The University of Leicester

Leicester, England

Leicester is almost exactly in the center of England. London is 100 miles south; the trip by rail takes just over one hour. One of England’s oldest cities, Leicester, with a population of 300,000, is now a prosperous commercial and manufacturing center. The city has a vibrant and youthful feel, with students making up about 10% of the population when classes are in session. Continental style street cafes in the summer, supper clubs and pubs, excellent theaters and cinemas and an abundant range of restaurants add to the character of the city. Leicester lays claim to being England’s first “Environment City”, with many green initiatives including riverside walkways, bike routes and recycling programs. Leicester’s 700 year-old public market is Europe’s largest covered market.

A wide variety of entertainment is available locally, and places such as Oxford, Cambridge, York, Stratford-upon-Avon, Chester, and Warwick are within an easy day trip.

Leicester University admitted its first students in 1921 and was granted its Royal Charter in 1957. The University currently has over 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The main campus occupies an attractive site close to the city center, with other buildings and some of the student accommodations located in the immediate neighborhood.

The University of Leicester has been ranked joint first for teaching quality and overall satisfaction amongst universities teaching full-time students in the 2005 National Student Survey.

Placement availability: Currently accepting KU students for fall, spring or academic year

University Website: www.le.ac.uk

International Office: http://www.le.ac.uk/ua/io/

Courses available: http://www.le.ac.uk/international/sa/courses.html; KU course equivalencies for The University of Leicester

University Accommodations: http://www.le.ac.uk/admissions/ugprospectus/placetolive.html

City Websites:
http://www.le.ac.uk/cwis/leicester.html
http://www.goleicestershire.com/
http://www.le.ac.uk/leicester/guide/cg.html
http://www.knowhere.co.uk/245_goodbad.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/virtual_tours/index.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/360_images/index.shtml

Push Guide: http://www.push.co.uk/

Guardian Guide: http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/universityguide/profile/story/0,9988,486124,00.html

Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education departmental reviews:
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/reports/instReports.asp?instID=H-0125
(Rated excellent in: Chemistry, English, History, Law)

Semester in Leicester program

Students may also choose to participate in the Semester in Leicester program. It is open to students as early as the sophomore year. In addition to taking courses to fulfill KU general or major requirements, students will have the unique opportunity to participate in a week-long program in Rome or Prague and Berlin during spring break or a week-long cultural heritage tour of England in the fall. Visit the Semester in Leicester program page for more information.

Return to the GBDX program page