TEACHING
QUALITY
University of Leeds
17
th
NATIONAL
RANK
RANK
81%
FIRSTS
2:1s
2:1s
94.4%
COMPLETION
RATE
RATE
Key Stats
n/a
21st
STUDENT
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
27th=
RESEARCH
QUALITY
QUALITY
33rd
GRADUATE
PROSPECTS
PROSPECTS
Contact details
University Profile
Leeds, runner-up for our University of the Year, is making significant changes to its undergraduate curriculum, encouraging students to take courses outside their immediate subject and introducing a compulsory research project in the final year.
The project is intended to be seen by students as the ‘pinnacle of their academic achievement’ and will normally be worth at least 40 credits to recognise its importance in a new curriculum that will be distinctive to Leeds.
Even before the changes, the university was commended by the Quality Assurance Agency for its enhancement of the student learning experience. Students already have access to academic and careers advice, as well as help to identify work placements and volunteering opportunities, through the LeedsforLife service, which they can continue using for five years after graduation.
Leeds jumps 12 places in our table this year to rank 17, the highest position it has held in The Sunday Times since we launched our guide in 1998. The rise is due to a sharp improvement in its scores for graduate prospects, a higher completion rate and a score for student satisfaction in the latest
Only Newcastle among large city-based institutions can top the 84.3% recorded by Leeds under our analysis of the NSS, which takes account of student views on teaching quality; academic support, assessment and feedback; learning resources; course management; personal development and overall satisfaction.
Leeds is the top Russell Group university overall in the International Student Barometer, which gathers the views of students from outside the EU on various aspects of their experience.
The university has devoted one of the largest amounts of any institution to student support, and will continue to do so in 2015, when up to a third of UK and EU undergraduates are expected to benefit from subsidies, which they can choose to take as fee waivers, bursaries or accommodation discounts.
Leeds occupies a 98-acre site within walking distance of the city centre. By 2015–16 it will have spent £157m on new buildings and refurbishment to enhance the student experience and improve research facilities.
A new undergraduate library is due to open in September 2015, partly funded by the university’s largest single charitable gift - £9m from alumnus and former Conservative party treasurer Lord Laidlaw.
This heavy investment has percolated through to our figures for facilities and services spend which is sharply up this year at more than £2,000 a student, up almost £600 on last year.
Recent developments have included a new £4.4m home for the Institute of Communications Studies with 41 edit suites, TV and radio studios, newsroom and 60-seat cinema; a £12.5m Energy Research building that contains a suite of advanced laboratories; and a £9.5m refurbishment of the Leeds Dental Institute.
The already large students’ union, famous for its long bar and big-name rock concerts, has been extended to provide better services and more space for students to socialise. The union is the only one in the country to have won two gold standard awards in the Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative.
The award-winning Careers Centre hosts some of the world’s biggest employers at the university, as well as advising those who choose to set up on their own.
The university is truly cosmopolitan, with 5,000 international students from 145 countries among a total of more than 30,000. New enrolments were 400 up in 2013. Leeds has one of the largest Study Abroad programmes in the country, with nearly 200 options ranging from Spain to Singapore. It is part of the Worldwide Universities Network, which brings together 18 research-led universities to collaborate on research and postgraduate programmes.
Leeds features among the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings, and in the top 50 for English, education, communication, geography and earth sciences. More than 60% of the university’s submission was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the last Research Assessment Exercise. Electrical and electronic engineering produced the best results in the country, with social work and social policy, English, Italian, geography and nursing also highly rated.
Not that teaching is neglected: Leeds has been awarded more National Teaching Fellowships than any other university in England.
Almost a quarter of the undergraduates attended independent schools and only a fifth come from working-class homes – both missing the university’s benchmark for widening participation in higher education.
The rise of Leeds as a shopping and clubbing centre has added to the attractions of a university which has long been one of the giants of the higher education system. An unusually wide range of degree subjects gives applicants more than 560 undergraduate programmes. There are now about eight applications for every place.
Town–gown relations are generally good. Headingley is the main student area for those living out, but in recent years there has been an increase in students living in purpose-built student accommodation close to campus and the city centre. Leeds guarantees accommodation for all first-year undergraduates, international and exchange students and students with disabilities.
The wider local community benefits from 2,000 student volunteers and a partnership initiative introduced in 2011 sets out students’ rights and responsibilities.
Sports and social facilities are first rate, and Leeds teams regularly excel in competition. The university hosts one of six centres of cricketing excellence and it has more playing field space than any other university.
The project is intended to be seen by students as the ‘pinnacle of their academic achievement’ and will normally be worth at least 40 credits to recognise its importance in a new curriculum that will be distinctive to Leeds.
Even before the changes, the university was commended by the Quality Assurance Agency for its enhancement of the student learning experience. Students already have access to academic and careers advice, as well as help to identify work placements and volunteering opportunities, through the LeedsforLife service, which they can continue using for five years after graduation.
Leeds jumps 12 places in our table this year to rank 17, the highest position it has held in The Sunday Times since we launched our guide in 1998. The rise is due to a sharp improvement in its scores for graduate prospects, a higher completion rate and a score for student satisfaction in the latest
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National Student Survey (NSS) that would not look out of place in a small, campus-based university.Only Newcastle among large city-based institutions can top the 84.3% recorded by Leeds under our analysis of the NSS, which takes account of student views on teaching quality; academic support, assessment and feedback; learning resources; course management; personal development and overall satisfaction.
Leeds is the top Russell Group university overall in the International Student Barometer, which gathers the views of students from outside the EU on various aspects of their experience.
Leeds occupies a 98-acre site within walking distance of the city centre. By 2015–16 it will have spent £157m on new buildings and refurbishment to enhance the student experience and improve research facilities.
A new undergraduate library is due to open in September 2015, partly funded by the university’s largest single charitable gift - £9m from alumnus and former Conservative party treasurer Lord Laidlaw.
This heavy investment has percolated through to our figures for facilities and services spend which is sharply up this year at more than £2,000 a student, up almost £600 on last year.
Recent developments have included a new £4.4m home for the Institute of Communications Studies with 41 edit suites, TV and radio studios, newsroom and 60-seat cinema; a £12.5m Energy Research building that contains a suite of advanced laboratories; and a £9.5m refurbishment of the Leeds Dental Institute.
The already large students’ union, famous for its long bar and big-name rock concerts, has been extended to provide better services and more space for students to socialise. The union is the only one in the country to have won two gold standard awards in the Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative.
The award-winning Careers Centre hosts some of the world’s biggest employers at the university, as well as advising those who choose to set up on their own.
The university is truly cosmopolitan, with 5,000 international students from 145 countries among a total of more than 30,000. New enrolments were 400 up in 2013. Leeds has one of the largest Study Abroad programmes in the country, with nearly 200 options ranging from Spain to Singapore. It is part of the Worldwide Universities Network, which brings together 18 research-led universities to collaborate on research and postgraduate programmes.
Leeds features among the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings, and in the top 50 for English, education, communication, geography and earth sciences. More than 60% of the university’s submission was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the last Research Assessment Exercise. Electrical and electronic engineering produced the best results in the country, with social work and social policy, English, Italian, geography and nursing also highly rated.
Not that teaching is neglected: Leeds has been awarded more National Teaching Fellowships than any other university in England.
Almost a quarter of the undergraduates attended independent schools and only a fifth come from working-class homes – both missing the university’s benchmark for widening participation in higher education.
The rise of Leeds as a shopping and clubbing centre has added to the attractions of a university which has long been one of the giants of the higher education system. An unusually wide range of degree subjects gives applicants more than 560 undergraduate programmes. There are now about eight applications for every place.
Town–gown relations are generally good. Headingley is the main student area for those living out, but in recent years there has been an increase in students living in purpose-built student accommodation close to campus and the city centre. Leeds guarantees accommodation for all first-year undergraduates, international and exchange students and students with disabilities.
The wider local community benefits from 2,000 student volunteers and a partnership initiative introduced in 2011 sets out students’ rights and responsibilities.
Sports and social facilities are first rate, and Leeds teams regularly excel in competition. The university hosts one of six centres of cricketing excellence and it has more playing field space than any other university.
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Detailed Statistics
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE
CATEGORY
SCORE
RANK
Ranking
-
17 (29=)
Student experience
84.3
21st
Research quality
22.7
27th=
Ucas entry points
434
24th
Graduate prospects
74.8
33rd
Firsts and 2:1s
81
13th=
Completion rate
94.4
12th
Student-staff ratio
14.7:1
25th=
Services/facilities spend (£)
2,068
24th
World ranking
-
97 (97=)
VITAL STATISTICS
Undergraduates
(Full-time)
22,425
Undergraduates
(Part-time)
865
Postgraduates
(Full-time)
4,370
Postgraduates
(Part-time)
2,720
Applications/places
48,445/6,810
Applications/places ratio
7.1:1
STUDENT CITIES
Bradley Escorcio, students’ union officer
The scale of Leeds and the variety of things on offer within walking distance of your halls.
Vacant properties in student areas mean landlords can be pushy but check out our Leeds Landlord Awards to see who we recommend.
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Cost of living
Nightlife
Transport
Culture
ACCOMMODATION
Places in accommodation
7,900
Accommodation costs
£78-£158
Catered costs
£138-£186
Accommodation contact
FEES
UK/EU fees
£9,000
Fees (placement year)
£1,350
Fees (overseas year)
£1,350
Fees (international)
£12,900-£16,500
Fees (international, medical)
£20,000-£29,950
Finance website
Graduate salaries
£20,866
BURSARIES/SCHOLARSHIPS
>
Household income below £25K, £3,000 cash, accommodation contribution or fee waiver, Foundation year (year 0), £2,500 all other years; household income £25K–£30K, £1,500 all years; household income £30K–£36K, £1,000 all years; £36K–£42.6K, £500 all years.
>
Foundation year fee waiver of £3,000 (household income below £25K) and £1,500 (household income £25K–£42.6K). A range of scholarships and bursaries are available.
SPORT
Sports points/rank
1775.34, 15th
Sport website
Student satisfaction
91.6%
90.8%
89.9%
88.5%
88.4%
88.3%
88.2%
88.0%
87.4%
87.1%
86.8%
86.6%
86.3%
86.2%
86.0%
85.4%
85.3%
85.1%
84.9%
84.7%
84.0%
83.6%
82.9%
82.7%
82.4%
82.4%
82.1%
81.8%
80.6%
80.0%
79.8%
79.0%
78.5%
77.2%
72.7%