University of Leeds

History

• Leeds traces its roots as far back as 1831.
• Awarded a charter by Edward VII in 1904, Leeds is now one of the largest universities in the UK.

Location and transport

• Situated close to the UK's geographical centre.
• At the centre of the national transport network.
• Leeds has one of the UK's major train stations, and is linked to Europe via Leeds Bradford International Airport.

Entry standards

• The University of Leeds is shaped by its values of academic excellence, community, professionalism, integrity and inclusiveness.
  Its admissions policy aims to provide fair and equal access to those who have the potential to succeed on their chosen course.
• Full details of the entry requirements for each of the University's courses are available on its website.
• In 2010 the average entry UCAS tariff score was 409.

Student mix

• 42% male: 58% female.
• Applications to places ratio 7.8:1.

Course flexibility

• One of the widest ranges of degrees in the country, encompassing both the traditional and vocational.
• A wide range of joint honours courses. Students can pursue interests across a range of disciplines.
• The Study Abroad programme enables students to spend a semester/year at one of Leeds' 250  partner institutions around the world.
• Students can gain valuable work experience, from a 12-month integrated placement as part of their degree to a structured summer internship and volunteering.
• Part-time study – the Lifelong Learning Centre is the first port of call for students wanting to study part-time or for mature students returning to education.
• Foundation courses – if students do not have the formal qualifications for immediate entry to a degree course, they can take a foundation course which will help them to prepare for a university degree.

Teaching standards

• Leeds has been awarded 16 National Teaching Fellowships – more than any other English university.
• The University recently received the highest possible result from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
• Leeds staff have won prestigious national awards for quality and innovation in teaching.
• Leeds’ Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) gives students instant access to a wide range of learning resources, including reading lists, past examination papers, skills guides and assessment guidelines. It also provides an interactive learning forum through a range of tools including tests, blogs, lecture notes, podcasts, surveys, wikis and discussion boards. So, as well as practical sessions, lectures and seminars, students benefit from a whole raft of supplementary and interactive learning material.

Research standards

• The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), a measure of research quality in universities, identified 61% of the University’s research as world-leading or internationally excellent and a further 33% as 'recognised internationally'. Leeds comes eighth in the country for 'research power' – a measure of quality and volume.
• 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. More than half its schools are ranked in the top ten in the country.
• Part of the prestigious Russell Group – the 20 leading research universities in the UK (chaired by Leeds’ Vice-Chancellor).
• 36% of the University’s academics are involved in applied research or as consultants to industry
• Income from research grants and contracts continued to grow in 2010–11, increasing by 4% to £124m.
• Works with international partners.
• Leeds is part of the Worldwide Universities Network, which brings together 18 research-intensive universities to collaborate on research, postgraduate degree programmes and continuing professional development.

Academic strengths

• Teaching is informed by the very latest research, so students are taught by the people doing that research. Undergraduates can also get the opportunity to carry out cutting-edge research themselves.
• The Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (IMBE) has won the Queen's Anniversary Prize, which is the country's highest accolade for an academic institution.
• Leeds champions knowledge transfer between universities, other research organisations, businesses and the wider community to enable product/service development.
• By 2015, the University aims to be in the top 50 universities of the world.

Student facilities, including library and computing

• With over 2.8 million items in stock, the library is one of the largest in the country.
• Students can also access over 37,000 online journals from home, halls or anywhere else.
• Five special collections have been designated by the Museums Libraries and Archives Council as being of outstanding national and international importance.
• Approximately 1,800 PCs in public clusters – many are open 24/7.
• 46 computer clusters and 10 cafés with networked PCs.
• Free, high speed Wi-Fi network that covers most of campus.
• All the main halls of residence have free, fast internet access, and there is free TV over the network in the halls.
• Desktop Anywhere service which enables students to log in to their University desktop and software securely, from anywhere in the world.
• Centrally provided IT clusters which also offer a range of specialist hardware and software allowing disabled students to make the most of IT.
• The Skills@library service can help students develop the academic skills they need to succeed at university and in their future career, including helping students to become more effective learners and researchers and more effective communicators.
• On-campus Careers Centre is one of the largest in the country. It has an excellent relationship with graduate recruiters and is the place to get advice about what to do after university, including help finding work experience, and dealing with job applications and selection processes. The Centre runs hundreds of events: recruitment fairs, employer presentations and workshops. Leeds graduates are highly regarded both nationally and internationally.
• The Language Centre offers year-round English language courses to support international students before and during their studies. It also provides students on any degree programme at the University the chance to study modules in around 12 foreign languages.
• Performing arts facilities including Stage@leeds, Clothworkers' Centenary Concert hall, Workshop theatre, and the Stanley and Audrey Burton Art Gallery.
• Various catering outlets, including the Refectory, which also plays host to gigs.

Disability services

Students' union

• Award-winning students' union. It is also one of only three gold accredited (at level 2) students' unions, recognized under a national evaluation scheme.
• On enrolment, students automatically become member of one of the largest student unions in the country - around 300 activities, clubs and societies.
• The union has an award-winning newspaper, TV and radio stations.
• Services in the union include supermarket, hairdresser, opticians, book shop, beauty salon, gift shops, bank, bars and clubs.
• Three club venues plus the Refectory provide a capacity of 5,000 for some of the biggest club nights in Leeds.
• The union’s Opportunities service brings together part-time work, careers events, and volunteering to help students gain new skills and experiences while at Leeds.

Sport

• The Edge provides state-of–the-art fitness, sport and wellbeing opportunities, all located on campus. Includes a 200-station health and fitness centre, one of the largest of any UK university. The existing sports halls in the centre have been extensively refurbished and upgraded.
• One of the largest intramural league recreational sport competitions in UK higher education in which over 3,000 students participate every year.
• The University union has 36 sports clubs which range from cycling to sub-aqua and basketball to sailing.
• The University supports over 40 elite athletes in their academic and sporting lives through the Performance Sport Programme. Current scholars include Paralympic table tennis player Kim Daybell and GB Triathlete Johnny Brownlee.

Recent/prospective new builds

• The University is constantly investing in students and facilities. By 2015 we will have spent £157m on new buildings and refurbishment. This works out at almost £5,000 per student. Recent developments include:
• The new £4.4-m, state-of-the-art home for the Institute of Communications Studies – holds 41 edit suites, a newsroom, TV and radio studios and a 60 seat cinema.
• A £12.5-m Energy Research building that houses a suite of advanced laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment to support Leeds’ energy research.
• A £9.5-m refurbishment of the Leeds Dental Institute that now gives dental students training in Leeds access to some of the best facilities in the world.
• Michael Marks Building – As part of a unique partnership between M&S and the University, the Company's archive of more than 60,000 items is permanently relocating in March 2012 to the Michael Marks Building, a purpose-built facility on campus, where it will serve as a 'living resource' for M&S business needs, academics and the general public. The physical relocation is just one aspect of the University’s partnership with M&S alongside a number of other initiatives.

Availability of part-time work

• Open throughout the year, Joblink is the University's on-site student employment service, organising part-time work for students during study.
• Leeds has opportunities for part-time work and work experience for students who want to earn or widen their CV. This can be arranged through Leeds for Life. Designed to make sure students get the very best personal and academic development during their time here, Leeds for Life helps students identify opportunities outside of their course, from volunteering to work placement.

Notable alumni

University of Leeds alumni can be found in all professions across the world – Nobel laureates and newspaper editors; politicians and policy makers; entertainers and entrepreneurs; High Court judges, scientists, faith leaders – and even an astronaut. Eminent Leeds alumni include:

• Alistair McGowan (English) – actor and impressionist.
• Jane Featherstone (German and History) – Managing Director of Kudos Film and TV, and Executive producer of Spooks.
• Mark Knopfler (English) – Rock guitarist, Dire Straits.
• Piers Sellers, OBE (PhD Biometeorology) – NASA astronaut.
• Alistair Brownlee (Sports Science and Physiology) – World No. 1 Triathlete.
• Jacqui Oatley (German) – Match of the Day commentator.
• Keir Starmer (Law) – Director of Public Prosecutions.
• Wole Soyinka (English) – Nobel prizewinning playwright.
• Steve Bell and Kipper Williams (both Fine Art) – Cartoonists.
• Bekele Geleta (MA Transport Economics) – Director-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
• Liz Kershaw (Textiles) – BBC 6 Music presenter.

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