University of Leicester

The University of Leicester was founded in 1921 as Leicestershire and Rutland University College and received its Royal Charter as a university in 1957. It is a public research university whose main campus lies in urban parkland beside Victoria Park, a short distance south of Leicester city centre. The campus is known for distinctive post-war architecture, including the Engineering Building designed by James Stirling and the Attenborough Tower.

The university has around 19,000 students and a notably diverse student body. It holds a Gold rating in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework. Leicester has a strong research reputation in several fields: genetic fingerprinting was invented at the university by Sir Alec Jeffreys in 1984, its researchers led the identification of the remains of King Richard III, and it hosts one of the largest academic centres for space research in Europe. Teaching spans medicine and the life sciences, law, business, the humanities, social sciences, science and engineering.

Information for International Students

The University of Leicester welcomes more than 4,000 international students from over 110 countries. The university supports offer holders through the admissions process, including the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and Student visa stage, and applicants are advised to check the separate UK Government language rules that apply to visa applications.

English language requirements are set for each course, with IELTS 6.0 or equivalent required for many undergraduate programmes and higher levels for some subjects and for postgraduate study. The English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) runs intensive pre-sessional courses of around 21 hours per week in small classes for students who need to reach the required standard.

Several preparation routes are available. The university launched its own on-campus pathway programmes in 2025, including a STEM International Foundation Year and International Year One programmes in business and management, marketing and human resource management, run jointly by the College of Business and the Centre for International Training and Education. Leicester Global Study Centre, operated by Navitas within walking distance of the campus, also offers International Foundation Year programmes. Many degrees are additionally available with an integrated foundation year.