With a history dating as far back as 1846, Leeds Arts University has been cultivating the next generation of creativity in students for over 170 years through its range of creative courses.
A specialist university, Leeds Arts University offers just 23 BA (Hons) carefully curated undergraduate degrees. This focus is its strength, allowing the university to ensure it places all of its efforts and funding into creative arts qualifications ensuring quality and collaboration across course areas.. There is also the option to study each of these undergraduate degrees over four years to include a placement year.
Leeds Arts University also offers a selection of further education courses as well as postgraduate degrees for students who wish to continue their studies. In all, there are around 2,500 students attending at any time, creating a diverse but close-knit community.
Students benefit from expert tuition delivered by tutors with extensive industry experience, in courses that are tailored to allow students to express their own creative abilities. With learning occurring in state-of-the-art, purpose-built infrastructure, students benefit from ultra-modern facilities and resources across all courses.
Outside of the classroom, quality student support is available, including specific careers coaching, mental health support, financial guidance, and help finding accommodation.
Based in one the UK's best student city, students at Leeds Arts University become part of Leeds' overall community of 125,000 students, enjoying a thriving and welcoming atmosphere and plenty of entertainment options, day and night.
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4.5Leeds Arts University is well-equipped for every course it offers. With its smaller range of degree options, it is able to focus funding on ensuring that students have the best learning spaces, resources, and equipment they need to succeed.
Facilities include industry standard audio/visual resources, film and photography studios, music studios and resources, 3D resources, print resources, a range of studios for various uses, and social areas for collaborative work and downtime.
There are dedicated course studios for specialist disciplines, along with open working areas, a roof garden, cafe facilities, and a 24-hour student hub for students across courses to meet, work and socialise together.
Student reviewers are impressed with the variety of facilities available, as well as the quality of equipment. With the prevalence of industry-standard tools and software across courses, students are able to transfer the skills they learn at Leeds Arts University straight into the working world.
One of England's liveliest cities, Leeds is home to over 125,000 students in total.
The student community enjoys a huge range of evening entertainment, from quiet drinks and quiz nights to great nights out. There are plenty of pubs, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and shops, including the flagship Victoria Gate Centre, the Victoria Quarter's arcades and the historic Leeds City Market. The city is also home to the annual Leeds Festival, as well as famous football and cricket teams.
Many creative and media firms have set up in Leeds, providing opportunities for work experience and potential careers after graduation.
3.8Leeds Arts University prides itself in preparing students for life beyond their qualification. As well as teaching the core knowledge of their field, tutors also help to develop graduate attributes such as problem solving, communication skills, project management, and time management. As a result, students graduate ready to successfully step into the world of work.
All Leeds Arts University's undergraduate degrees also have the option of studying over four years to include a placement year. Also known as a sandwich year, work placement, or year in industry, this provides a fantastic opportunity to enhance employability and gain practical experience in the creative industries.
The university's careers, employability and enterprise team is on hand to provide careers advice and support to students, through meetings, events and workshops. Students and recent graduates are also able to access a careers portal which contains a list of up-to-date and exciting job opportunities in the creative industries.
Whether students are goal-driven or want a bit of direction, the university encourages all students to make use of one-to-one coaching sessions, available at any time during their studies, for careers guidance and advice.
Students can access these services, along with others, for up to five years after they finish their studies.
3.8Leeds Arts University partners with two private student residences to provide accommodation: Carr Mills and The Leather Works.
These modern developments are situated a short walk from the university campus, a quick bus ride from the city centre. All rooms are en-suite, with prices starting at £129 per week for 2026 entry.
The majority of this accommodation is offered to first-year undergraduate students, with some rooms allocated to students moving from outside the local area to study foundation diploma courses and master's degrees.
Leeds Arts University provides a range of bursaries in an effort to make study accessible by all.
New entrants whose family income is below £32,500 per annum can access a cash bursary of £400, increasing to £500 and £700 in the second and third years, respectively.
The 2026/27 tuition fees for undergraduate degrees at Leeds Arts University are as follows:
Students from the UK can apply for a tuition fee loan from the Student Loans Company to cover the cost of their fees. This loan is not means-tested and provides the full amount of tuition fees directly to the university.
Students may also be eligible for a means-tested loan to cover the cost of living at university.
Leeds Arts University offers a focused selection of 23 undergraduate degrees, all of which also have the option of studying over four years to include a placement year:
It also offers ten masters degrees and two further education diploma courses.
Each course blends practical, hands-on learning with guidance from expert lecturers who are experienced in helping students to develop their own approaches and styles, in fields that are defined less by hard rules and more by the individual creativity that students express.
In the Teaching Excellence Framework (2023), Leeds Arts University received an overall ranking of Silver. Furthermore, student reviews are very positive when discussing how courses are delivered, with students expressing their appreciation of the industry experience of their tutors, and how the lecturers and courses cater for individual students.
Leeds Arts University can trace its roots back to 1846, when the Leeds Mechanics Institute, which offered drawing classes, merged with the city's Literary Institute to become Leeds School of Art, later Leeds Arts University. In the 1950s, it helped revolutionise art teaching in the UK as one of the institutions that pioneered the Basic Design Course.
Today it is the only specialist arts university in the North of England. Offering a compact range of degrees, it plays to its strengths by focusing on select areas, attracting the best creative talent to teach students.
The university's carefully curated selection of degrees also permits it to streamline all of its funding towards resources that allow creative students to excel. Unlike larger universities that must spread their funding and experience across different areas, Leeds Arts University is able to commit to providing investment and resources across its course studios and workshops.
Past students include Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Clio Barnard and Rav Matharu MBE.
The students' union co-ordinates clubs and societies including a film society, DJ society, African Caribbean society, and life drawing. Societies offer the opportunity to explore hobbies, meet new people, and form lifelong friendships.
Students are also encouraged to start their own societies, and time is allocated each week to allow students to explore clubs and societies, ensuring no one becomes burned out.
3.7The Leeds Arts University Students' Union represents students and organises events and student societies (including induction and orientation events) and activities, as well as supporting the student voice and representation.
Students who feel they need additional support can seek independent advice and representation from the students' union.
4.2The Leeds Arts University Student Advice and Wellbeing Team is available to help students access impartial and confidential advice and guidance across a wide range of issues, from personal counselling to finance and budgeting, and even finding accommodation.
This inclusive support service exists to allow students to focus on their studies rather than worrying about other problems which can distract or cause anxiety. Students are encouraged to use the services as they need them, with staff employing an understanding and welcoming approach to put students at ease.
There's also a study support service, which includes assistance for students with dyslexia or other learning difficulties. This service helps all students who need extra help adapting to the level of study required at university, helping to level the playing field for those that need additional support.
Support is available to any student who needs it at any stage in their study journey, and no matter which course they are studying.
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