Students vote Leeds top three in the UK

The University of Leeds has come third in the UK in a major survey that asks students about their experience while studying.

Leeds is also the highest ranked among the Russell Group of research-intensive universities and scores particularly highly for its campus environment, facilities and extra-curricular activities.

The Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey goes beyond the usual measures to ask students about the details of university life that matter to them the most.

Professor Tom Ward, Deputy-Vice-Chancellor: Student Education said: “This position is a wonderful tribute to the staff and students that make Leeds what it is: a University that excels in the quality of its teaching, its research, its international offer and – as this result testifies – in the way it nurtures its students by creating a supportive and friendly environment.

“I’ve been talking to and hearing about staff and students all over the University who consistently go the extra mile to get the most out of their time here and to help others to do the same. I am thrilled for them that Leeds has got this recognition.

“The key is working together. We might have one of the largest campuses in the UK but we foster a small community feel. I think it’s something that we do very well indeed, and it’s great to receive this endorsement from our students.”

The Business Confucius Institute is delighted to contribute to the rich and varied student experience here at the University through our teaching and events.

One example of this is our collaboration with the International Student Office and Great Food at Leeds to organise a cooking demonstration in celebration of Lunar New Year. Students learned how to make dumplings and some simple Chinese dishes.

First year Sustainability and Environmental Management student Felisha Chong (pictured with Head of Food Development Simon Wood) attended this event.

“I want to understand more about the University and to meet new people. Student support at Leeds is really good. Taking part in events like food demonstrations is fun and a good way to feel a part of what is happening at Leeds,” she says.

View photos from the cooking demonstration event on Flickr and Facebook.

Collaborations like this help students to expand their horizons while studying here at one of the world's top 50 most international Universities. Through supporting events like cooking demonstrations and the Global Cafe we help students to share their cultures with one another and learn from other students from around the world.

There are also many opportunities for students themselves to take an active role in this aspect University life.

Students Laura Manzi and Ahmed Othman work as International Activities Assistants with Leeds University Union and the University’s International Student Office to help all students enjoy and benefit from cross-cultural experiences. Having previously attended and enjoyed our events, Laura and Ahmed approached us to run Chinese cultural activities for their Action Volunteering event in April.

Laura, an Italian student in her second year of a BA in English and Comparative Literature, says “Student life is about so much more than studying, it’s about the whole experience.”

Student life is about so much more than studying, it’s about the whole experience

Roland Maposa, now in his final year of a Contemporary and Professional Studies BA at the University of Leeds, would agree. While studying at Leeds he has co-created InLeeds Day, which consists of a series of workplace visits with the aim of enhancing participants' employability skills and profiling the many graduate opportunities the city has to offer.

In addition to this, he has been learning Mandarin at our Institute and is about to take part in our two-week study trip to China. Roland will be one of 19 students hosted by our partner university, the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

We are delighted to see that our work to enhance understanding of Chinese language and culture is helping to contribute to the excellent student experience at the University of Leeds.

Read more about the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey results on the University of Leeds website.