University of Leeds | Rankings, popular courses, fees, and more!

Founded in 1904, the University of Leeds is a public research university based out of West Yorkshire, England. It is the 5th largest university in the UK and ranks #86 in the QS World Rankings. The university is known for its wide range of courses and houses over 39,000 students from 140 countries. Some of the famous Leeds alumni include NASA Astronaut Piers Sellers, Secretary of State Jack Straw, and six Nobel laureates, among others.

Read this guide to find out all the necessary information about the University of Leeds, including rankings, courses, fees, and more!

Why study at Leeds?

The University of Leeds is among the 5 most popular universities in the UK. It is highly renowned for its academic excellence, community, partnerships and initiatives, and graduate outcomes. 

Here are the primary reasons to study at the University of Leeds, UK-

• The University of Leeds is a member of the Russel Group of research-intensive universities.
• The university staff has been awarded 29 National Teaching fellowships.
• It has a global network of 312,000 alumni from 197 countries.
• The university’s Spark initiative offers business start-up support.
• There are 130 student clubs and organizations at the University of Leeds.
• Leeds was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, the UK’s highest accolade of an academic institution, in 2009, 2011, and 2021.
• Students at the university add close to £200 million of international revenue to the city region per annum. 
• The campus includes state-of-the-art fitness, sports, and wellness facilities.

Important facts and figures

No. of students: 39,000

Research grants and contracts: £140 million

Student to Faculty ratio: 10:1

% Female students: 61%

Average salary after graduation: £73,166

Top courses

The University of Leeds offers a plethora of undergraduate, postgraduate, online, and lifelong learning courses to students from around the world.

Here are some of the courses offered at the University of Leeds-

• MBA
• Environment and Business
• Biomedical and Healthcare Ethics
• Chinese
• Criminal Justice
• Digital Media
• Education
• English Literature
• Fashion Marketing
• Global Creative Industries
• International Relations
• Journalism 
• Music with Enterprise
• Philosophy, Ethics, and Religion
• Sustainable Fashion
• Physics with Astrophysics
• Dental Therapy
• Economics
• Food Science
• Nursing
• Psychology
• Law
• Engineering
• Architecture
• Computer Science, and more…

University of Leeds fees

Your program fee at the University of Leeds will depend on a number of factors, including your level of study, the course you want to pursue, and whether you’re a national or an international student.

• Undergraduate tuition fee for UK students: £9,250
• Study abroad and work placement year for undergraduate  UK students: £1,385
• Undergraduate tuition fee for international students: See the official course page
• Study abroad and work placement year for undergraduate international students: £3,450
• Graduate tuition fee for UK and international students: See the official course page

While the exact tuition fee will depend on your course, the average University of Leeds fee is about £24,250 for undergraduate students and £29,750 for postgraduates. 

Apart from the tuition fee, you will also have to consider paying for accommodation, food, travel, study material, WiFi, etc. At Leeds, the average living costs are £5,148 per annum.

There are various ways to offset these expenses. Like grants and scholarships, internship opportunities, TA/GA/RA opportunities, fee waivers for students from low-income family groups, research grants, etc.

Financial aid

The University of Leeds funds students through bursaries, scholarships, and loans. The types of scholarships offered at the university include-

• Sanctuary scholarships
• Financial hardship funding
• Subject-specific scholarships
• Sports scholarships
• Achievement scholarships
• Master’s scholarships
• International excellence scholarships, and
• Research funding

To apply for these scholarships

• Head to the official university website
• Click on “Study” in the navigation bar
• Select the degree level (Undergraduate or Masters)
• Click on “Funding”
• Select the scholarship type you wish to apply for, and
• Start working on your application

How to apply

The application process for the University of Leeds is pretty straightforward-

• Your first step will be to decide which degree and course you want to apply for.
• Look up the admission requirements for your chosen program. Check if you fulfill all the academic requirements. 
• Then, see if your standard test scores match their criteria (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etcetera, depending on the program). International students are required to take the IELTS tests to be eligible for admission.
• Once you have fulfilled the criteria, visit the course page on their website, head to the University of Leeds application portal, and apply!

If you get accepted, you can start applying for scholarships and plan your accommodation at Leeds.

Application deadlines

The application deadlines depend on the program you choose to apply to. In general, however, international applications for the fall semester have to be submitted before 31st December for graduate students. For the spring semester, the deadline is usually mid-June. To be sure, we recommend you search for the program on the university website and note down the deadlines yourself.

Key takeaways

• The University of Leeds is a public research university based out of West Yorkshire, England
• It ranks #86 in the QS World Rankings.
• The university is a member of the Russel Group of research-intensive universities.
• It was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, the UK’s highest accolade of an academic institution, in 2009, 2011, and 2021.
• The university offers a plethora of undergraduate, postgraduate, online, and lifelong learning courses to students from around the world.
• The average fee at Leeds is about £24,250 for undergraduate students and £29,750 for postgraduates. 
• The university funds students through bursaries, scholarships, and loans.
• Follow the steps mentioned above to apply to the University of Leeds.

Like this blog? Read Harvard University | How to apply and get in as an international student!

FAQs

Q1. Is Leeds a prestigious university?

Answer: Yes. The University of Leeds was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, the UK’s highest accolade of an academic institution, in 2009, 2011, and 2021.

Q2. What is Leeds university famous for?

Answer: The University of Leeds is known for its research practices and achievements. It is a deeply regarded member of the Russel Group of research-intensive universities.

Q3. How difficult is it to get into Leeds university?

Answer: The University of Leeds is among the 5 institutions in the UK that receive the highest number of student applications. Your application must stand out to be able to secure admission.