University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2027-28  Introduction

The University of Leeds is a research-intensive institution, which creates, advances and disseminates knowledge. Our aim is to develop outstanding graduates and scholars who can make a major impact upon global society. 

The University is shaped by the values of collaboration, compassion, inclusivity and integrity. The setting of admission requirements plays a key role in maintaining academic excellence and inclusivity throughout the process of admission. Our policies and practice are driven by the belief that the University is enriched by having a body of students and postgraduate researchers that reflects the community at large and includes students and postgraduate researchers from all parts of the UK and overseas.

The University of Leeds is committed to providing a professional admissions service that operates with integrity, through clear and transparent policies and procedures. The University aims to provide fair and equitable access to all prospective students and postgraduate researchers who have the potential to benefit from and contribute to academic life at the University. The University recognises that it may need to demonstrate a flexible approach and, where appropriate, make adjustments for individual applicants. This includes, but is not limited to, the widening access interventions outlined in the University’s Access and Participation Plan.

The University is committed to providing accurate and clear information to support applicants to make an informed decision about their course. The University requires academic schools to publish guideline entry requirements for all courses. Offer letters include details of any conditions an applicant must meet to be accepted on to a course, as relevant to the individual application.  

For consistency and fairness, the general principles and procedures in this policy apply to all academic schools. Some schools and faculties also publish additional admissions policies or admissions guidance, which support this main University policy and provide more detail about course-specific selection criteria and processes.

Visit Course Search for details of any additional policy or guidance specific to a foundation, undergraduate, taught postgraduate or pre-sessional English language course. Additional information may also be found on the relevant school or faculty website, the International Foundation Year website, the foundation courses website and the Language Centre website, as appropriate.

For postgraduate research programmes, see the postgraduate research applying page or relevant graduate school website. For Incoming Study Abroad (ISA), see the ISA applying webpage, or, for the Leeds International Summer School (LISS), see the LISS applying webpage. For General English courses, see the General English pages on the Language Centre website.

This policy is reviewed annually and overseen by the Student Recruitment Steering Group for taught courses and by the University’s Postgraduate Research Recruitment Group for research programmes. 

Policies and procedures for the admission of students and postgraduate researchers may be revised in line with changes to the internal and external admissions environment. For example, the University continually develops its widening access strategy and processes in line with Office for Students (OfS) guidance and the University’s value of inclusivity.

Any amendments made to this policy after the point of publication will be summarised in the Version control section at the bottom of the Applying section.

Admissions decisions at the University of Leeds are made by academic schools and/or faculties in order to admit applicants who have the potential to succeed on course. The Admissions Service, provided by professional services staff, is responsible for managing the admissions procedures in line with the University’s admissions policies, providing support and advice to its staff, enquirers and applicants.

The Admissions Service is part of Integrated Student Recruitment (ISR), which also comprises Marketing and the International Office. ISR colleagues work together and alongside academic colleagues to deliver the University’s recruitment strategy.

Admissions Tutors and Directors of Postgraduate Research Studies, as relevant, work collaboratively with admissions and marketing colleagues in delivering the academic elements of the recruitment strategy and the faculty/school offer-making strategy.

This work includes reviewing and implementing faculty or school admissions policies/guidance through faculty recruitment committees or groups. 

All members of academic and professional services staff with responsibility for the admissions process are given appropriate training and guidance on national or institutional changes to admissions policy or procedures.