Which university did J.K. Rowling attend before becoming a writer?

J.K. Rowling attended the University of Exeter before becoming a professional writer.

Rowling studied French and Classics at Exeter, graduating in 1987. Her degree included a year in Paris, which helped develop her knowledge of French language and culture. After university, she worked in various jobs, including positions connected with research and bilingual administration.

Rowling’s university education is sometimes confused with the University of Edinburgh, where she later lived while writing Harry Potter. Edinburgh became strongly associated with her writing career, but Exeter was the university she attended. Her time at Exeter preceded the conception and development of the Harry Potter books, which began to take shape in the early 1990s.

The university has since recognized Rowling as one of its notable former students. Her studies in French and Classics also provide useful context for the Latin-derived names and classical references found throughout her fiction.