Parvis Exeter Academy

Academics

The Integrated Curriculum

At Parvis Exeter Academy, our academic philosophy is one of integration. We believe that the most profound insights are found at the boundaries between disciplines. Our curriculum is designed to be both deep and broad, forcing students to connect the technical with the ethical, the historical with the futuristic.

We operate on a ‘vertical curriculum’ model. A foundational concept introduced in an A-Level physics class finds its direct application in a third-year undergraduate engineering project and is questioned anew in a postgraduate materials science seminar. This continuity ensures no knowledge is left behind; it is built upon, year after year, layer by layer, solidifying into genuine expertise.

Our approach is rigorous, demanding, and text-based. We favour Socratic seminars over passive lectures, and studio-based ‘crits’ over multiple-choice exams. We expect our students to read original sources, to write with clarity and precision, and to defend their ideas with evidence and logic.

The Academy (High School)

Our foundational years for students aged 16-19 are delivered through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and the Cambridge International A-Levels. We offer a focused suite of subjects tailored to our university-level specialisms.

  • IB Programme: Ideal for the student who thrives on interdisciplinary connections, the IB’s core components—Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)—are perfectly aligned with our institutional mission.
  • A-Level Programme: Ideal for the student who wishes to pursue deep, early specialisation, particularly in the sciences and mathematics, providing a powerful running start for our engineering and computer science pathways.

Academy students benefit from a ‘University-Ready’ environment, including access to faculty-level labs, participation in the Junior Researcher programme, and dedicated university-style tutorials that prepare them for the demands of undergraduate inquiry.

The University (UndergRaduate & Postgraduate)

Our university faculties offer a focused range of BA, BSc, MA, MSc, and MBA degrees. Each faculty operates as a centre of excellence, blending rigorous teaching with world-class research.

1. Faculty of Computational Science & Digital Innovation This is a flagship faculty. We move beyond simple coding. The pathway (from Academy to MSc) is designed to create ‘architects’ of the digital world.

  • Undergraduate (BSc): Students begin with foundational computer science, discrete mathematics, and algorithms. Specialisms include Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity & Cryptography, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Our approach is ethics-first, embedding philosophical considerations directly into the technical modules.
  • Postgraduate (MSc): Our advanced MSc in AI Safety focuses on the challenges of aligning powerful systems with human values. The MSc in Data Science focuses on complex modelling for economic and environmental systems. Research is conducted within our Centre for Computational Ethics & AI (CCEA).

2. Faculty of Design & Creative Media We treat design as a high-level intellectual discipline, a method of critical inquiry.

  • Undergraduate (BA): Students choose pathways in Interaction Design (UX/UI) or Creative Media & Visual Communication. The curriculum is project-based, built around a studio ‘atelier’ system. We leverage our location with a unique ‘Hellenic-Digital’ module, applying classical principles of form and proportion to modern digital interfaces.
  • Postgraduate (MA): The MA in Speculative Design challenges students to use design to pose “what if” questions about the future. The MA in Digital Humanities explores the intersection of technology, culture, and history, working closely with Athens’ cultural heritage institutions.

3. Faculty of Engineering & Applied Physics This faculty is for ‘builders’ who are grounded in first principles.

  • Undergraduate (BSc/MEng): We offer integrated pathways (leading to a BSc or a Master of Engineering) in Sustainable Systems Engineering and Robotics & Mechatronics. The first two years are a rigorous grounding in applied physics, materials science, and calculus. We believe you cannot build the future without mastering the fundamentals.
  • Postgraduate (MSc): Research focuses on practical challenges, including an MSc in Renewable Energy Systems tailored to the unique demands of the Mediterranean, and an MRes in Materials Science investigating next-generation composites.

4. Faculty of Economics & Political Governance Situated at a global crossroads, this faculty examines the systems that shape our world.

  • Undergraduate (BSc): We offer a BSc (Econ) with specialisms in Political Economy and Applied Econometrics. The programme is data-driven, but with a strong emphasis on political and ethical theory. We study markets not as abstract forces, but as human institutions.
  • Postgraduate (MA): The MA in Global Governance & Sustainability addresses the planet’s ‘wicked problems’—climate change, inequality, and geopolitical instability—from an integrated policy perspective.

5. Faculty of Classical Studies & Modern Philosophy This is the soul of the Academy, leveraging our location to its fullest.

  • Undergraduate (BA): Our BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) is distinct, with ‘Philosophy’ as the core pillar, not an afterthought. We also offer a BA in Classical Studies where students engage directly with archaeological sites and primary texts.
  • Postgraduate (MA): The MA in Applied Ethics is designed for professionals (in tech, law, and medicine) and scholars, applying Socratic and Aristotelian frameworks to contemporary moral dilemmas.

6. Faculty of Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship Our approach to business is about value creation, not just value extraction.

  • Undergraduate (BSc): The BSc in Strategic Management is an analytical, leadership-focused degree. It includes a mandatory “Venture in Practice” module where students build and launch a real-world social or commercial enterprise.
  • Postgraduate (MBA): Our ‘Athens MBA’ is a boutique, cohort-based programme for mid-career professionals. It focuses on Resilient Leadership and Digital Transformation, with a strong emphasis on the unique challenges and opportunities of leading innovative SMEs in a global market.