Leeds Student Guide
Leeds is home to massive student population of 200,000. The large number of students in the city means Leeds is a great place for a night out!
Nightlife
There is an abundance of pubs and clubs, many of which cater for students with cheap drink offers. Leeds caters for every musical taste and is home to a number of world-renowned clubs. Mint Club offers house, techno and electro beats and an impressive rotation of DJ’s. The club was voted 24th best club in the world by DJ magazine. Mission is definitely for the serious clubber- if you want to dance the night until dawn then this is the place to be.
Culture
Aside from clubbing, Leeds has lots on offer for the more culturally minded. Leeds Art Gallery houses an impressive collection of 20th century British art and offers a varied programme of events and activities. The Henry Moore Institute can be found in the centre of Leeds and includes three gallery spaces dedicated to sculpture. The site also includes a reference library and archive. Leeds provides many opportunities for live stage and performance events. The Howard Assembly Room, The Carriageworks Theatre and the Seven Arts Centre all offer a variety of events including comedy, music, dance and theatre.
Top Things to Do
Roundhay Park is one of the biggest city parks in Europe and covers an area of 700 acres. The park welcomes nearly 1 million people every year and hosts a variety of events including concerts and sponsored sport events. Tropical World is one of the highlights of the park and includes a butterfly house, aquariums and one of the largest collections of tropical plants in the UK.
Where Can I Study?
There are main two universities in Leeds: University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan University.
University of Leeds is home to over 33,000 students and has over 1230 acres of land. The main campus at Leeds University is about a mile from the city centre and is near Headingley, a popular student residential area. Leeds University is a research-orientated university and is a member of the Russell Group. The university has a strong reputation in the fields of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Town and Country Planning, Food Science, English and Italian. The Times World University Rankings placed Leeds University 133rd.
Leeds Metropolitan University is the largest university in Leeds and has three campuses. Two of the campuses are located in Leeds while the third is located in India. The City Campus comprises of a number of buildings in Leeds city centre and includes the former home of BBC Leeds. Headingley Campus can be found in Beckett Park in Headingley and covers an area of 100 acres. Leeds Metropolitan University was the first university to set up a campus in the city of Bhopal in India. The campus provides courses in business management and offers students a chance to spend a semester in the UK.
The business property market in Leeds is considered to offer the best value in Europe. Properties to buy or rent are significantly cheaper than other parts of the UK, and this has led to Leeds becoming one of the largest centres for business, legal and financial services outside of London. Both Leeds University and Leeds Metropolitan University maintain good links with businesses and graduates can often find employment in the centre of Leeds after completion of studying.
Should I Study in Leeds?
A student’s honest opinion:
“Leeds is definitely a great place to go to uni. One of the first things you realize when arriving as a nervous fresher is the number of students studying here- there’s a real sense of student community and you feel a part of something. It’s really reassuring to be surrounded by like minded people when you’re new to a city.
One the big positives for Leeds is the night life. Whatever you like, you are bound to find it here. Midweek can get a bit crowded with cheap drinks and cheese, but there’s always something a bit better around the corner. Saturday nights host the infamous back to basics night which has a real cult following. There’s also a good collection of super-cool bars/clubs where you can have a vodka Redbull with some mates.
All in all, Leeds is an absolutely brilliant place to be. There’s so much going on- clubs, bars and food to suit all tastes. It is a very trendy and vibrant city, but very friendly too. Just come to Leeds- honestly, you’ll love it!” – Matt, 21