UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
The University of Leeds is a truly international university. We have links with over 600 institutions world-wide and up to 5,000 international students study with us each year.
Our academic staff, many with international reputations, continue to provide the highest standards of teaching to more than 31,000 students from over 100 different countries.
Choose from one of our 700 undergraduate degree and 330 postgraduate degree programmes. 35 of our departments are rated internationally or nationally 'excellent' for teaching and research.
Why the University of Leeds?
The University of Leeds is acclaimed world-wide for the quality of its teaching and research. One of the largest universities in the UK, Leeds is also the most popular among students applying for undergraduate courses. An emphasis on innovative research and investment in high-quality facilities and first-rate infrastructure means that no fewer than 35 schools are rated internationally or nationally as 'excellent'.
Its size and international reputation enables the University to offer one of the widest ranges of academic courses in the UK. During the current academic year over 32,000 students are attached to 700 different first-degree programmes and over 470 postgraduate degree programmes. A further 32,000 men and women are enrolled on short courses with the University.
In almost a century of teaching, the University has played a leading part in the development of modern higher education in this country. As well as continually strengthening core academic disciplines (Leeds has more undergraduates studying languages and physical sciences than any other UK institution), the University has also developed distinctive areas of specialist expertise in rarer subjects such as Colour Chemistry and Fire Science.
Leeds is now among the top ten universities for research in the UK and is internationally acknowledged as a centre of excellence in a wide range of academic and professional disciplines. Its broad research and skills base and superb facilities attract interest from major multinationals and small local businesses alike. Many of its research initiatives cross traditional subject boundaries and Leeds currently promotes projects through 58 inter-disciplinary centres and seven research schools.
Why the City of Leeds?
Leeds position as 'the' place to be continues unabated. With its continued commercial prosperity in areas of finance, business and media, it has great employment potential. This is all complemented by a vibrant mix of culture, commerce and style, making Leeds the primary social hub of the North.
It was also named as the top city to visit by the Good Britain Guide, and praised for a 'good optimistic feel'. Leeds is a major club capital and has a host of live music venues featuring an eclectic mix of styles. From classical through to pop, dance and jazz there is something for everyone. If music isn't your thing however, there are hundreds of pubs, bars and restaurants to explore.
You are also never far away from the impressive Yorkshire Dales with its awe-inspiring scenery and the Dales' huge selection of outdoor activities and pursuits.
Yorkshire is also home to the ancient city of York with historical attractions such as the Viking and Roman heritage, the Minster, Shambles and selection of Museums.
Guide to Leeds Student Areas
Here is a guide to the most popular areas where students like to rent houses and live while studying in Leeds.
Headingley
This student area is regarded by most to be the 'studentsville' of Leeds. There is a fair mix of students from both Leeds Met and Leeds Uni which adds to it's appeal. Headingley has it's own high street with a plentiful supply of shops, bars and restaurants. Because of expansion in recent years, a night out can now be as expensive as one in town but there are plenty of cheap options available.
Some people say that this change has made Headingley pretentious. If you can see through this pretentiousness though, Headingley actually has a lot to offer and is undoubtedly a great place to live. We prefer to think they have just added a touch of class to a predominantly student area.
There are three bars and three pubs in the main area. In Far Headingley there are also three pubs. There are a number of restaurants to choose from as well as an eclectic range of clothing shops.
Headingley literally has everything that you need, from Superdrug and Boots to an affordable supermarket. There is a main post office and even a couple of hairdressers. Should you choose to move here the Guru knows you will have an excellent time.
Hyde Park
This area is crammed full of students and the housing is a lot more affordable than Headingley. There are lots of cool, quirky shops and cafes in the area which gives the place it's own atmosphere. The park itself is massive and a beautiful spot in summer. Not only does it provide a scenic route to both Uni's, but is the perfect place to relax when the sun comes out in Leeds.
There are three main watering holes all of which are fairly bog standard pubs selling quite cheap beer. There are a few restaurant/cafes that are very nice and enough little corner shops to get those essential groceries. There is also the Hyde Park Picture House, a gorgeous, old, one-screen cinema that manages to add a little life to an unsophisticated area.
Meanwood
Many final year students move to Meanwood to escape the social bustle of Headingley as they prepare for a tough year. There is not a lot in the area except for a load of other students.
There are two main pubs, a number of small restaurants and takeaways are available as well as a Burger King just next to Northside Retail Park. All the grocery shopping can be done at this Reatil Park.
There is a strip of green land in Meanwood that includes Meanwood Valley Nature Reserve and Meanwood Valley Urban Farm. The Hollies park is good for a stroll and plays host to a number of not-so-secret parties.
Woodhouse
There is very little to do in Woodhouse and most people tend to call it 'that boring bit behind town'. In essence this is pretty true.
This disguises the fact that if you live here you are only a stones throw away from town though, and this is a good thing.
Students don't tend to socialise in Woodhouse. This is perhaps because there is very little there and the area is a little dodgy. You are sometimes even a little hard pressed to see any locals about.
There are three pubs you could visit, but one of them, The Swan With Two Necks, is strictly for the locals. There are only really takeaways in the area and you are best off going into town for your groceries.
The plus point about Woodhouse is the cheap housing. The area is also close to both universities meaning that you can cut out the travel costs of making it to lectures on time.
Burley
Burley can be seen as a neighbour to the main student areas rather than being one itself. What sets it apart from the other smaller student areas is it's proximity to the Cardigan Fields complex though.
This complex comprises of a selection of mainstream entertainment including bowling, cinema, restuarants and a club and bars. This is where Evolution nightclub is and also the VUE cinema.
In terms of the Burley area there are a few local pubs including the Haddon Hall which shows football. The best eateries are just opposite the Cardigan Fields complex and include Viva Cuba and Sheesh Mahal. There is a Netto and Iceland for cheap groceries and also a Co-op which opens until late. And if you like to work out there is a massive Virgin Active on the Cardigan Field complex.
USEFUL LINKS
Leeds University
http://www.leeds.ac.uk
Leeds University for Business and Industry
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/business/index.htm
School of Medicine
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/medicine/
Leeds Dental Institute
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/dental/dental.html
Institute of Psychological Sciences
http://www.psyc.leeds.ac.uk/
School of Healthcare
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/healthcare/
Nuffield Institute of Health
http://www.nuffield.leeds.ac.uk/content/home/home.asp
Leeds Metropolitan University
http://www.lmu.ac.uk/
School of Health and Community Care
http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/hen/hcc
School of Health and Human Sciences
http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/hen/hs
School of Applied Social Sciences
http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/hen/ass/
Centre for Psychological Therapies
http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/hen/ass/CentreforPsychologicalTherapies.htm
Clinical Language Sciences
http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/hen/ass/ClinicalLanguageSciences.htm
Management Studies
http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/hen/ass/ManagementStudies.htm
Local and Regional
Leeds City Council
http://www.leeds.gov.uk/
Leeds NHS - links to all Leeds NHS Organisations
http://www.leeds.nhs.uk
The Yorkshire Deanery Department of NHS Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
http://www.yorkshiredeanery.com
Leeds Mental Health Directory Online
http://www.mentalhealthleeds.info
Bradford NHS - links to all Bradford NHS organisations
http://www.bradford.nhs.uk/
A-Z of Health Related Sites
Audit Commission
http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/home/
CareData
http://www.elsc.org.uk/bases_floor/caredata.htm
Centre for Evidence Based Medicine
http://cebm.jr2.ox.ac.uk
Centre for Evidence Based Mental Health
http://cebmh.warne.ox.ac.uk/cebmh/
Cochrane Library
http://www.nelh.nhs.uk/cochrane.asp (free to NHS)
COIN (DoH Circulars on the Internet)
http://www.doh.gov.uk/coinh.htm
Commission for Health Improvement
http://www.chi.nhs.uk/
Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness
http://agatha.york.ac.uk/darehp.htm
Department of Health
www.doh.gov.uk
Electronic Library for Social Care
http://www.elsc.org.uk/
European Observatory on Health Care Systems
http://www.euro.who.int/observatory/toppage
Connects (Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Portal - Mental Health Foundation)
http://www.connects.org.uk/
HDA Evidence Base (Health Development Agency evidence base for public health)
http://www.hda-online.org.uk/evidence/
HealthPromis (National health promotion database for England)
http://healthpromis.hda-online.org.uk/
Hospital In-Patient Data
http://www.doh.gov.uk/hes/
Intute: Health and Life Sciences
http://www.intute.ac.uk/healthandlifesciences/
Leeds Evaluation and Research Network
http://www.learninleeds.com/
Leadership Programme for Chief Executives online
http://www.nhs-leaders.org/ (under development)
Leeds Mental Health Directory Online
http://www.mentalhealthleeds.info
Mental Health Czar
http://www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealthczar/
MIDIRS (Midwives Information and Resource Service)
http://www.midirs.org/
National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment
http://www.hta.nhsweb.nhs.uk/
National electronic Library for Health (NeLH)
http://www.nelh.nhs.uk/
National Electronic Library for Mental Health
http://www.nelmh.org/
National Research Register
http://www.doh.gov.uk/research/nrr.htm
National Service Frameworks
http://www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/nsfhome.htm
National Statistics
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/
NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination
http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/welcome.htm
NHS Economic Evaluation Database
nhscrd.york.ac.uk/nhsdhp.htm
NHS Performance Indicators
http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhsperformanceindicators/
NHS Service Delivery and Organisation (SDO) Research & Development Programme
http://www.sdo.lshtm.ac.uk/
Netting the Evidence (ScHaRR)
http://www.nettingtheevidence.org.uk/
NICE
http://www.nice.org.uk/
Our Healthier Nation in Practice Database
http://www.ohn.gov.uk/database/intro.htm
Personal Social Services Performance Assessment
http://www.doh.gov.uk/scg/pssperform/
POINT DoH Publications on the Internet
http://www.doh.gov.uk/publications/pointh.html
Public Health Observatories
http://www.pho.org.uk/
PubMed
http://www.nlm.nih.gov
RDDirect
http://www.rddirect.org.uk/
RDInfo
http://www.rdinfo.org.uk/
RDLearning
http://www.rdlearning.org.uk/
Social Care Institute for Excellence
http://www.scie.org.uk/index.htm
Telemedicine Information Service
http://www.tis.bl.uk/
TriP Turning Research into Practice
http://www.tripdatabase.com/