Exner was the youngest graduate of the "Polytechnic Institute of the Department of Performing Geometry, Building and Machine Science" at the age of 22. In 1862, Exner attended the World Exposition in London, where he began to start a network of politics and business. In 1875, Wilhelm Exner was appointed "Professor of Engineering" and between 1881 until 1900 Rector of today’s University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.