Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Leeds is a big Russell Group university with one compact campus on the northern edge of the city centre. You can walk from lectures to the shops and bars of central Leeds in about 15 minutes, and most halls are within walking distance or a short bus ride, many in Headingley or Hyde Park.
It's large, at around 35,000 students, so there's a huge choice of clubs and a very busy social scene. Leeds is also cheaper than many southern cities, although university halls still average around £198 a week self-catered for 2026/27. If you want a lively student city with a proper campus at its heart, it's a strong pick.
Known for
The University of Leeds is 21st out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 54.6, above the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Keele University | 55.8 |
| 20 | Norwich University of the Arts | 55 |
| 21 | University of Leeds | 54.6 |
| 22 | University of Nottingham | 54.6 |
| 23 | University of Oxford | 54.6 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
4th of 124 · Societies Score 70.8
13th of 124 · Inclusion Score 75.3
14th of 124 · Balance Score 56
19th of 124 · Social Score 65.9
19th of 124 · Value Score 60.9
26th of 124 · Nightlife Score 60.4
27th of 124 · Innovation Score 63.9
40th of 124 · Affordability Score 59.2
44th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 54.3
52nd of 124 · Freshers Score 57.3
53rd of 124 · Sustainability Score 54
59th of 124 · Employability Score 31.7
62nd of 123 · Happiness Score 46.8
66th of 124 · Safety Score 42
67th of 122 · Careers Score 30.6
Leeds as a student city
Ranked 25th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 55.1.
The University of Leeds appears in 64 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 3rd | of 37 | 94 |
| Biotechnology | 1st | of 10 | 52 |
| Architecture | 6th | of 55 | 130 |
| Product Design | 5th | of 43 | 119 |
| Aeronautical Engineering | 1st | of 8 | 35 |
| Criminology | 12th | of 94 | 185 |
| Human Resource Management | 10th | of 58 | 136 |
| Economics | 16th | of 85 | 156 |
| Fine Art | 11th | of 58 | 140 |
| Computer Science | 20th | of 102 | 178 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music | 11th | of 56 | 126 |
| Aerospace Engineering 2026 table | 6th | of 30 | 95 |
| Psychology | 22nd | of 108 | 178 |
| Law | 20th | of 97 | 166 |
| Business and Management | 24th | of 114 | 191 |
| Robotics | 7th | of 32 | 98 |
| Journalism | 13th | of 59 | 124 |
| Graphic Design | 15th | of 68 | 149 |
| Linguistics | 6th | of 27 | 72 |
| Physics | 10th | of 45 | 112 |
| Chemical Engineering | 7th | of 30 | 83 |
| Biomedical Science | 23rd | of 93 | 155 |
| History | 19th | of 76 | 140 |
| Marketing | 22nd | of 88 | 160 |
| Data Science | 13th | of 50 | 110 |
| Nursing | 24th | of 85 | 154 |
| Biochemistry | 17th | of 60 | 125 |
| Electrical Engineering | 19th | of 67 | 131 |
| Social Work | 19th | of 67 | 147 |
| Fashion Design | 14th | of 49 | 117 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 22nd | of 77 | 147 |
| Media and Communication | 23rd | of 79 | 153 |
| Biology | 15th | of 51 | 114 |
| Performing Arts | 11th | of 37 | 96 |
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 18th | of 60 | 122 |
| Art and Design | 4th | of 13 | 56 |
| Film Production | 27th | of 87 | 162 |
| Midwifery | 17th | of 54 | 101 |
| Mathematics | 20th | of 61 | 118 |
| Teaching | 26th | of 79 | 143 |
| Medicine | 10th | of 30 | 74 |
| Chemistry | 15th | of 44 | 100 |
| Neuroscience | 9th | of 26 | 74 |
| Sociology | 31st | of 86 | 147 |
| Statistics | 10th | of 27 | 70 |
| Primary Education | 22nd | of 59 | 125 |
| International Relations | 27th | of 71 | 122 |
| PPE | 12th | of 31 | 72 |
| Civil Engineering | 23rd | of 58 | 111 |
| Construction Management 2026 table | 4th | of 10 | – |
| English Language and Literature | 22nd | of 54 | 103 |
| Politics | 32nd | of 78 | 124 |
| Geology | 9th | of 21 | 54 |
| Zoology | 16th | of 37 | 84 |
| Sports Science | 34th | of 78 | 126 |
| Philosophy | 25th | of 54 | 100 |
| Environmental Science | 22nd | of 47 | 92 |
| Geography | 31st | of 63 | 113 |
| Teacher Training 2026 table | 5th | of 10 | – |
| Actuarial Science | 8th | of 14 | 42 |
| Bioinformatics 2026 table | 6th | of 10 | – |
| Classics | 13th | of 20 | 54 |
| Radiography | 19th | of 29 | 55 |
| Finance 2026 table | 8th | of 10 | – |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Leeds University Union (LUU) sits in the middle of campus and is one of the busiest in the country, with 350+ clubs and societies, bars, shops and gig venues including the Refectory, where The Who recorded Live at Leeds in 1970. The Edge sports centre is on campus too. Beyond campus, Headingley and Hyde Park are packed with students, pubs and cheap eats, and the city centre's bars, clubs and live music are a short walk away.
University halls cost £125–£283 per week (2026/27 provisional rents; self-catered average £198, catered average £248) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
Leeds guarantees an offer of university accommodation if you apply by the deadline and you are a new first-year undergraduate, a new undergraduate exchange student or an international undergraduate. First-year undergraduates who have accepted Leeds as their firm choice must apply by 1 July. If Leeds was your insurance choice, or you came through Clearing, you're guaranteed an offer of university-arranged accommodation if you apply by 31 August.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lupton Residences | Headingley | shared bathroom | £125/wk | The cheapest option: 640 rooms in the heart of Headingley. £5,250 for a 42-week undergraduate contract. |
| Devonshire Hall Catered | Headingley | shared bathroom and en-suite | £138/wk | Historic hall with 548 rooms, offering both catered and self-catered rooms (£138–£264 a week), within walking distance of campus. |
| James Baillie Park | Between campus and Headingley | shared bathroom, en-suite and studios | £158/wk | Run with Unite Students: 563 rooms, £158–£246 a week. |
| Montague Burton | Near campus | shared bathroom | £164/wk | 416 rooms in a student village with a strong community feel. £6,732 for a 41-week contract. |
| Henry Price Residences | Campus, by Woodhouse Moor | shared bathroom and en-suite | £169/wk | 355 rooms on campus. Shared bathroom £169–£185 and en-suite £195–£208 a week (42 weeks). |
| Central Village | City centre, next to campus | en-suite and studios | £204/wk | 979 rooms close to The Edge sports centre, £204–£209 a week. |
| Charles Morris Hall Catered | Campus | shared bathroom and en-suite | £215/wk | 625 rooms right on campus, with catered and self-catered options (£215–£225 a week). |
| Lyddon Hall Catered | Campus | shared bathroom and en-suite | £217/wk | Small catered hall (150 rooms) next to the students' union, £217–£283 a week. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Right next to campus and Woodhouse Moor. Dense terraced streets, very studenty and lively.
The classic Leeds student suburb, about 1.5–2 miles from campus, with the famous Otley Run pubs.
Close to campus and handy for the city centre, with plenty of shared houses.
Mostly private halls and flats: pricier, but close to everything.
Top tip
Applications open on 1 November for the following September, and you must have firmly accepted Leeds through UCAS first. Firm-choice first years need to apply by 1 July to keep the guarantee. Catered halls include 12 meals a week in term. For second-year houses, Unipol (which runs some university-partnered properties) is a good place to start.
The university estimates a total of £171–£466 a week depending on lifestyle, or about £12,480 for a 39-week year on an average budget. Self-catered halls average £198 a week and catered halls £248 for 2026/27. Private rents average around £210 a week, but range widely. Groceries and personal spending are fairly modest compared with London or the South East.
Getting around
Campus is a short walk from Leeds city centre and the main railway station. Buses run frequently along Otley Road and Woodhouse Lane between the city centre, campus, Hyde Park and Headingley, and Headingley and Burley Park stations are close to many halls and houses. Many students simply walk.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Leeds is 21st out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 54.6. Its strongest results are for student societies (4th), inclusion (13th), work-life balance (14th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Leeds places highest for Pharmacology (3rd of 37), Biotechnology (1st of 10), Aeronautical Engineering (1st of 8). Across our awards, it also stands out for student societies.
Yes. Leeds is one of the 24 Russell Group universities. It's also part of the N8 Research Partnership and the White Rose University Consortium with Sheffield and York.
Yes, if you apply by the deadline. New first-year undergraduates with Leeds as their firm choice must apply by 1 July. Insurance-choice and Clearing students are guaranteed an offer of university-arranged accommodation if they apply by 31 August.
For 2026/27 (provisional), rooms run from £125 a week at Lupton to £283 a week for catered en-suites at Lyddon Hall. Self-catered halls average £198 a week and catered halls £248, with bills included.
Most move to shared houses in Hyde Park, Headingley or Woodhouse, all close to campus. Hyde Park is the nearest and most studenty. Headingley is a bit further out but has the famous Otley Run pubs.
Very close. The university says campus is a short walk from the city centre, and most students walk into town for shopping and nights out.
Leeds University Union says it has 350+ clubs and societies, so there's something for almost every interest, from sport to music, culture and volunteering.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
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