Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis, officially opens Leeds International Study Centre
- Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis officially opens new city centre location for the Leeds International Study Centre for progression to the University of Leeds
- Launch event took place on Tuesday 25 November celebrating the value of international students and their contribution to Leeds and Yorkshire
- Research data released during the event reveals an economic impact from international students worth £1.2 billion for Yorkshire over the past five years alone
- Study Group’s partnership with the University of Leeds began in 2013, highlighting the scale of the company’s past and future contributions to the local economy
The new home of the Leeds International Study Centre (ISC) for progression to the University of Leeds was officially opened during an official event held on Tuesday 25 November. The new facility is now located at 8 Park Row in central Leeds, placing international students at the heart of the city and a stone’s throw away from the University’s campus.
Leeds International Study Centre, delivered by Study Group, educates and prepares around 600 international students each academic year who wish to study to the University of Leeds. The centre delivers a range of pathway programmes, international foundation courses developed to increase English language skills and academic skills, like critical thinking, to prepare students from over 100 countries with the skills required to succeed at the University.
Academic staff at the Leeds International Study Centre are specialists in teaching and nurturing international students across a variety of subject areas. The study centre also provides a dedicated team of Student Experience specialists who offer pastoral care around students’ academic studies. The Student Experience team at the centre were recently recognised at the 2025 UKCISA #WeAreInternational Awards.
Data shows that in the most recent academic year (2024-5) 93.1% of students at the Leeds International Study Centre successfully completed their studies and were eligible to progress to their chosen course at the University of Leeds. These students enrich the Leeds academic landscape with their unique backgrounds and journeys, while also making a significant contribution to the local economy.
The opening event centred around the theme ‘The Value of International Students to Leeds and Yorkshire’ and explored not only how international education enhances the city’s economy, workforce, and communities, but of Yorkshire as a whole. Research findings led by Study Group, revealed the scale of the positive local economic impact international students contribute.
International students contribute to cross-subsidising the UK’s higher education system, boost local economy by spending on accommodation and other services and also support the NHS through the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) introduced in 2015. Their net impact is calculated taking into account their impact on public services while studying. For students studying at Study Group’s Yorkshire-based international study centres1 across the 2019-24 period, this economic impact equates:
- Leeds International Study Centre: £244 million or £48.8m per annum
- All Yorkshire-based Study Group international study centres: £1.2 billion or £240 million per annum
The relocation to 8 Park Row provides students and staff with state-of-the-art facilities, including 24 classrooms, breakout and individual workspaces – all within walking distance of the University campus, in the city centre and close to transport links.
The number of students taught by Study Group at the Leeds International Study Centre has more than doubled between 2017 and 2025, going from 263 to 674 students, with further growth forecasted in the coming years as the demand for Leeds as a student city destination continues. With the introduction of a new Pre-Masters Programme in Business launching in January 2026 the new facility meets the international demand for study at the University of Leeds, a Russell Group university.
Ian Crichton, Study Group CEO, commented: “This new home for the Leeds International Study Centre for the progression to the University of Leeds is a statement of our shared belief in the value of international education. Leeds is one of the UK’s most dynamic student cities, and we’re proud to give our students a world-class environment from which to begin their journey to the University of Leeds.”
Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Leeds, added: “International students play a vital role in the life of our university and our city. They bring new perspectives, cultural richness, and ambition that help shape Leeds as a truly global community. The new International Study Centre reflects our shared commitment to creating a welcoming, supportive environment for students from around the world to thrive and succeed at Leeds.”