The ratings were awarded in Leadership and Governance, Achievement, and Participation and Development following a review of the university's Degree Apprenticeships programme. Ofsted praised the "transformational" impact of Exeter’s apprenticeships, particularly for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. Ofsted inspectors visited the university in May and interviewed leaders, teaching staff, apprentices, employers, and professional bodies as part of the full inspection. In its report, Ofsted noted that Exeter had "reshaped" its apprenticeship delivery and that apprentices benefited from "highly inclusive and frequently transformational educational experiences." Inspectors described the university’s professional learning approach as "strategically aligned, informed by research and intellectually ambitious," and said apprentices’ progress was "exceptional," including those who start from disadvantaged positions.