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5 reasons to study abroad at Leeds

Four students walking and chatting in a beautiful Victorian shopping arcade in Leeds city centre

Studying abroad at Leeds gives you the opportunity to study a semester or full academic year at a Russell Group university in the world top 100 (QS World Rankings 2026).

I am truly grateful to University of Leeds for making my exchange experience so wonderful. It has given me not only academic knowledge but also a broader perspective on life. I have met incredible people, explored new places, and stepped out of my comfort zone in ways I never imagined.

Why choose Leeds?

1. A tailored study experience

Choose from our wide range of modules and tailor your study abroad experience to your interests. If you need to improve your English language skills, you can take a pre-sessional English course.

2. Guaranteed accommodation

We are one of the only UK universities to offer guaranteed University accommodation for our Study Abroad students, whether you are studying for the whole academic year or just one semester (if you apply by the deadline). Free membership for The Edge, our indoor sports complex with gym, is included.

3. Our beautiful campus

Our campus is one of the largest in the UK and is just a short walk from Leeds city centre. Take a look around with our virtual campus experience, including 360° tours, galleries and more.

The award-winning Leeds University Union (LUU) gives you access to over 300 activities, clubs and societies. There’s also a student advice centre, shops, bars and clubs.

4. Our multicultural city

Leeds is one of the UK’s most popular student cities – it’s affordable, multicultural and surrounded by easily accessible countryside. Its central location means London, Manchester or Edinburgh are all within three hours on the train.

The city centre is compact an easy to get around, but has a wide variety of shops, hundreds of bars, clubs and restaurants, and several galleries, museums and theatres. Find out more on our Leeds city life pages or the Visit Leeds website.

5. Student support

We offer lots of support for international students, including:

  • application and pre-arrival support.
  • free airport pick-up service from Manchester Airport and Leeds Bradford Airport.  
  • International Orientation - a bespoke programme of talks, events and campus tours to welcome you to campus and help you settle in. 
  • an allocated parent school with a dedicated study abroad coordinator, and a personal tutor to provide academic advice.
  • immigration advice and guidance on life in the UK from the Student visa advice service.
  • help with developing your English Language skills (if English isn’t your first language) from our Language Centre.
  • academic study skills support from Skills@Library to help you get used to the UK academic system.
  • support for students with a disability.
  • support and wellbeing services.
  • a Student Information Service for help with any questions or problems. They have a helpline, an email address and five information points on campus.
  • Leeds University Union (LUU) Help and Support: independent of the University, LUU’s Help and Support team can offer you support on a range of issues.

Information about transcripts

If you are considering studying with us, please read our information about transcripts – at Leeds we can only provide official transcripts after results day in the summer, including students who are studying at Leeds for semester 1 only and finish in January. 

Hear from our students

To learn more about student life in Leeds, chat to a current University of Leeds student.

You can also read blogs from previous study abroad students to find out how they made the most of their time here.

Follow Leeds University Study Abroad on Instagram: @leedsunibound.