Hi there, I'm Luna.
I'm a bit like an AI, except instead of making pictures of people with 16 fingers, I can help you find the perfect course and uni.
Would you like some help in your search?
The South West of England has 12 unis on offer, including three which ranked in the top 20 unis in the UK overall according to the Complete University Guide’s 2025 league tables. These unis are the University of Bath, the University of Bristol and the University of Exeter. The South West is known for its miles of coastline, Dartmoor National Park and a slightly warmer climate than the more northern parts of the UK. Its major cities include Bristol, Plymouth and Gloucester. The different cities on offer in the region offer a range of different student experiences, so whether you’re looking for a quiet coastal uni or a bustling city to spend your studies in, the South West has something for you. Here are our top 14 reasons why you should pick a uni in the South West for your degree.
1. World-class educational opportunities
The University of Bristol and the University of Exeter are both members of the Russell Group, and both, along with the University of Bath, ranked in the top 20 UK universities overall according to Complete University Guide’s 2025 league tables. In the same league tables, Falmouth University and Plymouth Marjon University came in the top 25 UK unis for student satisfaction. And with thousands of undergraduate courses on offer between them, you shouldn’t have any problem finding the ideal course and uni for you here.
2. More coastline than any other English region
If you want a long walk, the South West Coast path is 630 miles long and covers most – but not all – of the region’s coastline. Of course, along with a coastline comes miles of beaches. In the South West, you’ll be able to take in the sea air and even get involved in some sea sports such as surfing or diving if you fancy it. If you don’t, an ice cream and fish and chips by the sea is also a great way to make the most of the landscape
3. Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrels
Instead of setting off fireworks for Guy Fawkes Night, a small Devonshire village has come up with something far more interesting: running around with flaming tar barrels. Thousands of people pack the streets of the village to watch locals set fire to tar barrels, roll them around the streets and run around with them on their backs. It’s quite a spectacle, and not something you can find anywhere else in the UK.
4. Artistic inspiration
Many artists and writers have been inspired by the region. These include Daphne du Maurier, Winston Graham and Peter Lanyon. If you’re creatively-minded, maybe the region will inspire you to create the next great work of art or literature.
5. Safe place to live
South West England has a relatively low crime rate compared to the UK average (PlumPlot). Cornwall has the lowest rate of crimes in the region compared to the national average. However, most areas in the South West have a lower crime rate than the UK average, making it a relatively safe region to study in.
6. Home of lots of tasty food and drink
Among other things, the South West is known for being the home of cheddar cheese, Devon cream teas and Cornish pasties. Cider is also a big deal in this region thanks to the climate, which is perfect for growing apples. You’ll probably come across bars offering ciders from the region if you study here.
7. Local produce
Whether it’s in the grocery shops or at a restaurant, you’re more likely to come across locally sourced produce here than in other regions of the UK, thanks to the large amount of farmland in the South West. In the towns and cities in this region, you’ll find a lot of independent greengrocers selling produce straight from local farms. Fresh, tasty and healthy!
8. Home of Stonehenge
Salisbury Plain is home to Stonehenge, a prehistoric stone circle. Millions of visitors flock to Stonehenge each year, and as it was built to line up with the sun at the solstices there are events there at both the summer and winter solstice. The site is fascinating, not least since we’ve got absolutely no idea how our ancestors might have built it. Maybe there were giants walking the Earth long ago…
9. Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks
The South West is home to both Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks, perfect for long afternoon walks on the weekends. Dartmoor in particular is known for its rich history, both real and mythological. The area has regularly been associated with the supernatural, with reports of everything from pixies to ghosts in the area.
10. Warmer weather
OK, so we’re comparing this to the rest of the UK, which isn’t usually known for being warm. But thanks to the South West being ever so slightly closer to the equator, the weather is generally a little bit warmer than up north. It’s rare to see snow settle down here, and Cornwall even has its own microclimate which makes it suitable for growing some Mediterranean crops.
11. Oldest cinema in Europe
Well, supposedly. But the Paignton Picture House was opened in March 1914, and is still working today. It’s believed to be the oldest working purpose-built cinema in Europe. When it first opened, there was actually a live 21-piece orchestra performing for the audience. Currently, the Paignton Picture House isn’t open to the public after its closure in 1999, but there are talks of reopening it as a sort of museum of cinema.
12. Arts and culture
If you want to be hitting up museums and art galleries while you’re at uni, the South West has plenty to choose from. Among many others, you’ll find the Jane Austen House museum in Bath, the Arnolfini art gallery in Bristol and the RAMM (Royal Albert Memorial Museum) in Exeter.
13. Glastonbury festival
If you’re a fan of music, you probably love Glasto. Going to uni in the South West means you’ll be in the same region as Glastonbury, so travelling there will be easier (and hopefully cheaper) if you decide to bag yourself a ticket. If not, at least you can say you were nearby.
14. And finally, iconic landmarks
Bristol is known for the Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, while Bath boasts the Roman Baths and the Royal Crescent. Exeter and Gloucester both offer a beautiful cathedral, while Plymouth features a real lighthouse. No matter where you study in the South West, you’ll find impressive architecture and landmarks to admire.
Hopefully, this was enough to convince you that the South West is the ideal place for your studies. With plenty of National Park land to explore, along with the hundreds of miles of coasts and all of the nightlife and shopping offered by the uni town and cities, there’s something for everyone in the South West. If you’ve decided the South West is for you, why not learn more about studying in this region?
NEXT:
