The University of Leeds is an exceptional university in many ways. My experience here is one that will never be forgotten. There is always something going on on campus and the university offers space for all hobbies and interests. The standard of education is exceptional and Leeds overall is just a great place to live!

Overall, I really love the University of Leeds. I think a huge appeal to the university is the campus. It’s beautiful, with both modern and older buildings, and it’s based very close to the city centre. The city is a really fun place to live as a student. There are so many universities in Leeds, so the town centre and the student areas really make you feel as though you are part of a greater community.

Regarding the university itself, I am aware that the quality of teaching and experience really varies between courses and faculty. A lot of teaching has been affected recently by the ongoing strikes, leaving many students feeling hard done as a result of this. Studying Liberal Arts and Spanish (as my international language, or my ‘major’ subject) has been a unique experience, as I am often choosing modules which belong to different faculties and schools. The flexibility of Liberal Arts has allowed me to really personalise my degree according to my interests, and I have really enjoyed the variety of modules I have had access to on the Liberal Arts side of my course.

Conversely, it has been evident throughout my university experience that studying a language does not function so well within a Liberal Arts structure. I have actually found the language side of my course to be quite disappointing on occasion: the module catalogue seems to be depleting every year, and I feel as though the modules that are available to us can be a little uninspiring, and often they are not taught in Spanish. I think that the Spanish degree structure could do with a lot of change. After the first year, our weekly speaking classes were reduced from two hours to one hour, and I feel that the course relies too much on the year abroad to increase our Spanish fluency.

I also think that the University of Leeds could improve student access to mobility/Erasmus schemes. Coming to the end of my year abroad, I have met many students from other universities in the UK, many of whom were able to divide their year abroad into six months of study and six months of work experience, or even two study placements in different locations. At Leeds, we are meant to choose either a work or a study placement, with the idea that we will stay there for the whole year. Additionally, I am aware that people who apply for work placements have some really strict deadlines to meet when confirming their year abroad plans with the study abroad office. A friend of mine hadn’t even heard back from employers before she had to decide what she wanted to do to study abroad; there just doesn’t seem to be much flexibility.

In terms of career prospects, I do feel a little lost right now. Liberal Arts do not seem to have a particular career-focused aspect to the degree, whereas I know other degrees (economics, business, sustainability etc.) all have modules dedicated to employability. I have enjoyed being able to explore different pursuits, however, I do feel as though I would like to learn more about how the interdisciplinary element of my course will function and benefit me in the professional world.

The University of Leeds is one of the top universities in the UK thanks to its infrastructure/facilities, teaching staff and its engagement to provide quality education in many domains. In politique and international studies, we had some of the best teaching staff who have published in a respectable journal. This gave us the confidence and the opportunity to develop a wide understanding of poverty, inequality and health issues across the world. Its focus on Africa and developing countries, in general, give you an opportunity to understand to challenge facing these countries.

The location is perfect. Leeds is literally one of the best student cities. The cheap food, entertainment, massive student discounts and more. My experience at the University of Leeds was above par. Great support from the Uni and Student Union. The module delivery was spot on and there were a lot of opportunities.

Initiatives:
UoL is quite a culturally diverse university which has made it easier for me to feel part of it. In my first year I was given the opportunity to give a presentation about my country and although it was daunting, it proved to me how interested people in the university are in learning about different cultures.
Along with this initiative, I also valued mentoring programmes that pair up students in the Business School with professionals who are in the line of work the students wish to pursue. Being part of this programme has helped me to broaden my career ideas by running through them with my mentor.
Teaching:
I find the course content to be stimulating as certain modules involve practical application such as usage of Bloomberg terminals to conduct ACTUAL trading. Lecturers show a genuine interest in developing your thinking. For instance, during seminars/workshops we aren’t given the answers to assignments directly which forces students to really put their heads into it and this really pays off in the exams.
Location:
I must commend on the university’s location as it is close to multiple amenities such as restaurants and the city centre. During exam season I am mostly at the library and do not find time to cook. The restaurants right across the street from the library provide a filling meal (for a fair price) to keep me going.

Considering the high international student fees, the university offers very little assistance in helping international students’ career prospects. While support is available, it is very limited, somewhat impersonal and fails to cater for non-British or non-EU students.

The international student experience is therefore quite poor and many students often feel discouraged to seek support.

The welcoming friendly environment and the professors are understanding and helpful. Throughout my 3 years at Leeds, I have been supported by some amazing professors. I highly recommend this university, especially if you are looking to study economics