30,863 discussions, 145 guides
Leeds University
30,863 discussions, 145 guides
Leeds University
The University of Leeds
Leeds
LS2 9JT
Tel: +44 (0)113 243 1751
1887
LSR FM
The University's radio station has a full time coordinator and broadcasts on an FM licence 2 months a year and online all year round. The emphasis is on the students so if you have an idea you've got a good chance of getting it out there. Have a listen by clicking here. LSR FM Website There's also a TV station.
Leeds Student
Leeds Student is the award winning student newspaper, produced weekly in association with Leeds Metropolitan University. It has 30,000 readers throughout the city and has a sabbatical editor. The BBC Newscaster Nicholas Witchell, was once the editor so you can see that if you want to pursue a career in the media, this is an ideal place to start. Aside from all the plaudits the paper is actually really well read. When it comes out on Fridays most students have a copy under their arm.
LS:TV
LS:TV has been going since 2002 and is now an important media body at Leeds University. At the 2005 National Student TV Awards it won 'Best Broadcaster' Loads of info on how to get involved at www.lstv.co.uk.
As of the 1st August 2001 Leeds University officially merged with Bretton Hall college. This entails Bretton Hall becoming a college of the University of Leeds and while it doesn't greatly effect students at Leeds, it will add to the university a highly respected reputation in the fine arts. Some students of Bretton Hall will study at the Leeds campus and Leeds students will gain the opportunity to enjoy the Bretton Hall site, which is between Wakefield and Sheffield (30 mins from Leeds) in beautiful surroundings.
Steve Bell - Cartoonist
Barry Cryer - Writer and Comedian
Paul Dacre - Former Daily Mail Editor
Andrew Eldritch - Sisters of Mercy
Gavin Esler - BBC Journalist
Andy Kershaw - DJ
Mystic Meg - need I say...?
Mark Knopfler - Musician (Dire Straits)
Nick Owen - BBC Presenter
Gerald Ratner - Jeweller
Clare Short MP - Labour MP
Jack Straw MP - Home Secretary (ex SU President)
Nicholas Witchell - BBC newscaster
There are three bars in the Students' Union building, and at least one in most of the Halls of Residence. To add to this, the surrounding area is full of pubs, bars and clubs so you will have plenty to distract you.
Old Bar - Situated in the SU, and with a capacity of around 1000, this bar is simply vast!! Its popularity means that it is often hot and you might need to wait a while to quell that thirst at the bar. Also, we would recommend that you do not arrange to meet people in here; you might spend all night trying to find them.
The popular Harvey Milk Bar is no longer open, but there's a brand new bar called The Terrace (with, surprise surprise, its own outdoor terrace!) which has a capacity of about 600. To add to this there's a new club venue, Stylus with a capacity of over 1,000 with Bar Coda attached to it. Stylus doesn't seem to be that busy according to some students we talked to but it'll probably take a little while to get the reputation and popularity it certainly deserves. For those long gaps between lectures there's a large games room with pool and arcade machines to while away your time and 50p's.
The main refectory is also in the same building. As studnet food goes there's at least a silver star to be awarded here with 2 or 3 hot choices and a gourmet sandwich bar.
What's really nice to see is that given the huge and varied social scene in the city the union doesn't shy away from competing. Where some unis will give in and moan about the cost and difficulty encountered in matching a city's nightlife, Leeds simply yanks the balls of fear and churns out top notch, well priced entertainment. Jolly good show.
Club nights in Stylus from Wed-Sat and live music gigs in the Refectory. Planned for the coming term are Faithless, Ash, Softcell, Stereo MC's and Super Furry Animals. Leeds has a good reputation for its clubby functions but live music seems to be holding its own. If there isn't anything on at the union to suit then don't worry. Leeds has such a huge student population that you will find people into the same things as you. The city is culturally diverse which has, as any news watcher will know, caused problems but on the flip side this makes it easy for the city to satisfy all comers when it comes to music and functions.
The first large event of the year is the Freshers Ball, which takes place in October of every year. All we can say is prepare to drink a lot! In June, there is the Graduation Ball, which is the largest event of the year where over 4000 students come together with the sole aim of getting plastered! Last year's took place in the grounds of Bretton Hall, now a subsidiary college of Leeds Uni and previous balls have been set in the grounds of Lotherton Hall. Notable acts have included Divine Comedy and The Gatecrasher team.
There are well over 150 societies, including numerous religious organisations and the countrys largest Jewish community outside of Manchester. There are also national societies, to reflect the diverse ethnic nature of the university. Other general societies cover virtually all interests. The theological society, named LUST, and Lemsip, a satirical publication, always attract attention at the Freshers Fayre where all these groups can be joined. The traditional sports clubs are all strong as you might expect and the rugby club has some of the most consciencious thugs around. After damaging a Blackpool hotel during a trip they clubbed together and sent the hotel a cheque for £400 and now exchange photos and letters! Other groups that get plenty of attention are the Ski and Snowboard Club and the political societies.
Guaranteed: 100
All first years are guaranteed a place in one of the 6,500 places available. The standard of the accommodation is very good, but some of the older halls (i.e. Boddington and Devonshire) require that some of their students share (but for whom there is a rent reduction). Self-catering flats hold between 4 and 12 students. Lupton Flats can be a little unsociable as there isn't really a sense of community so you have to get out there and sort it out yourself. Come on you're a big girl/boy now. The only complaints about the accommodation are the sometimes-unnecessary rules (ie against posters in some instances) and the cleaners who seem to arrive at the worst moments!
Externally housing is fairly easy to find. Students tend to stick to the terraced type housing seen on Coronation Street. The University and Leeds Metropolitan University, run UniPol which is an excellent, SU-run housing service. With over 14 staff, it provides help and advice on all accommodation matters, and runs an excellent Internet search service. It also keeps records on local landlords, with heavy influence from students and their experiences with them.
The best areas for students are Headingley, Woodhouse and Hyde Park. Areas like Chapeltown are best avoided, as they can get a bit rough.
Leeds is certainly one of the cities in the North of England. Contrary to many pre-conceptions, the city has a vibrant, youthful feel about it, and also has some of the best clubs in the country, not to mention a branch of Harvey Nicks...fancy some retail therapy, dahling...
However, both Leeds and many parts of the university seem to have suffered at the hands of 60s architects and developers. This period, not known for its architectural beauty, has resulted in a mass of concrete structures. Despite this there are many glorious Victorian buildings in the town, including the Town Hall, City Museum, Henry Moore Gallery and the Grand Theatre.
Socially Leeds has much to offer. Thanks to the tolerant council, Leeds is an all-night town with many clubs and bars open until the early hours. Some of the best clubs include, the Fruit Cupboard, and the Warehouse. If you are a serious drinker, and fancy a closer look at the gutter, try the Otley Run, an infamous 14 pub pub-crawl, which includes such fine establishments as the The Dry Dock (which is on a boat). Other picks by the students we talked to are The Library and The Courtyard. For those looking for something slightly different there's the West Indian Community Centre where you'll find some of the city and, dare I say it the country's, best up and coming Dub, Trance and Techno artists. If cheese is and traditional clubbing is all you're after try Evolution, Heaven and Hell and Creation. All in all drinks are cheap, so your student loan will stretch that little bit further.
This is what one journalist had to say: Leeds is another northern industrial town trying to convince everyone who has never been there how stylish it suddenly is all lattes, loft apartments and Lacroix. Trouble is reality reveals quite a different story.
Credit where it is due- using a single department store as evidence of an entrire citys regeneration is clever PR, but it is stretching credulity a bit thin. The first Harvey Nicks outside of London is full of gawpers wandering around saying things like Ere, Joan, hav you seen the price of them sling-backs. Then trotting off to find the bargains.
While understated little black numbers may be in vouge in the capital, they may appear a tad out of place down the bingo hall. In Leeds, the preferred look is more lepard skin and diamante.
Near Harvey Nicks the smattering of so called trendy restaurant and hotels that have opened up caterer largely for out of towners who have bought into the hype. We are not saying Leeds hasnt got great pubs, nightclubs and beautiful countryside on its door step. Its just that you cant make a silk purse from a sows ear, so the tourist board should forget trying to push the Versace and Chanel image and admit the reality of mushy peas and shell suits.
Having a car in Leeds is unnecessary for local travel thanks to the fine public transport system. Buses and trains are frequent, reliable and fairly cheap. A monthly student Metrocard (for buses and trains) costs around £30.00, and there are main bus routes from just outside the university. Leed's awful one way system, and the introduction of a 'high occupancy vehicle lane' make the town a frustrating place to drive!
There are cash machines in the union and all flavours of bank are opposite the main campus.
The University and Union have said they are committed to providing better disabled access, and have adapted many rooms and installed the equipment etc. However, generally the campus is difficult for wheelchair access, because it is on a hill and there are numerous level changes between buildings.
The Student Union is flooded with facilities! There are numerous coffee bars all around campus and in the students' union building itself there are cafeterias, an opticians, USIT travel agency, bookshop, hair salon, print shop, a brand new supermarket and a launderette. It really is possible not to leave campus for weeks!
A bookshop in the SU stocks many of the course titles, as well as general reading books.
Leeds University has some of the widest ranging sports facilities of any university. The Leeds Sports Centre caters for everything from weight training to ballet. The Weetwood playing ground (unfortunately 4 miles away), has 14 soccer pitches, 8 hockey pitches, 6 rugby and 5 cricket pitches. The Lawnswood playing fields have an Astroturf football pitch, and numerous tennis courts.
There is also an Olympic standard swimming pool and a golf course nearby.
A Womens Bus runs from the university every 20 minutes from 5pm during term time. The service is free, and also offers a pick up service from anywhere in Leeds, providing it has been booked with an hours notice.
The Yorkshire Dales are nearby, and there are green spaces separating Leeds from Bradford, Wakefield and Sheffield.
The University libraries contain around 2.5 million books, and have around 4,000 study places. There are 2 main libraries and 7 departmental ones. According to the Library, £2.3 million (around £102 per FTE student) is spent on library facilities each year.
There are around 1400 computer workstations at the university, which is fairly low considering its size. They are spread around in clusters, one of which is in Bodington Hall, the largest hall of residence. Some of these clusters have 24hr access. As per normal everyone gets an e-mail address but at Leeds they don't cut you off when you leave.
The Universitys welfare service is massive...but it needs to be at a university of this size. The service now includes a mini-hospital, with 10 doctors, a sick bay and a minor operation suite! The University also runs a counselling service, while the Students Union provides advice and a Nightline service.
