Ipplepen 2017

Academics are investigating the Roman occupation of the South West

University of Exeter named as one of the top 100 places in the world to study and research arts and humanities

The University of Exeter has been named as one of the top 100 places in the world to study and research arts and humanities in the 2018 Times Higher Education Arts and humanities subject ranking, published today.

The league table measures Exeter’s performance in languages, literature, history, theology and archaeology.

Humanities subjects are taught at the University’s campuses in Exeter and Penryn in Cornwall. Students study almost 100 degree programmes and many study abroad in Europe and North America. Academics also have partnerships with leading institutions in China, Europe, India and the USA.

Humanities academics currently hold research grants worth over £14 million. The 2014 Research Excellence Framework rated 75 per cent of research in the college as world-leading or internationally excellent. Academics are working on a wide range of research projects, including exploring early human use of the landscape in the Amazon, investigating the Roman occupation of the South West and discovering more about the origins of Rome itself. Academics are also helping to develop museum space at Exeter City FC’s St James’s Park stadium, researching the history of gothic and vampires and the contribution of the Indian community to British life.

The University of Exeter’s new Digital Humanities Laboratory allows researchers to use high-tech equipment to discover more about the past and share their discoveries with the public. Equipment in the laboratory allows academics to make high quality digital 2D and 3D images of artefacts, protecting the fragile items for further generations and allowing research to be carried out without harming them. The laboratory also allows researchers to carry out high-resolution photography of manuscripts and other visual materials, and to record podcasts and videos for broadcasting.

Professor Andrew Thorpe, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean for the College of Humanities, said: “It’s great news that we have been named as one of the top 100 places in the world at which to study and research arts and humanities. This is a tribute to the quality and hard work of staff and students, and also to the great the support that humanities receives from the University as a whole. Across a very wide range of critical and creative disciplines, we are producing research and education of the very highest quality, and we intend to continue doing so in ways which will further enhance knowledge, skills, and the quality of life more generally. Our top 100 status will enable us to continue to develop these goals by helping us to grow our links with some of the world’s top universities, to the benefit of our research and education alike.”

Date: 13 September 2017

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