Bachelor's
Up to GBP 10,000 / year
University of Leicester
Leicester, United Kingdom
"Research university where DNA fingerprinting was invented"
At a Glance
Accept Rate
—
Avg Salary/Yr
—
Ranking
#326 (QS)
PSW VISA
2 years; 18 months from 2027
About University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a public research university in Leicester, in the East Midlands of England. It was founded in 1921 as Leicestershire and Rutland University College and gained university status by Royal Charter in 1957. Its main campus lies about a mile south of the city centre next to Victoria Park; the business school is at the Brookfield campus on London Road, and many first-years live in The Village at Oadby. The university is organised into colleges covering life sciences (including Leicester Medical School), science and engineering, and social sciences, arts and humanities. In 2024/25 it had 18,990 students, 14,675 undergraduates and 4,315 postgraduates, with about 19% from outside the UK. Genetic fingerprinting was developed here by Sir Alec Jeffreys in 1984, and in 2012 a university team found and identified the remains of King Richard III. In a THE analysis of REF 2021 it ranked 30th, with Clinical Medicine, History and Sports and Exercise Science 2nd in the UK. It holds TEF 2023 Gold. Brothers Richard and David Attenborough grew up on campus while their father was principal.
Rankings & Recognition
#326
Ranked #326 in the QS World University Rankings 2026, joint #314 in QS 2027 and joint #192 in THE 2026; 33rd in the Complete University Guide 2027.
Accreditations & Memberships
Universities UK
Association of Commonwealth Universities
European University Association
Midlands Innovation
QS 2026 Performance Breakdown
Score out of 100 across each QS evaluation pillar, with University of Leicester's global standing for that metric.
Academic Reputation
29.6#
Employer Reputation
17.7#
Faculty / Student
40.1#
Citations / Faculty
44.2#
Intl. Faculty
90.6#
Intl. Students
90.6#
Intl. Research Network
91.1#
Employment Outcomes
31.0#
Sustainability
81.2#
#
Key Facts
1921 (Charter 1957)
Founded
18,990
Students 2024/25
About 4,000
Staff
Gold
TEF 2023
30th
REF 2021 (THE)
1984, Alec Jeffreys
DNA Fingerprinting
Popular Programs
Medicine
Computer Science
Law
Mechanical Engineering
International Business
Archaeology
Application Details
UG Route
UCAS (code L34)
PG Route
Online application
Deposit (intl UG / PG)
GBP 3,000
Deposit (Pakistan PG)
GBP 8,000
Standardized Test Requirements
| Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
|
IELTS (CS / Engineering UG)
|
6.0 or equivalent |
|
IELTS (Law LLB)
|
6.5 (6.0 writing) |
|
IELTS (International Business MSc)
|
6.5 or equivalent |
|
IELTS (Medicine MBChB)
|
7.5 (7.0 each) |
Study Abroad & Visa Details
Visa Approval Rate
95%
I-20 Processing
Student visa (CAS) + IHS
Post-Study Work
2 yrs; 18 months from Jan 2027
Green Card Pathway
Skilled Worker route
Financials
Application Fee
N/A
Avg Scholarship
GBP 3,000-10,000
Career Outcomes
31%
Placement Ratio
2 years; 18 months from 2027
Post-Study Work
20
Work While Study
Where Graduates Land
Faculty & Alumni
Staff — About 4,000
—
Notable Alumni
Natalie Bennett
Bob Mortimer
Malcolm Bradbury
Campus & Location
The main campus is on University Road, about a mile south of Leicester city centre beside Victoria Park, with the Attenborough Tower, the Percy Gee Students' Union building and the on-campus O2 Academy. The Brookfield campus on London Road houses the business school, and The Village at Oadby holds four halls next to the University Botanic Garden.
Campus Details
Main
campus 1 mile from city centre; Oadby village
Campus Forecast
No forecast data added yet. Click "Edit Details" to add.
Student Life & Housing
Housing
Housing: The Village at Oadby (Gilbert Murray
Beaumont
John Foster
Stamford halls)
Glebe Court GBP 124/week
City halls Nixon Court GBP 191-223/week and Freemen's Common
Self-catered GBP 74-278/week
Dining
Dining: All halls self-catered
The Village Hub
Campus food outlets
Students' Union bars and O2 Academy student nights
Health & Wellness
Health: Victoria Park Health Centre (GP next to campus)
Student Counselling Service
Spectrum.Life 24/7 Student Assistance Programme
Activities & Clubs
Activities: Students' Union in Percy Gee Building
150+ societies
On-campus O2 Academy
Leicester Comedy Festival
Diwali celebrations in the city
Diversity & Demographics
Total Students 2024/25
18,990
Undergraduate
14,675
Postgraduate
4,315
Non-EU International
About 18%
Cost Deep-Dive
Computer Science BSc 2026
GBP 25,100 / year
Law LLB 2026
GBP 20,200 / year
Medicine Yr 1-2 (2026/27)
GBP 30,150 / year
Medicine Yr 3-5 (2026/27)
GBP 48,900 / year
International Business MSc
GBP 24,250
Halls (self-catered)
GBP 74-278 / week
Intakes & Deadlines
Undergraduate degrees start in September through UCAS. Most taught master's start in September, and some, such as International Business MSc, also start in January or April. For September 2026 entry the deposit deadline for International Business MSc was 7 August 2026. Details of January 2027 intake scholarships are published separately.
Scholarships at University of Leicester
5 scholarships available
All Levels
GBP 5,000 / year
International Merit Scholarship
All Levels
GBP 3,000 / year
Chancellor's International Scholarship
Master's
GBP 10,000
University of Leicester GREAT Scholarship (Pakistan)
Master's
Full tuition waiver
Africa Development Scholarship (Sub-Saharan Africa)
These are general eligibility guidelines. Always confirm exact requirements with the university's admissions office or your Sukhada counsellor.
Academic Requirements
Undergraduate
A-levels ABB-A*AA (CS ABB, Law AAB, Medicine A*AA); IELTS 6.0-7.5 by course
Postgraduate
Good UK honours degree or equivalent (e.g. International Business MSc); IELTS 6.5
English Proficiency
IELTS (CS / Engineering UG)
6.0 or equivalentIELTS (Law LLB)
6.5 (6.0 writing)IELTS (International Business MSc)
6.5 or equivalentIELTS (Medicine MBChB)
7.5 (7.0 each)Required Documents
UCAS application with personal statement and reference (UG)
Online postgraduate application (PGT)
Degree certificate and transcripts
IELTS or equivalent English evidence
UCAT result and interview (Medicine)
Deposit receipt or sponsor letter for CAS
ATAS certificate (some science PG)
Passport
TB test certificate (listed countries)
Application Process
1
Choose your course
Check the course page for the typical offer, the IELTS level and whether January or April starts exist.
2
Apply
Undergraduates apply through UCAS (institution code L34); postgraduates apply online direct to Leicester.
3
Scholarship check
International Merit and Chancellor's International Scholarships are considered automatically with your application.
4
Pay deposit
Pay the GBP 3,000 deposit (GBP 6,000 for listed Sub-Saharan African countries, GBP 8,000 for Pakistan PG) by the offer deadline.
5
CAS and visa
The CAS is issued once offer conditions are met and the deposit or sponsor evidence is received; then apply for the Student visa.
6
Arrive
Move into The Village at Oadby or City halls, register with Victoria Park Health Centre and enrol in September.
Campus & Location
The main campus is on University Road, about a mile south of Leicester city centre beside Victoria Park, with the Attenborough Tower, the Percy Gee Students' Union building and the on-campus O2 Academy. The Brookfield campus on London Road houses the business school, and The Village at Oadby holds four halls next to the University Botanic Garden.
Bachelor's
4
University of Leicester
📍 Leicester
Bachelor's
Computer Science BSc (G400)
University of Leicester
📍 Leicester
Bachelor's
Law LLB (M100)
University of Leicester
📍 Leicester
Bachelor's
Medicine MBChB (A100)
University of Leicester
📍 Leicester
Bachelor's
Mechanical Engineering BEng (H300)
Master's
1
University of Leicester
📍 Leicester
Master's
International Business MSc
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