Which school did J.K. Rowling attend for her undergraduate degree?

J.K. Rowling attended the University of Exeter for her undergraduate degree.

She studied French and the Classics at Exeter and graduated in 1987. Her course included a year in Paris, reflecting the language component of her studies. Before becoming a full-time author, Rowling worked in several jobs, including roles involving language and administration.

Rowling’s education is sometimes confused with the universities connected to Harry Potter filming or with institutions in Oxford and Cambridge. Hogwarts is fictional, and the films used multiple real locations, but Exeter was the university where Rowling completed her degree.

Knowledge of French and classical literature also provides useful context for her books, which contain invented words, Latin-based spell names, mythological references, and names drawn from a range of languages and literary traditions.