delivered talks on the necessity of the net-zero transition to a variety of audiences, including major businesses, radio listeners (on programmes such as the Life Scientific and Inside Science on BBC Radio 4), news viewers (on the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky) and to secondary schools (through the Speakers for Schools programme).

Professor Rajani Naidoo Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (People and Culture)

Professor Rajani Naidoo was appointed Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for People and Culture at the University in January 2024. She is a Professor of Higher Education and Social Change and holds a UNESCO Chair; sits on the European Foundation for Management Development Research and Development Committee; and chairs the British Council Education Advisory Group.

Rajani was featured in the Stanford/Elsevier top 2 per cent most highly cited scholars in her field and her research focusses on the transformation of contemporary universities and their contribution to the global good. She has been involved in global research projects on the changing academic profession, international higher education partnerships, and the contribution of higher education to social justice; and has presented numerous keynotes at major conferences in Europe, the US, Canada, Asia and Africa.

As the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for People and Culture, Rajani leads on the development and implementation of the ‘Our People’ theme of the University’s Strategy 2030 with overall responsibility for championing and driving a step change in Exeter’s people and culture priorities across the whole University community. She co-chairs the Wellbeing, Inclusivity and Culture Committee, providing senior leadership and ensuring the integrated delivery of our strategic vision for culture, inclusion and performance. She works closely with Faculty Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Divisional Directors and the Community and Inclusion team to co-create support, development and inclusive leadership strategies.

Rajani is a graduate of the University of Cambridge; University College London; and the University of KwaZuluNatal with majors in Law, English, Psychology, Education and Management.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF YOUR GRADUATION

Mike Shore-Nye Senior Vice-President and Registrar & Secretary

My role is to lead the University’s Professional Services teams, ensuring the effective and efficient operations and governance of the University. These teams cover everything from accommodation to wellbeing services; libraries, IT and sports facilities to careers advice and guidance.

Professional Services play a pivotal and vital role in University life, no more so than for graduation. We take pride in supporting every aspect of the ceremonies each year, with over 2,000 team members involved in making it a very special day for our graduands, their friends and families. There is a huge amount of work behind the scenes during the 12 months prior to the ceremonies; many colleagues volunteer away from their day jobs to help the events run smoothly on the day.

I hope you have a wonderful day, enjoy every moment and I wish you all the best for whatever the future brings.

In Summer 2025 we are holding 23 graduation ceremonies:

In the average ceremony, each person claps approximately 7,000 TIMES

200 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

VOLUNTEER to make the ceremonies possible

6,300 STUDENTS GRADUATE with 19,000 GUESTS in attendance

The Mace Bearer

The role of the Mace Bearer is a historic one dating back to the 12th century. The Mace Bearer’s role is to protect the dignitary who follows them: in our case, the Chancellor. Original maces were weapons which could be used if necessary to protect the King. As time progressed, maces became increasingly decorative and the use of silver-covered maces in Exeter can be traced back to the late 14th century. You can read more about the University of Exeter’s mace on the inside front cover. The Mace Bearer and Marshals, who lead the procession carrying the less ornate wooden ‘wand’, are selected from Professional Services to ensure both the academic and professional support functions are reflected in the ceremonies. The remainder of the procession and stage party comprises academic staff, and representatives from the University’s Council, University executive staff and the University’s Multifaith Chaplaincy.

During our typical winter and summer graduation ceremonies:

Over 6,000 HOURS WORKED by hospitality team members

20 FACILITIES

ASSISTANTS prepare our Streatham venues and set out over 1,000 CHAIRS

More than 100 CLEANERS spend nearly 1,000 HOURS CLEANING

HONORARY GRADUATES AND GUEST SPEAKERS

Each year, we award Honorary degrees to a number of exceptional people who demonstrate outstanding merit in their field. Since 1955-56, over 600 people from all walks of life have been honoured in this way. The following abbreviations for Honorary degrees are used: LLD Doctor of Laws; DLitt Doctor of Letters; and DSc Doctor of Science.

A full list of Honorary degrees conferred by the University is available at: exeter.ac.uk/honorarygraduates

During the Summer and Winter 2024 ceremonies, we honoured:

Josh Widdicombe (DLitt)

Dougie Scarfe OBE DL (DLitt)

General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen (LLD)

Will Young (DLitt)

Cush Jumbo OBE (DLitt)

Tom Chapman (LLD)

Damon Albarn OBE (DLitt)

Professor Sir Robert Tony Watson CMG FRS (DSc)

Rachel Skinner CBE FREng FICE (DSc)

Dr Alex George (DSc)

Stephen Catlin (LLD)

Emeritus Professor Desmond Walling (DSc)

Gerry Brown (LLD)

In acknowledgment of the importance of philanthropy, the University of Exeter invites its most generous donors to become members of the prestigious College of Benefactors. Induction into the College is the highest honour that the University can bestow upon its donors. The following became members in 2024:

Oppenheimer Generations Research Conservation

Roger deFreitas

MESSAGES FROM RECENT HONORARY GRADUATES

Dr Alex George (DSc)

Dr Alex George is a presenter, best-selling author and Youth Mental Health Ambassador to the government. He has published three Sunday Times Bestsellers, Live Well Every Day and The Mind Manual for adults, and A Better Day for children, which won Book of the Year at The British Book Awards. Alex’s mission to improve mental health support for young people has become prolific throughout the UK. Alex’s TV work includes presenting his documentary for the BBC, Dr Alex: Our Young Mental Health Crisis as well as fronting Naked Education for Channel 4.

“Go for it in life. Embrace failure. I believe that failure is an inevitable part of not only life, but also your journey to success. Academia is important, but the most important thing is the health and happiness of ourselves and the people around us. You’ve achieved something incredible today. Be proud of yourselves.”

Rachel Skinner CBE FREng FICE (DSc)

Rachel Skinner is an Executive Director at WSP, a global company that provides engineering, environmental and advisory services. Rachel served as the youngest ever President of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Her theme of climate action explained the role of civil engineers in making faster, real-world change. In 2019 she was confirmed by the Financial Times as one of the UK’s Top 100 Women in Engineering. Rachel was awarded a CBE for services to infrastructure in 2022.

“ Your

with

qualifications travel

you through the good

times

and the bad times. Even if your career takes you off in completely unexpected directions that you can’t possibly predict today it doesn’t really matter - the qualifications still go with you. Nobody can make you put them down and nobody can take them away.

They are a real part of who you are going forward.”

Kamila Shamsie FRSL (DLitt)

Kamila Shamsie is the author of eight novels which have been translated into over 30 languages. One of her awardwinning novels, Home Fire, won the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Hellenic Prize, was long listed for the Man Booker Prize and shortlisted for eight other prizes. Vice-President and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Manchester, she was one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists in 2013.

“When

I graduated, I had no idea what was ahead of me. Believe me when I tell you that you are only at the very start of knowing what your time at Exeter will truly mean for your lives. So much is possible, so much is still ahead, but right now let me congratulate you on this present moment and the achievement of being here, graduates and graduands of this fine University into which I am so delighted to have been welcomed.”

HONORARY GRADUATES 2025

Ros Atkins (DLitt)

Ros Atkins is BBC News’ Analysis Editor. He’s been a BBC News presenter for more than twenty years and has anchored coverage of major stories in the UK and around the world.

In recent years, his ‘Ros Atkins on...’ explainer videos have been a feature across BBC News and social media. Ros has also presented a number of BBC documentaries and live broadcasts from Cornwall exploring a range of issues from local politics to the economy to tourism.

Ros is the co-presenter of The Media Show on BBC Radio 4. As well as this, his first book, The Art of Explanation, was published in 2023.

Ros also DJs having first taken inspiration from the Cornish dance music scene in the early 1990s. After a long break, he returned to DJing in 2022 with a drum and bass set for BBC 6 Music. Last year, he made his debut at Glastonbury.

Ros grew up in Stithians which is five miles from the Penryn campus. He went to school in Helston and Truro.

Sir Alan Bates (LLD)

Sir Alan Bates, knighted in 2024 for heading a campaign to expose the Post Office Horizon scandal, was born in Liverpool in 1954 and raised in North Wales.

He met Suzanne, a Language Unit teacher, whilst working as Museum Services Manager for Exeter Museums. They settled in Yorkshire as Alan joined the team setting up the Eureka! museum in Halifax, including overseeing the introduction of an electronic point of sale system. In 1998 Sir Alan became a sub-postmaster at a Post Office in North Wales and, two years later, the Post Office installed the Horizon computer system in branches across the UK. It became apparent to Alan that the system was flawed, and after he refused to sign off inexplicable balances, the Post Office terminated his contract.

In 2009 Sir Alan reached out to fellow victims of the system and others who could help to support them and subsequently formed the ‘Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance’ (JFSA). He campaigned for over 20 years and led a successful Group Litigation court case in 2019 exposing Fujitsu’s and the Post Office’s failings and helping to vindicate all innocent subpostmasters.

In January 2024 Sir Alan’s campaign was the subject of a TV drama, ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’. Sir Alan and the JFSA continue to campaign to ensure that all affected subpostmasters receive adequate compensation.

HONORARY GRADUATES 2025

Yasmin Batliwala MBE (LLD)

Yasmin Batliwala MBE is the Chief Executive of Advocates for International Development (A4ID), a nonprofit that mobilises the legal profession to fight poverty and drive sustainable development. Under her leadership, A4ID has become a vital force in international pro bono legal work, cultivating partnerships with international law firms, corporates, and development organisations. Her leadership has cemented A4ID’s reputation as a trailblazer in the intersection of law and development, influencing how legal professionals engage with global justice issues and empowering them to be catalysts for meaningful, lasting change.

With a career spanning both the public and third sectors, Yasmin led initiatives championing issues such as HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol dependency, and criminal justice, including work with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. She has served on the Board of a major NHS Trust, The Hertfordshire Police Authority and as Chair of Via, influencing policies supporting vulnerable communities. As a Magistrate in both Youth and Adult Courts, she shaped justice at multiple levels.

Recognised for her contributions to the public sector, she received the City of London Woman of Achievement Award. In 2022, she was honoured with an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List for her work in Human Rights, the Rule of Law, and International Development—cementing her legacy as a visionary leader dedicated to justice and social impact.

Ben Bradshaw (LLD)

Ben Bradshaw was the MP for Exeter from 1997 to 2024. He served as Minister in a number of Government departments under the premierships of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, including Health, the Foreign Office and in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Before entering Parliament, Ben was a journalist. He began his working life on the Express and Echo in Exeter before moving to broadcasting with BBC Radio Devon.

In early 1989 he was sent by the BBC to Berlin as their correspondent, where he covered the momentous events of the fall of the Berlin Wall and German reunification. He was then a reporter and presenter on The World at One and PM programmes on BBC Radio 4.

He was only the second ever Labour MP for Exeter and held the seat in seven elections, including in 2015 when he was the only non-Conservative Member of Parliament south-west of Bristol.

He is a graduate of the University of Sussex and speaks German and Italian.

He lives with his husband Neal between England and Sicily where he now has more time for gardening, cooking, music, friends and family.

Erika Brodnock MBE (LLD)

Erika Brodnock MBE is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist and angel investor. She also holds an MBA and is Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence at King’s College London, a Leadership Fellow at the University of Exeter and a PhD candidate in the Inclusion Initiative at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She authored Diversity Beyond Gender and co-authored the TRANSPARENT Framework and Better Venture: Improving Diversity, Innovation, and Profitability in Venture Capital and Startups.

Erika is co-founder at Kinhub, providing a generative AI coaching and personalised support platform for enterprise teams. She is also a non-executive director at Diversity VC and The Good Play Guide; a trustee for the Black Funding Network; an investment committee member for Resonance Community Developers Fund; and serves on the advisory boards for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Entrepreneurship and Oxford Brookes Business School.

Professor Penny Endersby CBE (DSc)

Professor Penny Endersby CBE is a scientist and engineer who has contributed to defence, security, weather and climate science both in the UK and internationally. She became Chief Executive at the Met Office in 2018 and President of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in 2023, becoming the first woman to hold either position.

Penny grew up in London and studied Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge with scholarships from WISE and British Gas. She started at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) as a graduate researcher in armour, later serving as Head of the Physics Department and Director of Cyber and Information Systems. Penny helped develop Dstl’s capabilities in cyber and data science research and did much to increase their innovation and intellectual property generation.

She received the 2021 Society Medal from the British Computer Society for her use of IT in benefiting society, specifically through investments in the Met Office’s supercomputer and data systems supporting weather and climate prediction.

Penny is a visiting professor in the Electronics and Computer Science Faculty at the University of Southampton and an honorary professor of Physics and the Environment at the University of Exeter. She was made a CBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours.

Penny chairs the Dartmoor National Park Steering Group and spends much of her free time there. She is married to a teacher and has two grown children. Penny is interested in nature and music and is Exeter Cathedral’s first Canon Scientist also singing in their voluntary choir.

HONORARY GRADUATES 2025

The Right Honourable Sir Sajid Javid (LLD)

Sir Sajid Javid is a former Cabinet minister and business leader, known for his trailblazing career in public service and finance. Born in 1969 in Rochdale to Pakistani immigrant parents, Sir Sajid was raised in a working-class household; his father was a bus driver. He became the first member of his family to attend university, studying economics and politics at Exeter.

Before entering politics, Sir Sajid had a successful 20-year career in international finance, rising to become a senior managing director at Deutsche Bank. He was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2010 and quickly rose through the ranks of government. Over the years, he held several key Cabinet roles, including Secretary of State for Health, Home Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Sir Sajid was widely respected for his competence across departments and for breaking new ground as one of the most prominent British politicians of Muslim heritage. In 2024, he was knighted for his public service. He left Parliament in 2024 and is currently a Partner at the investment firm Centricus, Chairelect of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and a Visiting Fellow at Oxford University.

Christopher Lockyear (LLD)

Christopher Lockyear is the Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF), coordinating its global efforts to provide impartial medical assistance in conflict, epidemics and natural disasters.

A leading voice for principled humanitarian action, the protection of civilians and the safety of humanitarian workers, Chris regularly addresses the issues in critical crises like those in Gaza and Sudan. Whether negotiating directly with warring parties, or advocating to platforms of international governance, such as the United Nations Security Council, he urges renewed commitment to International Humanitarian Law and for the uninhibited provision of life-saving humanitarian assistance.

Chris began his humanitarian career in 2005 as a Water and Sanitation Engineer in Darfur, Sudan, later leading humanitarian operations in Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Sudan, Chad, Uganda, Nigeria and the Philippines.

A qualified mediator, Chris holds engineering degrees from the University of Cambridge and was selected as a World Fellow at Yale University in 2014. In 2017 he pursued an MA in Philosophy at Exeter University where he researched the ethical challenges of contemporary humanitarian action.

Caroline Lucas (LLD)

Caroline Lucas was the UK’s first Green Party Member of Parliament between 2010 and 2024, and before that served for 10 years in the European Parliament. She has also served as both Leader and Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. She is a writer, campaigner and keynote speaker, with a particular interest in the role of education and the arts in mobilising action on the climate and nature emergencies. She has won numerous awards for her work: in 2020 she topped the list of the BBC Radio Woman’s Hour One Planet Power List of influential activists, educators and campaigners, and in 2024 the UK’s largest sustainable business awards scheme presented her with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

She is Co-President of the European Movement and a Trustee of the Towner Art Gallery in Eastbourne. Her latest book, a Sunday Times bestseller, is Another England: How to Reclaim our National Story.

Caroline is an alumna of the University of Exeter having gained a First-class Honours degree in English Literature, and later returned to study for her PhD.

Cheryl Morgan (LLD)

Cheryl Morgan has a long career in IT and energy economics. She has lived and worked in Australia and California as well as the UK.

Cheryl is well known in the science fiction community. She was the first openly trans person to win a Hugo Award from the World Science Fiction Society and runs her own publishing company, Wizard’s Tower Press. She has worked as a sensitivity reader with several best-selling authors. Cheryl has been a Guest of Honour at conventions in Croatia and Finland and a keynote speaker at academic conferences in Graz and Glasgow.

An expert on the history of gender and sexuality, Cheryl is a regular speaker at public events and academic conferences. She has created online lectures for HistFest. Her writing on trans history has been published in a variety of academic outlets.

As a former director of The Diversity Trust, Cheryl helped create their trans awareness training programme. She still works occasionally as a trans awareness trainer.

Cheryl currently lives in South Wales. Mae hi’n dysgu siarad Cymraeg.

HONORARY GRADUATES 2025

Dr Andrew Ng (DSc)

Dr Andrew Ng is the Founder of DeepLearning.AI, Managing General Partner at AI Fund, Executive Chairman of LandingAI, Chairman and Co-Founder of Coursera and an adjunct professor at Stanford University.

As a pioneer in machine learning and online education, Andrew has changed countless lives through his work in AI. Over 8 million people have taken an AI class from him. He was the founding lead of the Google Brain team, which helped Google transform into a modern AI company. He served as VP & Chief Scientist at Baidu, where he led a 1,300-person AI team responsible for the company’s AI technology and strategy. He was formerly Director of the Stanford AI Lab, home to 20+ faculty members and research groups. In 2023, he was named in the Time100 AI list of the world’s most influential people in AI.

Andrew now focuses his time primarily on providing AI training and on his entrepreneurial ventures, looking for the best ways to accelerate responsible AI adoption globally.

Andrew has authored over 200 papers in AI and related fields and holds a BSc from Carnegie Mellon University, an MSc from Massachusetts University of Technology and a PhD from University of California, Berkeley.

Sarah Turvill (LLD)

Sarah Turvill was Chair of Council at the University of Exeter from 2012 to 2022 and has been a generous philanthropic supporter of the University over many years, including playing a key role in advocating for and funding our new Multifaith Centre.She is an alumna of the University of Exeter (LLB Hons 1975).

Having trained as a barrister, Sarah was called to the Bar in 1976 but realising this was not the career for her she joined the Willis Group, a leading global insurance broker, in 1978. Starting out as a lawyer, she then successfully built up Willis’ European business as well as its operations in China, Latin America, India and other high-growth markets. She became Chief Executive Officer of Willis International in 2001 and was made Chair in 2006. She was appointed a Bencher at Gray’s Inn in 2009.

Sarah retired in December 2013 as Chair of Willis International and was appointed a Non-Executive Director to the Willis Limited Board.

Sarah currently has a number of voluntary roles on the Isle of Wight, where she lives, including Chair of the Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners and the Seely Hall, as well as Chair of Governors at Brighstone Church of England Aided Primary School. She has recently become a governor of the Exeter Maths School.

Pippa Warin (LLD)

Pippa Warin has demonstrated a deep commitment to community engagement, public service and leadership in the arts, cultural and creative sectors throughout her career. After graduating from the University of York, she worked in community arts including an innovative project with women and families escaping domestic violence. She witnessed the value of creativity in education, health and wellbeing and became a strong advocate and practitioner in these fields. Pippa took on pioneering roles in setting up the National Lottery Community Fund in the South West, Artshare SW and Devon Arts in Schools Initiative. She worked as Director of Culture South West, Head of Culture for the Government Office South West and led on strategic partnerships for Arts Council England from 2010.

Pippa is now an Arts Consultant and Coach, mentoring creative businesses supported by Creative UK and School for Social Entrepreneurs. Her focus is on working with women and young leaders, building confidence and capacity for change.

Alongside her career, Pippa has held voluntary director/trustee/coaching roles including for Exeter College, the University of Exeter career mentoring scheme, Exeter Northcott Theatre, chairing The Phoenix Arts Centre Exeter and Wardrobe Theatre Bristol. She now chairs Literature Works. She took a leading role in the achievement of Exeter’s UNESCO City of Literature designation. She has championed and written about co-leadership and worked with boards on co-chairing governance models. Recently she has put fun and creative energy into the co-leadership of CIRCE, a network for women leading in Arts and Culture sector projects in Devon and Cornwall. Pippa’s work and values of inclusivity and social justice have had a significant impact in the South West.

The Right Honourable Baroness Warsi (LLD)

Baroness Warsi, Britain’s first Muslim Cabinet Minister, is also a lawyer, businesswoman and racial justice campaigner and has consistently been listed as one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world.

Appointed to the House of Lords as a life peer at the age of 36, she served as Chairman of the Conservative Party, in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and as Minister for Faith and Communities.

She is advisor at the Bridge Institute, Georgetown University Washington DC, a member of the International Advisory Board on Freedom of Religious Belief, University of Notre Dame and Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Bolton.

Baroness Warsi is author of two books; The Enemy Within: A Tale of Muslim Britain and Muslims Don’t Matter. She is a regular daytime TV presenter and news commentator. In 2024 she launched the award-winning podcast A Muslim and A Jew Go There alongside David Baddiel.

PRESENTATION OF GRADUATES

This programme lists the names of those upon whom Honorary and substantive degrees are to be conferred at this Congregation. The programme also lists those who elected to receive their award in absence earlier in the session. Graduands who have elected to receive their award in absence at this Congregation are indicated by an asterisk.

PRESENTATION OF GRADUATES

WEDNESDAY 23 JULY 2025

10:00

IN THE FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE

AND ECONOMY

FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN GEOLOGY

Richard Chalkley

Thesis: Geospatial monitoring and modelling of acid mine drainage and mining footprints

* Michael Mwanangombe Musialike

Thesis: New Geomodels for Zambian Carbonatites

* Chloe Aisha Walker-Trivett

Thesis: Oceanographic and Biotic Changes inAustralia During Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Events

Eimear Deady

Thesis: An enhanced understanding of the thermal and fluid history of a Variscan metallogenic province from critical metal investigations:The antimony and tungstenbismuth deposits of South-west England

* Pete Siegfried

Thesis: Where does enriched rare earth element mineralisation in the regolith of carbonatites come from?An investigation focused on two contrasting examplesZandkopsdrift and Glenover

IN MINING AND MINERALS ENGINEERING

Rakan Abdulwahed

Thesis: Realizing Orebody ValueThrough Improved Processing Modelling

Elin Jennings

Thesis: Sources, Pathways and Sinks of Metal(loid) Contaminants in an Acid Mine Drainage-Affected River System

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY

IN GEOLOGY

* Dora Kavecsanszki

Thesis: Investigation of the mantle source, magma evolution and sulphide mineralisation of the Phalaborwa Complex

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE BY RESEARCH

* Jack Timmins

Thesis: Exploring opportunities to utilise microseismicity during geothermal energy exploitation

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE

IN EXPLORATION GEOLOGY

* Ali Alvi

* Charlie Hamblet

* Quinn Hurwood Foster

* Mason Lees

* Thomas Mallows

Chris McCann

* Rachel Purvis

Huw Rogers

Gabriel Smith

Oliver Stringer

* Luca Susanna

* Craig Withers

Gigi Woodward

IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

* Sarita Anston-Race

Emily Bennett

* Sasha Lawrence

IN MINERALS PROCESSING

Andrew Green

Bess Mann

IN MINING ENGINEERING

* Cenap Bozaba

* Connor Heathcote

* Martin Patterson

James Sharman

Victoria Smyth

IN MINING ENGINEERING (PROFESSIONAL)

Aurelien Bonneviot

Jayde Endley

Matthew Forrest

* Jaimie Forssman

Patrick Ngoie

Basie Swanepoel

IN MINING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Alvaro Reyes Izquierdo

Elorm Deborah Tsigbe

IN MINING GEOLOGY

Max Davies

IN SURVEYING AND LAND/ ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

* Ben Carruthers

Emma Court

Lewis Fogden

* Megan Thear

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER IN SCIENCE IN GEOLOGY

Oliver Keast

FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING IN MINING ENGINEERING

* Joshua Bafedile

* Victor Fane

* Tshupo Gopadileng

* Moagi Hiya

* Sethunya Mangole

* Shingilani Matiashe

* Geoffrey Mosarwa

* Moeti Sempipeng

FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

IN ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND GEOTECHNICS

Lewis Andrews

Adam Biggs

Dani Gallagher

Ben Lawrance

Holly Midgley

Emma Parkin

Jamie Pybus

Oli Walters

IN ENVIRONMENTAL GEOSCIENCE

Clare Brown

Charis Chan

Jack Dancox

IN GEOLOGY

Masha Baranova

Harry Cook

Jessica Cotton

Charlotte Covell

George Fisher

Tom Fuller

Ben Gilliam

Emil McCaughey

Dom Skoulding

Hannah Whitten

* Soph Williamson

IN RESOURCE AND EXPLORATION GEOLOGY

* Nick Allison

Harry Breckon

Ronan Cosgrove

Sophie Lyons-Montgomery

Joshua Manning

Jacob McEleny

Alyn Owen

David Winsor

Presenterreturnstotheirseat

IN THE FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE AND ECONOMY

FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

* Mansour Alhabradi

Thesis: Fabrication and Optimisation of Engineered Nanostructured Thin Films for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Applications

* Manal Alruwaili

Thesis: Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured TiVO4 for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Application

William Cameron

Thesis: Optical and Thermal Performance Enhancement of Ultra-High Concentrator PhotovoltaicThermal (CPV/T) System

Raul De La Fuente Pinto

Thesis: Enhanced Current Limiting Strategy for Droop-Controlled Grid-Connected Inverters During LVRT

* Sreeram Valsalakumar

Thesis: Advancing Carbon-Based Perovskite Solar Cells: Experimental Validation, Optimization, and Machine Learning Integration

Sasireka Velusamy

Thesis: Nanoparticle Embedded Graphene Oxide Cellulose Membrane for Industrial Wastewater Treatment

Ashley Wilson

Thesis: Assessing challenges to a Ministry of Defence Renewable EnergyTransition using a blended, soft systems methodology and institutional framework

FOR THE DEGREE OF ENGINEERING DOCTORATE

Tegan Foster

Thesis: Characterisation of Wave Runup on Floating Offshore WindTurbine Substructures on behalf of the Senatus Academicus

Benjamin Moverley Smith

Thesis: Discrete event simulation of logistical challenges in offshore floating wind projects on behalf of the Senatus Academicus

* Esperanza Susana Torres Gutierrez

Thesis: Modelling logistics strategies for the installation of offshore wind farms on behalf of the Senatus Academicus

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN RENEWABLE ENERGY ENGINEERING

Andrew Brand

Keith Ho

Shanza Hussain

Acquilin Medonna

* Renk Midikhan

Amruthalakshmi Poudhar

Harry Raspin

Toby Stephens

Thomas Williams

FOR THE DEGREE OF POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA

IN RENEWABLE ENERGY ENGINEERING

* Mustafa Guler

* Meet Hemantbhai Intwala

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ENGINEERING IN RENEWABLE ENERGY ENGINEERING

Toby Byrne

Natasha Cooper

Ollie Cowdall

Henry Hallam

Kee Jun Hiew

Christopher McWhan

Isabel Phillpots

Arun Reddy

George Woodward

IN RENEWABLE ENERGY ENGINEERING WITH INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE

Kye Barwell

Liam Eagling

Max Fitzgerald-Zimmer

Molly Gould

Olea Noall

FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING

IN RENEWABLE ENERGY ENGINEERING

Mohamed Al -Mandhari

Mohammed Al Araimi

Shahad Al Habsi

Ruwaida Al Hinai

Saada Al Zakwani

Ghazil Almaqbali

Jackson Brocklebank

Aditya Lakshmanan Chari

* Thomas Fordham

Andrey Galdin

Elliot Gray

Elie Halabi

George Hasson

Samuel Humphries

* Cameron Langdown

Alexis Li

Lois Price

George Robinson

Luke Russell

* Lisa Shilliday

* Jonny Tait

Daniele Totev

* Alex Walker

Harvey Whipday

Ben Wilkinson

IN RENEWABLE ENERGY ENGINEERING WITH INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE

Joshua Manning

FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

Emily Broadbent

Carrie Hames

Kristoff Muller

Jacob Penney

Eli Williams

Presenterreturnstotheirseat

IN THE FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE AND ECONOMY

FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN MATHEMATICS

Aisha Mousa A Al Hayzea

Thesis: Observer-based numerical schemes

Ali Alibrahim

Thesis: Generalised p-Trigonometric and Hyperbolic Special Functions with Applications

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE

IN APPLIED DATA SCIENCE (ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION)

Alyssa Grogorenz-De Oliveira

* Ali Sevil

IN APPLIED DATA SCIENCE (ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY)

* Milly Young

* Zimnan Ziyard

IN APPLIED DATA SCIENCE (RENEWABLE ENERGY)

Max Crowther

Divyesh Bharatbhai Mangela

Raas Ramkumar Mishra

Kyle Nero

Bianca Nolan

Rupert Parkin

IN APPLIED DATA SCIENCE AND MODELLING

Zoe Hastings

* Bokang He

WEDNESDAY 23 JULY 2025

13:45

IN THE FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE AND ECONOMY

FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

IN ZOOLOGY WITH PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT

Rebecca Tucker

FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

IN ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR

Lucy Da’Val

Charlie Hawken

Rebecca Norton

IN ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR WITH PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT

Thomas Harrison

IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY

Mollie Amos

Eleanor Bailey-Tufts

Ella Barnes

Oliver Barrett

Emma Bell

Aidan Blackmore

Alex Bonavero Chahri

Rudi Bright

Emma Brooks

Grace Buckley

Benjamin Coates

Tom Corbett

Poppy Daly

Laurence Day Cunio

Rhiannon Evans

Sebastian Tayut Fahey

Rhiannon Golledge

Izzie Hawthorn

Remi Howe

Leo Hutchings

William Jackson-Bettles

Willow Jowitt

Emma Kells

Joseph Kerven

Andi Lamasuta

* Alex McFarlane

Rachel Morrison

Rowen Moss

Charlie Murphy

Dylan Shepley

Lily Smith

Ollie Steele

Lily Stephenson

George Tanner

Ben Toon

* Bronte Unrein

Oscar Wainwright

Zoe Wilkinson

IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY WITH PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT

Matthew Boddy

Isabel Brinkley

* Samuel Collins

Ben Harris

Tom Hughes

Bindu Peterhansl

Nia Stephens

Peter Stockting

Harry Stone

IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY WITH STUDY ABROAD

Shannon Lloyd

Rosie Ramsden

Henry Rowling

IN EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

Eve Coverdale

Natasha Sims

IN HUMAN SCIENCES

Younes Boulares

Toby Chapman

Taanu Donne

Holly Fry

Zack Islam

Alex Jarvis

Jasper Pinem

Sky Shah

Theo Simpson

Charlotte Smith

IN HUMAN SCIENCES WITH PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT

Izzy King

IN MARINE BIOLOGY

Hobie Ambrose

Tchianna Appleyard

Andreas Atalianis

Sita Bishop

Cairenn Brown

Sophie Brown

Pav Calinescu

Bradley Canning

Megan Carter

Rosie Copp

Maddi Freeman-Elliott

Reuben Fuller

Olivia Goodchild

Francesca Gough

Benjamin Grecic

Jonas Greene

Amelia Louise Hart

Sophie Hepple

Annabelle Hill

William Howard

Max Hughes

Hana Ikram

Sophie James

Toby Jenkinson

Kate Jubb

Ian Lo

* Esben Lomholt

Amber Jo McAvoy

* Rohan McClughan

Hamish McKee

Laura Merifield

Reese Moriarty

Daisy Oldfield

Liana Peterson

Ben Jian-Min Joseph Porter

* Libby Powell

Sophie Rayner

Lucas Reid

Darcey Roberts-Waite

Sam Rumbles

Joseph Sinclair

Daniel Stewart

Sylvia Tang

Harri Taylor

Sarah Tomkins

Elanor Trigg

Amy Watson

Jack Wells

Isaac Whitney

Emma Alicia Wood

Charlie Woodruff

IN MARINE BIOLOGY WITH PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT

Sam Belcher

Rachel Fearn

Megan Kelley

Andri Kleopa

Charlotte Middleton

Sarah Newby Gonzalez

Amelia Quinn

Abbie Wash

IN MARINE BIOLOGY WITH STUDY ABROAD

Tara Arora

Natasha Duxbury

Ava Graham

Gemma Halstead

Finlay Spiers

IN ZOOLOGY

Sasha Allen

Amy Astwood

Lucy Avis

Ben Baker

Charlie Ball

Macy Barrett

Emily Bishton

Daniel Blanco Nanez

Millie Burnapp

Elsa Chan

Nadia Cochran

Charlotte Coleby

Nathaniel Collinson

Elizabeth Constable

Charlie Crawforth

* Grace David

Cole Dickinson

Thomas Donnison

Tommy Haddock

Jake Hadfield

Woody Hadfield

Aisha-Jane Harris

Gina Holderness

Olly Hope

Phoebe Hopkins

*

Sophie Hubbard

Bella Hudson

Miranda Johnstone

Summer Jones

Arielle Karoubi

Patrick Kendall

Oscar King

Matt Magin

Eloina Martin

Gemma McNeany

Asako Miyamoto Sutherland

Sophie Nash

Indigo Pai-Gibson

Eve-Lee Peckham

Sophie Pettit

George Pole

Indy Preece

Lewis Pye

* Maisie Radford

Oliver Ravenhill

Charlotte Rees

Dominic Regnes

Alice Roberts

Edward Sharkey

Frankie Sharp

Marco Shute

Oscar Staveley

Eleanor Stone

Daniella Treagus

* Charlie Viney

Arthur Waller

Ben Webb

Oliver Wenyon

Millie Williams

Scarlett Williams

IN ZOOLOGY WITH PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT

Lydia Addison

Lizzie Alexander

Ben Brown

Ariel Cheung

Thea Chubb

Ben Duffee

Erin Gough

Ben Hollands

Miyanda Kamwi

Gabriella Lockwood

Siske Loggie

Jessica Meadows

* Gabby Oliver

Carys Palmer

Lois Peyton Jones

Kacey St John

IN ZOOLOGY WITH STUDY ABROAD

* Amy Berry

Irene Casals-Farre

Catrin Dunn

Caitlin Jeffery

Rosie Llewellyn

Chloe Marshall

Lucy Morley

Harry Shakespeare

Charlie Williams

Presenterreturnstotheirseat

WEDNESDAY 23 JULY 2025

15:45

IN THE FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE AND ECONOMY

FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Graham Birch

Thesis: The reproductive life-histories of male banded mongooses

Hebe Carmichael

Thesis: Gaining Mechanistic Insights into Multiple Stressor Effects Using Freshwater Microbial Communities

* Emma Inzani

Thesis: Urban herring gull behaviour and its development

Molly Margaret Kressler

Thesis: Advancing marine ecological research: novel frameworks and methods for elasmobranch behavioural research in coastal and open-ocean systems

Emma Long

Thesis: Evolution andAnatomy of Early TerrestrialArthropods: Insights from the Rhynie Chert

* Arthur Newbury

Thesis: Microbial CommunityAssembly and the Structure of Bacteria-Plasmid Interaction Networks

Alice Pawlik

Thesis: InvestigatingAssociations Between Skin Microbiome and Disease in the Common Frog (Rana temporaria)

Tom Dando

Thesis: Social and ecological feasibility of a European wildcat Felis silvestris reintroduction

Jenny Grigg

Thesis: Improving Demographic Insights to Enhance Conservation of the Endangered African Penguin Spheniscus demersus

Rosie Layfield

Thesis: Quantifying the impact of the social environment on human life-histories in times of change: Insights from archival records for the Isles of Scilly, UK

Kerry MacKie

Thesis: Impact of a Road Development on Whooper Swans

Ellie Scopes

Thesis: Population ecology and conservation of hazel dormice

Menno Van Berkel

Thesis: Avian architecture: the effects of environment and behaviour on the construction of bowers and nests

* Vikram Narayan

Thesis: The Relationships Between Dietary Macronutrients andAgeing

* Loretta Mugo

Thesis: Contribution of gut microbiota to infection progression in Lepidoptera

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE BY RESEARCH

* Eliane Bornoff

Thesis: Investigating Factors that Influence the Effectiveness ofAdult Lepidoptera Eyespots

* Jade Bosco

Thesis: Conservation in elasmobranchs: Insights from studies of infectious diseases and morphometrics

Emilia Dyer

Thesis: Indian Ocean Purse Seine Tuna Fisheries Using Drifting FishAggregating Devices: Compliance and Environmental Impacts

Shaha Hashim

Thesis: ‘Old man and the Sea’ – Unravelling historical reference points for marine resources in the Maldives

Terence McAvoy

Thesis: Investigating microbial ecology dynamics in response to metal stress and nutritional resources to understand community dynamics and plasmid spread

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE

IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND POLICY

Rosie Hallatt

IN CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY

Georgia Allen

IN CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY WITH INTERNATIONAL FIELD COURSE

* Malik Abdulla

Alexander Barton

Matthew Broadbent

* Camila Carreno Solano

* Hsuan-Ying Chen

* Harry Donnelly

Mica Fernandez Iglesias

Francesca Healy

* Emma Howard

* Olivia Gervacio Jakabosky

Evie Jenkin

Niamh McNally

Claudia Milani-Santarpia Vargas

Kaitlyn Millis

Rupli Moores-Mason

Saoirse Murphy-Collot

Georgie Nicholls

* Sam Orpin

Isla Patterson

* Sophie Richterová

* Srishti Srivastava

Charlotte Taylor

IN CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY WITH UK FIELD COURSE

* Flo Bound

Elizabeth Morris

Seren Peregrine

Max Talich

Lucy Williamson

IN EVOLUTIONARY AND BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY

* Mollie Townsend

IN EVOLUTIONARY AND BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY WITH INTERNATIONAL FIELD COURSE

Kimi Chen

Katrina Crenol

* Julia Grootaers

Adrienne Michel

Corrick Sharpe

* Caleb Slade

* Alicia Talbot

Katherine Thomas

IN EVOLUTIONARY AND BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY WITH UK FIELD COURSE

Benjamin Jane

Eleanor Kirk

* Abby McCartney

IN MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

* Martina Feltracco

* Isabelle Parker

IN MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT WITH INTERNATIONAL FIELD COURSE

Jody Affleck

Katie Bennett

Hannah Brown

Emma Butterwick

Ottie Buxton

Nia Clarke

* Matthew Cockburn

Lauren Joslyn

Dylan Kramer

Sejal Kumar

Ben Long

Felix Marshall

Beth Mathias-Williams

Ellie Matthew

* Georgina Menage

Solomon Meyer

Ellie Millington

Natalie Pramuk

Dani Seales

Hannah Simner

Daniel Tucker Bailey

IN MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT WITH UK FIELD COURSE

* Alexander Kahveci

Hannah Lee

* Emily Sissons

IN MARINE VERTEBRATE ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION

Ashley Abbott

Millie Clark

Sofia Fedoroff

Amy Gibbings

* Carla Hill

James Holloway

Caitlin Littlewood

* Kath O’Brien

Dayonni Orellana Kehayova

Simge Oy

Alicia Parfitt

Anisha Parmar

* Olivia Thankful Redding

Grace Roberts De-Matos

* Louise Spriggs

Millie Thatcher

* Theo Vickers

FOR THE DEGREE OF POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY WITH UK FIELD COURSE

* Shannon Evans

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER IN SCIENCE

IN ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR

Isobel Poole

IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY

Magnus Bower

Amber Faull

Joe Field

Josh Hodges

Ella Murgatroyd

* Ella Pelizzoli-Bishop

Wednesday 23 July // 15:45

IN MARINE BIOLOGY

Jessica Billington

Issy Crawley

Jake Daniels

Phebe Dowse

Emma Jayne Hodson

Alexander Imam

Jeremy Lane

Elwyn Lee-Mitchell

Zak Marsh

Naomi Ann Pereira

Thomas Smith

Lily Stevenson Ward

Nao Szulc

IN ZOOLOGY

Aysha Agovich-Lee

Lucy Arthur

Timothy Attwell

Tristan Biswell-Izzard

Cerys Deakin

Fenton Doggett

Ben Flood

Maya Hall-Balfourth

Sydney Hayden

* Lucas Horner

* Grace Horsman

Grace Jackson

Alex James

Jodi Johnson

Sam Parmenter

Archie Pearce

Zak Thurlow

Charlotte Williams

Alex Wright

Chris Zikos

FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

IN MARINE BIOLOGY

Megan Hanson

Katie Horsfield

Alex Osmond

IN ZOOLOGY

Ffion Allery

Kimaya Ebert

Daniel Jon Griffiths

* Lucy Whitbread

Presenterreturnstotheirseat

IN THE FACULTY OF HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES

FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN MEDICAL STUDIES

Olivia Turner

Thesis: The role of wild birds in disseminating antimicrobial resistance in the farm environment

Laura Murray

Thesis: Selection and Co-selection for Antibiotic Resistance by Plant Protection Products

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH

* Charlotte Baguley

Emma Blight

FOR THE DEGREE OF POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH

Rokhaya Sall

Presenterreturnstotheirseat

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

So many of our students have achieved great things over the past year. Here we feature just a few examples where our students have excelled in academia, sport, arts, entrepreneurship and community.

Exeter student

breaks European running records alongside green activism

Innes FitzGerald has been dubbed the ‘Greta Thunberg of Sport’ for smashing European running records alongside her environmental activism.

At just 19 years old, Innes, a first-year Sport and Exercise Science student, has already broken two European U20 records. Her most recent victory was a 15.08 time at the Bristol Track Club 5k where she won the Elite Women’s race.

Nicknamed after climate activist, Greta Thunberg, by both the Times and Telegraph, for her environmental stance, Innes has been turning down competitions where she believes a single race does not justify the emissions of the travel.

When she does travel, Innes chooses the most carbon-efficient routes — including a 20-hour journey she took by bus, train, and bike to reach Turin for the European Cross-Country Championships in 2022. Even then, she finished fourth.

Skills

swapping project

helps Exeter’s

international students make friends with older members of Devon community

International students are creating lasting friendships with older members of the Devon community in a scheme that aims to boost digital literacy and reduce student loneliness.

The Tech-and-Life Pal project aims to get older people to give students the benefit of their “life wisdoms and experience”, while the students help them out with essential digital skills such as how to use a smartphone or laptop.

Dr Yuxi Heluo, Assistant Professor at our Business School, started the project as a research trial, but it has been so successful that it’s likely to carry on.

Innovation from Renewable Energy Engineering students shines at international solar

boat competition

Last summer, 12 Renewable Energy Engineering students took part in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. The competition featured solar- and hydrogen-powered boats of various shapes and sizes, tested across events designed to measure speed, power and endurance. Going up against teams from 25 nations, the students from the Penryn Campus competed as “SOLEX” in the Solar Class.

Leading up to the event, the team worked hard to design, manufacture and test different elements of the boat’s electrical system and mechanical features, using Stithians Reservoir for water testing.

The team competed this June in The Ultimate Solar Boat Challenge in the Netherlands, where they raced in old canals and reservoirs.

Sailors crowned sustainability champions

Our Sailing Club ‘couldn’t be prouder’ after being crowned winners of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Green Blue University Sailing Sustainability Challenge 2025.

Exeter students were celebrated for leading the way in sustainable sailing at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show in February.

The sustainability challenge, sponsored by the Royal Thames Yacht Club, shines a light on university sailing clubs that are following key environmental best practice, from beach cleans and equipment reuse initiatives, to waste reduction and awareness raising in local communities.

©The Royal Yachting Association

Student entrepreneurs celebrated at annual awards

We celebrated another successful year of student startups and innovation at the Student Entrepreneurship Awards, recognising outstanding achievements across the University. Tomiwa Adeoye (Business and Management) won the Social Impact Award for AfroExeExperience, which brings Afrobeat and Amapiano music nights to Exeter. Iman Alibeigi (Engineering) received the Environmental Impact Award for his platform InfraFund, while Eleanor Griffin (Engineering and

Entrepreneurship) was honoured with the Tech Innovation Award for Opas Guides, which designs patient-specific instrumentation for orthopaedic surgery. The Rising Star Award went to Lorenzo Satta Chiris, and Giselle Hegstad won the People’s Choice Award for her positive contributions. Ruairi Duignan (Business and Environment) received the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award for his work on his venture Turbo Zone.

Sustainable fashion project wins award

A team of our students have won a sustainability award from the UPP Foundation, a charity set up by UPP a UK-wide provider of student accommodation. Isabella Purves, Emily Pink, Freya Williams, Becky Rowe, Beth Fraser and Molly Williams, worked together on their winning project, Stitch by Stitch, setting out to make Exeter’s fashion ecosystem more circular and sustainable through a series of activities. They held speaker events and workshops, taught students repair techniques, held clothes swapping events and boosted awareness around fast fashion and sustainable clothing.

Emily Pink, studying MA Publishing and co-president of Stitch by Stitch said, “We’ve engaged thousands of students, forged new local partnerships, connected the University with the wider community, been recognised both locally and within the institution, and, crucially, instilled a passion for slow fashion in so many people.”

Gold rush for Camborne School of Mines students in prestigious competition

Students at our Camborne School of Mines are celebrating a golden achievement after they secured double victories in an international competition focusing on heritage mining techniques of yesteryear.

Both the Men’s and Women’s teams representing CSM secured their respective overall titles at the 47th Intercollegiate International Mining Games, which were held at King Edward Mine, near Camborne, in March.

It is the first time a CSM Women’s side has won the competition, while the Men retained the title they last won in 2018.

Medical Students Excel in National Neuroanatomy Competition

Six medical students achieved outstanding results at the National Undergraduate Neuroanatomy Competition (NUNC), held at the University of Glasgow. Competing against peers from across the country, our six representatives earned five awards, including a historic double win of the NUNC Pre-Clinical Prize and Runner-up Pre-Clinical Prize – making Exeter the first university to achieve this distinction.

Third-year student Amelia Dickson won Best Pre-Clinical Prize, with fellow third-year Arsh Thao earning the Runner’s Up Pre-Clinical Prize, while Jack Read, John Donnelly and Sean Ho received Distinction Prizes.

Twenty-four students walk 24 hours to raise money for mental health

In March, 24 students from the Falmouth and Exeter Student’s Union Expedition Society held a 24-hour walk to raise money for men’s mental health charity, Man Down. The walk took them along the South West coast path through rain, fog and even some sunshine. Five students managed to walk for the full 24

hours with two walking 33.4 miles, one 40 miles and another two as many as 54.5 miles! Everyone who took part put their all into raising over £1,600 for Man Down, a Cornwall-founded charity working hard to raise awareness around men’s mental health and suicide prevention.

Champion surf team regain the top spot

The University of Exeter and Falmouth Surf Society team, FalSurf, have reclaimed the BUCS 2024 Surfing championship title, which they also held in 2022, despite strong competition from the other university surf teams. Thirty-four FalSurf surfers competed, with Alex Townsend securing 3rd place in the men’s finals, and Tegan Blackford and Florence Job coming 3rd and 4th in the women’s finals. The women’s and men’s teams both won in the team categories.

©Tom Featherstone Photography

STORIES FROM YOUR TIME AT EXETER

Continued success in influential global rankings

We have placed =155th globally in the latest QS World University Rankings, released in June. We saw a 14-place rise globally in the prestigious rankings – placing us among the very best institutions worldwide. We also ranked 23rd nationally.

QS analysed more than 8,000 universities across the world and included more than 1,500 in producing the new rankings. The latest ranking saw Exeter make significant gains in a number of the criteria – including Academic Reputation, International Research Network, Employer Reputation and Faculty Student Ratio.

The rise is recognition for the hard work and commitment from our whole community in helping to create a Greener, Healthier and Fairer future for everyone, through our teaching, research and partnerships. Together they are helping drive the University forwards.

Winners of Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership prize at the Times Higher Education awards

In November, our commitment to conducting and communicating world-leading climate research was recognised with the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership prize at the Times Higher Education awards. The awards recognise excellence across the UK and Irish higher education sector.

Exeter’s submission was founded on it being home to more of the world’s most influential climate scientists than any other university, according to Reuters.

At the forefront of Exeter’s work to translate outstanding science into action is the revered work on the Global Carbon Budget (GCB) and Global Tipping Points Report (GTPR), which featured heavily at COP28.

The judges praised Exeter’s global reach in communicating high-quality and leading research in environmental science and climate change observation.

Success in Global Sustainable Development rankings

Our commitment to a sustainable future has been recognised in the latest influential league table. We have been named as one of the top 30 educational institutions – and top 2 per cent of those ranked worldwide - in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025, released in June.

The ranking charts the performance of more than 2,300 institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a universal call to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Our strongest performance was against SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production - which measures the efficient use of resources and minimising waste, and ensuring consumption is sustainable, especially where resources are not renewable –and where we ranked 2nd globally.

Arrival of two symbolic globes from groundbreaking national arts project inspires new initiative

Last year we received two poignant art installations in support of TheWorldReimagined, a national project that seeks to redefine how the country understands the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans and its lasting impact. This mass participation art education initiative reflects on British history and encourages people to take meaningful action to make racial justice a reality.

A total of 103 globes were created for the project, and we’re delighted to have installed two of these; a stunning globe by artist Caroline Daly, adorned with 400 swallows – each representing one year of the Transatlantic Trade at our Penryn Campus in Cornwall and a second globe, Uncertain Voyage: A Complex Triangle, created by illustrator Nadia Akingbule at our Streatham Campus in Exeter.

Inspired by this project, the University of Exeter’s Art and Culture team and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team in Cornwall funded a new initiative, giving space to five female mixed-heritage Cornwall-based artists of mixed disciplines to connect and navigate the fictional and archival historical presence of people of African descent in Europe. The Reimaginings project includes Maria Christoforidou, a Zambian Greek artist, writer and lecturer in Fine Art at Falmouth University; Caroline Deeds, a Ghanaian/British filmmaker, artist and lecturer based in West Cornwall; Catherine Lucktaylor, a ceramic artist who creates vibrant Raku ceramics in her studio in Penzance; Angelin Morrison, an award-winning folk singer/ songwriter and multi-instrumentalist; and multidisciplinary artist Libita Sibungu, who draws on her British-CornishNamibian heritage to create her work.

Exeter climbs to 11th place in UK league table

We were delighted to rise three places to 11th in the Complete University Guide 2026, representing one of the biggest gains of any institution in the top 20. We also rank second in universities based in the region.

The Guide is based on ten measures of quality, including entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, and graduate prospects, and includes 130 universities from across the UK.

It also produces comprehensive league tables for subjects –and this year 20 of Exeter’s disciplines were ranked inside their respective top tens.

We also once again secured a place in the top 15 universities nationwide in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, ranking 13th overall and 3rd in the South West.

Apprenticeship schemes demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion

In March, our degree apprenticeship programmes won in the Diversity and Inclusion category at this year’s Apprenticeships and Training Awards. The award recognises our distinctive approach to degree apprenticeships, with a focus on social mobility, widening access to Higher Education and ensuring success for all – particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.

And in November, we were thrilled to have been awarded University of the Year in 2024’s Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards. The awards celebrate talent and diversity within multicultural communities, recognising the achievements of apprentices and the contributions of employers and learning providers.

Nine of our apprentices also received award nominations and Miranda Simms (from our Senior People Professional programme) won in the Retail, Hospitality and Tourism category.

With nearly 3,000 apprentices enrolled across 19 programmes, we proudly hold the largest portfolio of any Russell Group learning provider. We collaborate with over 400 employer partners to enhance access to higher education, address skills gaps and build more diverse workforces.

Sarah Turvill Multifaith Centre officially opened on our Streatham Campus

In March, we held a special ceremony to mark the official opening of the new Sarah Turvill Multifaith Centre, located on the Streatham Campus.

This exciting new centre is designed to promote inclusion and respect for diverse faiths and beliefs, while fostering a sense of community and encouraging connections and inter-faith collaborations and is a space for quiet reflection, prayer and contemplation for all.

It was officially opened by Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice-Chancellor, and former chair of University Council and Exeter alumna, Sarah Turvill, who generously provided transformational philanthropic support and played a key role in advocating for the new building.

Two pioneering research centres opening at our Penryn Campus in Cornwall

We are opening two new multi-million-pound research centres at our Penryn Campus in Cornwall.

Funded by UK Research and Innovation, we are opening a new £10 million centre which will focus on addressing climate-environment-health inequalities across each life stage. The Centre for Net Positive Health and Climate Solutions is a partnership between the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA), the National Trust, Forest Research, the Met Office and other organisations.

A second research centre, the Critical Minerals Accelerating the Green Economy Centre, has received £4.5 million in new Government funding to accelerate critical mineral extraction in Cornwall and Devon. The centre will not only help experts address the challenges faced in sustainably securing fresh and innovative access to critical minerals – crucial for the delivery of clean and digital technologies – but will also have the potential to create 2-3,000 new jobs in the region.

Innovative international partnerships announced

In January this year, we broke new ground by committing to a transformative partnership with Ain Shams University in Cairo. We will establish a branch campus in Egypt, marking the first Russell Group university to set up such an educational partnership in Africa. The initiative is designed to enhance academic collaboration, expand access to world-class education, and address critical global challenges.

We also signed a new agreement with Zhejiang University of Technology (ZJUT), China in December. We will deliver a range of ambitious education and research projects together. ZJUT shares a common purpose with Exeter in how we both use the power of education and research to deliver a greener, healthier, and fairer future.

OUR HISTORY

The University of Exeter received its Royal Charter in 1955, although its origins can actually be traced further back to the nineteenth century.

Our ‘founding father’ was Sir Stafford Northcote, a prominent politician in the Disraeli government, who seized on the popular enthusiasm for learning following the Great Exhibition. In 1855 he backed the establishment of a School of Art in Exeter, offering subjects ranging from construction to freehand drawing. A School of Science quickly followed.

Following Sir Stafford’s death, Jessie Montgomery became secretary of the University Extension Committee in 1888, and put forward an ambitious plan, leading to the Exeter Technical and University Extension College being created, with generous

funding from the University of Cambridge. By 1895 students had formed a guild and in 1898 the first student magazine was published. In 1900 the title of Royal Albert Memorial College was adopted, which is where the students’ RAM bar of today gets its name. The College offered external degrees of the University of London and teacher training.

Scots philosopher Hector Hetherington became Principal in 1920 and pushed for university status. To succeed, a more impressive home was needed and in 1922 a local benefactor, Alderman W H Reed, was persuaded to buy the Streatham Estate. Shortly afterwards, the University Grants Committee visited the campus and awarded the status of University College and an annual government grant.

In 1926 John Murray was appointed Principal of the University College and led an expansion programme which included the opening of the Washington Singer building in 1931 and Mardon Hall two years later.

University status was awarded in 1955 with James Cook our first Vice-Chancellor. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited the following year to present the charter and unveil the foundation stone of the Queen’s Building. In the 1960s we secured sufficient government funding to radically develop the campus; over a dozen major new buildings were constructed, including the Great Hall and the Physics building, while student numbers rose from 1,400 to 3,300.

Higher education funding was tight in the 1970s and 80s but Exeter saw some positive developments. In 1978 we became a two campus university when St Luke’s College merged with the University to become its School of Education. A new library was built in 1983, thanks to a gift from the Ruler of Dubai in recognition of our research and teaching on the Arab world.

By 1991, we had 6,500 students, and in 1993 the Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall became a part of the University. We also became a founding member of the research-intensive 1994 Group.

The new century saw an unparalleled period of progress and success, beginning in 2001 when His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah and an Exeter graduate, provided a new building for the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies. In 2002 we secured government backing for the Peninsula Medical School, a joint project with the University of Plymouth, and two years later opened our Penryn Campus with Falmouth University in Cornwall. In 2007, we were named University of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards.

We have invested significantly in our campuses, constructing new student accommodation, refurbishing labs and study spaces, and developing new buildings such as the Forum in Exeter and the Exchange in Cornwall, which seamlessly merge academic and social space through spectacular architecture. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II returned to our Streatham Campus in 2012 to officially open the Forum.

Other significant developments included the creation of the Environment and Sustainability Institute – an interdisciplinary research centre at Penryn – and the Research, Innovation, Learning and Development building, a partnership with what is now called the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which was part-funded by the Wellcome Trust and The Wolfson Foundation.

In 2012 we were invited to join the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities, and in 2013 we were crowned The Sunday Times University of the Year. In the same year we also accepted the first students into the new University of Exeter Medical School, created after we formed our own medical school following our successful 10-year partnership with the University of Plymouth. In 2014 the Research Excellence Framework, which assesses the quality of universities’ research, saw us awarded an additional £3.8 million for research, the third highest gain amongst English universities. We were named Sports University of the Year 2016 by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide.

2017 saw us open the Living Systems Institute (LSI) on our Streatham Campus. The Institute pioneers novel approaches to understanding diseases and how they can be better diagnosed.

On the Penryn Campus the Stella Turk building was completed in 2019, enabling the continued growth and success of a range of subject areas. In 2020, we were awarded our fourth Queen’s Anniversary Prize in recognition of our world-leading research for combatting the effects of marine plastic pollution.

President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lisa Roberts took up her post on 1 September 2020. The following year Professor Roberts launched the University’s exciting Strategy 2030 which aims to use the power of our education and research to create a sustainable, healthy and socially just future.

The 2021 Research Excellence Framework review showed that we are doing more research, of better quality, with a bigger impact on the world than ever before. Our world-leading research impact grew more than any other Russell Group university, more than 99 per cent of our research was rated of international quality* and 12 of our subjects were in the Top 10 for world-leading impact.**

In 2023 we were one of only four Russell Group Institutions to secure a ‘solid gold’ standard for our commitment to providing world-class teaching in the Teaching Excellence Framework assessment. In recent years, we’ve opened The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Exeter Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) Building, alongside continued investment in innovative teaching and wellbeing spaces such as our new Sarah Turvill Multifaith Centre and Computer Science teaching labs. These facilities support inclusion, community, and the growth of key disciplines like Data Science, AI, and digital technologies. We are committed to using the power of our education and research to tackle global challenges aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in 2024 we were awarded the Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership.

STUDENT LIFE...

...FROM THEN TO NOW

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

RATED ‘TRIPLE’ GOLD in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework. Gold Overall rating, with Gold aspect ratings in both Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

RANKED 4TH in the UK for Best University Careers Service in the StudentCrowd awards 2024.

MORE THAN 99% OF OUR RESEARCH is rated of international quality in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) with 12 OF OUR SUBJECTS IN THE TOP 10 for world-leading impact.

TOP 15 IN UK UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 11th in The Complete University Guide 2026 and 13th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

We achieved the ATHENA SWAN SILVER AWARD for the advancement of gender equality and a BRONZE RACE EQUALITY CHARTER MARK for our commitment to race equality.

RANKED =155TH of universities GLOBALLY in QS World University Rankings 2026, RISING 14 PLACES since the 2025 rankings were released.

We’re home to the UK’S TOP FIVE MOST INFLUENTIAL CLIMATE SCIENTISTS – the only UK climate scientists to secure places in the global top 21 –according to The Reuters Hot List.

4TH in the British University and College Sport (BUCS) Points 2023-24 Overall league and 1st in the South of England and Wales.

Ranked in the TOP 30 GLOBALLY of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025* and winners of the the OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION to Environmental Leadership Prize at the Times Higher Education awards in 2024.

Exeter graduates in the TOP 10 FOR MOST TARGETED BY LEADING UK EMPLOYERS according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research.

*TheTHEImpactRankingsareglobalperformancetablesthat assessuniversitiesagainsttheUnitedNations’Sustainable DevelopmentGoals(SDGs).Exeterwas ranked2ndgloballyfor ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction.Overallwescored94.6 outof100,placingus28thoutof2,318institutionsworldwide.

WHAT DOES YOUR TIME AT EXETER MEAN TO YOU?

The highlight of being at Exeter has been Freshers’ Week. Getting to go the various society events and fairs was great, I really enjoyed it. I’ll miss the experience of living and working alongside my friends and colleagues. I loved my Masters project, working for a year and a half on one problem has been an amazing experience. The chance to really delve into the subject matter and reach a high level of understanding has been extraordinary. Take part in all the experiences you can; seize every opportunity that comes your way. And if things don’t work out the way you expect, don’t panic. Take a breath. Now work out what you’ll do next. I’m going to work with the Met Office as a foundation scientist, modelling greenhouse gas emissions.

Peter Andrews Physics with Astrophysics, 2023

During my time at Exeter, I have enjoyed deepening my knowledge of such an interesting sector of law whilst sharing this space with so many amazing, like-minded people, both students and staff. Studying in such a great environment has really made my time at Exeter much more special. Exeter is such a great place to meet so many amazing people. Being part of this community for four years has really been so instrumental in my time being so magical.

Max Bennett

Law with Business/Commercial Law, 2022

I loved living in Cornwall during my time at university and would not trade that experience for the world. My advice to recent graduates would be to spend time doing lots of different things. Casting a wide net for experience isn’t a bad thing and it really makes you take a step back and think about what you really want out of life. You can’t possibly know what you want to do for the next 50 years straight out of university so allow yourself the grace and space to figure that out.

Caitlin Bynre History, 2015

Exeter is a fantastic university with its teaching and research excellence, alongside the campus, the location and the people you meet. There are so many opportunities open to you and who wouldn’t want to be able to write half of their dissertation on a beach, or on a rowing boat doing the Topsham ten (not sure if that even exists anymore!). I studied at Exeter because it had a charm about it that no other university had for me - I wouldn’t have chosen anywhere else. Plus, I was extremely lucky that on top of that Exeter was one of the leading universities for my course and had some of the most inspiring and engaging lecturers.

Katie Baker

English Literature, 2008

An education from the University of Exeter is about so much more than just a line on your CV. It’s an incredible opportunity to explore your interests and potential, to discover new things, and to build relationships that will last a lifetime. Luckily those are also all skills that will serve you well in your career and in your personal life thereafter. The highlight for me, and what will stay with me forever, are the people I have met, the discussions I have participated in, and the kindness I have received.

Tristan Coleshaw Modern Languages, 2020

I chose to study at Exeter due to the quality of the facilities and the breadth of topics available for my chosen course. Taking advantage of the opportunities that university presents you with can really help you make more informed decisions when it comes to post-university life. If you’re looking for a career in research specifically, don’t underestimate the importance of your dissertation, and the research methods you use as padding out your experience. If, like me, you’re not certain what you want to do, don’t be afraid to try things, and don’t be scared if you don’t enjoy them. Finding out what you don’t like can be just as valuable as realising what you do like when finding a job that works for you.

William Cafferky Politics, 2016

There have been many highlights for me during my time at Exeter. However, the biggest for me was graduating in the presence of my family and friends! My dream since I was a kid was to one day walk up the ramp in my graduation gown and collect my degree certificate and make my parents proud. To say that becoming the first to graduate in my family was one of the proudest moments of my life would be a massive understatement!

Radwaan Djama Neuroscience, 2022

I enjoyed how international my experience in Exeter was. I got to meet people from all over the world, to live among them, and learn a lot from them. It expanded my horizons a lot. The University of Exeter was one of the most prestigious and recognised universities available within the scholarship programme I was a part of. At the time, though I was studying engineering, I very much wanted to pursue a career in business. The Engineering and Management course seemed like a great fit for what I wanted, and my experience at Exeter and how it has influenced me since underscores how great that choice has been for me.

André Luis Martins Filho Engineering and Management, 2016

THIS IS NOT GOODBYE...

Congratulations on completing your studies and welcome to your community of University of Exeter alumni. Today you have joined a supportive global community of more than 195,000 alumni willing to help you achieve your full potential.

WELCOME TO YOUR ALUMNI COMMUNITY

Our alumni go on to do amazing things and we hope you’ll keep in touch to tell us your story, get involved in our events, and continue to play an active role in your Exeter community.

How we help you

• Free career support after graduation

• Regular virtual and in person alumni events worldwide

• Alumni discounts and offers

• Free access to thousands of online journals

• Regular news and events updates by email plus a free annual magazine

• A number of global social and professional networks for you to join and enjoy

• 20% discount for you, and your family and friends on postgraduate study at Exeter

For more information, visit exeter.ac.uk/alumni

How you help us

Our alumni and friends have helped Exeter become one of the very best universities in the world. Alumni support the University in many different ways. Some volunteer their time helping current students. Others donate to support our students, our research, or our facilities. Some are ‘country contacts’, organising alumni networks and events in cities around the world. Some simply inspire us with their incredible achievements.

Keep in touch

The Global Advancement office helps the University build long-term relationships with its alumni and supporters. We look forward to staying in touch, and if you have any questions you can contact us via:

Email: alumni@exeter.ac.uk

Tel: +44(0)1392 723141

Web: exeter.ac.uk/alumni

/company/university-of-exeter-alumni @exeter_alumni

WELCOME TO OUR

10,000 NEW ALUMNI IN 2025

WE’RE IN TOUCH WITH OVER 195,000 ALUMNI IN 183 COUNTRIES SUPPORTING EXETER STUDENTS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

7,000 ALUMNI VOLUNTEERED LAST YEAR TO SUPPORT EXETER STUDENTS, DONATING MORE THAN

15,600 HOURS OF THEIR TIME WeChat Weibo

Make sure you’re following us on Instagram and LinkedIn to keep up to date with all the University and alumni news in between newsletter editions! If you’re based in China, you can join our WeChat and Weibo groups to stay connected.

You are always welcome at our events and, of course, back to campus. Until then, we wish you the best of luck as you take your next steps, and we look forward to keeping in touch during your lifelong association with Exeter.

Ensure your details are up to date to keep receiving our communications and alumni benefits here: exeter.ac.uk/alumnisupporters/contactus/updatedetails

2,200 ALUMNI MADE A DONATION TO HELP STUDENTS