University of Leicester

A new home for the students' union

September 2021 saw the opening of the newly extended Percy Gee building in the heart of the campus. A hub of student activity, Percy Gee is home to the students' union as well as a new spacious campus kitchen offering a wide variety of quality food and drink. New, flexible and multi-use areas include individual and group study spaces, a new dedicated computer lab, a high-tech media centre and a performance studio.

Open days

On campus or online, students can come and explore the range of courses and fantastic facilities in person to get a real feel of what studying at Leicester could be like. Alternatively, they can sign up for one of the Digital Open Days to access loads of digital content, from live subject talks and taster lectures to on-demand virtual campus tours and tips on applying for a place. Students can sign up via the university's website.

Space Park Leicester

The new Space Park Leicester, opened in 2021, creates a regional centre for industry and academia to meet and share ideas. The initiative is being driven by the university in collaboration with strategic partners. The centre investigates key issues facing society with a view to developing innovative and ground-breaking solutions.

Each degree course at Leicester has its own specific entry and language requirements. In order to study at the University of Leicester, students must demonstrate the necessary proficiency in both written and spoken English.

Students can demonstrate their English language ability in one of the following ways:

Education in English

A secondary/high school or university qualification in English from a country approved by the University of Leicester is sufficient to show proficiency in English.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

This is the most commonly used and recognised English language proficiency test for higher education. Every degree at the University of Leicester requires a minimum IELTS score which varies between courses. Students can find the required IELTS score for each course in the entry requirements section on the course page for that subject.

Other tests and English qualifications

The University of Leicester accepts a wide range of equivalent English proficiency tests and qualifications including Duolingo.

Pre-sessional English Courses and scholarships

If students do not currently meet the English language requirements there is also the option to take a pre-sessional English course at the English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU).

The ELTU offers a wide range of English Language and Study Skills courses to help students develop the English skills needed for academic study. The length of pre-sessional course ranges from 6 to 40 weeks depending on a student's existing level of English language.

The ELTU is accredited by the British Council and is an authorised centre for the University of Cambridge ESOL exams.

The University of Leicester offers a variety of scholarships.

Bachelors Degree Scholarships

Citizens of Change Scholarship

To mark one hundred years since the University of Leicester opened, Citizens of Change scholarships are available to new undergraduate students. For international students, this is worth a huge 50% bursary on Year 1 fees!

To enter, students must have received an offer for an undergraduate course beginning in September 2022. To apply they simply need to record a 60-second video in response to the question, ''What do you want to change?''. This could be anything from crime to the climate crisis.

College of Science and Engineering Undergraduate Scholarship

This is open to all international students applying for a Bachelors course in the College of Science and Engineering. Eligible students will be automatically considered. It is worth £3000 per year for those who achieve two grades above the standard A-Level equivalent entry requirement, and £5000 per year for those who achieve three grades above.

School of Business Undergraduate Scholarship

All international students applying for an undergraduate course in the School of Business will be automatically considered. It is worth £3000 per year for those who achieve two grades above the standard A-Level equivalent entry requirement.

Masters Degree Scholarships

College of Science and Engineering Postgraduate Scholarship

This is open to all international students starting Masters courses in the College of Science and Engineering in September 2022 or January 2023. Eligible students will be automatically considered.

It is worth £3000 for those who achieve an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK upper second-class degree, and £5000 per year for those who achieve an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK first-class degree.

University of Leicester School of Business Postgraduate Scholarship

This is open to all international students starting a September 2022 or January 2023 postgraduate course in the School of Business. Eligible students will be automatically considered.

It is worth £3000 for those who achieve an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK high upper second class degree.

The University of Leicester has a wide range of sports facilities for students who wish to keep fit, train for competitive sports or wind down after a busy day studying. There are two sports centres at the university, one located near to The Village accommodation and the other located on campus itself.

Both sports centres have a wide range of gym equipment, swimming pools, saunas and steam rooms, and there are a range of membership packages to suit each student's budget. Members can also benefit from a range of fitness classes, such as Zumba, boxing and yoga. Sports range from archery and badminton to fencing, table tennis and even ultimate Frisbee.

The University of Leicester has a range of accommodation available to suit every need and budget. Each student room is fitted with a bed, desk, chair and wardrobe. Accommodation fees include utility bills, basic contents insurance and high-speed Wi-Fi. University accommodation consists of two locations, namely The Village and The City.

Only a short bus ride from campus, The Village consists of eight halls of residence, each with its own distinctive features and room types. Rooms are located within properties ranging from Edwardian villas to modern student halls, and are surrounded by lots of green spaces, including the university's botanical garden. The Village Hub is a space for students to relax and unwind, with a Village Pub serving food as well as a cinema room and additional study spaces.

The City is located a short walk from campus and within close proximity to the city centre and train station. In both The Village and The City rooms vary in shape and size with a choice of single bedrooms to studio flats. Meal plans are also available for students living in The Village accommodation.

Students' Union

The University of Leicester Students' Union is home to more than 200 societies and clubs, including anime, dance and K-Pop, as well as societies for different nationalities and cultures such as the Indian, Ghanaian and Japanese societies. Each academic area also has its own society, and students can request for a society to be set up if one does not exist for their area of interest already.

Student Support and Wellbeing

The university also has a number of support and wellbeing services available, such as the Student Counselling Service, which offers a wide range of free and confidential services including individual counselling, group sessions and workshops. The university's Chaplaincy also has World Faith Advisors for Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist students. There is also a student-run helpline, providing confidential, anonymous emotional support to anyone who wants to discuss any topic, or just simply needs someone to talk to.

Personal Tutors

Each student at Leicester is assigned a personal tutor. This will be a member of the academic staff who will be assigned at the start of the course and who will stay with each student until graduation, providing help with any problems or queries, both academic and personal.

SafeZone and Security

Although Leicester is a safe city, the university has partnered with SafeZone to ensure students and staff have the ability to highlight any concerns and know who to contact in the event of an emergency.

The SafeZone app, which is free to download and use, allows users to make a first aid call should they need medical assistance, or to make an emergency alert if they need assistance for any reason. As well as being able to report any issues on the app, users can also receive relevant safety information and updates in the form of push notifications.

The University of Leicester has an alumni community of more than 185,000 graduates in over 150 countries across the world. The institution also has alumni chapters in different countries, including India, Ghana and Nigeria.

Leicester students and graduates have access to a range of university services, such as the Career Development Service.

The Career Development Service helps students gain the skills they need for their chosen career path, giving them access to a wide range of workshops and one-to-one appointments with expert Careers Advisers. Leicester's Career Development Service won the AGCAS Award for Employer Engagement in 2017 and the university itself was awarded with the Best University Employability Strategy at the TARGET jobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards in 2019.

Festival of Careers

The Festival of Careers is an annual fair run by the Career Development Service, giving students the opportunity to meet and engage with prospective employers and find out more about the world of work. Previous exhibitors at the Festival include Barclays Bank and British Airways.

The Leicester Award

The Leicester Award is a personal development programme which contributes to a student's career development. The award enables students to reflect on and articulate their strengths and previous experience. Students who complete the award can expect to benefit from a greater understanding of their future career and academic goals, as well as gaining transferable skills that are attractive to future employers.