Leeds Beckett University

Summary

History

Leeds Polytechnic founded in 1970 from the amalgamation of Leeds College of Technology (1868), Leeds College of Commerce (1845), part of Leeds College of Art (1846), and Yorkshire College of Education and Home Economics (1874). The City of Leeds and Carnegie College and the James Graham College (the former Leeds Day Training College created in 1959) joined Leeds Polytechnic in 1976.

Leeds Polytechnic was awarded University status in 1992 and renamed Leeds Metropolitan University. In 2014, it changed its name once again to the Leeds Beckett University, after the location of the university's founding colleges, Beckett Park.

University Environment

The University is spread over two campuses:

Headingley Campus

- set in 100 acres of parkland, under three miles from the Leeds city, Headingley campus has a rich history, having played host to visitors such as Winston Churchill and Oscar Wilde. The Campus is the home to the modern sport science laboratories, animation and music studios and the latest computing labs. It's where the University's main sport facilities are based including pitches, inside and outside tennis courts and a running track. Other facilities include a Food Court, a Students’ Union, and student accommodation in the form of Carnegie Village.

Headingley Carnegie Pavilion is the Campus cutting-edge teaching facility located at the world famous sports ground, Headingley Carnegie Stadium – host to international cricket matches since 1899.

City Campus

- is right in the heart of Leeds, with shopping and nightlife less than five minutes walk away. Facilities on the campus include a Food Court in the Rose Bowl, City Campus gym, and a Students’ Union. Courses taught on campus include accounting, architecture, business, engineering, law, PR, social sciences, marketing and cultural studies. Being in the city centre, there are hundreds of businesses and organisations on the doorstep that offer work placements and employment opportunities to many of Leeds Beckett students.

Academics

Faculties & Schools

• Leeds School of Arts
• School of Built Environment & Engineering
• Leeds Business School
• School of Clinical & Applied Sciences
• School of Cultural Studies & Humanities
• Carnegie School of Education
• School of Events, Tourism & Hospitality Management
• School of Health & Community Studies
• Leeds Law School
• Department of Languages
• Leeds School of Social Sciences
• Carnegie School of Sport

Research

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014), 59% of the research submitted was assessed as world leading or internationally excellent. In terms of research power, Leeds Beckett came second in the UK for Sport and Exercise Science, Leisure and Tourism, as well as being in the top ten for Communication, Culture and Media Studies, Library and Information Management. The University’s results for the Architecture, Built Environment and Planning unit – which it entered for the first time - were also noteworthy, with 37% of its research being rated world leading or internationally excellent.

International & Industrial Opportunities

Doing a work placement is a huge boost to your self-confidence and your CV. Leeds Beckett offers study placements, work placements and language assistantships under the Erasmus+ scheme. Under the language assistantships, students are involved in the teaching of English in an overseas school or university, planning activities and producing resources to help students improve their English, and more. Language assistantship is paid six-month or one-year placement.

The University also runs an International Exchange Program whereby students can spend one or full year studying overseas at a partner institution. There are placements in Australia, America, Canada, China, Macao, Japan and New Zealand.

The University Placement team supports undergraduate students with work placements and have developed excellent links with companies that are keen to recruit their students. For students on courses other than those in Health & Social Care and Education, whilst a placement is not necessarily a compulsory part of your studies, many courses have the option of a year-long sandwich placement or other forms of work-based learning opportunities.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships & Bursaries

The University offers a range of scholarships, including Sport Scholarships and Bright Futures Scholarships.

The Sport Scholarships include the Carnegie Sports Scholarship and a number of scholarships to high performing athletes who are committed to upholding the values of Leeds Beckett and represent the University in the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) events and who demonstrate the ability to progress and achieve high levels of success within their chosen sport.

Bright Futures Scholarships provide financial support to undergraduate students who otherwise might struggle with the costs of their university education, giving £1,500 to talented and deserving students at the university.

Please visit the University’s website for the full range of scholarships and bursaries.

Facilities

Learning Facilities

There are two libraries available, one at each campus and both are open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. There are over 900 PCs across the two Libraries. There are also laptops that you can borrow to use in the Library or bring in your own and use the wireless network.

The Library at the Headingley campus has a number of meeting rooms bookable by Leeds Beckett University students for group work which needs some privacy, for example to practice a presentation. Silent study spaces are also available in both libraries..

MyBeckett is Leeds Beckett’s student portal where you can access your university e-mail account, check your timetable and find out what’s happening on your course.

Skills for Learning is the University’s collection of resources to support the learning and teaching of academic skills. Academic skills include the use of IT, numeracy, academic literacy, problem solving, critical thinking, working with others and research skills. The University also offers Skills for Learning workshops and tutorials on academic communication, maths and IT skills.

Sports Facilities

Sports facilities and opportunities at Leeds Beckett are fantastic. This can be seen by the Chinese’s decision to use the Headingley campus as their Track and Field’s pre-game training camp for the 2012 Olympic in London . Furthermore, many British Olympians use the University’s facilities, for example Olympic athletes Jessica Ennis, Alistair Brownlee and Jonathan Brownlee access their training facilities.

The Outdoor Centre includes the Athletics centre, incorporates an eight-lane track, jumps and throws facilities. There are two floodlit synthetic turf pitches; a 3G pitch for football and rugby and a sand-dressed hockey pitch. At Headingley there are also four grass pitches and a floodlit multi-use area.

Both campuses offer fully equipped fitness centres with a range of cardiovascular and resistance machines. At the Headingley Campus there is also a fully equipped Strength and Conditioning facility.

The University has gained an exceptionally high reputation for Tennis. The Tennis Centre, situated on the Headingley Campus, consists of 4 Indoor Acrylic, 4 Outdoor Clay and 4 Outdoor All weather courts.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

Leeds Beckett Students’ Union (LBSU) exists to make sure that your needs and ideas are supported while you study at the University. There are over 60 student-led clubs and societies which offer a variety of opportunities for students to get involved in; this includes anything from groups based on academic courses, media, RAG, faith and culture to liberation and political groups, to societies based on a hobby such as watching films or photography.

There are a number of eating places and a shop in the Union. The Hive is the brand new social space, encompassing both City and Headingley campuses, where you can meet your mates, grab a Starbucks and enjoy a full menu of vegan, veggie, gluten-free and halal options. Eco Soup is a student led social enterprise tackling the issue of food waste. Using surplus food sourced by The Real Junk Food Project, students make healthy, vegan soup, which is available on a Pay As You Feel basis.

Pryzm, is a lively and energetic venue in the heart of Leeds city centre which provides an eclectic mix of live music for students and non-students.

LBSU Advice Service provides confidential and independent free help and advice to all students at the Leeds Beckett University. They provide academic, housing, money, wellbeing, and employment and legal advice.

If you want to support a worthy cause and projects, you can contact the LBSU Volunteering Team. The Team has links with over 150 local charities and offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities that fit around you and your commitments. You can volunteer on a long term basis or for just a few spare minutes of your time.

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

Leeds Beckett’s Christian Chaplaincy team offers support to students of all faiths and no faith, and can signpost to advisers from other faith traditions, if appropriate. Faith Spaces for prayer and quiet contemplation are available at both campuses.

All conversations with the Chaplaincy team are confidential. Chaplains are available for drop-in visits, for appointments, and a 24/7 emergency phone service is also available.

Health & Wellbeing

Leeds Beckett does not have its own Medical Centre and students are advised to register with a local surgery.

The Student Wellbeing Team is a multi-disciplinary team made up of counsellors and mental health practitioners who are skilled and experienced in recognising how emotional and mental health difficulties can affect your time whilst at university. They offer a range of support to all current students and appointments are available at both campuses.

When you have something on your mind, you can make an appointment to see a trained and experienced counsellor who will listen to you, help you to make sense of what is happening, and explore options for change. Counselling offers you a safe, confidential time and place to talk about any issue in your life. In addition, you can access ‘Kooth Student’, an online counselling and emotional wellbeing platform during afternoons, evenings and weekend.

The Disability Advice Team offers support, information and guidance on any disability related matters within the University. Support is available to students with a range of disabilities and long term conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, a mental health condition, a long term health condition, autism, a physical or a sensory condition. Support is tailored on an individual basis, and may include, helping to draw up alternative assessment arrangements, conduct needs assessments, guide students towards specialist study and tutorial support, and put you in touch with a number of disability organisations in Leeds and surrounding areas.

Career Facilities

The Student & Graduate Futures team offers an impartial advice service to help you make decisions about your career, and recognise and develop your employability skills. The staff are based at both City and Headingley campuses. They can help with writing CVs, interview preparation, networking, placements, and psychometric testing.

The Leeds Beckett’s Job Shop offers opportunities for part-time work in Leeds while you are studying, and graduate opportunities.

The University promotes a number of volunteering opportunities. These include volunteering in and around Leeds with charities, organisations and community groups and internationally.

There are employer-led events and fairs, and career workshops taking place on both campuses throughout the academic year.

The University’s mentoring scheme is a voluntary programme whereby students are matched with a career mentor i.e. a professional in a job role of interest to the student. It provides an opportunity for students to gain 'real world' insights into their chosen profession, and develop personally and professionally in areas such as leadership and communication.

Accommodation

Leeds Beckett have more than 4,250 rooms available all within easy travelling distance from the campuses with facilities such as en-suite bedrooms, free Wi-Fi or a TV in the lounge area. There is a broad range of rents to suit all budgets from single rooms to studios, as well as en-suites. There is also a range of sharing options and you can choose whether you want to be part of a bigger community or in a smaller flat where you can make friends more easily.

Accommodation is self-catered, however, if you're scared at the thought of cooking you can purchase a Beckett Food Reward Card which can be used across the University’s outlets including the Food Courts, Campus Shops and Coffee Bars, and also enjoy loyalty rewards every time you spend in one of the outlets.

If you experience any problems during your time in the Hall of residence, you can have a chat with the Residence Life Team (ResLife Team). They are responsible for the welfare and pastoral care of students living in residences and are your main point of contact. They work closely with the Accommodation Team as part of the Accommodation and Residential Services.

International

English Language Requirements

English Language requirements vary depending on the course you intend to study. They approximately range from IELTS 6.0 with no skills below 5.5 to 7.0, or equivalent. See the information on the course you intend to study for more details.

International Scholarships

For the latest information on the scholarship offer by Leeds Beckett, please visit the ‘Scholarships for International Students’ page.

International Support

Leeds Beckett offers a Meet & Greet service at the Leeds Bradford International Airport and help you find transport for the final part of the journey to your accommodation. There will be student ambassadors at the airport to answer your questions and guide you to your taxi.

When you arrive at Leeds Beckett, you will also need to attend an International Induction. During the Welcoming Week, you can take part in many different events to help you settle in. This is a great way to meet other new students and sign-up to join societies and book some of the events and trips organised for you.

During your time at Leeds Beckett, they will be a variety of activities for you to participate,  including trips to some of the UK attractions such as Alton Towers and historical city of York. The University includes students in community events around Leeds, you can volunteer to help with Christmas parties and celebrate UK holidays such as Bonfire night and Burns night.

Current International and UK students provide support and advice through a buddy system known as ‘Meet a New Buddy’. It is a great way to make friends and learn about the social side of Leeds.

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