Leeds Beckett University: What it's really like

Want a university that focuses on student satisfaction and your future career prospects, in one of the best student cities in the world? Then Leeds Beckett University might be the perfect place for you.

Leeds Beckett at a glance:

James Kennedy, Schools and Colleges Outreach Officer at Leeds Beckett, explains what makes Leeds Beckett an exciting place to study - and how to put together a strong application.

What is Leeds Beckett?

Leeds Beckett was established as a university in 1992, one of the two largest in the city of Leeds. Its history goes all the way back to 1824, when it was founded as the Leeds Mechanic Institute. It became a technical college in the 1920s, a polytechnic in the 1970s, and at last a university in 1992. 

Leeds Beckett prides itself on providing courses that are both academic and vocational, so you’ll be getting the best of both worlds when it comes to expanding your mind and preparing for your future career. 

There are two campuses: one in the Leeds city centre, and one just outside of town in Headingley. 

Why apply to Leeds Beckett? 

At Leeds Beckett, you’ll get all the benefits of attending a very large university. There are around 24,000 students, 150 undergraduate courses, 11 academic schools… which means there’s really something for everyone when it comes to figuring out what you’d like to study. For example, you could study traditional courses like English, psychology, or architecture… or you could spend three years on the most established PR course in all of Europe. 

The university’s size means that you’ll have access to loads of equipment and facilities, so you can be sure you’ll have the best of what you need to pursue your course. Over the past year, Leeds Beckett has opened a brand new, state-of-the art sports centre and an arts building. 

And then there’s Leeds. Leeds is a massive student city, with students making up almost 10% of the city’s population. That means you’ll be part of a community right away - and the city itself has lots of resources tailored to students’ needs. And that’s not even mentioning the great restaurants, thriving nightlife, and amazing arts and music venues. 

Who isn’t the right fit for Leeds Beckett?

If you’re focused on league tables, you’re not going to get the right impression of Leeds Beckett. Their methodologies don’t favour the type of work Leeds Beckett is focused on doing, so if it’s important to you to attend a traditionally top-ranked institution, Leeds Beckett may not be right for you. 

Leeds Beckett is focused on student satisfaction and employability, to the point that several courses achieved scores of 100% in the National Student Satisfaction Survey. 90% of Leeds Beckett graduates are in full-time work or further study within 15 months of graduation. 

Any application tips? 

When you’re writing your application, don’t just focus on why you want to do a course, but also on the skills you have that will allow you to complete the course and do it well. Part of this comes through by demonstrating that you’re familiar with what the course actually is, and realistic career prospects: studying physiotherapy doesn’t mean you’ll definitely end up working in the Premier League! 

Courses change from university to university, so research the course content and the modules you’ll take. This will let you get an understanding of the skills you’ll need so that you can show them off in your application. For example, a data-driven course will want to know you’ve got some maths skills. 

If you’re ever confused about how to proceed with your application, you can always reach out to the university and ask for advice or help! 

Remember, Unifrog’s Subjects library is also there to break down the scores and skills you’ll need for different courses, and the Careers library can help you figure out the realities behind your dream jobs.