The rise of Leeds as a clubbing mecca to rival Manchester has added to the attractions of a university which has long been one of the giants of the higher education system.

It was the most popular university in Britain in 2003 and 2004, and has been second only to the recently merged Manchester University ever since, closing the gap significantly at the start of 2008.

The university plans to invest £172 million in new buildings and bring in more than 100 senior academics over the next few years in order to break into the top 50 universities in the world.

It is currently 80th in the world rankings published by The Times Higher Education and QS.

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An unusually wide range of degrees gives applicants more than 700 undergraduate programmes to choose from, with over 1,300 academic staff teaching 33,000 students.

Development

The university occupies a 140-acre site, two thirds of which is designated a conservation area, within walking distance of the city centre. The buildings are a mixture of Victorian and modern, the latest of which has seen a £4 million investment in chemistry laboratories housed in a listed building.

Other recent projects have extended the library, provided more space for biology and moved the business school into new £10-million premises. The university had begun to spread its wings by merging with Bretton Hall College, near Wakefield, with its sculpture park and established reputation in the performing and visual arts. But it has already closed the campus and brought the new Faculty of Performing Arts and Cultural Industries back to Leeds, where there will be a £1.5-million development including a theatre, performance design studio and rehearsal space.

Nine other colleges in various parts of the county offer Leeds courses, but handle their own admissions. Further afield, Leeds is also part of a “Worldwide Network” which brings together four American and four British universities to collaborate initially on research, postgraduate degree programmes and continuing professional development. There was already a thriving European programme involving more than 100 Continental partners and a flow of students in both directions. A free-standing language unit caters for casual learners as well as specialists.

Teaching

Leeds has followed the fashion for modular courses, enabling its students to take full advantage of a growing range of interdisciplinary degrees. Almost a quarter now take dual honours or combinations such as communications, women’s studies or international studies. The university was chosen to house a national centre of excellence in interdisciplinary teaching and another in assessment and learning in medical practice settings. Business and management is also increasingly popular, the business school having moved into the former Leeds Grammar School site.

Electrical and mechanical engineering, English, food science, Italian and town planning were all rated internationally outstanding for research in 2001, when Leeds had among the largest number of academics in the national assessment exercise. Teaching ratings were generally good, with education, philosophy, physics and healthcare studies awarded maximum points. Medical science and pharmacy produced by far the best results in the latest National Student Survey, which saw the university slip back after finishing in the top 20 in 2006.

Student scene

Student facilities are generally first rate. Leeds teams regularly excel in competition and the university hosts one of five centres of cricketing excellence. The 8,000 computer workstations are among the most at any university and the library one of the biggest. Nearly a quarter of the undergraduates come from independent schools, and there is a low proportion of working-class students – less the one in five. But the projected dropout rate has improved and, at less than 8 per cent, is below the national average for the university’s courses and entry grades. The already large students’ union, famous for its long bar and bigname rock concerts, has been extended to cope with the latest phase in the university’s expansion. A £4.5-million upgrade has provided a new venue, more shops and catering facilities. Town–gown relations are generally good.

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