University of Leicester: What it's really like

Looking for a friendly, welcoming university in one of the most multicultural cities in the UK? Leicester could be the place for you!

The University of Leicester at a glance:

Head of UK Student Recruitment and Outreach at the University of Leicester, Elliot, shares what life on campus is like.

What is the University of Leicester?

The University of Leicester is a medium-sized uni. There are about 12,500 students here, with over 100 nationalities.

The uni is located right in the middle of the UK. A fun fact is that it's nearer to space than it is to the sea!

There are three academic colleges: Life sciences; Science and engineering; and Social sciences, arts, and humanities. So these are the types of subjects you can study here.

Why apply to Leicester?

We always get commented on for our friendliness, whether it’s on an open day, in a survey, or from students on their arrival. The way a uni makes you feel on your first day and as you settle in really matters, so we think our friendliness is a great reason to come here.

If you’re an international student, it might be reassuring to know that Leicester is one of the most diverse cities in the UK. That diversity is reflected in our student population. With students from over 100 nationalities here, there’s likely to be a society representing your country which will help you feel at home.

On top of this, Leicester has great transport links to London and Birmingham. So it’s easy to explore the UK and to get to airports for when you want to visit home.

Who isn’t the right fit for Leicester?

We might not be the right fit for you if you’re looking for an inner-city experience. Although Leicester itself is a city, the uni itself is just on the outskirts, so it has more of a campus feel.

Any application tips?

Entry requirements at Leicester usually range from around three A’s at A level for subjects like medicine, down to three B’s for some of our social sciences, arts, and humanities degrees. We also welcome equivalent qualifications, including the IB, BTECs, access courses, and international qualifications. Get in touch with our Admissions team if yours aren’t listed on our website page for the subject you’re interested in.

When it comes to making your personal statement stand out, we’re really keen to see proactivity. Our motto is all about our students being citizens of change. So mention any positive changes you’ve made in your local community or in the industry you’re interested in. Show how you’ve gone the extra mile by doing further reading on your subject, listening to relevant podcasts, or volunteering in your school or community.

If you’ve done any relevant work experience, this is great to mention too. But remember to explain what you learnt from it, rather than just what you did.

What’s the location like?

The uni is largely campus-based, and it’s on the edge of Leicester city centre – about a 15-minute walk away. It’s a small, close-knit campus, and it’s very easy to get from one side to the other.

The city of Leicester itself has loads of bars, clubs, and restaurants to offer, plus several gelato shops! It’s a multicultural city, so you can expect exciting city-wide cultural festivals, including the second biggest Diwali festival outside of India.

Because there are two unis in the city, the student population in Leicester is about 12%, so you can expect lots of student-friendly prices.

What facilities does the University of Leicester have to offer?

The campus has recently undergone a £500 million redevelopment. That's included a new school of business and a new Students’ Union building in the heart of the campus. In addition, the univ boasts a £32 million library which was opened by the Queen.

Our world-class facilities include a genuine rocket in our physics department, plus a dinosaur skeleton in our geography and geology department!

Another fun fact: one of the smaller teaching buildings, College House, is where Sir David Attenborough grew up. His father, Frederick Attenborough, was principal of what was then called University College Leicester.

What is the accommodation like?

There are two main accommodation sites at Leicester. The student village is usually where first year students live, set in Oadby, a couple of miles from the campus. This offers a range of ensuite rooms or rooms with shared facilities, with shared study spaces and chill-out spaces, and a village shop.

And in October 2022 we opened The City, another option with 1,200 rooms, all self-catered. These are in a high-rise style building about a five-minute walk from campus, right next to teaching and learning spaces.

Our rooms are suited to a range of needs and budgets. On our website, it’s easy to filter your search by your preferred price and style, so you can find what’s right for you.

How does the university meet the needs of students with different accessibility requirements?

At the University of Leicester, our student support services team caters for your every need, from health support to financial needs, from accessibility and academic needs.

The more notice you give about your requirements, especially when it comes to making things more accessible – like accommodation for those with mobility needs, or extra time for your exams – the more suitable the solution we’ll have for you.

We offer financial support like a hardship fund through our welfare service as well. It's non-repayable, so you won’t have to worry about paying it back.

In addition, there’s a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, including the Citizens of Change 100 scholarship. This is worth £2,500 per year for UK students, or 50% off your first year of tuition fees for international students. To apply, all you need to do is send us a 60-second video explaining how you want to make a change in the world, and a panel of students will choose the winners. There’s 50 scholarships available for UK applicants, and 50 for international students.

Want to explore more UK universities? Unifrog’s Shortlisting tool can help you put together a list of great potential courses.