Which university did J.K. Rowling attend before writing the Harry Potter series?

J.K. Rowling attended the University of Exeter before writing the Harry Potter series.

She studied French and the Classics at Exeter and graduated in 1987. Her degree included a year in Paris, reflecting the language component of her course. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked in several roles, including as a researcher and bilingual secretary.

Rowling’s university studies are sometimes confused with the later places associated with her writing career. She lived in Portugal and Scotland during important periods in her life, and Edinburgh became closely connected with the creation and completion of the Harry Potter books.

Her knowledge of classical languages also influenced the series. Many spells, names, and magical terms draw on Latin or other older languages, although the books combine those sources with invented words and English wordplay. Exeter itself is in Devon, in southwest England.