Study a graduate program in Leeds

Population: 750,000

City overview

With two major universities and several higher education colleges, Leeds offers postgraduate students plenty of options. Leeds is a vibrant and extremely varied city, with culture, sport and good old Yorkshire values at the heart of living in Leeds.

Known (in some circles) as the ‘Knightsbridge of the North’, shopping is one thing that Leeds excels at. The city offers everything from the cutting edge couture and independent shops to the best of the high street.

Studying a graduate program in Leeds will also open you up to explore Yorkshire’s famous countryside, with the Pennines and Peak District close by.

Education profile

If you want to study a graduate program in Leeds, you will have plenty of options. Leeds is home to two universities offering postgraduate courses:

• University of Leeds
• Leeds Metropolitan

Other higher education institutions in the city include Leeds Trinity University College, Leeds College of Art, Leeds College of Music and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

Research and taught courses are both offered as graduate programs in Leeds, with hundreds of postgraduate courses on offer at both universities and the colleges. Both types of Masters normally take 1-2 years to complete, with PhD programs taking 3-4 years full time or six years part-time.

Immigration and visas

EU citizens are permitted to take a graduate program in Leeds providing they fulfil the following:

• Are studying in the UK for more than three months
• Are enrolled at an accredited university or institution
• Have proof of sufficient funds to cover your graduate program in the UK for its duration

Non-EU students will need to apply for a student visa under the tier 4 visa category. They will need to demonstrate the following:

• Proof of funding to cover a postgraduate course and living costs
• A confirmation of acceptance to study (CAS) reference from a university with sponsor status
• Adequate English language skills

You can find out more about visas at the UK Border Agency.

Life in Leeds

Life in Leeds is diverse – the city is home to more than 75 different nationalities, but there is a real community feel. Leeds has one of the highest satisfaction levels among residents in the country, and a recent survey showed that 94% of residents were proud of their city.

Leeds is a great place to study a graduate program. The city is full of cultural attractions such as the Royal Armouries, Thackray Museum and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. If sport is more your thing, then head to studenty Headingley, which is home to both Yorkshire Cricket Club and Leeds Rhinos rugby club. 

Working in Leeds

Non-EU international students wanting to stay on to work in Leeds after their studies will need to apply for a work visa. You can find out more about the various visa options through the UK Border Agency.

As with many UK cities, particularly in the north, Leeds has moved away from its traditional manufacturing economic base to a service based industry. Growing industries include retail, call centres and media.

Leeds is also one of the largest financial centres in Britain outside of London, with more than 124,000 people working in the sector.

Accommodation

Postgraduate students in Leeds have the choice of living in halls of residence or privately. Students opting to live in private accommodation usually choose to live in the following areas:

• Headingley
• Hyde Park
• Burley
• City centre

Traditionally, Headingley has been the most popular choice for students in Leeds and has a strong community feel. However, it’s popularity has driven rental price s up and led to some common complaints with high density student areas such as noise, littering and increased crime. This has led to more students looking at Hyde Park and city centre flats.

Expect to pay around £250-£350 a month for a room in a shared house in Leeds.  

Weather and climate

Leeds has an oceanic climate typical of most of the UK. Weather in the city is great influenced by the nearby Pennines mountain range. Expect the main winter months to be between December and February, when temperatures will average around 3C. The warmest summer months are between June and August, with a slightly cooler than UK average of around 16C.

What to do next

Are you interested in studying a graduate program in Leeds? If so, you should sign up for our Free Application Service. We'll provide you with tailored information, courses to suit you and the option to apply online for the graduate program you want.