University of Leicester

The University was founded as Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland University College in 1921. The site for the University was donated by a local businessman, Thomas Fielding Johnson, in order to create a living memorial for all local people who made sacrifices during the First World War.

Students were first admitted to the college in 1921, sitting examinations for external degrees awarded of the University of London. In 1927 the institution became University College, Leicester; 30 years later the college was granted its Royal Charter. This gave it the status of a University with the right to award its own degrees.

Facts and figures:

The University of Leicester is a leading UK university committed to international excellence through the creation of world changing research and high quality, inspirational teaching. Leicester is consistently one of the most socially inclusive of the UK’s leading universities with a long-standing commitment to providing fairer and equal access to higher education.

Our standing:

• 22nd in the UK (and joint 163rd in the world) in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings
• 29th-33rd in the UK (and 301st-400th in the world) in the Shanghai Ranking
• 32nd in the Daily Mail University Guide 2024
• 34th in the UK (and 272nd in the world) in the QS World University Rankings
• 34th in the Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 (paywall protected)
• 38th in the Complete University Guide 2024
• 48th in the Guardian University Guide 2024
• 76th in the Reuters Top 100 Most Innovative Universities in Europe

Our research:

Leicester is ranked in the top 25 universities in the Times Higher Education REF Research Power rankings. The Power ranking takes into account both the quality of research and the number of research-active staff who made REF returns. Research power is important because it gives a strong indication of a combination of world-class research, international impact, critical mass and sustainability.

75% of our research was judged to be internationally excellent with wide-ranging impacts on society, health culture, and the environment. That Leicester also entered a substantial proportion of academics (84%) to the REF demonstrates that our academics are continuing to develop and build upon our world-leading research.

Awards and accreditation:

Awards:

• We have been ranked as the 35th most sustainable university in the world and 9th in the UK according to UI GreenMetric.
• The University has won Times Higher Awards in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2018.
• Leicester has been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education on three occasions - the highest form of national recognition open to a UK academic or vocational institution.
• In August 2015, HSBC announced for the second year running that the University of Leicester is the most affordable destination in Britain for both first and second-year students, according to their research.
• In 2013 our Students' Union was named HE Students' Union of the Year in the NUS Awards.

Accreditations:

Athena SWAN Award:

University of Leicester is committed to promoting equality for women in academia. In 2006, we signed up to the Athena SWAN charter for women in science. In 2008 we were awarded with a bronze Athena SWAN award and this was renewed in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Health Sciences achieved a University first by being granted a Silver award in 2013.

Athena SWAN (Scientific Women's Academic Network), is a UK programme that celebrates recognition and commitment to advancing women’s careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine in higher education and research.

Stonewall Diversity Champion:

We are proud to be recognised as a top 100 employer in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index, which showcases the most inclusive UK workplaces for lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff.

We have been a Stonewall Diversity Champion since 2013. Our commitment to working closely with our staff and student community to drive cultural change has seen the University ranked at number 72 in the 2019 list (PDF, 939kb) which exceeds our ambition to become a Top 100 Employer by 2020.

Coeliac UK:

Coeliac UK audited the University's kitchens and confirmed that, as a result, it had decided to award its gluten-free accreditation to Leicester, making it the first UK university to receive this accolade.

We change lives through the education we offer and the research we undertake. As a University we value, nurture and celebrate our people. We are Citizens of Change.

Admission requirements vary from country to country. Kindly contact our admissions counsellor for more information!