Student life at Leicester

A friendly campus

Leicester is a traditional campus university, which offers some obvious and distinct benefits. With all teaching buildings within a few minutes walk of each other, Leicester’s compact and friendly campus is an ideal place to be a student. Read more about the University campus.

Facilities on campus
Close to the academic departments you will find coffee bars, restaurants and shops all operated for students. Study facilities such as the Library and computer rooms are on site, as is the Students’ Union. Read more about learning resources and leisure on campus.

Your accommodation
You may live in student residences near the University campus, close to the city centre, or in Oadby Student Village - situated in a leafy suburb 3.5km south of campus with local amenities and a regular bus service. Read more about accommodation options.

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A student's perspective

Jenny Lees is currently an MA History student. As a student who has experienced life at Leicester as both an undergraduate and postgraduate, Jenny is in an ideal position to explain more about student life in the city.

Shopping
"Shopping wise, Leicester is your perfect city – It has all the big shops that you get in Manchester or London, but closer together so you don’t have to drag your shopping bags miles! The buses from the halls of residence go past the University and into city centre, dropping you right in the heart of the city".

Food and drink
"Leicester has a huge market which sells a vast range of goods, from fruit and vegetables to specialist Indian foods and ingredients. There is a fish market as well as lots of small businesses selling different types of food and drinks, and there are many small international shops".

Bars and clubs
"As a place to go out Leicester is perfect! In addition to their usual club nights, every club and bar holds student-only nights with special student prices. There is plenty of variety so you won’t get bored of going to the same place each night. Leicester has a wide variety of bars, whether you want somewhere quiet to go for a drink or somewhere you can dance the night away".

Festivals
"Leicester has four big festivals throughout the year, all of which show the vibrant, multicultural atmosphere of the city, and they are all great for students. There is the Summer Sundae Weekender, which has been called a small version of Glastonbury! Leicester also holds an International Music Festival which brings international jazz and concerts to Leicester. Continuing on the music lines, there is also the Caribbean Carnival with a mixture of Caribbean music, food and costumes and is a great weekend out. Finally there is the Leicester Comedy Festival, the second largest outside Edinburgh".

Sports
"As a University we have really good sports facilities, with two sports halls and two gyms, but the town also has great sports centres. I go running most nights on Victoria Park and there are lots of other students who do the same. Leicester holds full and half marathons each year where everyone can join in. Over the weekend Victoria Park is transformed into a sports pitch and you get every kind of sport played, from football and cricket to ultimate frisbee and American football". Read more about sport at Leicester.

A student city
"Having lived in Leicester for four years now, I plan to live here when I finish my MA. I think it’s a wonderful city and the surrounding county is beautiful. Leicester has everything that a student could want in a city, it is lively and vibrant, but it is also a very cultural and beautiful county. Everyone within Leicester is welcoming to students and happy to help you. Through and through Leicester is a student city".