View source for University of Leeds

{{short description|University in Leeds, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = University of Leeds
 | image_name             = Coat of Arms of the University of Leeds.svg
 | image_upright          = 0.5
 | caption                = [[Coat of arms]]
 | latin_name             = Universitas Loidensis<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=Peter John |author-link=Peter John Anderson |title=Record of the Celebration of the Quatercentenary of the University of Aberdeen: From 25th to 28th September, 1906 |date=1907 |publisher=Aberdeen University Press ([[University of Aberdeen]]) |isbn=9781363625079 |publication-place=[[Aberdeen]], [[United Kingdom]] |language=en-GB }}</ref>
 | motto                  = {{langx|la|Et augebitur scientia}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pine|first1=L. G.|title=A dictionary of mottoes|date=1983|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|location=London|isbn=0-7100-9339-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/67 67]|edition=1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/67}}</ref>
 | mottoeng               = And knowledge will be increased
 | established            = 1831 – [[Leeds School of Medicine]]<br />1874 – Yorkshire College of Science<br />1884 – Yorkshire College<br />1887 – affiliated to the federal [[Victoria University (UK)|Victoria University]]<br />1904 – University of Leeds
 | type                   = [[Public university|Public]]
 | endowment              = [[Pound sterling|£]]94.8&nbsp;million (2024)<ref name="Leeds2024" />
 | budget                 = [[Pounds sterling|£]]1.048 billion (2023/24)<ref name=Leeds2024/>
 | chancellor             = [[Jane Francis|Dame Jane Francis]]
 | vice_chancellor        = [[Shearer West]]
 | academic_staff         = {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007795}} ({{HESA staff year}})<ref name="HESA staff citation">{{HESA staff citation}}</ref>
 | administrative_staff   = {{HESA non-academic staff population|INSTID=10007795}} ({{HESA staff year}})<ref name="HESA staff citation"/>
 | students               = {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007795}} ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation">{{HESA citation}}</ref><br/>{{HESA FTE student population|INSTID=10007795}} [[Full-time equivalent|FTE]] ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation"/>
 | undergrad              = {{HESA undergraduate population|INSTID=10007795}} ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation"/>
 | postgrad               = {{HESA postgraduate population|INSTID=10007795}} ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation"/>
 | city                   = [[Leeds]]
 | province               = West Yorkshire
 | country                = England
 | campus                 = Urban, suburban
 | free_label             = Newspaper
 | free                   = [[The Gryphon]]
 | colours                = {{scarf|start}} {{cells|4|#800000}}{{cells|1|#FFFFFF}}{{cells|4|#006400}}{{cells|4|#800000}}{{cells|1|#FFFFFF}}{{cells|2|#006400}} {{scarf|end}}<ref name="University of Leeds"/>
 | website                = {{official URL}}
 | logo                   = Leeds University logo.svg
 | logo_size              = 250
 | coor                   = {{coord|53|48|26|N|1|33|6|W|display=inline,title}}
 | affiliations           = {{hlist|[[Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business|AACSB]]|[[Association of Commonwealth Universities|ACU]]|[[Association of MBAs|AMBA]]|[[European Quality Improvement System|EQUIS]]|[[European University Association|EUA]]|[[N8 Group]]|[[Russell Group]]|[[Universities UK]]|[[White Rose University Consortium|White Rose Consortium]]|[[Worldwide Universities Network|WUN]]|[[European Association of Conservatoires|AEC]] (School of Music)<ref>{{cite web|title=European Association of Conservatoires – Our Members|url=https://aec-music.eu/members/our-members/search?type=all&country=GB|publisher=European Association of Conservatoires|accessdate=28 October 2023}}</ref>}}
}}

The '''University of Leeds''' is a [[public research university]] in [[Leeds]], West Yorkshire, England. It was established in 1874 as the Yorkshire College of Science. In 1884, it merged with the [[Leeds School of Medicine]] (established 1831) and was renamed Yorkshire College. It became part of the federal [[Victoria University (UK)|Victoria University]] in 1887, joining Owens College (which became the [[University of Manchester]]) and University College Liverpool (which became the [[University of Liverpool]]).<ref name="Charlton, H. B. 1951 p. IV">Charlton, H. B. (1951) ''Portrait of a University''. Manchester: U. P.; chap. IV</ref> In 1904, a [[royal charter]] was granted to the University of Leeds by [[Edward VII|King Edward VII]].<ref name=Heritage>{{cite web| url = https://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/5000/about/133/heritage| title = University of Leeds – Heritage| access-date = 25 May 2010| publisher = University of Leeds}}</ref>

Leeds is the [[list of universities in the United Kingdom by enrolment|tenth-largest university]] in the United Kingdom by total enrolment<ref name="HESADom">{{cite web|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/where-study#provider|title=Where do HE students study?: Students by HE provider|work=HESA|at=HE student enrolments by HE provider|access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref> and receives over 68,000 undergraduate applications per year, making it the fourth-most popular university (behind [[University of Manchester|Manchester]], [[University College London]] and [[King's College London]]) in the UK by volume of applications.<ref name=UCASEoC/> Leeds had an income of £1.05&nbsp;billion in 2023–24, of which £190.9&nbsp;million was from research grants and contracts, with an expenditure of £748.1 million.<ref name=Leeds2024>{{cite web|url=https://www.leeds.ac.uk/download/downloads/id/3490/annual-report-and-accounts-2023-24.pdf|title=Annual report and accounts 2023–24|publisher=University of Leeds|access-date= 12 December 2024}}</ref> The university has financial endowments of £94.8&nbsp;million (2024), placing it within the [[List of UK universities by endowment|top twenty British universities]] by financial endowment.<ref name="Leeds2024" /> The university is a member of the [[Russell Group]], a consortium of leading research-intensive universities in the [[United Kingdom]].

Notable alumni include current [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister of the United Kingdom]] [[Keir Starmer]], current [[president of Ireland]] [[Catherine Connolly]], former [[Home Secretary|Home]] and [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|Foreign Secretary]] [[Jack Straw]], [[NASA]] [[astronaut]] [[Piers Sellers]] and six Nobel laureates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tldynamic.leeds.ac.uk/leedsyorkshire/graduates/index.html |title=Who's Been Here |access-date=24 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016081543/http://tldynamic.leeds.ac.uk/leedsyorkshire/graduates/index.html |archive-date=16 October 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://alumni.leeds.ac.uk/Page.aspx?pid=423 |title=Notable Alumni |access-date=24 May 2010 |archive-date=6 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106053314/https://alumni.leeds.ac.uk/prominent |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==

===Prior to formation===
[[File:Great hall, University of Leeds.jpg|thumb|right|An early view of the [[Great Hall of the University of Leeds|Great Hall]], next to the Clothworkers' Court]]
The university's history is linked to the development of Leeds as an international centre for the textile industry and clothing manufacture in the United Kingdom during the [[Victorian era]]. The university's roots can be traced back to the formation of schools of medicine in English cities to serve the general public.

The [[Victoria University of Manchester|Victoria University]] was established in Manchester in 1880 as a federal university in the [[North of England]], instead of the government elevating [[Owens College]] to a university and grant it a [[royal charter]]. Owens College was the sole college of Victoria University from 1880 to 1884; in 1887 Yorkshire College was the third to join the university.<ref name="Charlton, H. B. 1951 p. IV"/>

===Origins of the Leeds School of Medicine and the Yorkshire College===
[[File:Great Hall Leeds.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Great Hall of the University of Leeds|The Great Hall]]]]
In 1831, the [[Leeds School of Medicine]] was established with the aim of serving the needs of the five medical institutions which had been established in the city. In 1874, the Yorkshire College of Science was created to provide education for the children of middle-class industrialists and merchants. Financial support from local industry was crucial in setting up the college and aiding the students.<ref name=Heritage/> The university continues to recognise these elements of its history; for example, there is still a Clothworkers' Court on campus.

The College of Science, modelled on Owens College, Manchester, was established in 1851 as non-sectarian, and was open to [[English Dissenters|Protestant Dissenters]], [[Catholics]] and [[Jew]]s (though not then to women) since [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] and [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] restricted attendance to members only of the [[Church of England]]. [[University College London]] was non-sectarian.

The religious qualification ceased in the 1850s but the classics-based education continued at Oxford and Cambridge. The Northern colleges continued to promote themselves as offering a general education that was progressive and pragmatic in nature as were the technical colleges of Germany and the ancient universities upon which they were modelled.

The Yorkshire College of Science began by teaching experimental physics, mathematics, geology, mining, chemistry and biology, and soon became well known as an international centre for the study of engineering and textile technology (due to the manufacturing and textile trades being strong in the [[West Riding]]). When classics, modern literature and history went on offer a few years later, the Yorkshire College of Science became simply the Yorkshire College. In 1884, the Yorkshire College absorbed the Leeds School of Medicine and subsequently joined the federal Victoria University (established at Manchester in 1880) on 3 November 1887.<ref>Charlton, H. B. (1951) ''Portrait of a University, 1851–1951''. Manchester: University Press; p. 138</ref> Students in this period were awarded external degrees by the University of London.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.senatehouselibrary.ac.uk/our-collections/historic-collections/archives-manuscripts/university-of-london-student-records-1836-1931/ 
 |title=Student lists 
 |access-date=11 March 2013 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914105055/http://www.shl.lon.ac.uk/specialcollections/archives/studentrecords.shtml 
 |archive-date=14 September 2010 }}</ref>

===Victoria University and royal charter===
[[File:Parkinson Leeds Uni 1 27 August 2017.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Parkinson Building]], named after [[Frank Parkinson]], a major benefactor to the university]]
[[File:Yorkshire College blue plaque 1879.jpg|thumb|Yorkshire College blue plaque 1879]]
{{main|Victoria University (United Kingdom)}}
Leeds was given its first university in 1887 when the Yorkshire College joined the federal [[Victoria University (United Kingdom)|Victoria University]] on 3 November.  The Victoria University had been established by royal charter in 1880; Owens College being at first the only member college.<ref>Charlton (1851)</ref> Leeds now found itself in an educational union with close social cousins from [[University of Manchester|Manchester]] and [[University of Liverpool|Liverpool]].

Unlike Owens College, the Leeds campus of the Victoria University had never barred women from its courses. However, it was not until special facilities were provided at the Day Training College in 1896 that women began enrolling in significant numbers. The first female student to begin a course at the university was Lilias Annie Clark, who studied Modern Literature and Education.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} In 1904 Leeds University wanted to encourage more women students. It decided to pay the unprecedented salary of £400 per annum to [[Hannah Robertson (educationist)|Hannah Robertson]] who took on a double role of "Mistress of Method" in the Education department and as the Tutor of Women.<ref>{{cite ODNB |title=Hannh Robertson in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |date=23 September 2004 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/48704 |pages=ref:odnb/48704 |editor-last=Matthew |editor-first=H. C. G. |access-date=27 March 2023 |place=Oxford |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/48704 |editor2-last=Harrison |editor2-first=B.}}</ref>

The Victoria University was a short-lived concept, as the constituent colleges in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds were keen to establish themselves as separate, independent universities. This was partially due to the potential benefits independent universities had for the cities, whilst the institutions were also unhappy with the practical difficulties posed by maintaining a federal arrangement across broad distances. This was further spurred by the granting of a charter to the [[University of Birmingham]] in 1900 after lobbying from [[Joseph Chamberlain]].

Following a [[royal charter]] and [[act of Parliament]]{{which|date=March 2025}} in 1903, the then newly formed University of Liverpool began the fragmentation of the Victoria University by being the first member to gain independence. The Yorkshire College soon followed suit and was granted a royal charter as the University of Leeds by [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|King Edward VII]] in 1904.

===2000 to present===
[[File:Parkinson Camponile 27 August 2017.jpg|thumb|right|[[Parkinson Building|The Parkinson Building]] [[campanile]], which features prominently in the university logo and publications after re-branding in 2006]]
The Victoria University continued after the break-up of the group, with an amended constitution and renamed as the [[Victoria University of Manchester]] (though "Victoria" was usually omitted from its name except in formal usage) until September 2004.<ref>The amended constitution dates from 15 July 1903; on 24 June 1904 Owens College was incorporated with the University. Charlton (1951); p. 138</ref> On 1 October 2004 a merger with the [[University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology]] was enacted to form The [[University of Manchester]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/facts/history/ |title=History of the University of Manchester |publisher=University of Manchester |access-date=16 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821194023/http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/facts/history/ |archive-date=21 August 2012 }}</ref>

In December 2004, financial pressures forced the university's governing body (the Council) to decide to close the [[Bretton Hall College of Education|Bretton]] campus. Activities at Bretton were moved to the main university campus in the summer of 2007 (allowing all Bretton-based students to complete their studies there). There was substantial opposition to the closure by the Bretton students. The university's other satellite site, Manygates in [[Wakefield]], also closed, but Lifelong Learning and Healthcare programmes are continuing on a new site next to [[Wakefield College]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk/press_releases/current/wakefield.htm|title = Launch of University of Leeds @ Wakefield|access-date = 29 January 2008|publisher = University of Leeds|date = 28 February 2006 }}</ref>

In May 2006, the university began re-branding itself to consolidate its visual identity to promote one consistent image. A new logo was produced, based on that used during the centenary celebrations in 2004, to replace the combined use of the modified university arms and the [[Parkinson Building]], which has been in use since 2004. The university arms will still be used in its original form for ceremonial purposes only. Four university colours were also specified as being green, red, black and beige.<ref name="University of Leeds">{{cite web| url= http://www.leeds.ac.uk/identitymanagement/guidelines/palette.htm| title= Identity management {{!}} Design guidelines {{!}} Core colour palette| access-date= 1 January 2007| publisher= University of Leeds| date= 8 May 2006| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071121085737/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/identitymanagement/guidelines/palette.htm| archive-date= 21 November 2007 }}</ref>

Leeds provides the local community with over 2,000 university student volunteers. With 8,700 staff employed in 2019–20, the university is the third largest employer in Leeds and contributes around £1.23bn a year to the local economy – students add a further £211m through rents and living costs.<ref name="facts_brochure"/>

The university's educational partnerships have included providing formal accreditation of degree awards to [[Leeds College of Art]] and [[Leeds Trinity University College]], although the latter now has the power to award its own degrees. The [[College of the Resurrection]], an Anglican theological college in [[Mirfield]] with [[Community of the Resurrection|monastic roots]], has, since its inception in 1904, been affiliated to the university, and ties remain close. The university is also a founding member of the [[NCUK|Northern Consortium]].

In August 2010, the university was one of the most targeted institutions by students entering the [[UCAS]] [[Clearing system|clearing]] process for 2010 admission, which matches undersubscribed courses to students who did not meet their firm or insurance choices. The university was one of nine [[Russell Group]] universities offering extremely limited places to "exceptional" students after the universities in [[University of Birmingham|Birmingham]], [[University of Bristol|Bristol]], [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], [[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh]] and [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] declared they would not enter the process due to courses being full to capacity.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/aug/18/clearing-2010-universities-offer-lifeline|title = Clearing 2010: Universities offer lifeline to top students|access-date = 22 September 2010|work = The Guardian|date = 19 August 2010| location=London}}</ref>

On 12 October 2010, The Refectory of the [[Leeds University Union]] hosted a live edition of the [[Channel 4 News]], with students, academics and economists expressing their reaction to the [[Browne Review]], an independent review of Higher Education funding and student finance conducted by [[John Browne, Baron Browne of Madingley]]. University of Leeds [[Vice-Chancellor]] and [[Russell Group]] chairman [[Michael Arthur (academic)|Michael Arthur]] participated, giving an academic perspective alongside current vice-chancellor of [[Kingston University]] and former Pro Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Education at the University of Leeds, [[Peter Scott (educationalist)|Sir Peter Scott]]. Midway through the broadcast a small group of protesters against the potential rise of [[student debt]] entered the building before being restrained and evacuated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/university-tuition-fees-set-for-huge-rise |title=University tuition fees set for huge rise – Channel 4 News |publisher=Channel 4 |date=12 October 2010 |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.channel4.com/snowblog/higher-education-reform-protests-live-on-air/13880 |title=Higher education reform – protests live on air &#124; Snowblog |publisher=Channel 4 |date=13 October 2010 |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref>

In 2016, The University of Leeds became [[Sunday Times University of the Year|University of the Year]] 2017 in ''[[The Times]]'' and [[The Sunday Times|''The Sunday Times''<nowiki/>']] Good University Guide. The university has risen to 13th place overall, which reflects impressive results in student experience, high entry standards, services and facilities, and graduate prospects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/3917/university_of_the_year|title=University of the Year 2017|first=Rachel|last=Barson|website=www.leeds.ac.uk |date=23 September 2016 }}</ref>

In 2022, the global world ranking of the University of Leeds is 86.<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Leeds |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-leeds |access-date=23 October 2022 |website=Top Universities }}</ref> There are currently 36,840 students studying at the university.<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Leeds Reviews and Ranking |url=https://www.studentcrowd.com/university-l1003801-s1008310-the_university_of_leeds-leeds |access-date=23 October 2022 |website=www.studentcrowd.com}}</ref> The average tuition fee is £9,250 (~$12,000–12,500) per year, although there are cases where there are partial subsidies towards this cost.

==Campus==
[[File:University of Leeds (4th May 2010) 035 Brighter.jpg|thumb|right|The Roger Stevens Building]]
The university has {{convert|1230|acre|ha|0}} of land in total, with the main campus taking up {{convert|98|acre|ha|0}}.<ref name=":0">[https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/may/10/universityguide-uni-leeds "University guide: University of Leeds"]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref> The main campus is located {{convert|1|mi|km|1}} north of [[Leeds city centre]] and consists of a mixture of [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic revival]], [[art deco]], [[brutalist architecture|brutalist]] and [[postmodern architecture|postmodern]] buildings, making it one of the most diverse university campuses in the country in terms of building styles and history. It is within walking distance of both the city centre and popular student neighbourhoods [[Hyde Park, Leeds|Hyde Park]], [[Woodhouse, Leeds|Woodhouse]], and [[Headingley]]. The main entrance to the campus for visitors by car is on Woodhouse Lane ([[A660 road|A660]]), near the Parkinson Building.  The former [[Woodhouse Cemetery]] is within the campus, now a landscaped area known as St George's Fields.<ref name=handlist>{{cite web | url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/library/spcoll/handlists/040MS421_woodhouse.pdf | work=Leeds University Library Special Collections – Handlist 40 | title=Leeds General Cemetery Company Limited MS 421 | access-date=6 April 2011 | archive-date=25 September 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925195410/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/library/spcoll/handlists/040MS421_woodhouse.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Parkinson Building ===
The [[Parkinson Building]] is a [[Listed building|grade II listed]]<ref>[http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=5017 Parkinson Building, Leeds – Building #5017] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028033608/http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=5017 |date=28 October 2018 }}. Skyscrapernews.com (19 February 2000). Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref> art deco building and [[campanile]] named after the late [[Frank Parkinson]], a major benefactor of the university who oversaw many new build projects from 1936 onwards. These commitments culminating in the official opening of The Parkinson Building (to which Parkinson donated £200,000) on 9 November 1951.<ref name="leedsguide.co.uk">[http://www.leedsguide.co.uk/review/foundations/parkinson-building-university-of-leeds/12758 Foundations: Parkinson Building, University of Leeds|What's on in Leeds|Eating Out in Leeds|Listings|Leeds Guide Magazine] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005106/http://www.leedsguide.co.uk/review/foundations/parkinson-building-university-of-leeds/12758 |date=3 December 2013 }}. Leedsguide.co.uk (25 November 2009). Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref> The tower of the building is a well-known landmark in the city of Leeds and is used in the university logo and as a university symbol.<ref name="leedsguide.co.uk" /> The campanile is the highest point of the building and stands at 57 metres (187&nbsp;ft) tall, making it the 17th tallest building in the city of Leeds.

=== Maurice Keyworth Building ===
The [[Leeds University Business School]] is housed in the renovated 19th-century buildings (known as the Maurice Keyworth Building), which used to belong to [[Leeds Grammar School]] on the Western side of the University of Leeds campus. The university have also constructed further modern buildings on the business school area of campus known as the Innovation Hub; costing £9.3&nbsp;million. The building is a three-storey building of 4350&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup> (gross capacity), with the third floor accommodating the Innovation Hub.<ref>[http://www.brentwoodgroup.co.uk/image.php?imageID=20 Specialising in Mechanical and Electrical Services :: Building Services, Design Consultancy and Project Management]. The Brentwood Group. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

=== Roger Stevens Building ===
Built in 1970, the Roger Stevens building houses 25 lecture theatres and is considered one of the most iconic structures on campus. It is named after diplomat, civil servant and former vice-chancellor [[Roger Stevens (diplomat)|Roger Stevens]]. In the Leeds Architecture Awards 2025 it received The People's Choice Award from a shortlist of 10 put to a public vote. Other nominated buildings on the shortlist were [[Bridgewater Place]] and [[Victoria Gate]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-07 |title=Leeds Uni lecture theatre block voted best city building |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8vgr7lpg8o |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Great Hall ===
[[File:Leeds University graduation in the Great Hall 2012.jpg|left|thumb|150px|The Great Hall is the venue for graduation ceremonies.]]
The university's [[Great Hall of the University of Leeds|Great Hall]] building is one of the most prominent buildings on campus alongside the Parkinson Building and the numerous brutalist buildings which are Grade II listed. The Great Hall was built on a site of Beech Grove Hall Estate which was purchased in 1879 by the then Yorkshire College when joining the [[Victoria University (UK)|Victoria University]]. This was later demolished in 1884, to become the site of the Clothworkers buildings of the Baines Memorial Wing and the Great Hall. The buildings were designed by the renowned Victorian architect [[Alfred Waterhouse]] R.A in red pressed brick and had dressings of Bolton Wood stone in a Gothic Collegiate style. The cost of the build was £22,000 and was raised partially by public appeal and served as the university library until the opening of the Brotherton Library. The Great Hall is now primarily used for examinations, meetings and graduation ceremonies.<ref>[http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ceremonies/great_hall.htm Ceremonies|Taught Student Administration] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120134316/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ceremonies/great_hall.htm |date=20 January 2012 }}. University of Leeds. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

=== Post-war buildings ===
[[File:EC Stoner Leeds uni.jpg|thumb|EC Stoner Building]]
In June 2010, post-war buildings at the University of Leeds were recommended by [[English Heritage]] to become Grade II listed buildings. The [[Modern architecture|modernist]] and brutalist buildings being recognised include the newly Grade II* listed Roger Stevens Building, whilst the EC Stoner Building, Computer Science Building, Mathematics/Earth Sciences Building, Senior Common Room, Garstang Building, Irene Manton Building, Communications and Edward Boyle Library (formerly the South Library) and Henry Price Building have been recognised as Grade II listed buildings. These additions join the already listed 1877 Great Hall and Baines Wing, the School of Mineral Engineering, the Brotherton Library and the Parkinson Building which are Grade II listed.<ref>[http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/841/ground-breaking_buildings_listed Ground-breaking buildings listed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813003841/https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/841/ground-breaking_buildings_listed |date=13 August 2023 }}. University of Leeds (23 June 2010). Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

In addition to the main campus, there was also a satellite location at [[Wakefield]]. Until the 2006–07 academic year, some courses were taught at the [[Bretton Hall, West Yorkshire|Bretton Hall]] campus in [[West Bretton]]. The site closed in summer 2007 after which the courses taught there were relocated to the main campus in Leeds.

Leeds railway station is approximately 1 mile south of the main campus. There are numerous bus routes which serve it. The proposed [[Leeds Supertram]] would have run past the campus. The currently proposed [[Leeds Trolleybus]] (northern line) will run past the campus, linking it with the city centre, Headingley and [[Lawnswood]]. The [[Leeds Inner Ring Road]] also lies close to the campus.

The University of Leeds Conference Auditorium, located next to the Sports Hall, was once the original [[West Yorkshire Playhouse]]. It was refurbished in 2003 to become two lecture theatres; one for 320 and one for 550, making it the largest capacity facility on the university campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.universallyleeds.co.uk/conferenceauditorium.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705140935/http://www.universallyleeds.co.uk/conferenceauditorium.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 July 2008 |title=Conference Auditorium |publisher=Universally Leeds |access-date=16 August 2013 }}</ref>

The university's Muslim Prayer Room is located in the Conference Auditorium building and able to accommodate up to 300 people at any one time. The prayer room has undergone refurbishment after half a million pounds was allocated towards its development.

===Modern expansion===
[[File:Ziff Building 1 27 August 2017.jpg|thumb|The Ziff Building, which houses student services as of 2008]]
[[File:University of Leeds, main campus map.jpg|thumb|right|Street map of the main campus]]

The university has engaged in expansion since 2008, and has spent more than £300&nbsp;million on new educational, research, residential and leisure facilities with a further £80&nbsp;million being spent to improve current assets. The programme of this expansion constitutes one of the largest capital investment projects in British higher education.<ref name="ReferenceA">[http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/35/breaking_ground Breaking ground] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813003815/https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/35/breaking_ground |date=13 August 2023 }}. University of Leeds.  (13 May 2009). Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref><ref name="leeds1">[http://www.leeds.ac.uk/estate_services/news.htm News – Estate Services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200640/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/estate_services/news.htm |date=3 March 2016 }}. University of Leeds.  (13 August 2010). Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

*'''Earth and Environment''' improvements included a phased refurbishment and construction of this £23&nbsp;million development which is already completed. These renovations included refurbished laboratory space in the west wing which opened for staff and students in April 2009, and the completion of the remaining elements of the scheme, both new build and refurbished, followed in November 2009.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="leeds1"/>
*'''Charles Morris Hall''' student accommodation renovations started with the demolition of the previous Mary Ogilvie House, the existing 108 bed student accommodation block, and construction of a new 500-bed, £27.1&nbsp;million building began in March 2009, the new halls were completed in the summer of 2010, with the first students moving in for the new academic year in September 2010.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="leeds1"/>
*'''The Childcare Centre''' building work has also been completed and led to the creation of a new 140 place staff/student childcare centre and a new landscaped green square on adjoining plot. Work on the £3.6&nbsp;million project lasted approximately 12 months with the official opening in April 2010.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="leeds1"/>
*'''Swimming pool and fitness centre''' improvements ''(known as The Edge)'' started in 2009 and consisted of the construction of the new £12.2&nbsp;million swimming pool/gym complex on the south-western edge of campus. The facility was due for completion by the end of February 2010 however was delayed until being officially opened in May 2010.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="leeds1"/>
*'''The Law Building''' is a £12&nbsp;million project which was completed in early 2011. Work on the project started September 2009 and completion was initially planned for late 2010. The new building is located on the western side of the university campus alongside the Leeds University Business School and is adjacent to the new '''Michael Marks Building''' which features the [[Marks & Spencer]] archives, including over 60,000 artefacts from London and Leeds (where the company was founded).<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="leeds1"/> This new collection of buildings forms the 'Professional' campus of the university, housing business, economics and law functions.
*'''The Edward Boyle Library''' £28&nbsp;million redevelopment of the library was approved by the university and a consultant design team appointed, with a view to work commencing late 2010. However, budget cuts resulted in the project being put on hold <ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="leeds1"/> until 2015. The refurbishment began in summer 2015 and was completed in late 2016.
*'''The Energy Building''', is a £12.5&nbsp;million development extending the engineering complex. Build work began in late summer 2010, and was completed in March 2012.<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/news/newenergybuilding/|title=New energy building unveiled at University of Leeds - EPSRC website|website=www.epsrc.ac.uk|access-date=15 January 2017|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116175816/https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/news/newenergybuilding/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*'''Clothworkers Building North''' has undergone a £42.3 million development completely refurbishing the facilities. Building work began during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

===Public art===
[[File:Laidlaw Library, University of Leeds (25th August 2017) 001.jpg|thumb|right|[[Simon Fujiwara]]'s 2015 cast [[jesmonite]] ''A Spire'', outside the Laidlaw Library]]
Works of [[public art]] on campus range from [[Eric Gill]]'s controversial 1923 [[World War I]] memorial  ''Christ driving the Moneychangers from the Temple'' in the foyer of the Rupert Beckett Building to [[Simon Fujiwara]]'s 2015 {{convert|9|m}} ''A Spire'' outside the Laidlaw Library and [[Liliane Lijn]]'s 2019 ''Converse Column'' at the south east entrance to the campus.<ref name="public art">{{cite web |title=Public Art Trail |url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/download/downloads/id/323/public_art_trail.pdf |publisher=University of Leeds |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="wordsonstreet">{{cite web |title=The words on the street – new public artwork for University of Leeds |date=5 July 2019 |url=https://nexusleeds.co.uk/insights/news/the-words-on-the-street-new-public-artwork-for-university-of-leeds/ |publisher=Nexus - University of Leeds |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="publicart">{{cite web |title=Public Art |url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/1905/about/117/the_stanley_and_audrey_burton_gallery/2 |website=The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery |publisher=University of Leeds |access-date=22 July 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813003812/https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/1905/about/117/the_stanley_and_audrey_burton_gallery/2 |url-status=dead }} ''Includes video tour''</ref> The university has a Public Art Strategy developed with the [[Contemporary Art Society]].<ref name="public-art-strategy">{{cite web |title=University of Leeds Public Art Strategy |url=http://www.contemporaryartsociety.org/consultancy/projects/university-of-leeds/ |publisher=[[Contemporary Art Society]] |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>

===Off campus===
Gair Wood is located about {{convert|5|miles}} north of the main campus, close to Eccup. It is a 36 hectare site with over 60,000 "regionally appropriate" trees, including oak, hazel, and willow, providing a base for research, teaching, social opportunities and carbon capture. The first tree was planted by Roger Gair, a former University Secretary, in 2022.<ref>University of Leeds, [https://leaf.leeds.ac.uk/gairwood/ Gair Wood], accessed on 22 June 2024</ref>

==Academic profile==
During the {{HESA year}} academic year, {{HESA student population|INSTID=0124}} students were enrolled.<ref name="HESA citation">{{HESA citation}}</ref> There were around 560 different first-degree programmes and approximately 300 postgraduate degree programmes in 2009–10.<ref name="facts_brochure">{{cite web|url=https://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/5000/about/140/facts_and_figures|title=The University of Leeds Facts and Figures|year=2016|publisher=University of Leeds}}</ref>{{rp|6}} Whilst maintaining its strengths in the traditional subjects (for example more students studying languages and physical sciences than anywhere else in the UK), Leeds has also developed expertise in more distinctive and rare specialist areas such as Colour Chemistry, Fire Science, Nanotechnology and Aviation Technology with Pilot studies.

=== Libraries ===
[[File:University of Leeds (4th May 2010) 063.jpg|thumb|right|The Edward Boyle Library, one of numerous [[Brutalist architecture|Brutalist]] buildings linked by a series of interconnected [[skyway]]s]]

The university library is spread over five locations, and holds, in total, 2.78&nbsp;million books, 26,000 print and electronic journals, 850 databases and 6,000 electronic books: making it one of the largest research libraries in the UK.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.leeds.ac.uk/students/library_facts.htm| title = Study facilities {{!}} Library {{!}} Facts and figures| access-date = 5 October 2007| publisher = University of Leeds| date = 2 July 2007| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071105205642/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/students/library_facts.htm| archive-date = 5 November 2007 }}</ref> The main arts and humanities library is the [[Brotherton Library]], located in the Parkinson Building. The main science, social sciences and engineering library is the Edward Boyle Library, located in the centre of the campus and named after [[Edward Boyle, Baron Boyle of Handsworth]] who was vice-chancellor from 1970 to 1981. Medicine, dentistry and healthcare students are served by the Health Sciences Library, located in the Worsley Building, and there is an extension of this library at [[St James's University Hospital, Leeds|St James's University Hospital]].  The Laidlaw Library on the main campus, serving the needs of undergraduates, opened in May 2015. It is named after [[Irvine Laidlaw, Baron Laidlaw|Lord Laidlaw]] who gave £9,000,000 towards its construction.<ref>{{cite web|title=About the Laidlaw Library|url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/416/building_developments/288/about_the_laidlaw_library/1|website=University Library|publisher=University of Leeds|access-date=23 July 2015}}</ref>

The university library houses numerous archives, rare books and some objects in its Special Collections ranging from 2,500 BC to the 21st century.<ref name="Catalogue">{{cite web |title=Catalogue |url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/1500/special_collections |website=Special Collections |publisher=University of Leeds |access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref> Special Collections holds five collections designated as outstanding by the [[Arts Council England]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Designated outstanding collections |url=https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication/designated-outstanding-collections |website=Arts Council England |access-date=2 April 2020 |archive-date=4 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104212023/https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication/designated-outstanding-collections |url-status=dead }}</ref> These are the English Literature Collections, the Leeds Russian Archive, the [[Liddle Collection]], [[Leeds University Library's Cookery Collection|the Cookery Collection]] and its [[Leeds University Library's Gypsy, Traveller and Roma Collections|Gypsy, Traveller and Roma Collections]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections/collection/|title=Our collections|publisher=University of Leeds|access-date=30 May 2019}}</ref> The repository contains [[William Shakespeare]]'s [[First Folio]] ''Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories. & Tragedies'' published in 1623.  Special Collections also holds copies of the second, third and fourth folios.<ref name="Catalogue"/> There is a copy of Sir [[Isaac Newton]]'s ''[[Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica]]'', first published 5 July 1687.<ref>{{cite web |title=Catalogue |url=https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/271274 |website=Special Collections |publisher=Leeds University |access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref>

Special Collections holds over 300 incunabula most of which are in the Brotherton Collection.<ref>{{cite web |title=Incunabula Guide |url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections/collection/713/incunabula_guide |website=Special Collections |publisher=University of Leeds |access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref> It also contains a considerable number of medieval manuscripts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Medieval Manuscripts Guide |url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections/collection/707/medieval_manuscripts_guide |website=Special Collections |publisher=University of Leeds |access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> The extensive coin collection consists of 15,000 coins and medals with a wide chronological and geographical spread.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coin Guide |url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections/collection/1491/coin_collection |website=Special Collections |publisher=University of Leeds |access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref> The Feminist Archive North Collections are on deposit. These contain a material relating to women from 1969 to the present day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Feminist Archive North Collection |url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections/collection/705/feminist_archive_north_collections |website=Special Collections |publisher=University of Leeds |access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref>

The Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery, the Treasures Gallery and the International Textile Collection are managed by Special Collections.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Collections |url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections/collection/ |website=Special Collections |publisher=University of Leeds |access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref>

===Computing===
IT Services support the University with a range of services targeted for use by different University communities. University Faculties, Schools and Institutes also provide computing facilities. Collectively these provide computational capability that can be used by staff, students and visitors. Additional computational capability is provided via external [[Cloud Computing]] and [[High Performance Computing]] facilities.

In 2023, a total of 31 centrally managed IT study spaces were available for use.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://it.leeds.ac.uk/it?id=clusters|title = Clusters - University of Leeds IT|access-date = 2 August 2023|publisher = University of Leeds|date = n.d.}}</ref>

===Research===
Many of the academic departments have specialist research facilities, for use by staff and students to support research from internationally significant collections in university libraries to state-of-the-art laboratories. These include those hosted at the [[Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds|Institute for Transport Studies]], such as the University of Leeds Driving Simulator which is one of the most advanced worldwide in a research environment, allowing transport researchers to watch driver behaviour in accurately controlled laboratory conditions without the risks associated with a live, physical environment.<ref name="leeds.ac.uk">[http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/20016/campus_life/175/facilities/3 Research – Facilities – University of Leeds] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017052421/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/20016/campus_life/175/facilities/3 |date=17 October 2015 }}. University of Leeds. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

With extensive links to the [[St James's University Hospital, Leeds|St James's University Hospital]] through the Leeds School of Medicine, the university operates a range of high-tech research laboratories for biomedical and physical sciences, food and engineering – including clean rooms for [[bionanotechnology]] and [[plant science]] greenhouses. The university is connected to [[Leeds General Infirmary]] and the institute of molecular medicine based at [[St James's University Hospital, Leeds|St James's University Hospital]] which aids integration of research and practice in the medical field.<ref name="leeds.ac.uk"/>

The university also operate research facilities in the aviation field, with the [[Airbus A320]] [[flight simulator]]. The simulator was devised with an aim to promote the safety and efficiency of flight operations; where students use the simulator to develop their reactions to critical situations such as engine failure, display malfunctioning and freak weather.<ref name="leeds.ac.uk"/>

In addition to these facilities, many university departments conduct research in their respective fields.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/20024/research_and_innovation/94/facilities |title= Research and Innovation facilities |publisher= University of Leeds |date= 20 April 2009 |access-date= 16 August 2013 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130820100917/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/20024/research_and_innovation/94/facilities |archive-date= 20 August 2013 }}</ref> There are also various research centres, including [[Leeds University Centre for African Studies]].

===Medicine===
{{Main|Leeds School of Medicine}}

[[File:Leeds General Infirmary (12th April 2014) 005.JPG|thumb|The [[Leeds General Infirmary]] (pictured) and [[St James's University Hospital, Leeds|St James's University Hospital]] incorporate the [[Leeds School of Medicine]].]] 
The Leeds School of Medicine is one of the largest medical schools in Europe, with over 250 medical students being trained in each of the clinical years and over 1,000 teaching, research, technical and administrative staff.<ref name="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/medicine">[http://www.leeds.ac.uk/medicine/ University of Leeds, School of Medicine]. University of Leeds. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref> The school has centres of excellence split down into Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health and Therapeutics (LIGHT), Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS), Leeds Institute of Medical Education (LIME) and The Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine (LIMM).<ref name="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/medicine"/> In 2010–11 university guides, the Leeds School of Medicine was ranked as the 11th best medical school in the country by ''[[The Guardian]]''<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/education/table/2010/jun/04/university-guide-medicine University guide 2011: Medicine|Education|guardian.co.uk]. Guardian (8 June 2010). Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref> and 14th by ''The Complete University Guide'' in association with'' [[The Independent]]''.<ref>[http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=8727 University Subject Tables 2011]. The Complete University Guide. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

The medical school has close links with the [[National Health Service (England)|NHS]] and works closely with [[Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust]], comprising six hospitals and numerous primary care training practices in [[Yorkshire and the Humber]].<ref>[http://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ Homepage – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust]. Leedsth.nhs.uk (8 November 2005). Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

The [[Leeds General Infirmary]] and [[St James's University Hospital, Leeds]] are the main teaching hospitals in the West Yorkshire region with St James's University Hospital being one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe.<ref>[http://www.leedsteachinghospitals.com/ Homepage – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211211157/http://www.leedsteachinghospitals.com/ |date=11 February 2012 }}. Leedsteachinghospitals.com (8 November 2005). Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref> The main university campus is adjacent to the Leeds General Infirmary and is directly connected via the Worsley Building of the Leeds Medical School.

Leeds General Infirmary is a centre in the UK for [[neurosurgery]], and one of only 10 centres in the UK for Paediatric cardiology. The hospital features a rooftop landing pad for the [[Yorkshire Air Ambulance|Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service]].

===Rankings and reputation===
{{Infobox UK university rankings
| ARWU_W       = 151–200
| QS_W         = 86
| THE_W        = 118
| LINE_1       = 0
| Complete     = 21
| The_Guardian = 28
| Times/Sunday_Times = 26
}}
[[File:Leeds 10 Years.png|thumb|upright=1.2|University of Leeds' [[Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom|national league table]] performance over the past ten years]]
In the 2021 [[Research Excellence Framework]], Leeds was ranked joint 20th (along with the [[University of Exeter]]) amongst multi-faculty institutions in the UK for the quality (GPA) of its research and 8th for its Research Power (the grade point average score of a university, multiplied by the full-time equivalent number of researchers submitted).<ref>{{cite web |title=REF 2021: Quality ratings hit new high in expanded assessment |date=12 May 2022 |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ref-2021-research-excellence-framework-results-announced |publisher=Times Higher Education |access-date=18 February 2023}}</ref>

Between 2014 and 2015, Leeds was ranked as the 10th most targeted British university by graduate employers, a two place decrease from 8th position in the previous 2014 rankings.<ref name="High Fliers 2015">{{cite web|url=http://www.highfliers.co.uk/download/2017/graduate_market/GMReport17.pdf|title=The Graduate Market in 2017|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref>

Internally, the 2021 [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]] ranked Leeds as 153rd in the world and the 2020 ''CWTS Leiden Ranking'' ranked Leeds 84th.<ref name="leiden">{{cite web|url=http://www.leidenranking.com/ranking/2020|title=CWTS Leiden Ranking 2020|publisher=Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=University of Leeds|url=http://www.universityrankings.ch/institutions/id5282-university_of_leeds-united_kingdom|publisher=The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation and swissuniversities|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> Leeds is ranked 86th in the world (and 13th in the UK) in the 2023 ''[[QS World University Rankings]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2020|title=QS World University Rankings 2021|publisher=Quacquarelli Symonds|access-date=22 September 2016}}</ref> Leeds has also been named University of the Year 2017 by ''The Times'' and ''The Sunday Times''<nowiki/>' Good University Guide. In 2019, it ranked 150th among the universities around the world by ''[[SCImago Institutions Rankings]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scimagoir.com/rankings.php?sector=Higher%20educ.&country=all|title=SCImago Institutions Rankings - Higher Education - All Regions and Countries - 2019 - Overall Rank|website=www.scimagoir.com}}</ref>

In 2009, the university was awarded the [[Queen's Anniversary Prize]] for services to engineering and technology.<ref>[http://www.royalanniversarytrust.org.uk/index.php?article_id=7 The Royal Anniversary Trust] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405205304/http://www.royalanniversarytrust.org.uk/index.php?article_id=7 |date=5 April 2008 }}. The Royal Anniversary Trust. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

===Affiliations===

The university is a founding member of the [[Russell Group]], comprising the leading research-intensive universities in the UK, as well as the [[N8 Group]] for research collaboration,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/may/10/universityguide-uni-leeds|title=Leeds University – Guardian Education|date=10 May 2009|work=[[The Guardian]]|location=London|access-date=25 May 2010}}</ref> the [[Worldwide Universities Network]], the [[Association of Commonwealth Universities]], the [[European University Association]], the [[White Rose University Consortium]], the [[Santander Network]] and the [[CDIO Initiative]]. It is also affiliated to [[Universities UK]]. The [[Leeds University Business School]] holds the 'Triple Crown' of accreditations from the [[Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business]], the [[Association of MBAs]] and the [[European Quality Improvement System]].

===Admissions===
{| class="floatright"
| 
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%; text-align:center; margin-bottom: 5px"
|+UCAS Admission Statistics
!
!2024
!2023
!2022
!2021
!2020
|-
| '''Applications'''{{efn-lg|name=mainscheme}}<ref name=UCASEoC>{{cite web |title=UCAS Undergraduate Sector-Level End of Cycle Data Resources 2024 |url=https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-end-cycle-data-resources-2024 |at=Show me... Domicile by Provider |website=ucas.com |date=December 2024 |publisher=UCAS |access-date=7 February 2025}}</ref>
| 68,055
| 69,085
| 67,565
| 66,200
| 62,250
|-
| '''Accepted'''{{efn-lg|name=mainscheme}}<ref name=UCASEoC/>
| 8,480
| 7,800
| 7,345
| 8,885
| 8,385
|-
| '''Applications/Accepted Ratio'''{{efn-lg|name=mainscheme}}
| 8.0
| 8.9
| 9.2
| 7.5
| 7.4
|-
| '''Offer Rate (%)'''{{efn-lg|name=ukjune}}<ref name="UCAS Offer Rate">{{cite web|title=2024 entry UCAS Undergraduate reports by sex, area background, and ethnic group|date=7 February 2025|url=https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-end-cycle-data-resources-2024/2024-entry-ucas-undergraduate-reports-sex-area-background-and-ethnic-group|publisher=[[UCAS]]|access-date=7 February 2025}}</ref>
| 59.9
| 56.9
| 47.3
| 64.5
| 65.7
|-
| '''[[UCAS Tariff|Average Entry Tariff]]'''<ref name="CUG Entry">{{cite web | url=https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?tabletype=full-table&sortby=entry-standards | title=University League Tables entry standards 2026 |work=The Complete University Guide}}</ref>
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| 162
| 162
| 159
|}
{| style="font-size:80%;float:left"
|{{notelist-lg|refs=
{{efn-lg|name=mainscheme|Main scheme applications, International and UK}}
{{efn-lg|name=ukjune|UK domiciled applicants}}
}}
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible mw-collapsible"; style="font-size:85%; text-align:right;"
|+ class="nowrap" |HESA Student Body Composition (2023/24)
|-
!Domicile<ref name="Table 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/table-1|title=HE student enrolments by HE provider, permanent address, level of study, mode of study, entrant marker, sex and academic year|publisher=[[Higher Education Statistics Agency|HESA]]|access-date=3 April 2025}}</ref> and Ethnicity<ref name="HESA ethnicity">{{cite web|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/whos-in-he/characteristics|title=Who's studying in HE?: Personal characteristics|date=3 April 2025|publisher=[[Higher Education Statistics Agency|HESA]]|access-date=3 April 2025}}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
|[[White people in the United Kingdom|British White]]{{efn|Not be confused solely with [[White British]]}}
|align=right| {{bartable|47|%|2||background:red}}
|-
|[[Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom#Collective terms for minority ethnic groups|British Ethnic Minorities]]{{efn|Includes those who indicate that they identify as [[British Asian|Asian]], [[Black British people|Black]], [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed Heritage]], [[British Arabs|Arab]] or any other ethnicity except White.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|17|%|2||background:green}}
|-
|[[European Union|International EU]]
|align=right| {{bartable|2|%|2||background:blue}}
|-
|[[International students in the United Kingdom|International Non-EU]]
|align=right| {{bartable|35|%|2||background:gray}}
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |Undergraduate [[Widening participation|Widening Participation]] Indicators<ref name="Table 1"/><ref name="Times25">{{cite web |date=24 September 2024 |title=Good University Guide: Social Inclusion Ranking |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk-university-rankings/league-table |work=[[The Times]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Feminism in the United Kingdom#Education|Female]]
|align=right| {{bartable|59|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
|[[Private schools in the United Kingdom|Independent School]]
|align=right| {{bartable|17|%|2||background:orange}}
|-
|Low Participation Areas{{efn|Calculated from the Polar4 measure, using Quintile1, in England and Wales. Calculated from the [[Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation]] (SIMD) measure, using SIMD20, in Scotland.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|10|%|2||background:black}}
|}
For 2016 entry, Leeds received over 50,000 applications for undergraduate courses, making it the 4th most popular university by volume of applications.<ref>{{cite news|title=University league table|publisher =The Sunday Times|access-date=22 January 2018|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/University_Guide/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719070112/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/University_Guide/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 July 2014 | location=London | date=22 September 2017}}</ref> Leeds had the 18th highest average entry qualification for undergraduates of any UK university in 2015, with new students averaging 427 UCAS points,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?o=Entry+Standards|website=Complete University Guide|title=University League Table 2018|access-date=25 April 2017}}</ref> equivalent to just below ABBab in [[GCE Advanced Level (United Kingdom)|A-level]] grades. The university gave offers of admission to 47.3% of its undergraduate applicants in 2022, the 11th lowest offer rate across the country.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cambridge to scrap 'unjust' state school targets|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/11/cambridge-to-scrap-state-school-targets/|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=11 March 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331190103/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/11/cambridge-to-scrap-state-school-targets/|archive-date=31 March 2024}}</ref>

The University of Leeds welcomes more than 9,000 international students from over 170 countries each year, making its campus one of the most diverse and multicultural in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |title=International Students - University of Leeds |url=https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/leeds/international |website=The Complete University Guide |publisher=Complete University Guide |access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>

19.6% of Leeds' undergraduates are [[Independent school (United Kingdom)|privately educated]], the eighteenth highest proportion amongst mainstream British universities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Widening participation: UK Performance Indicators 2016/17|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/news/01-02-2018/widening-participation-tables|website=hesa.ac.uk|publisher=Higher Education Statistics Authority|access-date=1 February 2018}}</ref> In the 2016–17 academic year, the university had a domicile breakdown of 77:4:18 of UK:EU:non-EU students respectively with a female to male ratio of 61:39.<ref>{{cite web|title=Where do HE students study?|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/where-study#provider|website=hesa.ac.uk|publisher=Higher Education Statistics Authority|access-date=9 February 2018}}</ref> Figures for graduates in the 2016–17 year showed that 30% of undergraduates gained a first-class honours degree, 57% gained a 2:1, 12% gained a 2:2 and 1% gained a 3rd.<ref>{{cite news|title=Universities with biggest shares of 2:1s and firsts revealed|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/universities-biggest-shares-21s-and-firsts-revealed|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Times Higher Education}}</ref>

==Organisation and governance==

===Faculties===
The various schools, institutes and centres of the university are arranged into seven faculties, each with a dean, pro-deans and central functions:
* '''Arts, Humanities and Cultures''' (English; History; Philosophy, Religion and History of Science; Institute for Colonial and Postcolonial Studies; Leeds Humanities Research Institute; [[Institute for Medieval Studies, Leeds|Institute for Medieval Studies]]; Languages, Cultures and Societies; School of Media and Communication; Design;  Fine Art, History of Art & Cultural Studies; Music; Performance and Cultural Industries)
* '''Biological Sciences''' (School of Biology; School of Biomedical Sciences; School of Molecular and Cellular Biology)
* '''Business''' (Accounting and Finance; Economics; International Business; Management; Marketing; Work and Employment Relations)
* '''Social Sciences''' (Education; Law; Politics and International Studies; Sociology and Social Policy; Graduate School)
* '''Engineering and Physical Sciences''' (Chemical and Process Engineering; Civil Engineering; Chemistry; Computer Science; Electronic and Electrical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Mathematics; Physics and Astronomy)
* '''Environment''' (Earth and Environment; Geography; [[Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds|Institute for Transport Studies]], School of Food Science and Nutrition)
* '''Medicine and Health''' ([[Leeds Dental Institute]]; Healthcare; Medicine; Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health and Therapeutics; Leeds Institute of Health Sciences; Leeds Institute of Medical Education; Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine; Institute of Psychological Sciences)

===Governance===
The Court serves as a mechanism for the university's accountability to the wider community and to stakeholders, making sure that the university is well managed, properly governed and responsive to public and local interests and concerns. It is made up of mainly lay members.

The Council is the governing body of the university, consisting of mainly lay members along with representatives of staff and students. It is responsible for the proper management and financial solvency of the university, with major policy decisions and corporate strategy being subject to its approval.

The Senate is the principal academic authority of the university. It oversees academic management and sets strategy and priorities, including the curriculum and maintenance of standards.

===International partners===
The university holds a number of formal links with institutions from around the world to share teaching and research and facilitate staff and student exchanges. Numerous European universities participate in the [[Erasmus Programme]] which permits learning across the many institutions in this region. Students at Leeds may choose from twinned European universities, with each faculty having particular university affiliations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://studyabroad.leeds.ac.uk/outgoing/opportunities/study_in_europe/ |title=Europe – Study Abroad – University of Leeds |publisher=University of Leeds |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref>

===Chancellor===
The [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] acts as a ceremonial figurehead and sits on the University Court. Leeds has had seven chancellors since gaining its [[royal charter]] in 1904.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''Chancellors'''
|-
! Name
! Duration
|-
| [[George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon]]
|1904–1909
|-
|[[Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire]]
|1909–1938
|-
|[[Edward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire]]
|1938–1950 
|-
|[[Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood]]
|1951–1965
|-
|[[Katharine, Duchess of Kent]]
|1966–1999
|-
|[[Melvyn Bragg|Melvyn Bragg, the Lord Bragg]]
|1999–2017
|-
|[[Jane Francis|Dame Jane Francis, DCMG]]
|2017–
|}

'''Pro-Chancellor'''

The [[Pro-Chancellor]] deputises for the Chancellor. The first, named in the 1904 charter, was businessman and chairman of the Council of the Yorkshire College,<ref>{{cite web|last=Services|first=Corporate|title=Text of The University of Leeds' Royal Charter|url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/secretariat/charter.html|publisher=University of Leeds|access-date=10 August 2013}}</ref> [[Lupton family#Arthur G. Lupton and his daughters|Arthur Greenhow Lupton]], of a prosperous and prominent family long connected with Leeds and its university. His mother, [[Frances Lupton]], was a pioneering educationalist and more than one of his relatives were [[Lord Mayor of Leeds]]. In 1924, Arthur was a Member for Life of the university and had made substantial donations  – £10,000 – to the university, as had his parents, [[Lupton family|Francis and Frances Lupton]] and his brothers: [[Lupton family|Charles, Hugh and F.M. Lupton]]. University [[archives]] record that Arthur Lupton's uncles, nieces, nephews and first cousins, including [[Lupton family|Mrs E. (Baroness von) Schunck, née Lupton]], had also been generous donators and in 1924, her son-in-law, "[[Albert Kitson, 2nd Baron Airedale|The Right Hon. Lord Airedale]]", was a Member of the Court of Leeds University, having been "nominated by the [[The Crown|Crown]]".<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Leeds University - Twentieth Report: 1924|url=http://digital.library.leeds.ac.uk/12229/5257/LUA-PUB-009-3-3_000.pdf|publisher=University of Leeds 1924 - Jowett and Sowry Ltd.|access-date=9 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Report: University of Leeds - 1910|year = 1910|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IsLOAAAAMAAJ&q=Leeds++university++donations++Darnton+Lupton|publisher=University of Leeds - 1910|access-date=9 October 2017|quote=Donations - Lupton, Darnton (the late), Harehills (Uncle of Arthur G. Lupton)}}</ref>

In the 1920s, Leeds-based law firm ''Middleton & Sons'' – including Leeds (Victoria) University alumni, solicitor [[Family of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge|R. Noel Middleton]], his wife [[Family of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge|Olive]] and his sister [[Family of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge|Gertrude Middleton]], also donated to university building schemes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=C. |first1=Tominey |title=Duchess of Cambridge's great-great aunt was a mental asylum patient - just like Prince William's great-grandmother |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/08/19/duchess-cambridges-great-great-aunt-mental-asylum-patient/ |access-date=20 August 2022 |publisher=UK Daily Telegraph |date=20 August 2022 |quote=In the 1920s, Gertrude was a regular benefactor of the University of Leeds, as was her brother Noel and his wife Olive.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=University Helpers |url=https://www.genesreunited.com.au/searchbna/results?memberlastsubclass=none&searchhistorykey=0&keywords=university%20helpers%20middleton&county=yorkshire%2c%20england&from=1920&to=1937 |access-date=20 August 2021 |publisher=Leeds Mercury Yorkshire, England |date=24 October 1925 |quote=University Helpers ...donations...Miss Gertrude Middleton...}}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite news |title=...Already Promised Leeds University |url=https://www.genesreunited.com.au/searchbna/results?memberlastsubclass=none&searchhistorykey=0&keywords=middleton%20noel&county=yorkshire%2c%20england&from=1924&to=1926 |access-date=27 August 2022 |publisher=Leeds Mercury |date=15 October 1925 |quote=Mr and Mrs Noel Middleton 50 0 0...}}</ref>  R. Noel Middleton's wife was the niece of [[Lupton family|Pro-Chancellor Arthur Lupton]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Noel Middleton 1878-1951|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-13050232|work= BBC News|year=2017|access-date=9 October 2017|quote=He  (R. Noel Middleton) attended Clifton College in Bristol as a boarder before heading to Leeds University and qualifying as a solicitor....married the aristocrat Olive Lupton...}}</ref><ref name=lupton>{{cite book |last=Lupton |first=C. A. |title=The Lupton Family in Leeds |publisher=Wm. Harrison and Son |year=1965 |ref=none}}</ref>

===Vice-Chancellor===
The [[Vice-Chancellor]] of the university acts as the chief executive. The current Vice-Chancellor is [[Shearer West]], the former Vice-Chancellor of the [[University of Nottingham]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Shearer West to swap Nottingham for Leeds as vice-chancellor |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/shearer-west-swap-nottingham-leeds-vice-chancellor |work=Times Higher Education (THE) |date=25 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref> A number of former Vice-Chancellors have had university buildings or halls of residences on the campus named after them. Examples of such dedications include The Edward Boyle Library, [[Bodington Hall]] (accommodation named in honour of the first Vice-Chancellor) and The [[Roger Stevens (diplomat)|Roger Stevens]] Building.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''Vice-Chancellors'''
|-
! Name
! Duration
|-
| Sir [[Nathan Bodington]]
| 1904–1910
|-
| Sir [[Michael Ernest Sadler]]
| 1911–1923
|-
| Sir [[James Black Baillie]]
| 1924–1938
|-
| [[Bernard Mouat Jones]]
| 1938–1948
|-
| [[Charles Morris, Baron Morris of Grasmere]]
| 1948–1963
|-
| Sir [[Roger Stevens (diplomat)|Roger Stevens]]
| 1963–1970
|-
| [[Edward Boyle, Baron Boyle of Handsworth]]
| 1970–1981
|-
| [[William Walsh (academic)|William Walsh]] (Acting Vice-Chancellor)
| 1981–1983
|-
| Sir [[Edward Parkes|Sir Edward W. Parkes]]
| 1983–1991
|-
| Sir [[Alan Wilson (academic)|Alan G. Wilson]]
| 1991–2004
|-
| [[Michael Arthur (academic)|Michael Arthur]]
| 2004–2013
|-
| [[Alan Langlands|Sir Alan Langlands]]
| 2013–2020
|-
| [[Simone Buitendijk]]
| 2020–2023
|-
| [[Shearer West]]
| 2024–
|}

===Finances===
In the financial year ending 31 July 2023, the University of Leeds had the eighth highest turnover out of all British universities with a total income of £979.5&nbsp;million (2021/22 – £924.7&nbsp;million) and total expenditure of £906.1&nbsp;million (2021/22 – £1.043&nbsp;billion).<ref name=Leeds2023/> Key sources of income included £505.8&nbsp;million from tuition fees and education contracts (2021/22 – £499.3&nbsp;million), £184.9&nbsp;million from research grants and contracts (2021/22 – £177.3&nbsp;million), £107.0&nbsp;million from funding body grants (2021/22 – £95.2&nbsp;million), and £15.1&nbsp;million from donations and endowment (2021/22 – £10.7&nbsp;million).<ref name=Leeds2023>{{cite web|url=https://www.leeds.ac.uk/download/downloads/id/3443/annual-report-and-accounts-2022-23.pdf|title=Annual report and accounts 2022–23|publisher=University of Leeds|access-date= 11 December 2023}}</ref>

At year end the University of Leeds had endowments of £83.2&nbsp;million (2021/22 – £87.4&nbsp;million), placing it within the [[List of universities in the United Kingdom by endowment|top twenty in the country]], and total net assets of £897.7&nbsp;million (2021/22 – £773.1&nbsp;million).<ref name=Leeds2023/>

==Student life==

===Students' Union===

{{Main|Leeds University Union}}

The Leeds University Union is a [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|National Union of Students]] affiliated body, located on the main university campus. The union's main purpose is to support Leeds students through providing socialising opportunities, societies and group support, help and advisory services and to aid students wishing to volunteer, campaign and engage with the local communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/ |title=Leeds University Union |publisher=Leeds University Union |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref> The Leeds University Union is also a founding member of the [[Aldwych Group]], which represents the [[students' unions]] of the members of the [[Russell Group]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110724234419/http://www.aldwychgroup.org/members/ Members]. Aldwychgroup.org. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

The [[University of Leeds Refectory]] is the university's main canteen during the day, serving a range of hot and cold food whilst in the evenings it is converted into one of Leeds's largest music venues, having a 2,100-person capacity for live events. Many famous bands and musicians have played at the University of Leeds Refectory throughout their careers. These include [[The Who]] who recorded ''[[Live at Leeds]]'' at the venue (originally in 1970, and then returned in June 2006 to recreate the original show), [[Bob Marley and the Wailers]] (as heard on the remastered 2004 Deluxe edition of ''[[Burnin' (The Wailers album)|Burnin']]'' ), [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Pink Floyd]], and more recently [[Muse (band)|Muse]] (recorded and played on [[MTV]]), [[The Strokes]], [[Bloc Party]], [[Manic Street Preachers]], [[KT Tunstall]], [[Arctic Monkeys]], [[The Coral]] and [[Paul Weller (singer)|Paul Weller]].<ref>[http://www.luuonline.com/clubsandbars/GigHistory Leeds University Union – Homepage]. Luuonline.com (9 August 2010). Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

====Student newspaper====
{{Main|The Gryphon}}

''[[The Gryphon]]'' (formerly known as the ''Leeds Student'') is the weekly student newspaper, published free every Friday during term-time and distributed around the University of Leeds. The articles are written by students, and are largely about local and student based issues. It is one of the country's most active university newspapers and regularly wins national student media awards. Leeds Student was formed in 1970 by the merger of the Leeds University Union newspaper (Union News) and the then Leeds Polytechnic Students Union newspaper, but in November 2005 [[Leeds Metropolitan University]] students voted to disaffiliate from Leeds Student, citing under-representation. The name was changed to ''The Gryphon'' in 2014.

''Leeds Student'' was the 2009 winner of ''The Guardian'' Student Newspaper of the Year award and short-listed for ''The Guardian'' Student Magazine of the Year. Former editors of the newspaper include [[Paul Vallely]] (''[[The Independent]]'') and [[Nicholas Witchell]] ([[BBC News]]).

====Leeds Student Radio====
{{Main|Leeds Student Radio}}

Leeds University Union also operates the student radio station [[Leeds Student Radio]], broadcasting live on their website from 9{{nbsp}}am to midnight every day during term time.

====LSTV (Leeds Student Television)====

LSTV (Leeds Student Television) is a [[Student television in the United Kingdom|student television]] station run by students from the University of Leeds. LSTV produces weekly video content such as Entertainment programme 'On Campus', Sports programme 'Sideline' and News programme 'The Essential', which focuses on local and university news affecting students at the University of Leeds and the local Leeds community.

====Awards====
Leeds University Union (LUU) won the award for the Higher Education Students' Union of the Year at the NUS Awards 2009. In 2008, the union was voted runner up for the award of Higher Education Students' Union of the Year however did win first prize for Equality and Diversity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nusawards.org.uk/ |title=NUS Awards Website |publisher=Nusawards.org.uk |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref>

In 2008, the Leeds University Union became the first student union to achieve Gold Status in the Students' Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI). A feat only matched by the [[University of Sheffield Union of Students]] in mid 2010.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090517124954/http://www.suei.co.uk/news.html The Students' Union Evaluation Initiative]. Suei.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090926075847/http://www.suei.co.uk/members.html The Students' Union Evaluation Initiative]. Suei.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

===Sport===
[[File:Weetwood Fields1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Weetwood Playing Fields]]]]
The university has teams that compete regularly in the [[British Universities and Colleges Sport]] (BUCS) leagues and as of 2016 was ranked 14th in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bucs.org.uk/bucscore/bucspoints.aspx?season=17|title=BUCS Points - BUCScore|website=www.bucs.org.uk|access-date=8 January 2017|archive-date=9 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109113134/https://www.bucs.org.uk/bucscore/bucspoints.aspx?season=17|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Each year the university supports over 20 elite athletes, providing a funding, support services and an interface with university academic departments, to ensure elite athletes have the infrastructure that allows them to compete at the highest level whilst studying. The university also offers sporting scholarships to elite athletes in conjunction with [[Npower (UK)|Npower]] whilst offering Olympic scholarships to prospects preparing to compete at future Olympic Games.<ref>[http://sport.leeds.ac.uk/page.asp?section=104&sectionTitle=Elite+Athletes+and+Scholarships Elite Athletes and Scholarships – Leeds University Sport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112070814/http://sport.leeds.ac.uk/page.asp?section=104&sectionTitle=Elite+Athletes+and+Scholarships |date=12 January 2015 }}. University of Leeds. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

The university competes annually in the [[Christie Cup]], a competition dating back to 1886 which sees the former Victoria Universities of Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester participate in 28 different sports. After the [[Oxford and Cambridge rivalry|rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge]], the Christie's Championships is the oldest inter–university competition on the sporting calendar.

The university is a member of the [[Marylebone Cricket Club|MCC University Centres of Cricketing Excellence]] alongside the [[University of Cardiff|Cardiff]], [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], [[University of Durham|Durham]], [[University of Loughborough|Loughborough]] and [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], where talented young cricketers can further their academic education whilst receiving an expert levels of cricket coaching and competitive match play.<ref>[http://sport.leeds.ac.uk/page.asp?section=189&sectionTitle=MCCU+Cricket MCCU Cricket – Leeds University Sport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827191039/http://sport.leeds.ac.uk/page.asp?section=189&sectionTitle=MCCU+Cricket |date=27 August 2011 }}. University of Leeds. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

University of Leeds Sport offer a wide range of competitive and participation sports, which is used by the student and local population of Leeds who may use certain university facilities. Alongside fitness classes such as yoga and aerobics, the university offers over 36 different sporting clubs, including cricket, football, rugby union, hockey, basketball and badminton which have achieved league and cup wins in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) league.<ref>[http://sport.leeds.ac.uk/page.asp?section=49&sectionTitle=Sports+Clubs Sports Clubs – Leeds University Sport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303133046/http://sport.leeds.ac.uk/page.asp?section=49&sectionTitle=Sports+Clubs |date=3 March 2012 }}. University of Leeds. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.bucs.org.uk/fl/ Home – British Universities & Colleges Sport] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808064521/http://www.bucs.org.uk/fl/ |date=8 August 2011 }}. Bucs.org.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

Whilst the university operated performance and elite level sports, there is an intramural recreational sport programme which is one of the largest of any Higher Education institution in Britain. The Leeds University Union has over 60 sports clubs which range from Cycling to Sailing.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

A £20&nbsp;million spending plan was sanctioned with the aim to add facilities to the university's sporting provisions, including a 25m, 8&nbsp;lane swimming pool and a 200 station health and fitness centre (known as The Edge) which opened in May 2010. The Gryphon Sports Centre opened in 2008 after a £2.5&nbsp;million refurbishment, and caters for [[Racquet|racquet sports]] including badminton and [[Squash (sport)|squash]] whilst the Weetwood Playing Fields are used for football, rugby union, rugby league and hockey.<ref>[http://sport.leeds.ac.uk/landing.asp?section=29&sectionTitle=Facilities Facilities – Leeds University Sport]. University of Leeds. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref> The Brownlee Centre and Bodington cycle circuit were opened in April 2017 and named after alumni Alistair and Jonny Brownlee. Construction was funded by [[Sport England]], [[UK Sport]], [[British Cycling]], [[British Triathlon]] and the university.<ref>University of Leeds, [https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/3991/the_new_brownlee_centre The new Brownlee Centre], accessed 13 January 2018</ref>

The university also offers a range of sporting opportunities for students to gain experience and develop their skills by volunteering within the local community. Volunteers can take up posts that include coaching, events organisation, stewarding and sports administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/sport |title=Sport section of the University's website |publisher=University of Leeds |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref>

===Accommodation===
[[File:Charles Morris Hall - Mary Ogilvie House - Leeds University - geograph.org.uk - 572070.jpg|thumb|right|Mary Ogilvie House (now demolished), student accommodation on the main campus]]
{{Main|University of Leeds accommodation}}

The university provides accommodation in either catered or self-catering rooms, mostly reserved for first year undergraduate students but also for international students, postgraduates, staff and undergraduates who have been unable to find alternative accommodation.

Four of the halls ([[University of Leeds Accommodation#Charles Morris Hall|Charles Morris Hall]], [[University of Leeds Accommodation#Henry Price Building|Henry Price Building]], [[University of Leeds Accommodation#Ellerslie Hall|Ellerslie Hall]] and [[University of Leeds Accommodation#Lyddon Hall|Lyddon Hall]]) are on the campus, while other halls and self-catering accommodation are located throughout the city. [[Bodington Hall]] is approximately four miles north-west of the campus, [[University of Leeds Accommodation#Devonshire Hall|Devonshire Hall]] is situated just under a mile off the main campus,<ref name="leeds2">[http://www.leeds.ac.uk/accommodation/ University of Leeds Accommodation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521113108/https://www.leeds.ac.uk/accommodation |date=21 May 2024 }}. University of Leeds. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref> and other accommodation includes [[University of Leeds Accommodation#Carr Mills|Carr Mills]], [[Liberty Dock Student Residence|Liberty Dock]], [[University of Leeds Accommodation#James Baillie Park|James Baillie Park]], [[University of Leeds Accommodation#Leodis Residences|Leodis Residences]], [[University of Leeds Accommodation#Lupton Residences|Lupton Residences]], [[University of Leeds Accommodation#Montague Burton Residences|Montague Burton Residences]], [[North Hill Court]], [[Opal Tower (Leeds)|Opal 3 Residences]], [[University of Leeds Accommodation#Oxley Residences|Oxley Residences]], [[University of Leeds Accommodation#Sentinel Towers|Sentinel Towers]], [[University of Leeds Accommodation#St Marks Residences|The Tannery]], [[University of Leeds Accommodation#Shimmin|Shimmin]], [[University of Leeds Accommodation#St Marks Residences|St Marks Residences]].<ref name="leeds2"/>

In addition to providing university-owned accommodation, the university works with external accommodation providers such as [[Unite Group|Unite]] and [[Opal Tower (Leeds)|Opal]] who provide private accommodation for both undergraduate students and postgraduates.

The university guarantees first year undergraduates, international undergraduates, undergraduate exchange students and international postgraduate students places in university-owned accommodation on condition that they meet the relevant application deadlines. In common with other institutions, it also runs schemes for students choosing Leeds as their firm or insurance choice through UCAS, with clearing students being supported once accepted.<ref>[http://www.leeds.ac.uk/accommodation/prospective_students.html University of Leeds Accommodation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024224828/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/accommodation/prospective_students.html |date=24 October 2011 }}. University of Leeds. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref>

===Miscellaneous===

The university's Disability Team (based within its Equality Service) arranges and provides academic support services for students who are deaf or have hearing impairments, are blind or partially sighted, have a specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia), have a physical impairment or mobility difficulty, have a long-term medical condition or have a mental health difficulty.

The university is one of the few universities in the UK to include an on-campus Transcription Centre, managed in conjunction with the [[Royal National Institute of Blind People|RNIB]]. The Transcription Centre produces information in a range of accessible formats (including [[braille]], large print, e-text and audio formats) for blind and partially sighted students and staff members – both at Leeds and at other universities, colleges and schools.

==Notable people==
===Alumni===
[[File:Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrives at 10 Downing Street (53836633106).jpg|thumb|[[Keir Starmer]], [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]]]
[[File:Piers sellers v1.jpg|right|thumb|[[Piers Sellers]], veteran of three [[Space Shuttle]] missions]]
{{Main|List of University of Leeds people}}

Alumni from the arts include musicians [[Dan Smith (Bastille)|Dan Smith]], Kyle Simmons and Chris Wood of the band [[Bastille (band)|Bastille]];<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_54370&feature=iv&src_vid=wHf5KrNWAoM&v=cd1qROso0m0|title=Bastille Interview (Part Two) - SPGtv|date=20 March 2013|work=YouTube|access-date=21 June 2015}}</ref> [[Mark Knopfler]] of the band [[Dire Straits]];<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-mark-knopfler-a-red-guitar-started-it-all-11558445862|title=For Mark Knopfler, a Red Guitar Started It All|last=Myers|first=Marc|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=21 May 2019 |access-date=29 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8824061/Top-universities-for-producing-millionaires.html?image=3|title=Top universities for producing millionaires|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=13 October 2011|access-date=29 December 2019|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> [[Simon Rix]], bassist of Leeds-based band the [[Kaiser Chiefs]]; singers [[Corinne Bailey Rae]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/return-leedss-own-corinne-bailey-rae-621461|title=The return of Leeds's own Corinne Bailey Rae|work=The Yorkshire Evening Post|access-date=29 December 2019}}</ref> and [[Little Boots]]; and all of the members of [[alt-J]]. Film director [[Shona Auerbach]], impersonator and actor [[Alistair McGowan]],<ref name=":2">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1563402/Chelsy-Davy-arrives-at-Leeds-University.html|title=Chelsy Davy arrives at Leeds University|last=Clout|first=Laura|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=17 September 2007|access-date=5 February 2020|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> screenwriter [[Jeremy Dyson]],<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/higher/cool-places-to-go-to-college-412249.html|title=Cool places to go to college|date=17 August 2006|website=The Independent|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref> Hong Kong singer and actor [[Leslie Cheung]], composer [[Estelle White]], actress [[Emma Mackey]] and poet [[Tony Harrison]] are also alumni of the university.

Alumni from the humanities and social sciences include author [[Sir Ken Robinson]], author, academic and critic [[Robert Anthony Welch]] and the philosopher and author [[Paul Crowther (philosopher)|Paul Crowther]].

Former Leeds students involved in international organisations and politics include multiple current and former [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|UK Members of Parliament]] and politicians, including current [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] [[Keir Starmer]], former [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]] [[Jack Straw]],<ref name=":3" /> and [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|cabinet ministers]] [[Clare Short]] and [[Sayeeda Warsi]]. The former [[President of Mongolia]], [[Nambaryn Enkhbayar]], [[President of Namibia |Former President of Namibia]], [[Hage Geingob]], current Secretary General of the [[OECD]], [[Ángel Gurría]], [[Menteri Besar of Terengganu|Malaysia politician]] state of [[Terengganu]], [[Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar]], the former Secretary General of the [[International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies|Red Cross]], [[Bekele Geleta]], and the current President of Ireland [[Catherine Connolly]], also studied at the university.

Alumni from the media and related areas include the former [[Daily Mail#Editors|Editor]] of the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' newspaper, [[Paul Dacre]], world music broadcaster and DJs [[Andy Kershaw]] and [[Liz Kershaw]], [[Moda Operandi]] editor [[Tatiana Hambro]], [[IMDb]] founder [[Col Needham]] as well as [[CNN International]] [[news presenter]], [[Richard Quest]]. Founder [[Carrie Rose]], [[BBC News]] Editorial Director [[Kamal Ahmed (journalist)|Kamal Ahmed]], political [[cartoonist]] [[Steve Bell (cartoonist)|Steve Bell]], [[foreign correspondent]] [[Mark Brayne]], television presenters [[Jenni Falconer]] and [[Georgie Thompson]], BBC Medical editor [[Fergus Walsh]], BBC News royal correspondent [[Nicholas Witchell]]<ref name=":2" /> and former [[BBC]] executive [[Alan Yentob]].<ref name=":3" />

Former students in the field of science and technology include [[NASA]] astronaut [[Piers Sellers]], Nobel Prize winner and president of the [[Royal Society]] [[George Porter]], researcher into breast cancer and the development of cancer drug [[Tamoxifen]] [[V. Craig Jordan]], [[Edmund Happold]], founder of [[Buro Happold]], [[Col Needham]] founder of [[IMDB]] and materials scientist [[Stephen Eichhorn]].

Former students in sport include [[triathlete]]s [[Alistair Brownlee]] and [[Jonathan Brownlee]], ocean rower and former UK MP [[Daniel Byles|Dan Byles]], Paratriathlete [[Claire Cashmore]], Alpine climber [[Kenton Cool]], as well as [[England national rugby union team|England rugby union]] players [[Tom Palmer (rugby union)|Tom Palmer]] and [[Alex Lozowski]].

Former students in medicine and health sciences include [[Harold Shipman]]. 

Former students in religion include [[Christina Beardsley]].

=== Nobel Prize winners ===
A number of Nobel laureates have worked or studied at the university.

* [[Sir William Henry Bragg]], [[Order of Merit|OM]], [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]], [[President of the Royal Society|PRS]] (awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Physics]] in 1915), for his services (with his son [[William Lawrence Bragg]]) in the analysis of [[X-ray crystallography|crystal structure by means of X-rays]].
* [[George Porter]], [[Order of Merit|OM]], [[Fellow of the Royal Society|FRS]] (awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry]] in 1967) – University of Leeds graduate – for studies of extremely fast chemical reactions ([[flash photolysis]]).
* [[Wole Soyinka]] (awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] in 1986) – University of Leeds graduate – the Nigerian writer was awarded for the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986.
* [[Archer John Porter Martin]] (awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry]] in 1952), was an English chemist who shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the invention of partition chromatography with Richard Synge.
* [[Richard Laurence Millington Synge]] (awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry]] in 1952), was a British biochemist, and shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the invention of partition chromatography with Archer Martin. It was during his time in Leeds that he worked with Archer Martin, developing partition chromatography, a technique used in the separation mixtures of similar chemicals, that revolutionized analytical chemistry.
* [[Piers Forster]] – University of Leeds staff member – contributed to the reports of the IPCC, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.<ref>[http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/nobel/Nobel_statement_final.pdf IPCC Statement about the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525014000/http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/nobel/Nobel_statement_final.pdf |date=25 May 2015 }}. IPCC (29 October 2012). Retrieved 4 April 2004.</ref>

===Honorary graduates===
{{Main|List of Honorary Graduates of the University of Leeds}}

Since the university was granted its own [[royal charter]] in 1904, the university has awarded honorary degrees ''(honoris causa)'' to notable individuals as part of their yearly graduation ceremonies. The degree awarded itself can vary but is typically a doctorate or, less commonly, a master's degree, and may be awarded to someone who has no prior connection with the university.

==Other history==
[[File:Blue Plaques at Leeds University (8499078268).jpg|thumb|Blue Plaques at Leeds University]]
St George's Field, part of the University of Leeds campus, is the former [[Woodhouse Cemetery]], where is buried [[Pablo Fanque]] (William Darby), who was a black circus proprietor for 30 years during the Victorian period.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://curate.tumblr.com/post/406315807/the-essays-in-black-victorians-black-victoriana |title=crt, The essays in Black Victorians/Black Victoriana |publisher=Curate.tumblr.com |date=22 February 2010 |access-date=16 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322055212/http://curate.tumblr.com/post/406315807/the-essays-in-black-victorians-black-victoriana |archive-date=22 March 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fairsarefun.net/html/picture.aspx?id=49&f=133,134,49,136,137,280,48,279,281,282 |title=Picture Peep behind the scenes |publisher=Fairsarefun.net |date=6 January 1990 |access-date=16 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821134607/http://www.fairsarefun.net/html/picture.aspx?id=49&f=133,134,49,136,137,280,48,279,281,282 |archive-date=21 August 2011 }}</ref> Fanque's wife, Susannah Darby, is also buried at the cemetery. There is a monument that Fanque erected to her, and a smaller monument to him. [[John Lennon]] referenced Fanque in [[The Beatles]] song "[[Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!]]" on the album ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]''. On 8 October 2010, the Leeds University Union, as part of the university's annual Light Night celebration, unveiled a commemorative plaque at Fanque's and Darby's gravesite.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/ents/event/2307/ |title=Blue Plaques and Circus Skills: Pablo Fanque |publisher=Leedsuniversityunion.org.uk |date=8 October 2010 |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref>

There are several [[Blue Plaque]]s on the campus, including those awarded to [[Clifford Allbutt]] and [[William Henry Bragg]].

Over the weekend of the  16–17 March 1974, the UK's first national trans conference ‘Transvestism and Transsexualism in Modern Society’, organised by the [[The Beaumont Society|Beaumont Society]], was held at the University of Leeds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The UK's first national trans conference |url=https://wyqs.co.uk/stories/the-uks-first-national-trans-conference/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=West Yorkshire Queer Stories |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image  = [[File:Coat of Arms of the University of Leeds.svg|150px]]
|escutcheon = Vert, an open book Proper, edged and clasped Gold, inscribed with the words "Et augebitur scientia", between in chief three mullets Argent and in base a rose of the last barbed and seeded Proper.
|crest = On a wreath Argent and Vert, a Greek sphinx Gules.
|notes = Granted 10 August 1905.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=University_of_Leeds |title=University of Leeds |date=5 September 2020 | publisher=Heraldry of the World |accessdate=18 March 2023}}</ref>}}

== See also ==
{{Portal bar|Yorkshire|Education}}
* [[Armorial of UK universities]]
* [[DugOut Theatre]]
* [[List of modern universities in Europe (1801–1945)]]
* [[List of universities in the UK]]
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}
* [http://www.luu.org.uk/ Leeds University Union]

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