If the city’s legendary nightlife and relative affordability have not already sold it, sporty students are drawn to the excellent facilities and fine sporting record of Leeds Beckett University (formerly Leeds Metropolitan). Its world-class Carnegie School of Sport has been the power behind the podium for athletes including the triathlete Alex Yee — a gold medallist at the Paris Olympics — who graduated with a BSc (Hons) in sport and exercise science in 2021. The roll of honour includes Sam Quek, the former field hockey player turned TV presenter (sport and exercise science 2010); Lucy Bronze, the England and Chelsea footballer (sports studies, 2013); and the Paralympian cyclist Dame Sarah Storey (sport and exercise science 2000). Students who dream of joining the list are nurtured by the Leeds Talent Hub, an elite programme run in partnership with British Athletics. Leeds Beckett was 25th overall in the 2023-24 British Universities Colleges and Sport (Bucs) points table — outdoing all but two other modern universities.  

What is Leeds Beckett University’s reputation? 

There are nine academic faculties operating across two campuses — Headingley and City. It has edged into the top 100 in our research quality index, moving up three places to 98th with 53 per cent of work submitted to the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) rated world-leading or internationally excellent. The university’s best results were in sports sciences, followed allied health and building subjects.

The university was rated bronze overall in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), down from silver in the previous assessment six years before. For the student experience, the TEF panel awarded Leeds Beckett silver, commending “a supportive learning environment where students have access to a readily available range of very high quality academic support” — and reflecting improved rates of student satisfaction year-on-year in the National Student Survey (38th for satisfaction with the overall student experience in 2024; 48th for satisfaction with teaching quality). TEF rated the university bronze for student outcomes, however. Leeds Beckett’s relatively low continuation rate (90.4 per cent, 90=) continues to keep it in the lower reaches of our main academic table. In July 2024 the university regulator, the Office for Students (OfS) issued an improvement notice to Leeds Beckett: only 69 per cent of its full-time computing students completed their course (below the required threshold of 75 per cent). Leeds Beckett said: “The university has implemented an action plan in respect of the subject area concerned and monitoring shows that we continue to make good progress.”

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available? 

The number of discontinued — or renamed — courses is in double-digits so it is worth checking the website. New courses for 2024 include acting; fashion design; computer science (four-year integrated master’s degree); software engineering; business management with sustainable development; and applied sport studies in tennis.

What are Leeds Beckett University’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?

Students need a minimum of 104 Ucas tariff points, with at least 64 points from two A-levels or equivalent qualifications, up to 136 points from three A-levels. Contextual offers are available on many undergraduate programmes for students who meet the criteria for widening participation.

What are the graduate prospects? 

Our analysis of graduate prospects shows a rise of six places year on year to 99th place for the proportion of leavers in highly skilled work or postgraduate studies 15 months after finishing their degree. External collaborations with more than 2,000 organisations support the university’s ambition to provide graduate talent to the local, regional and national labour markets.

What is the Leeds Beckett University campus like?

At the 94-acre Headingley campus, the £45 million Carnegie School of Sport offers world-class facilities such as a 60m covered rooftop sprint track for performance training, environmental chambers, research laboratories and a teaching kitchen.

The Rose Bowl at the heart of the City campus provides a striking modern contrast to the Civic Hall next door, with lecture theatres in its “floating” glass pod with funky geometric panelling. It is the centre of operations for the Business School and the Business Knowledge Exchange Hub, which opened in 2023. The £80 million School of Arts building on the City campus has more than 2,500 students on 40 courses in creative technologies; fashion marketing; film; music and sound; and the performing arts. 

The newly renovated Law School now has a courtroom, 60-person lecture theatre, reading room and social spaces. Resources for research and hands-on learning have been boosted at the School of Health, which now has a biomedical research laboratory and clinical skills suite.

The Carnegie School of Education opened its newly refurbished facilities in Caedmon Hall at Headingley for the start of the 2024-25 academic year. Students can now learn in a Montessori nursery, dedicated spaces for teaching primary maths, art and design, and a science laboratory. 

What about student accommodation at Leeds Beckett University?

Leeds Beckett guarantees accommodation to all first-years who make the university their first choice and apply by the deadline, although more than half of undergraduates live at home and commute. 

Everything you need to know about Leeds Beckett University’s student life and wellbeing support

There are sports facilities at both campuses and a fitness app allows students to manage bookings indoors and outdoors while also tracking fitness and adding personal goals. Leeds Beckett has partnerships with a wide range of clubs and associations including Leeds United Football Club, Leeds Rhinos rugby team and Yorkshire County Cricket Club. The university has three women’s and four men’s football sides. The Athletic Union has 40 sports clubs with more than 80 teams, many of them offering the chance to compete in the Bucs league. Recreational and outdoor activities include tchoukball — an indoor, mixed-gender, seven-a-side, high-velocity game drawing on handball, volleyball and Basque pelota — and snow sports. 

The Leeds School of Arts hosts guest lectures and the annual end-of-year shows — including exhibitions, fashion shows and interactive digital installations — are a highlight of the university calendar. 

A multidisciplinary team offers counselling and mental health support for students, who can self-refer online. An initial consultation may lead to short-term counselling or referral to external services. Students can be assigned a specialist mentor whose one-to-one support aims to minimise the impact of any barriers to learning. There are subsidised hot meals at all Beckett Food outlets to take the edge off the cost of living, and a free shuttle bus between campuses. Graduation ceremonies are free, including the loan of gowns and caps.

What do the students say?

“I joined Leeds Beckett in 2022 and I instantly loved how lively and multicultural Leeds is, with so many opportunities to socialise and try new things. I volunteered, joined societies and also worked at the students' union zero waste shop. Leeds Beckett SU has worked with the university leadership to achieve the mental health charter mark and respond to the cost-of-living crisis.”
Dhruv Dev, students’ union president, graduate of a master’s degree in sports events management

How diverse and inclusive is Leeds Beckett University?

Ranking 66= in our social inclusion index overall, Leeds Beckett is in the top 20 for its proportion of white working-class male students, an underrepresented group in higher education (7.5 per cent).

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at Leeds Beckett University

Bursaries are extended to students from low-income and other disadvantaged backgrounds, covering work placements and professional development. There are also some merit-based awards and scholarships administered by the academic schools.