From school to retirement
Leeds offers a vast range of support to students, from before they enrol to long after they graduate. Through generous gifts – both of money and of time – alumni and supporters are giving students the opportunity to thrive at Leeds and beyond.
Before Leeds
The journey to Leeds can begin at primary school, as the University works with charity IntoUniversity to engage pupils across three learning centres in South and East Leeds.
68%
of participants
in the Leeds South Centre progress to higher education – compared to just 12% of all young people in the area.
Donor-funded programmes, such as the Thomas Transition Programme (for 16-year-olds) and Reach for Excellence (for sixth form pupils) equip pupils from under-represented backgrounds with the skills, confidence and knowledge to move into higher education.
One of the UK’s largest contextual admissions schemes, Access to Leeds gives consideration to less-advantaged applicants based on their personal circumstances.
The Lifelong Learning Centre is a specialist service which helps mature and part-time learners find a pathway into higher education, and supports them throughout their time at Leeds.
At Leeds
When students arrive at Leeds, ground-breaking schemes enabled by donors help to support individuals every step of their university journey.
5,000 students
from under-represented backgrounds benefit from the Plus Programme, which eases the transition into university through extracurricular activities and pastoral support, guidance and advice.
5.5% higher continuation rate
for Plus Programme students compared to the University average for home undergraduates.
The Lifestyle and Wellbeing Programme supports students using a mix of counselling and physical activity sessions to benefit overall health.
The Plus Programme has been a massive help – I’ve been able to connect with people on my course and outside of it.
For 20 years
scholarships have enabled students from less advantaged backgrounds to meet their basic needs and access the University’s full range of opportunities and experiences.
17,000 alumni
have made donations to the University of Leeds in that time.
80%
of those receiving a scholarship gained a First or Upper Second degree in 2023.
The University-funded Leeds bursary provides non-repayable financial support of up to £2,000 per year to students, with eligibility linked to annual household income.
The University-funded Financial Assistance Fund provides help to those facing genuine and unexpected financial difficulties. There were
1,341 applications
to the fund in 2022–23 compared to 271 applications in 2018–19.
The Opportunities Fund provides up to £500 to students who would otherwise be unable to access extracurricular professional development opportunities, such as travel costs for interviews.
The Student Success Centre
A new Student Success Centre will help to transform the lives of thousands of Leeds students.
The University has committed to investing £1 million in the Centre – the first of its kind in the UK – over the next four years. Drawing on Leeds’s sector-leading expertise, it will tackle those issues holding students back by expanding current support and developing new initiatives.
Activities will also be informed by a dedicated, high-quality research team, who will establish the nature of the barriers, investigate solutions and evaluate impact to inform practice institutionally and across the sector.
Also part of the Centre:
- Specialist services for students on Foundation Programmes will be developed to support those with disabilities, mental health conditions, long-term medical conditions and specific learning differences.
- Academic skills tutoring will complement the work of the Learning Development Team, who offer online resources, individual support and workshops to improve academic skills.
- A specialist team of student success tutors will work with students in need of extra support on a one-to-one basis.
- Financial literacy education will be provided to students through individual coaching sessions, presentations and outreach workshops.
After Leeds
3,188 graduates
used the Careers Centre resources in 2023 - to which they have access for life.
687 volunteers
gave time to support Leeds students following in their footsteps in the 2022-23 academic year.
Alumni volunteers draw on their experience and expertise to mentor students and speak at events. Some offer work experience and insight opportunities at their place of work.
And many alumni choose to give back to Leeds financially.
Your generosity has made a profound impact on my life, and I will never forget this experience. I hope that I can one day pay it forward and make a difference in someone else’s life.
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