De Montfort University: What it's really like

Want to study in a vibrant city at a university with great travel opportunities? DMU could be for you!

De Montfort University (DMU) at a glance:

Swarda, who was a student at De Montfort and now works there as an enquiries assistant, tells us what it’s like to study there.

What is De Montfort University?

De Montfort University (DMU) is located in Leicester in the East Midlands, right in the heart of England. It’s well connected to major cities across the country like London, which is just two hours away via public transport.

Many of DMU’s courses are accredited by professional bodies, meaning your learning is informed by current industry practice and gives you significant exemptions from professional qualifications once you graduate.

DMU has 26,000 students, at least 5,000 of which are international.

Why apply to DMU?

DMU focuses on growing your interpersonal and transferable skills whilst you study, so you’re prepared for your career ahead. This includes DMU Global, our travel programme open to full fee paying students, which gives you the chance to gain these skills abroad. Previous trips have included volunteering with refugee projects in Berlin and our popular social trip to New York.

All of our trips are subsidised, so as a volunteer, you only pay for your living and travel costs within the country you’re staying in; and on our social trips, you’ll pay a much cheaper rate than you would typically. You can also choose to study abroad for a year of your degree.

DMU is a strong advocate of inclusivity and diversity, which is reflected in our student body. Our students represent over 160 nationalities. Our international office supports international students in the transition to starting university here, including hosting an international welcome week to help them settle in, and a shuttle service to collect them from the airport upon arrival.

Who isn’t the right fit for DMU?

DMU is a genuinely diverse and welcoming university. We are city-centre based, so if you are looking for a university that is based in a remote area that’s a bit more quiet and secluded, DMU might not be suitable. We suggest coming to an open day to see if DMU feels like the right fit for you.

Any application tips? 

Do your research on the university, for example by checking out the DMU website and coming to an open day. In both instances, you’ll be able to chat to current students to see what student life here is really like.

I’d also suggest giving yourself plenty of time to apply so you’re not rushing your Personal Statement.

What’s the location like?

DMU is a campus-based university situated in a city centre – you can be in the city centre within five minutes’ walk – so when you come to study here you’ll get the best of both worlds. 

Leicester is a very multicultural city, so here you’ll meet a sea of people from different parts of the world. In fact, every year, the city hosts one of the biggest Diwali celebrations in the world outside of India.

There’s a friendly and welcoming environment in the city so you’re unlikely to feel lonely.

What facilities does DMU have to offer?

When you first visit DMU, you’ll notice it feels like a city within a city – each faculty has its own building which houses facilities for its students.

The faculty for arts, design and media students, for example, houses design studios and a materials shop. For our film, media, and communications students we offer film editing studios, a Photoshop studio, green screen, and audiovisual (AV) loans so you don’t have to buy lots of expensive equipment.

Our three-storey library is open 24/7 and offers a virtual library, great for accessing resources if you’re studying at home or over the holidays.

What is the accommodation like?

Student halls are within three-five minutes’ walk of the university campus. When I lived here, my halls were right opposite my lecture theatres!

We offer studios if you’d prefer to live by yourself (though this does cost more) or the chance to live with up to four housemates. All your bills are included in your rent fee.

How does DMU meet the needs of students with different accessibility requirements?

We have a dedicated disabilities team who provide a bespoke service for students. This means they can work with you to create a plan that’s suitable to your individual needs. The best way to take advantage of this is to disclose your disability or concerns to them as early as possible, so they can provide the best possible support for you, ready for when you start studying with us.

Some of the services we offer for students with disabilities include parking spaces for blue badge holders, extended library loans, and access to assistive technology for your studies. Our campus is very accessible, with ramps and automatic doors to make the campus easier to get around.

Finally, our mental health and wellbeing team offer free counselling and wellbeing consultations for students with mental health needs or any student who is going through a difficult time.

Want to explore more UK universities? Remember, Unifrog’s Shortlisting tool can help you put together a list of great potential courses.