  We explore the gauge coupling relations and the unification scale in F-theory
SU(5) GUT broken down to the Standard Model by an internal U(1)Y gauge flux. We
consider variants with exotic matter representations which may appear in these
constructions and investigate their role in the effective field theory model.
We make a detailed investigation on the conditions imposed on the extraneous
matter to raise the unification scale and make the color triplets heavy in
order to avoid fast proton decay. We also discuss in brief the implications on
the gaugino masses.
