1.1 Welcome!

Welcome - it’s great to know you’ll be joining us studying in the department of Health and Community Sciences this year!

Starting a new university course is an exciting moment for you, but we also know that you’ve probably got lots of questions and (maybe) a few worries about what to expect, especially with all of the additional challenges presented by the global pandemic. Whether you’re joining Exeter as a new undergraduate or postgraduate student, studying on campus or remotely, this short induction course is all about helping you to feel confident and happy during your first couple of weeks with us.

We’ll also take you through all of the support you can access throughout your time in the department of Health and Community Sciences. We want you to get the most out of your time with us, both in your academic studies and in all of the extra-curricular activities that are available to you.

For those of you moving to Exeter or Cornwall, it might also be the first time you’ve lived away from your family and friends, and for some of you in a new country, so we want to help you settle in and make friends as quickly as possible. Exeter-based students have the Students’ Guild, while Cornwall-based students have the Falmouth & Exeter Students’ Union; both offer a vast array of clubs and societies, but we also want you to establish friendship groups within your College of Medicine and Health programmes. So this course is also here to help you get to know your fellow students via the discussion boards. Collectively you come from over 100 different countries, so you have some great opportunities to make friends with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures – and we really hope to learn from you as much as you learn from us!

We’re hoping this course will get you off to a flying start at Exeter, and really look forward to getting to know you during your studies. Please be aware that some of the links in the steps that you’re about to explore will only work once you’ve activated your Exeter IT account, and those of you participating from abroad may have difficulty viewing some of the additional videos from your home country, but I hope you find the information and activities useful.

The videos below provide short introductions to life in either the city of Exeter or Cornwall and the places you can look forward to exploring when we welcome you in person - we love it here in the South West, and hope you will too!