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Study in Leeds - Seabird
Study in Leeds
Leeds is West Yorkshire’s largest city, and has one of the UK’s largest student populations.
A city population of roughly 750,000 make Leeds the third-largest city in the United Kingdom. Roughly 60,000 students are enrolled at the local universities. Add to that the students in further education and you end up at more than 200,000 – one of the largest student populations in the UK.
Universities in Leeds
The largest is the University of Leeds with about 33,000 students; it is frequently listed among the top universities in international rankings. The catholic and comparably small Leeds Trinity University mostly offers Bachelor programs and often ranks high for teaching quality and student satisfaction.
The University of Leeds is well known for its academic success as a member of the Russell Group of universities. It was also ranked in the world’s top 100 universities for 2021 by QS and has won numerous awards and titles for its achievements in student development.
Leeds Beckett University is located in England’s second largest financial district, after London, this university is passionate about enterprise, student success and having a strong local impact as well as a diverse range of students from across the globe.
Leeds Trinity University is equipped with specialist sports science laboratories, fitness facilities, TV studios and Apple Mac suites. The Guardian University Guide 2020 placed Leeds Trinity in the top 25 UK Universities for course satisfaction and teaching.
The University of Law (formerly The College of Law) is a private university that has nine campuses across the UK, including one in Leeds, as well as an international centre in Hong Kong. As the UK’s largest law school, it is widely respected for its work within the legal field.
Leeds Art University is a specialist higher education institution to the arts, offering creative undergraduate courses in animation, fashion, fine art, graphic design, photography and more. It was first of its kind in the North of England, and is home to two city centre campuses.
Job market
Leeds plays an important role in England’s economy. Many big corporations have their headquarters here, for instance William Hill, ASDA or Northern Foods. There is a wide range of interesting career options for graduates that want to stay in Leeds after their studies.
Getting there and around
Within the Yorkshire region, Leeds is well-connected via trains and buses. The international airport in Leeds is rather small and offers a few dozen direct destinations, but include many of Europe’s major cities. But via London as a hub, Leeds can be reached quite easily from almost anywhere on the globe.
Leeds nightlife, according to students
Leeds nightlife is unlike any other city. We have the famous Otley Run: a fancy dress pub crawl from Headingly to the city centre of around 18 pubs. Famous clubs/club nights include Fruity Fridays at Leeds University Union, Beaver works for indoor and outdoor techno, drum & bass, jungle etc, and O2 academy for everything from Project to Indie Thursdays. There’s also Call Lane for edgy bars.
Things to do in Leeds
Skyline view of Leeds, featuring Leeds Town Hall and the streets below at sunset. Get inspired by some of our suggestions of things to do in and around Leeds.
Eating and drinking
In Leeds you can enjoy eating world foods, whatever your budget. Try something new or enjoy old favourites at restaurants, cafes and market stalls around the city. Tasty street food is on offer at Kirkgate market and Trinity Leeds food court. There’s a huge selection of restaurants, cafes and pubs around the city. For up-to-date listings check out Visit Leeds.
Food and drink events take place all through the year, including the annual Leeds Food and Drink Festival and Leeds Indie Food Festival, where businesses all over the city (from fine dining restaurants to coffee shops, independent cinemas and art galleries) collaborate to run innovative events. The German Christmas market on Millennium Square is a festive favourite.
Of course, there are also lots of places to eat and drink on the University campus.
Shopping
Leeds is a shopper’s paradise. Victorian arcades with quirky individual shops sit alongside the global chain stores you’d expect in any big city. The city centre is compact and easy to walk around. Briggate is the main pedestrianised shopping street, where you’ll find many familiar high-street shops and the Trinity Leeds shopping mall, offering fashion, food and drink and a cinema. Victoria Leeds shopping centre offers high-end and luxury brands in the stylish historic and modern surroundings of Victoria Quarter and Victoria Gate.
Leeds Corn Exchange, opened in 1863, is now home to independent boutiques and cafes. You’ll find more independent retailers in the Grand Arcade. Pop-up shops and events appear around the city throughout the year.
Theatre and cinema
At Leeds you’ll have access to a thriving theatre and cinema scene. The city is home to one of the largest producing theatres in the north, Leeds Playhouse. The atmospheric Leeds Grand Theatre shows major touring productions, as well as acclaimed productions from Northern Ballet and award-winning Opera North. The Carriageworks has an exciting mixture of drama, musicals, dance, pantomime, exhibitions and community events and City Varieties is a rare surviving example of a Victorian music hall.
As well as city centre multiplexes, you could visit smaller independent cinemas including the Hyde Park Picture House – located close to campus and one of the country’s last remaining gas-lit cinema. The Leeds International Film Festival runs every November and is chance for film fans to enjoy premiere screenings, world cinema, theme nights and more.
Museums and galleries
Leeds City Museum takes you through the city’s 800 year history with hands-on and audio-visual displays, exhibitions and interactive games. The city is also home to the Royal Armouries which displays part of the national collection of arms and armour and holds many treasures including the world’s only suit of elephant armour.
Kirkstall Abbey is a 900 year-old ruined monastery that sits in a park you can visit just a few miles from campus and the city centre. Leeds City Art Gallery has a world-class collection of 20th century British art with works by Francis Bacon, Stanley Spencer and Barbara Hepworth. The Henry Moore Institute owns a number of works by Henry Moore and has regular exhibitions from other sculptors.
Live music
Leeds’ First Direct Arena and the O2 Academy attract world-famous acts. The city also has a thriving underground network of smaller venues which showcase the best in new music, including Brudenell Social Club, Belgrave Music Hall, and The Wardrobe.
If classical music is more your taste, Leeds Town Hall regularly hosts some of the finest classical musicians in the world as part of the annual Leeds International Concert Season, as well as regular orchestra performances. The Howard Assembly Room has a diverse calendar of jazz, world music, folk and classical concerts.
Sport
Leeds has several major sports teams. Headingly Carnegie Cricket Ground is just a 30-minute walk from campus and regularly hosts international Test matches and Twenty20 games. Leeds United Football Club is one of the longest established teams in the country, and its stadium is a short bus ride from the city centre at Elland Road. Leeds also has a rugby league team Leeds Rhinos, whose home ground is also in Headingly and a rugby union club Yorkshire Carnegie.
If you want to take part in sport yourself, Leeds has a wide range of sporting facilities and gyms including sports facilities run by Leeds City Council in local communities.
Parks and countryside
Leeds has plenty of green space that you can easily reach on foot, bike or public transport. There are many parks dotted around the city, such as the beautiful Roundhay Park, or Woodhouse Moor right next to campus. There are woodland walks, or the Leeds Liverpool canal, a haven for walkers and cyclists.
Outside of the city, some of the finest cycling, walking and climbing routes in the UK are right on our doorstep, including the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. This location makes Leeds perfect for international competitions, such as the World Triathlon series, which brings a great atmosphere to the city centre.
Feeling at home in Leeds
A small group of students sit on Leeds Museum steps in the sunshine eating ice cream.
Leeds is a welcoming city for international students and University staff and home to lots of different nationalities and communities.
It’s one of the most multicultural cities in the UK, and has more than 85 languages spoken (UK Census 2011). Because it’s quite a compact city, you can get around easily, but it’s big enough to offer plenty of things to do in the city centre and the surrounding area.
Talk to a student
Our Link to Leeds student ambassadors can help answer your questions about Leeds. As current international students at the University, they are able to share their experiences of living and studying here.
Faith
As a multicultural city, Leeds is home to people of many faiths. You’ll find places of worship across the city as well as other people who share your beliefs. The University Chaplaincy has representatives from different faiths, who can help you find a local place to worship. They also welcome everyone for a friendly chat, whether you follow a religion or not. Leeds University Union also offers a number of faith societies, where you can meet other people of the same faith.
Living in Leeds
There’s accommodation to suit all lifestyles and budgets – from city centre apartments to shared houses and family homes. If you’re moving from another country to work at the University, check out Relocate Leeds. If you’re coming to Leeds as a student, there is University of Leeds accommodation and high quality private accommodation. Whether you prefer living on campus, in the heart of the city or in a local, student-friendly neighbourhood, there will be a great place for you.
Get free, independent advice from:
Student Advice at Leeds University Union
International food shopping
Finding international food and ingredients in Leeds is easy. There are several specialist Asian and other international supermarkets in the city centre and most regular supermarkets sell world food. You’ll also find shops and restaurants selling kosher and halal food.
Also, a historical place
Historic Kirkgate market in the city centre is one of the largest covered markets in Europe. It sells fresh vegetables, fruit, spices and food from all over the world. There’s an Asian Bazaar every Wednesday morning and a farmers’ market on the first and third Sunday of the month. Famous British chain store Marks & Spencer began here in 1884, as a market stall where everything cost one penny!
The picturesque ruins now sit in a park by the river Aire and are a great place to visit on a sunny day. Why not cycle to the abbey along the canal towpath? It’s a traffic-free and picturesque route and takes about 20 minutes by bike.
Tour the arcades
Rows of shops in the ornately decorated Victoria Arcade. Leeds is famous for its covered shopping arcades. Our favourite is the Victoria Arcade – the grandest and most ornate example in Leeds. And while the shops might be a bit expensive for a student budget, getting a pic for Instagram is free.
Take a walk in the parks of Leeds
A runner in Roundhay Park jogging between rows of trees. You can visit some terrific green space without leaving the city. Woodhouse Moor located directly next to many different campuses is a popular choice for students during the summer. We’d also recommend going further afield and visiting Roundhay Park which features two lakes, Victorian follies and the Tropical World attraction in its 700 acres.
Conclusion
The Leeds is the home of many international students and university staff. According to Leeds Students, they loved living in Leeds. Students get everything nearby, the public transportation is really good, and it’s also a very safe city. It excels in areas such as music, sports, arts, and politics. As a result, there are several things that Leeds is known for. From being the pioneer of X-ray technology to bestselling authors, a world without Leeds wouldn’t be an ideal place. The birthplace of notable people and brands.
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