University of Leeds
speciality: Performing Arts

For me, Leeds truly ticks every box. It is one of those cities that manages to balance everything perfectly, from an exciting city lifestyle to a lively social scene and a strong academic reputation. There is always something going on, whether it is live music, art, food festivals, or nights out with friends. The city feels full of energy but still has that welcoming, friendly atmosphere that makes it easy to feel at home.

As a student, I have found Leeds to be the ideal place to study. The universities have great facilities and a real sense of community, and there is always support available when you need it. I love that everything is within walking distance, from the campus to the shops, bars, and cafes, which makes day-to-day life simple and enjoyable.

It is also a city that encourages independence and growth. Living and studying here has helped me become more confident, outgoing, and open-minded. Whether it is exploring the city, meeting new people, or taking advantage of new opportunities, Leeds offers something for everyone. I honestly could not recommend it enough. It is a city that perfectly combines opportunity, fun, and belonging.

Doing this degree has been a mixed bag, and I’m still not sure if I’m lacking motivation or the degree is not offering enough. Everyone in the school has been very kind and supportive, both students and professors, and the university itself offers loads of activities and societies to become a part of, but the theatre degree itself seems a little bit too theoretical and repetitive. Sometimes it feels like an expensive structure scheme, and it feels like I must be doing something on the side to feel like I am receiving something for the amount of money I am paying for the education.

The English side of the course is very interesting with lots of opportunity to control what you study. The theatre side is interesting and there is a lot of chance to be creative and express your ideas. However, the seminars for English aren’t always the most engaging. It is also difficult to attend classes when you’ve already decided on a topic for your essay , as many aren’t relevant. It becomes quite stressful. For the theatre side of my degree, it would be interesting if there was more choice when it came to topics of study.

Tutors for my humanities degree are usually hard working, engaging and thoughtful. It has been a pleasure to study here and the classes I have picked have been (mostly) interesting and enjoyable to study. The student life is very vibrant and engaging – there is a strong drinking culture but it is possible to engage in non-drinking student life. The clubs and societies on offer are brilliant and honestly the best part of the student experience, with so many on offer it is easy to find something you will enjoy – this experience is unique to Leeds. I greatly enjoy being a student here. However, the institution of the University is made up of an uncaring Vice Chancellor protecting the business aspect of the university above the welfare of staff and students. Their refusal to acknowledge rent strikes during covid and lack of co-operation with staff strikes is disappointing. The real people who are part of day to day life at university are great, but the institution isn’t. Leeds is still a brilliant university to go to and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

The facilities on campus are very good especially for the classes that I am taking and the teachers are able to help with our practical work-however they don’t always help too much with essays sometimes when the help is needed. I would say the choices on the course and classes I can take are wide and varied and the link between English and Theatre is helpful to me in both honours.

The university lacks any urgency to put its pupils first and to take care of them sufficiently. With constant strikes and a lack of communication outside of contact hours it often feels like you’re teaching yourself work that is wildly difficult. In the case of strikes, teachers and the university take no responsibility and instead leave the students with copious amounts of work to catch up with independently, causing a ridiculous amount of stress. I really would not recommend Leeds regardless of the few attentive teachers that I have come across and the friends I have made along the way. Attending Leeds has caused more harm than good for me.

My three years at Leeds University have been amazing! The campus is a great social space, the facilities are all of a top standard, especially the union bars (terrace and old bar). The libraries are excellent environments to work in. There are so many societies to choose from, I definitely recommend diving straight into something during your first year as its a great opportunity to make friends and have an extra social circle for the entirety of your degree. The city itself is incredible! Something for everyone! Go to Leeds!