Located on the banks of the River Aire in the heart of the United Kingdom, Leeds is a vibrant city with a rich history and cultural heritage. Having had an important role in the industrial revolution, Leeds is currently a major trade and industrial hub as well as an attractive shopping destination for people from all over the world!

The city has many art venues, including museums, world-class theatres, art exhibitions, galleries, and art centres. Leeds also has a vibrant city life where you can attend a variety of events and festivals spanning different areas of interest, including the Leeds Indie Food Festival, the Leeds Digital Festival, the Leeds Film City Festival, and the Leeds Opera Festival.

The city of Leeds has recently started gaining a lot of traction as a study destination. This is mainly due to the increasing number of top-ranked universities, specialised colleges, and world-renowned higher education institutions across the city. Additionally, Leeds’s student life is busy, affordable, accessible, and fun! 

Best Universities in Leeds

Choosing which university in Leeds to kick off your study journey at could come off as challenging. Worry not, though, we’ve curated just the list for you! Here are some of the best universities in Leeds, the courses they offer, the facilities provided there, and the options for student accommodation near Leeds universities to help you make an informed decision! 

University of Leeds

One of the largest universities in the UK, the University of Leeds has been established in 1904. The university is part of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities and is world-renowned for the high quality of its education and research. The University of Leeds is one of the best universities in the country; it is ranked among the top 100 universities in the QS World Ranking, has won three Queen’s Anniversary prizes, and its staff has been the recipient of 29 National Teaching Fellowships. 

Currently, more than 39,800 students are studying at the University of Leeds. As one of the best universities in Leeds, this university has seven different faculties that offer hundreds of courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. These faculties are as follows:

• Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Cultures

• Faculty of Biological Sciences

• Faculty of Business (Leeds University Business School)

• Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

• Faculty of Environment

• Faculty of Medicine and Health

• Faculty of Social Sciences

Several resources and facilities are provided by this university to help you flourish and thrive academically, socially, and professionally among other aspects. These facilities mainly include libraries, music and theatre facilities, art facilities, fitness and sports facilities, student support services, and so much more. The University of Leeds also has its own on-campus student accommodation for you to get the full study experience there. If you’d like to find other options for student accommodation near Leeds universities, here are some options that are offered by Casita: 

• Hepworth Lodge

• Woodhouse Apartments

• Sycamore House

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Leeds Trinity University

With a distinctive approach to education, Leeds Trinity University is a public University that has prestigious majors and is established both locally and internationally. Professional job placements are a big thing at Leeds Trinity; they are incorporated into all undergraduate degrees, which means that you get to graduate with appropriate professional and academic skills and business experiences without any need to take a year off before delving into the professional field. 

Leeds Trinity University offers a welcoming and inclusive sense of culture that led it to win the TEF Silver for its distinguished and distinctive teaching level that is globally recognized. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, the university gained another distinction by being ranked 145th out of 154 for research capacity, with just 20 research staff. Additionally, it is ranked 18th in the UK and top in Yorkshire for student experience, 24th in the UK and 2nd in Yorkshire for teaching quality, and has a whopping 97% employability rate.

At Leeds Trinity, you can apply to study at the undergraduate level or the graduate level or even for apprenticeships. The university offers a wide range of courses spanning different disciplines and fields of study, here are some of the most notable ones: 

• Accounting and Business

• Business Administration

• Law

• Film 

• Education

• Journalism

• Sociology 

• Psychology

• Criminology

The university is equipped with several resources that aim to help you better your academic, social, intellectual, emotional, and professional skills. Leeds Trinity also provides its students with on-campus accommodation that is fitted with everything that makes for a rewarding student experience. Casita also offers numerous options for student accommodation near Leeds universities and as one of the best universities in Leeds, Leeds Trinity is no different, here are some of the top accommodation options there!

• Oxley Residence

• Concept Place Unite

Leeds Beckett University 

Going all the way back to 1824, Leeds Beckett University is a public university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, with two campuses in the city centre and Headingley. This modern, professional-based university with over 200 years of history and experience has over 24,000 students in Leeds and 185,000 alumni worldwide. The university has a great impact on the Leeds economy and workforce and produces ready-to-work graduates with all the needed skills to excel in their respective fields. 

Leeds Beckett University offers hundreds of courses across different majors and fields of study. You can apply for an undergraduate, postgraduate, short, or distance learning course at the university. The different courses at Leeds Beckett that you can apply for include the following: 

• Law

• Journalism

• Dance

• Nutrition

• Fashion 

• History

• Engineering 

• Business Management 

• Psychology

• Economics and Finance

• Education

Leeds Beckett University boasts a busy, vibrant, and inclusive campus with lots of opportunities for socialising and expanding your horizons. The university provides its students with the necessary resources to have a fruitful educational experience and a worthwhile study period. On-campus accommodation is also offered by this university for an even more immersive learning experience. As one of the best universities in Leeds, some of the options for student accommodation near Leeds universities offered by Caista are in close proximity to Leeds Beckett’s two campuses, here are some of them: 

• Leeds Portland Crescent 

• The Plaza Unite

• Sky Plaza Unite

Leeds Arts University

Making significant contributions to the art education in the UK over the past 170 years, Leeds Arts University has roots dating back to 1846. The university is also the only specialist arts university in the North of England located just across the street from the University of Leeds. Leeds Arts recently received an 87% satisfaction rating in the latest National Student Survey, the highest ranking for any specialist arts university, in the Guardian 2019 League Tables, the university was ranked number one in the country in the Design & Crafts subject table, and at the Whatuni Awards, Leeds Arts won Best University Facilities twice in recent years (2014 and 2016) and came second in 2017 and 2018.

Undergraduate, postgraduate, and further education courses are all offered at Leeds Arts University. Anything arts-related can be found at this university so you can take your pick from the variety of course and degree offerings. Here are some of Leeds Arts University’s most popular courses: 

• Animation 

• Comic and Concept Art

• Creative Advertising 

• Creative Writing

• Fashion Branding with Communication

• Filmmaking 

• Fine Art

• Graphic Design

• Illustration 

• Photography

• Visual Communication

The university offers a wide range of state-of-the-art resources and libraries to facilitate your study period there. Additionally, various workshops and studios are available for students to practice their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. Galleries and exhibitions are also located on campus for students to showcase their work. Leeds Arts University also offers on-campus accommodation. However, in the event that you would rather stay somewhere off campus, here are a few options offered by Casita close to this university!

• Symons House

• Austin Hall and Asquith House

• iQ Leeds

University of Law - Leeds

Ranked five stars on the QS World University Ranking scale, the University of Law is regarded as one of the UK’s oldest established specialised universities which offer legal education. The university has also recently expanded its scope to include business education as well. With a notable amount of powerful connections to local and global law firms, a practise-based education, and a focus on employability, the University of Law ensures a bright future for its graduates 

This university’s location also plays an important role in its status as a renowned law university. This is because Leeds is a bustling legal city with more than 200 legal firms on its grounds and is second only to London in terms of legal career opportunities. The University of Law - Leeds offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in both law and business, here are some of them: 

• BA in Criminology and Sociology

• Bsc in Accounting with Finance

• Bsc in Business Management

• LLB in Law with International Business

• LLM in Company Law 

This university provides its students with the necessary resources and support to help them excel during their time on campus. The facilities offered at the University of Law - Leeds include free Wi-Fi, free counselling services, silent study areas, a mock courtroom, a well-being officer, and computer suites. The university doesn’t have its own on-campus accommodation, however, Casita has a number of options for you to choose from, here are a few:

• Trapezium

• Vita St. Albans

• iQ Marsden House

Other entries on the list of best universities in Leeds where you can get a world-class education include the following: 

• Leeds City College

• Leeds Conservatoire

• Park Lane College Leeds

Additionally, here are some other options for student accommodation near Leeds universities offered by Casita and equipped with all the necessary facilities, amenities, and features to make your stay better and more student-friendly!

• The Foundry

• Leeds City West

• The Tannery Unite

• Iconic, The Edge

• The Refinery

• Burley Road

Leeds is a renowned student city whose institutions boast a high quality of education that attracts both local and international students to live, study, and book student accommodation near Leeds universities. Whatever field you want to study or major in, you can find an appropriate Leeds institution from this list of best universities in Leeds! 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which is the better University in Leeds?

According to the QS World Rankings 2023, the University of Leeds is the best Leeds university as it ranks in the top 100. 

2. What are the 5 universities in Leeds?

Five of the most notable universities in Leeds include the following: 

• The University of Leeds

• Leeds Beckett University

• Leeds Trinity University

• Leeds Arts University

• Leeds Conservatoire

3. Which is the main university in Leeds? 

The University of Leeds is considered the main university in the city. It was established in 1904 and is also regarded as one of the biggest universities in the UK.