Living in Leeds

Leeds is one of the most popular university destinations in the UK with a total student population of more than 200,000. The city combines the buzz of a big city with easy access to beautiful countryside. As the ‘capital’ of the Yorkshire & Humberside region, Leeds is a major centre for shopping, arts, sport, leisure, entertainment and nightlife.

The University sits on a single campus just a ten-minute walk away from the city centre. The School of Earth and Environment is located right at the heart of the campus in a state-of-the-art new £23m facility (find us via the Campus Map).

City life

Leeds is famous for its lively music and club scene with some of the world’s biggest bands playing regularly in the city’s many music venues and a large music festival held every May Day weekend.

If film’s more your thing, Leeds boasts two independent cinemas, a city-centre VUE cinema and an international film festival, which hits town each November.

For those who prefer the quiet life and lots of fresh air, the city is also just a stone’s throw away from the stunning Yorkshire countryside. From picturesque villages and rolling hills to dramatic moorland and rugged coastline, the region is the perfect base to get away from it all and blow out the cobwebs. For more information about what to do in the region, visit our Leeds and Yorkshire website.

Accommodation

All single first year students who make Leeds their firm or insurance choice are guaranteed a place in University accommodation, provided they apply by the 1 July deadline. There are lots of rooms to choose from: residences large and small, in contemporary or traditional buildings, on campus, close to the city centre or further afield.

Students can choose from catered or self-catered, and many of the rooms are en-suite, but all the options are competitively priced. Further details about accommodation and the Undergraduate Accommodation Guide 2011/12 can be downloaded from the University accommodation website.

Facilities

If you study at Leeds you’ll have access to some of the best University facilities in the country. The campus has two large libraries holding around 3 million items, including 30,000 journals/e-journals and 300,000 e-books, and more than £10 million is spent every year on manning and stocking them.

There are 1,740 networked PCs across campus. All of our computer clusters are open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and some are open 24 hours. If you would rather use your own laptop, our free high-speed Wi-Fi network covers most of the campus. Get more information about our fantastic facilities here.

Sport and activities

There are three sporting facilities on campus, the most recent of which is the Edge. Opened in May 2010, this £12m swimming pool and sports centre hosts the biggest fitness suite of any UK university with state-of-the-art equipment. If you live in University halls of residence, you automatically receive an Edge Club membership.

To find out more about sport at the University sports facilities and the different memberships available, take a look at our sport and physical activity website.

Student union

Leeds University Union is a great place to learn new skills, make friends, have fun, solve problems and love their time at Leeds.The union is run by students, for students and his home to over 270 groups and activities run that you can get involved in whilst at Leeds. So, whether your passion is for a capella singing, dance, windsurfing or skydiving you’re bound to find something for you. Visit the LUU website for a full list of clubs and societies.

Transport

Leeds has an excellent public transport system with extensive bus and train routes. For those of who would like to reduce their carbon footprint while travelling around Leeds, there are cycle lanes throughout the city centre and beyond. Find out more about getting around on the University transport website.

External links

Leeds, Live it, Love it – More city information for tourists and visitors

Yorkshire Tourist Board – Find out more about the region