University of Leicester

The student-run Students’ Union promotes empowerment, inclusivity and innovation, and clubs and societies are available for a huge range of interests, including many tailored to international students.

The International Student Experience team runs Welcome events that offer practical help, such as registering with a doctor and opening a bank account, plus free year-round activities including games afternoons, cultural crafts and quiz nights, open to students and staff.

The Careers and Employability Service offers CV-building workshops, mock interviews and one-to-one consultations, and helps students find part-time work, industry placements and international job prospects.

The MyCareers Portal provides career planning, job listings, workshops and training courses, and remains available to alumni after graduation.

Leicester was named the best place to live and work in the East Midlands by the Demos-PwC Good Growth Index 2023. The city offers escape rooms, bowling, mini-golf and cinemas, plus the Golden Mile, known for its authentic Indian cuisine and the largest Diwali celebrations outside India.

Cultural highlights include a Caribbean Carnival and England’s largest comedy festival, alongside museums and galleries, and sports fans can follow Leicester City Football Club, Leicester Tigers rugby club and Leicester Riders basketball club. Green spaces nearby include the University Botanic Gardens, Bradgate Park, Aylestone Meadows, New Walk and Abbey Park.

Student Support Services is the first point of contact for questions and advice, backed by a dedicated International Student Experience team.

Student Wellbeing offers free personalised mental health support, wellbeing check-ins and exam assistance, and the AccessAbility Centre supports students with learning difficulties, sensory disabilities, mobility challenges, mental health conditions, long-term health issues and autism, including study skills support, alternative exam arrangements and quiet study spaces. Safety is covered by 24/7 security and the SafeZone app.

The Village combines Edwardian houses with modern purpose-built residences surrounded by green space, including a gym, allotments and The Village Hub, which has a cinema room, music rooms and study spaces; a free university shuttle bus serves the site.

The City, near the central campus, offers townhouse-style flats, micro-flats, standard and premium en-suites, and studio and one-bedroom flats, with Freemen’s Kitchen and Bar nearby.

The university guarantees accommodation for all first-year students who apply by 1 September of their entry year, and the Residential Life team runs year-round events and looks after resident safety.

Recent investment of more than £500 million has shaped facilities including the Sir Bob Burgess Building, a four-storey hub with two large lecture theatres, flexible teaching spaces and a staff lounge and work area.

Further study spaces include the David Wilson Library, the Percy Gee Building (home to the Students’ Union) and Brookfield, with social spaces at Centenary Square, the O2 Academy and Victoria Park, and dining available at Campus Kitchen in the Students’ Union.

Two sports centres offer swimming pools, well-equipped gyms, yoga, regular fitness classes and all-weather pitches near The Village accommodation, with many sports groups competing at national and international levels.

Over 200 student societies are supported by the Students’ Union, spanning arts, faith, national cultures, politics and hobbies, and students can start new societies with Students’ Union support and funding.

The university is targeting net-zero emissions by 2040, ten years ahead of the UK government mandate, with sustainability as one of four core guiding principles.

Initiatives include Sustainable Development Goals resources, carbon literacy training, low-carbon workplaces and greener labs, alongside engagement with policymakers locally, nationally and internationally.